PODCAST · sports
Small Man Jiu Jitsu
by Robin Fujimura
Small Man Podcast The Small Man Podcast is where Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu meets real life. Hosted in Hawaii, each episode features honest conversations with the people who make the Jiu-Jitsu community special—from world champions and seasoned black belts to dedicated parents, first-time white belts, coaches, business owners, and everyday practitioners. These aren't just stories about winning tournaments—they're stories about overcoming adversity, building confidence, strengthening families, and discovering purpose on and off the mats. You'll hear inspiring journeys of resilience, sacrifice, perseverance, and personal growth, along with practical insights on training, longevity, mindset, leadership, and the life lessons that Jiu-Jitsu teaches. Whether you're a lifelong grappler, just thinking about stepping onto the mats, or simply enjoy hearing powerful stories from extraordinary people, the Small Man Podcast delivers conversations that motivate, educate,
Episodes
-
Cancer Almost Took Jiu Jitsu From Me | Anthonio "Tony" Bale Jr
Antonio Bale Jr. | Family, Cancer, and Finding His Way Back to Jiu-Jitsu Antonio Bale Jr. started jiu-jitsu because of his son. A few years later, he found himself facing a much bigger challenge outside the gym. After undergoing emergency surgery for a tumor in 2022, Tony experienced…
more -
Steve Maxwell: The Untold Story of UFC 1 and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
Steve Maxwell witnessed the beginning of American jiu-jitsu from the inside. He opened one of the earliest Gracie Jiu-Jitsu schools on the East Coast, became Relson Gracie’s first black belt, invested in the original UFC and watched UFC 1 from ringside as Royce Gracie changed martial arts…
more -
Faith, AOJ and the Birth of Roma Jiu Jitsu | Kawika Yoneda
Kawika Yoneda grew up believing he was meant to become a fighter. When that path disappeared, he lost his sense of identity and struggled with depression. Jiu-jitsu gave him a new direction. Kawika and his wife, Jamie, eventually sold nearly everything and moved from Hawaii to California with…
more -
“I Finally Did Something Right” | DeRoy Lupica
Spotify description “I did a lot of wrong things in my life, and this was right.” Island Jiu Jitsu brown belt DeRoy Lupica shares how jiu-jitsu pulled him away from partying, gave him structure and helped him move through injuries, grief and major changes in his life. After two serious knee...
-
Jed Uson: Don’t Talk Yourself Out of It | Hawaii Jiu-Jitsu
Jed Uson shares how talking himself out of college soccer became a lesson he now passes on to his students: take the chance and see what you can do. A Hawaii teacher and brown belt who coaches the 5 a.m. jiu-jitsu classes at UFC Gym Mililani, Jed talks about fitting training around family life…
more -
The MMA Dream Came With a Price | Nathan Feitosa
Nathan “Nasty Nate” Feitosa shares his journey from Maui to Team Alpha Male and the physical price that came with chasing a professional MMA career. Nathan talks openly about fighting on emotion, training through concussions and realizing that the jiu-jitsu he sometimes overlooked was actually…
more -
From White Belt to Black Belt With the Same Coach | Ricky Ridela
Ricky Ridela’s martial arts journey began with his father and grew through judo, high school and college wrestling, and nearly 20 years of jiu-jitsu. In this episode, Ricky talks about losing every wrestling match during his freshman year, competing against high-level athletes, receiving his…
more -
The Mat Sheriff Behind X79 Clean
Bobby Kahana is a purple belt at UFC Gym Honolulu, a 20-year Honolulu Police Department veteran and the founder of X79 Clean. After contracting ringworm, Bobby began quietly cleaning the mats before jiu-jitsu class. What started as a personal effort to protect himself and his training partners...
-
Jon Ishikawa: Starting Jiu-Jitsu at 41 and Competing at 50
Jon Ishikawa started jiu-jitsu at 41 after bringing his son to UFC Gym Mililani. Eight years later, Jon is approaching 50, training at United BJJ Hawaii, and beginning a new chapter as a brown belt. Jon talks about training through COVID, moving from UFC to United, preparing for the IBJJF World...
