The Mat - Martial Arts Podcast: Recent Episodes
JJH
When people hear the term Martial Arts, many think only of the self-defense aspect - when in reality it's so much more. We interview Martial Artists from various backgrounds to better understand their stories. What got them training, what keeps them training and how it's positively impacted their lives. This podcast is for everyone - so whether you have trained all your life, or just thinking of starting, come check us out. The stories will be fun, enlightening, encouraging, but never boring. We hope to see you here!
Welcome to Season 2, Episode 7!
Today’s discussion is with Gracie Jiu Jitsu Black Belt Randy Mc Elwee – owner / operator of Martial Arts Success Institute & Going Commando Success Coaching.
In this episode, we talk about;
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Randy’s background in the US Army’s Special Forces.
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His approach to setting his students up for success
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The need to understand the difference between Sport & Self-Defense Jiu Jitsu
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Key takeaways and life lessons he got from reading my co-host Richard Bresler’s game changing book Worth Defending.
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Importance of our Gracie Jiu Jitsu legacy
Please check out what Randy is working on!
Martial Arts Success Institute @ https://www.martialartssuccessinstitute.com
Going Commando Success Coaching @ https://www.commandosuccess.com
Gracie Jiu Jitsu Athens Owner page https://www.randymcelwee.com
Richard and Jason discuss the challenges of sport jujitsu and its benefits, such as the physical toll on the body and competition. They emphasize the importance of honoring one's body and listening to it when training hard to prevent injuries. They also emphasize the need to have the right partners for longevity and listen to the body when training. Richard shares his experience with a former sparring partner and a woman who helped him stay relaxed during training. Jason suggests finding a school where one can learn how to honor their body by listening to their body when they are tired or not feeling 100%. They agree that having the correct partners is crucial for longevity. Richard emphasizes basic common sense hygiene and relaxation in his classes.
Hi Everyone,
Welcome to Season 2 Episode 5 of The Mat Martial Arts Podcast. My co-host Richard Bresler and I had the pleasure of speaking with 6th Degree Gracie Jiu Jitsu Black Belt Phil Migliarese. Here is what we covered;
- Phil's origin story. This is a cool one, dating all the way back to print ads in Black Belt Magazine..
- What he has seen over the years, and some of the legends he has shared the mats with.
- Academy culture. What drives it, and how Phil and his brother preserve it in their schools.
- Please check out the website for Phil's schools (and definitely watch the YouTube video)
It was a great episode that I really enjoyed making. Please like, share and follow.
Also, check out Richard Bresler's amazing book
Worth Defending - How Gracie Jiu Jitsu Saved My Life
and our socials
The Mat Martial Arts Podcast on YouTube
The Mat Martial Arts Podcast on Instagram
The Podcast Website
Hi Everyone,
Welcome to Season 2 Episode 4 of The Mat Martial Arts Podcast. My co-host Richard Bresler and I had the pleasure of speaking with BJJ Black Belt Shawn Sherman. Here is what we covered;
- Shawn's early life and origin story
- His experiences in training in various academies and instructors
- The beauty of the basics
It was a great episode that I really enjoyed making. Please like, share and follow.
Also, check out Richard Bresler's amazing book
Worth Defending - How Gracie Jiu Jitsu Saved My Life
and our socials
The Mat Martial Arts Podcast on YouTube
The Mat Martial Arts Podcast on Instagram
The Podcast Website
Welcome to Season 2, Episode 3 of the Mat Martial Arts Podcast
Earlier today, my co-host Richard Bresler and I had the privilege of speaking with Jon Wagner, of Wagner Jiu Jitsu. It was a great conversation that covered a wide range of topics;
- Jon's origin story - how and where he got started.
- His competition history and how the sport has evolved over the years.
- The emotional and physical benefits of jiu jitsu, and how to improve longevity in training.
- The social impact of competition based combat sports.
