Shows
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting438 - Crafting Your Ideal Jiu-Jitsu Journey, with Tom WortmanAOJ black belt Tom Wortman is a fierce competitor; he won IBJJ Pans, Euros, North Americans and Master Worlds in a single year as a brown belt. He's also a jiu-jitsu gypsy, typically training at a club for 3 to 6 months, then moving thousands of miles to see a new part of the country and training at a new club. Find out how he he does this, what the red and green flags are for training at new clubs, how to stay injury free even when training 7 days a week, and redefining success on your own terms. I hope you fin...
2025-11-1859 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting437 - Adam Shoalts, Vanished Beyond the MapCanoeist and author Adam Shoalts on the mindset that drives individuals to seek adventure, and the importance of safety and decision-making in the wilderness. We also dive into the mysterious disappearance of the greatest explorer you've never heard of. Grab Adam's book, Vanished Beyond the Map, anywhere books are sold or here: https://adamshoalts.com/literature/ Follow Stephan Kesting's outdoor adventures here: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@essentialwilderness Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/essentialwilderness TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@essentialwilderness Check out Stephan's book, Perseverance, Life a...
2025-11-0439 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting431 - Hybrid Training 3: Mixing Ultramarathon and Strength Training with James PierattJames Pieratt from Wild Hunt Conditioning joins us to share what he learned on an expedition in which he ran 802 miles through nearly the entire state of California. James is unique in the ultrarunning community because he also lifts heavy weights and trains in BJJ. We looked at the mindset and philosophy required for ultrarunning, the emotional journey of endurance athletes, and the importance of strength training for overall health and performance. We also covered training regimens, the science behind strength and endurance training, and shared insights for athletes looking to enhance their performance. Check o...
2025-09-0153 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting430 - Hybrid Training 2: The Science of Strength, Power and Endurance with Chris DuffinRecord-setting powerlifter and freak athlete Chris Duffin discusses the intricacies of hybrid training, focusing on the balance between strength and endurance. He shares his unique qualifications, including his experience with elite athletes and his world record feats. Chris breaks down the relative importance of skill, and the mechanical, neurological, and metabolic factors that influence power output, and the often-overlooked role of the diaphragm in performance. Duffin also provides insights on training for generalists, emphasizing the need for injury mitigation and effective training strategies. Check out Chris's site at https://www.chrisduffin.com/ and his LiftLab...
2025-08-181h 02The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting428 - Tom Callos, A Black Belt and GentlemanMartial arts pioneer Tom Callos came onto The Strenuous Life Podcast to discuss the California martial arts scene in the wake of Bruce Lee, the importance of taking your training out of the dojo and into the world, how your students can become your school's most effective advertising, being BJ Penn's first BJJ instructor, and his thoughts about BJ's current struggles. Tom has owned several martial arts schools, worked as a business and curriculum consultant to the international martial arts community, competed regionally, nationally, and internationally, and was a member of an internationally renowned demonstration team. ...
2025-07-231h 15The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting427 - Overcoming Doubt and Anxiety in Competition, with Sports Psychologist Haley PerlisToday let's learn from sports psychologist Dr. Haley Perlis, who delves into the competition mindset, developing mental toughness, managing stress, avoiding burnout, the psychology of extreme sports, and how your core values shape your life and sport. Find out more about Dr Perlis at https://drhaleyperlus.com/ And to get a glimpse into the mental aspect of dealing with suffering and self doubt check out my book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic at https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/ Thanks! Stephan Kesting
2025-07-0853 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting425 - Optimal BJJ Competition Mindset, with Rob BiernackiRob Biernacki has some very impressive competition victories, including black belt masters gold at both No Gi Worlds and ADCC. In this podcast episode he reveals... Why people sometimes just don't perform up to their potential and how to fix it, How to reframe tournament nerves, The optimal state of arousal for competition, Building and executing on gameplans, Why some people just shouldn't compete, His best advice for first-time competitors And more. If you compete (or are thinking about competing), then this is a must listen! Resources referred to in this video include:
2025-06-091h 00The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting424 - Writing the Ultimate BJJ Book, with Meerkatsu and Graham BarlowIt started as an April Fool's joke and then morphed into a BEAST of a book complete with 967 illustrations called "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the Ultimate Illustrated Guidebook". In episode 424 I chat with renowned BJJ black belt, illustrator and designer Seymour Yang (better known as Meerkatsu) and his partner in crime Graham Barlow (the creator of the Tai Chi Notebook) about the core techniques of BJJ, modern vs traditional jiu-jitsu, and the process of bringing a new book into the world. Check out the book here: https://www.meerkatsu.com/product/brazilian-jiu-jitsu-the-ultimate-illustrated-guidebook/ Cheers, Stephan P...