-
Jonathan Marrero: From Marine to Freakuency Honolulu Founder
Spotify title Jonathan Marrero: From Marine to Freakuency Honolulu Founder Jonathan Marrero never expected jiu-jitsu to become his life. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, a Snapchat post led him to 10th Planet Oceanside and Geo Martinez. His first class completely humbled him, and...
-
Casey Kobata: Patience, Longevity and a 20-Year Jiu-Jitsu Goal
Casey Kobata has given himself a personal goal: train jiu-jitsu for 20 years. Now approaching 50, the one-stripe blue belt talks about starting later in life, learning to relax with younger training partners, and developing a game that works for his body type. He also shares how earning his blue...
-
Rafael “Formiga” Barbosa: 33 Years of Competition, Coaching and Jiu-Jitsu
Rafael “Formiga” Barbosa has spent 33 years competing, coaching, and building his life around jiu-jitsu. Formiga shares how watching Royce Gracie at UFC 1 led him to start training at 10 years old, why losing his first three competitions motivated him to improve, and how two coaches became father...
-
Always a Student: Mat Lewis on Judo, Jiu-Jitsu and Starting Over
Mat Lewis has spent nearly 40 years practicing martial arts, but he still approaches every training session as a student. Mat began judo at four years old and eventually earned his third-degree black belt. During his Navy career, he trained around the world, repeatedly walking into unfamiliar…
more -
Ian Delizo: From Grappling on Grass to an AOJ Black Belt
Ian Delizo’s jiu-jitsu journey started long before he ever stepped onto a mat. As a teenager in Kaimuki, he and his friends practiced techniques they found online while grappling on the grass at Crane Park. After moving to California to play college football, Ian began formal training at Street...
-
Growing Up on the Mats with Kalani Lizama | Kaeo Lizama
Kaeo Lizama started jiu-jitsu at seven years old in the back patio of his family’s Kauai home. His first gi was made from what looked like a bathrobe, and his father, Kalani Lizama, was still a purple belt learning and building Powerhouse Jiu-Jitsu. Kaeo shares what it was like growing up on the...
-
Karl Rocco: Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling and Becoming His Daughter’s Coach
Karl Rocco began training martial arts to stay connected to the memory of his grandfather. Years later, that journey led him to a new purpose: coaching his daughter. Karl shares his path from Queens to Hawaii, his background in wrestling, losing more than 80 pounds, and the lessons he learned…
more -
Miguel Pagan: Why a Taekwondo Master Started Jiu-Jitsu at 52
Miguel Pagan spent 28 years training and teaching Taekwondo before deciding to become a beginner again. At 52, he entered his first Brazilian jiu-jitsu class because he wanted to understand how to protect himself if a fight reached the ground. Eight years later, Miguel is a brown belt and the…
more -
What 100+ Jiu-Jitsu Stories Taught Me | Rob’s Podcast Reflection
Rob started the Small Man Podcast thinking it would be cool to interview some of the biggest names in jiu-jitsu. More than 100 conversations later, its purpose has become something different: preserving the stories of everyday people in the community. In this solo episode, Rob reflects on the...
-
Grant Miyashiro: Jiu-Jitsu, Family and Preserving Okinawan Culture
Grant Miyashiro began his jiu-jitsu journey on Hawaiʻi Island during a time when the sport was still closely connected to MMA. Training at BJ Penn’s original academy meant hard rounds, serious injuries and a very different environment from the jiu-jitsu many people know today. After spending…
more -
Tourette’s, Jiu-Jitsu and Starting Over in Hawaii | Bruno Rodrigues
Bruno Rodrigues arrived in Hawaii at 25 with a one-way ticket, no place to live, and no clear plan for what came next. In this episode, Bruno shares his journey from growing up between the United States and Brazil to finding community and purpose in Hawaii. He talks about being diagnosed with...