Today's episode ran a bit longer than usual, but had to cut it off for the sake of time. Richard and I are planning to have Jon back on again, as we were just starting scratch the surface on some other interesting and impactful topics.
Please check out Jon's academy
https://www.wagneracademy.com/
https://www.instagram.com/wagnerjjacademy/?hl=en
Also, check out Richard's Book "Worth Defending".. as it was also referenced multiple times in the episode.
https://www.amazon.com/Worth-Defending-Gracie-Jiu-Jitsu-Saved/dp/B0974G8D2H
Hi Everyone,
Welcome to Season 2 Episode 2 of the Mat Martial Arts Podcast. This week Richard (Bresler) and I talked through some topics that I have always been interested in. We discussed;
1.) What was the martial arts landscape like before Gracie Jiu Jitsu came into the national consciousness here in America?
2.) The differences in mindset for training sport vs. practical self-defense jiu-jitsu.
3.) The value of fundamentals. If you could only learn a few techniques, which would they be?
Along the way, I pepper Richard with some questions about his book- "Worth Defending" .. I would call this a must read for anybody, not just martial artists.
As always, if you like the show, please save, share and interact. You can contact me at jjh@thematmapodcast.com and you can find Richard on his various socials.
Let's jump into it. Hope you enjoy!
JH & RB
We have been away, but we are back to kick off Season 2!
This season, I have the pleasure of announcing Richard Bresler as my new co-host. Really excited to have Richard on the show, as he brings some very useful and unique perspectives and experience to the discussion. We will be having some great guests on to discuss some of the most relevant and interesting topics in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
This episode is one of the longer ones we have done. In it, you will hear our thoughts on;
1.) Safety - responsibilities of the school, the instructors and the students.
2.) Progression in training - approach each lesson and sparring session without ego, focusing on the experience rather than the win.
3.) Key moves and principles that are key for advancement in skills and longevity in training.
4.) An open invite to those who would like to be on the show. Feel free to email me at jjh@thematmapodcast.com!
Really excited to be back for Season 2. Hope you enjoy this next step in the journey!
Season 1 Episode 10
This was just me this week. I am sharing some personal thoughts on why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is one of the most effective things a person can do to improve their lives.
It is a shorter episode, but hopefully an insightful one.
Enjoy
In this 9th episode of season 1 I had the pleasure of speaking with Matt Mann from "Jiu Jitsu is Much More Than You Think".. we had a really good talk about;
- Matt's background in Law Enforcement and how that motivated him to start training
- How Jiu-Jitsu has provided such a positive impact in not only his life, but that of his family
- A recent situation where Matt had to use his training to defend himself and how it resulted in a good, safe ending - not only for him, but his attacker
Matt is a great guy who is a straight-shooter and solid background. I hope you enjoy the episode. Please also check out Matt's socials;
Jiu-Jitsu is Much More Than You Think
Facebook Group
TikTok
Hey Everyone,
Earlier this week, I had the privilege and pleasure of speaking with Richard Bresler, who was Rorion Gracie's first student here in the US, as well as the author of a truly life changing book titled Worth Defending. In our discussion, we covered;
1.) Richard's origin story of how he got into jiu jitsu
2.) How jiu jitsu has changed his life, and how he used his experience to positively impact others
3.) His book Worth Defending. What it means to him and some of the cool stories it covers
... and many other things I found really insightful and interesting.
You should definitely check out his book, and connect with him on his socials!
Worth Defending on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Worth-Defending-Gracie-Jiu-Jitsu-Saved/dp/B09DQY3699/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1QDWYU0PG85K7&keywords=worth+defending+book&qid=1673772259&sprefix=worth+defending+boo%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-1
Richard on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/richard_bresler/?hl=en
Richard's Facebook Profile
https://www.facebook.com/RichardBreslerJiuJitsu/
Let's hop in. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Earlier this week, I had a great discussion with Randy McElwee, the owner / operator of Gracie Jiu Jitsu Athens in Athens, Georgia.