2025-05-2950 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting423 - BJJ, Science, and D&D with Bryan RumbleBryan Rumble is a 2nd degree belt and a working scientist. In this episode we start out by talking about BJJ traditions, the depth of the art, and how the scientific method might be applied in jiu-jitsu. Then, at about the 23 minute mark, Bryan and I nerd out SUPER hard on Dungeons and Dragons and how it relates to martial arts training. You've been warned! Check out Bryan's school in Brantford, Ontario at the links below https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Rumble-Academy-100057419059340/ https://www.instagram.com/bryanrumble And check out the mem...
2025-05-0648 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting422 - How to Condition Yourself to Deal with Adrenaline in Stressful SituationsThe fight-or-flight reflex is always lurking just below the surface. When things get sufficiently stressful, our hormonal system dumps enormous amounts of adrenaline into our bloodstream, and—BOOM—suddenly we're ready for action. That adrenaline serves a purpose: it elevates your heart rate, makes you much stronger, more pain tolerant, and able to ignore injury. If you ever have to lift a car off a child, you don't want to be calm. Instead, you want to be mad, scared, enraged—whatever it takes to get into that adrenaline-soaked state of high arousal to lift the damn car with y...
2025-04-2424 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting421 - BJJ Training and Conditioning Myths, with James Deirmendjian from Fit Fight TrainingThree time IBJJ World medallist James Deirmendjian joins me to discuss optimal training methodologies and the science behind strength and conditioning for sport. We cover hacks to improve recovery, debunk common myths in the Jiu-Jitsu community, and go deep into the need for a more scientific approach to training and nutrition. Follow and get in touch with James via https://www.instagram.com/fight_fit_training/ on Instagram. And check out my best-selling book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic at https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/ and everywhere else physical, digital, and audiobooks a...
2025-04-041h 00
HAZARD CLASSHC0021 - Pushing Our Limits Featuring: Stephan KestingTHMG Presents: Hazard Class Episode 0021Pushing our LimitsFeaturing: Stephan KestingIn this compelling episode of Hazard Class Podcast, host Jake sits down with Stephan Kesting—a firefighter, jiu-jitsu black belt, adventurer, and content creator—to discuss a life dedicated to perseverance, mastery, and exploration. From surviving a deadly warehouse fire and receiving the Medal of Bravery to solo canoeing a thousand miles through the sub-Arctic after a life-saving kidney transplant, Stephen shares his incredible journey of risk, preparation, and pushing personal limits.The...
2025-03-0545 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting416 - How to Climb Everest, with Extreme Alpinist Jost KobuschJost Kobusch is just back from Everest, where he is doing a multi-year project to climb the tallest mountain in the world... by himself... without oxygen... up the incredibly difficult West Ridge route in the middle of winter. In winter, the effective altitude of Everest is over 9,000 meters, and the winds can reach 250 km/hour (155 mph). And - on top of that - the mountain was hit by a powerful earthquake while he was on it. Find out... How Jost Kobusch optimises his training The relative importance of physical vs mental attributes in extreme spor...