-
Jesus, Jiu-Jitsu and the Battles Men Face | Pastor Wade Inn
Pastor Wade Inn started training at Gracie Barra Kapolei nearly 11 years ago alongside his three sons. Despite his wrestling and football background, his first jiu-jitsu experience ended with a 130-pound practitioner submitting him repeatedly. That lesson in humility began a journey that…
more -
His Coach Gave Him His Own Black Belt | Jason Calabrese
Jason Calabrese is the owner and head coach of Calabrese Combat Academy in Aiea. Jason shares how basketball burnout led him to jiu-jitsu, why he moved to Washington at 18, and how his cousin and coach became father figures during his years away from Hawaii. He also talks about the severe nerve...
-
Jiu-Jitsu, Everest and an Accidental Ultramarathon | Robert Yray
Robert Yray is a United BJJ blue belt whose journey has taken him from Hawaii’s jiu-jitsu mats to an accidental 30-mile run and the trail to Everest Base Camp. Robert shares how his friendship with Dillon Quitugua and the Tribe Collective community changed what he believed he was capable of…
more -
Clesson Hiranaka | A Promise, Starting Over, and Uppermost Jiu Jitsu
Clesson Hiranaka started jiu-jitsu on Kauai in 2006, convinced he could move through the belts quickly. But time away, the loss of a close friend, and starting over at a new academy changed how he approached training. Clesson shares why he stepped away to spend time with his friend during…
more -
Laka Preis: Family, Faith, and Finding Connection Through Jiu-Jitsu
Laka Preis began training jiu-jitsu because of his oldest son. What started as an effort to understand what his son was learning became a shared passion for Laka and both of his boys. Now a purple belt at Mano Jiu Jitsu and a kids class coach, Laka talks about the connection jiu-jitsu has created...
-
Aaron Kia: Football, Fatherhood and Finding a New Purpose Through Jiu-Jitsu
Aaron Kia spent years building his identity around football. He played at Mililani High School and the University of Hawai‘i before briefly signing with the New York Jets. When football ended, Aaron had to figure out who he was without the helmet. In this episode, Aaron talks about that…
more -
Francis Dimayuga: Jiu-Jitsu, Fatherhood and Starting Again
Francis Dimayuga returned to jiu-jitsu in 2019 after nearly a decade of inconsistent training. He was already a blue belt, weighed 234 pounds and knew coming back would mean facing his ego. Now a brown belt at Clockwork Jiu-Jitsu, Francis trains five days a week and has competed in more than 30...
-
Leandro Nyza: 40 Years of Jiu-Jitsu, Hawaii and His Return to Competition
Leandro Nyza began training jiu-jitsu as a child in Brazil in 1984. He earned his black belt in 1997 and moved to Hawaii three years later without knowing English, carrying a Portuguese-English dictionary as he began building a new life. In this episode, Leandro talks about his early years around...
-
Two Arts, One Path: Alan Alegre’s Judo and Jiu-Jitsu Journey
Alan Alegre’s grappling journey began with wrestling at Pearl City High School, continued through judo and eventually led him to Brazilian jiu-jitsu at UFC Waikele. Along the way, military service interrupted his training, competition tested his confidence and repeated losses forced him to take a...
-
Stop Comparing Your Jiu-Jitsu to Everyone Else
It’s easy to question your progress when younger, faster, or more athletic teammates keep getting the better of you. But comparing yourself to them may not give you an honest picture of where your jiu-jitsu is. In this episode, I talk about age, athleticism, belt levels, and why two students...
-
Returning to Jiu-Jitsu at 58 | John Agapay
John Agapay started jiu-jitsu in his late 40s after enrolling his children. Over the years, Navy deployments, work, and family responsibilities repeatedly pulled him away from training, but he never lost his love for the sport. Now retired from the Navy, nearly 30 pounds lighter, and back on the...