In our interview, we talked through his origin story, as well as his distinguished career in the US Army as a Green Beret, and one of, if not the first person to introduce Gracie Combatives to the US Army.
Randy's experience in the martial arts is diverse and impressive. Please check out his site for more;
https://www.athensjiujitsu.com/owner
Also, connect with Randy on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/randy.s.mcelwee
Let's hop in. Hope you enjoy!
In Season 1 Episode 6 I had the pleasure of speaking with Chris Hanson from Karate Unity
We discussed some important and interesting topics. We covered;
- Chris' origin story of what got him into Martial Arts at a young age, and what has kept him motivated over the years
- The benefits of Cross Training and sampling from other styles to improve your performance
- The emotional and physical benefits of training Martial Arts
**- How mentorship benefits not only the Martial Arts community, but the world
Please check out and Subscribe to the Karate Unity Socials below!*YouTubeInstagram*Facebook
I had a great time getting to know Chris and I appreciated him sharing his perspective on things. I know I learned some cool new stuff and am sure you will too. Please have a listen, and if you enjoyed this show, please subscribe!
This episode is a continuation from S1 E4. Here we are digging a bit deeper into;
1.) The impact and influence of Japanese Martial Arts
2.) How we can draw from other styles to further develop our own training
3.) Understanding the importance of continuing education around lineage
Here is a link to Tony's academy. You should check it out!
https://www.eriejiujitsu.com/
Hope you enjoy. If you like this, please subscribe!
Season 1, Episode 4 is with Tony White from Shoshin Jiu Jitsu in Erie Pennsylvania. In this episode, we talk about;
1.) Tony's new academy in Erie
2.) His origin story. How he started and his path to where he is currently at
3.) Our sacred commitment to Gracie Jiu Jitsu and Tony's commitment to his students
**4.) The influence of Japanese martial arts
Check Out Tony's New Academy
https://www.eriejiujitsu.com/**
It's a great episode. Hope you enjoy and subscribe!
In this episode, I share some personal thoughts on things to look for and avoid when picking a new martial arts school to train at. We look at;
1.) Self-Defense vs. Sport
2.) Location
3.) Overall Vibe of the School
So please have a listen. I hope you find it useful!
The Mat Martial Arts Podcast
Season 1 Episode 2
Welcome to Episode 2. This week, I had the unique pleasure of interviewing Jim Trick, from MyWhiteBelt.com where we talked about;
1.) Jim’s personal story – how he got started training BJJ
2.) Authenticity in BJJ vs. other martial arts we have both experienced in the past
3.) Advice for those thinking about training, but struggling to get started
4.) Discussions that Jim has had with some other really legit names in the sport and lifestyle of Jiu Jitsu.
I also offered up a reminder that if you have not seen Jim’s work at MyWhiteBelt.com in either his Podcast or his Instagram, I would highly suggest checking it out. It’s timely and motivating no matter where you are at in your journey.
This is the first episode of The Mat. To get things kicked off, we talk about the overall benefits of studying martial arts. We discuss;
1.) The Physical Benefits - it's great exercise that will improve coordination, flexibility and cardio.
2.) The Social Benefits - most martial arts schools are great social centers, where the practitioners make some great new friends.
3.) The Emotional Benefits - often times, the first two benefits have a really positive impact on a person's emotional well being and mental health. This is especially true if the art you are training is very mentally engaging. It's a sort of "mobile meditation"..
4.) Overall Personal Development - for centuries, the Martial Arts have been known to develop one's sense of discipline, patience and overall self-improvement.
Additionally - we will discuss the overall format of the show moving forward. In the following weeks, we will be;
1.) Interviewing people in the Martial Arts community
2.) Answering questions submitted through the website, or through my daily discussions
I am hoping that you are as excited as I am to get this kicked off. Thank you for tuning in. I am looking forward to our time together!
The Mat