-
He Put His Son in Jiu-Jitsu, Then the Whole Family Joined
Phase 5: Podcast description Adam Kenney started his jiu-jitsu journey because he wanted his son to learn discipline, respect, and self-defense. After watching from the sidelines, Adam worked up the courage to join him at Grappling Unlimited. Starting around 40 years old, Adam went from attending...
-
His Mom Put Him in Martial Arts. Now He’s Finishing What She Started | Sebastian Lopez
Sebastian Lopez first experienced martial arts as a child when his mother enrolled him in MMA to help him build confidence after being bullied. The training did not last long, but years later, he found his way back through jiu-jitsu. After joining the Navy and completing nuclear power school,...
-
You Can’t Control the Win | Todd Tokuyoshi
Todd Tokuyoshi is a black belt under Professor Kawika Yoneda and an instructor at Roma Jiu Jitsu in Hilo. Todd shares how he went from wrestling in high school to finding jiu-jitsu during a difficult period in his life. He talks about being humbled in his first class, rebuilding his game under...
-
When Your Child’s Jiu-Jitsu Becomes About You
When does supporting your child in jiu-jitsu cross the line into making their journey about you? In the first Small Man roundtable, Robin is joined by BFK, Brandon Salvador and Triston for an honest conversation about parenting, coaching and growing up through jiu-jitsu. Each guest brings a...
-
He Broke His Neck—Then Earned His Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt
Ericson Abalos was building momentum as an MMA fighter when a training accident changed everything. During sparring, he was picked up and suplexed, landing directly on his neck. The impact left him unable to lift his head and led to emergency surgery around his C3 and C4 vertebrae. The physical...
-
The Mats Are My Medicine” | Lin Wright Murao’s Fight Through Cancer
Lin Wright Murao started jiu-jitsu at 48 after raising three sons and becoming an empty nester. Fifteen years later, she earned her black belt—but her most difficult fight would take place away from the mats. In this episode, Lin opens up about battling chronic lymphocytic leukemia while caring…
more -
Bullied for Years—Then Martial Arts Changed His Life
Patrick Garth-Maddox spent years living with bullying, fear, anxiety, and anger. Martial arts gave him more than a way to defend himself—it helped him develop confidence, control his emotions, and begin rebuilding his life. In this episode, Patrick shares how faith, friendship, and Muay Thai…
more -
He Lost Boxing but Found Jiu-Jitsu at 62 | Rod Shimabukuro
Rod Shimabukuro spent years connected to boxing, but permanent nerve damage and double vision eventually forced him to leave the sport he loved. At around 62 years old, he found a new challenge in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Rod shares how garage training with Don Fujii and later training at VSSL Union...
-
He Lost Over 100 Pounds—Then Jiu-Jitsu Changed His Life
Devin Martos was approaching 300 pounds when he decided he needed to make a change. He adjusted his diet, cut back on drinking, started lifting weights and running, and eventually lost more than 100 pounds. After losing around 80 pounds, Devin finally felt ready to try Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Even...
-
She Won Worlds—Then Questioned Everything
Phase 4B — Spotify and Podcast Description Lani and Slater came to jiu-jitsu through two completely different paths. Lani started training at 12 while living in Indonesia and eventually built an international competition career. She traveled throughout Asia and the United States, trained up to...
-
The Mats Were Always Waiting | Brandon Perez’s Jiu-Jitsu Journey
Brandon Perez’s journey has taken him from Guam to Hawaii, from a state wrestling championship to Oregon State’s Division I wrestling room, and from powerlifting back to the grappling mats. After stepping away from wrestling and going through an unhealthy season of life, Brandon found his way…
more -
Jiu-Jitsu, Fatherhood, and Learning What Really Matters | Kaleo Naiga
Kaleo Naiga originally started jiu-jitsu because he wanted practical self-defense. What he found was a community and practice that would help carry him through some of the most difficult seasons of his life. Kaleo talks about his years performing stand-up comedy, competing as a smaller...
-
The Future of Hawaii Jiu-Jitsu? Meet Kansept’s Young Boys
Alex Alejo, Ryu Pangelinan and Kaven Santos join the Small Man Podcast to represent Kansept Academy’s next generation. The three young competitors talk about getting smashed during their first practices, learning to control frustration and discovering how consistency can transform both their...
-
His Son Brought Him to Jiu-Jitsu | Martin Kasalausky & Martin Jr.
Martin Jr. started jiu-jitsu first. His father, Martin, watched from the sidelines until friends and coaches at TRXTR Studio finally convinced him to step onto the mats. From his first class, he was hooked. Martin and Martin Jr. join the podcast to talk about their father-son journey, combining...
-
His Wife Signed Him Up for Jiu-Jitsu at 53—and It Changed Their Family
Gary Montano started jiu-jitsu at 53 after his wife signed him up while he was traveling for work. What began unexpectedly became a shared journey connecting his wife, children and grandchildren. Gary joins the Small Man Jiu Jitsu Podcast to discuss overcoming the belief that he was too old to...
-
It’s Always Me vs. Me | Shayna Kawamura’s Jiu-Jitsu Journey
Competition may put another person across the mat from you, but sometimes the toughest opponent is the one inside your own head. In this episode, I sit down with my jiu-jitsu daughter, Shayna Kawamura, a blue belt from Kansept Academy under Jeremiah San Nicolas. Shayna talks about starting with...
-
Don’t Lose Yourself: Gina Bedan’s Journey Through Motherhood and Jiu-Jitsu
Gina Bedan’s jiu-jitsu journey began with her children. What started as a way to better understand and support them eventually became an outlet that helped her cope with losing her mother to cancer. In this episode, Gina talks about training and competing as a mother, raising a family of…
more -
Wrestling Taught Her to Push—Jiu-Jitsu Taught Her to Flow | Haylee Fujioka
Wrestling taught Haylee Fujioka how to push through pressure. Jiu-jitsu taught her when to stop forcing things and find another path. Haylee grew up doing judo, spent nearly ten years wrestling, and finished second at the Hawaii state championships—even though she openly admits that she hated...
-
He Ran a Jiu-Jitsu School as a Purple Belt | Kalani Lizama
Kalani Lizama’s 28-year jiu-jitsu journey began with a desire to protect his family. It eventually led him from garage training on Kauai to becoming a fourth-degree black belt, academy owner, and leader in the local jiu-jitsu community. In this episode, Kalani shares what training was like during...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Small Man Podcast
The Small Man Podcast is where Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu meets real life.
Hosted in Hawaii, each episode features honest conversations with the people who make the Jiu-Jitsu community special—from world champions and seasoned black belts to dedicated parents, first-time white belts, coaches, business owners, and everyday practitioners. These aren't just stories about winning tournaments—they're stories about overcoming adversity, building confidence, strengthening families, and discovering purpose on and off the mats.
You'll hear inspiring journeys of resilience, sacrifice, perseverance, and personal growth, along with practical insights on training, longevity, mindset, leadership, and the life lessons that Jiu-Jitsu teaches.
Whether you're a lifelong grappler, just thinking about stepping onto the mats, or simply enjoy hearing powerful stories from extraordinary people, the Small Man Podcast delivers conversations that motivate, educate,
HOSTED BY
Robin Fujimura
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Small Man Jiu Jitsu have?
Small Man Jiu Jitsu currently has 106 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Small Man Jiu Jitsu about?
Small Man Podcast The Small Man Podcast is where Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu meets real life. Hosted in Hawaii, each episode features honest conversations with the people who make the Jiu-Jitsu community special—from world champions and seasoned black belts to dedicated parents, first-time white belts,...
How often does Small Man Jiu Jitsu release new episodes?
Small Man Jiu Jitsu publishes regularly with 106 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Small Man Jiu Jitsu?
You can listen to Small Man Jiu Jitsu on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Small Man Jiu Jitsu?
Small Man Jiu Jitsu is created and hosted by Robin Fujimura.
URL copied to clipboard!