2025-01-2736 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting415 - BJJ and Self Defense, with Tyson 'The Warrior Philosopher' LaroneTyson Larone is a BJJ belt, a Muay Thai teacher, TEDx speaker, and a strongman competitor. In this episode he and I dive deep into exploring how BJJ can be used for self defense, including how context changes everything in self defense… adaptations that women and smaller people need to make… the problems with the one time self defense seminar model… the need for force-multipliers and whether guns can act as that force multiplier… the single biggest thing any man can do to keep the women in his life safe and more. We also perceptions and expressions of masculinity, conservative...
2025-01-161h 58The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting413 - Strongman Training Secrets, with Kalle BeckKalle Beck has competed, coached and commentated in Strongman events and has helped thousands of people become much, much stronger. Here's how some of the lessons learned from Strongman apply to other sports... Check out Kalle's site at https://startingstrongman.com/ and the Facebook group he runs (the biggest strongman community in the world) at https://www.facebook.com/groups/startingstrongman/ Check out Stephan Kesting's latest jiu-jitsu instructional, No Gi Pin Escapes at https://www.grapplearts.com/PinEscapes and also his book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic, with links for more information here...
2024-11-251h 14The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting409 - Denis Kang, From Underground Bareknuckle Fights to the Biggest MMA Stage in the WorldDenis was one of the top MMA fighters in the world with wins over Minoru Suzuki, Murilo 'Ninja' Rua, Akihiro Gono and Marvin Eastman. In this interview he opens up about the mindset shift that took him to a 22 fight undefeated streak... how he dealt with the death of his fiance while competing for the biggest MMA organisation in the world... how fighters should know when it's time to quit fighting... and how MMA training has changed since the early days. This episode is also available on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/bYfPiNUIWa4 Denis teaches...
2024-09-0959 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting408 - Ramsey Dewey on Effective Combat Sports and What Self Defense Experts Get WrongRamsey Dewey is an MMA coach now based in Shanghai, China. I really enjoyed our conversation which included... How wearing headgear in sparring actually makes things WORSE for your brain His controversey with Master Wong Why China could take over MMA What self defense 'experts' get wrong What happens to martial arts that don't spar Ramsey's experience on The Ultimate Self Defense Championship Check out Ramsey's very popular Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@RamseyDewey Find out more about the FREE Grapplearts BJJ Master App at https://www.grapplearts.com/masterapp And pl...
2024-08-261h 30The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting407 - 3 Big Lessons Learned During 19 Days of Isolation in the ArcticI just did a 19-day solo canoe trip in the Canadian Arctic, and here are the 3 big lessons I learned! If you want to see photos and a day-by-day description of the trip please go here: https://essentialwilderness.com/lost-in-the-barrens-a-solo-canoe-trip-on-a-remote-arctic-river/ Order my book "Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic" at the following places: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/ Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/perseverance-stephan-kesting/1145682384 Indigo/Chapters: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/perseverance-life-and-death-in-the-subarctic/9781639368617.html If you'd like to subscribe to audio-only form th...
2024-08-0549 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting406 - Goodbye - I Am Out of Here!This podcast episode covers all the details and preparations for a long solo trip in the Arctic that I'm starting today! After 30 hours of driving and a 2 hour bush plane flight to Nueltin Lake I'll be heading north of the treeline direct into the Barren Lands of the Arctic. Once there, I'll be completely alone and out of touch for 30 days. The only written description of the river is a few pages in a book written by a missionary in the late 1800's. The trip spans the Thlewiaza, The-Tinne, Kognak and Tha-Anne rivers and will...
2024-06-2133 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting403 - Is Bear Spray Better than Guns vs Aggressive Bears? Here's What the Data from 352 Bear Encounters Says...In this episode I put on my adventurer hat and use my biology background to look at four studies and 352 aggressive bear encounters in Alaska to see whether bear spray or firearms was more effective at deterring aggressive black, grizzly and polar bear behaviour. The results may surprise you, but data doesn't care about your feelings! TIMESTAMPS 01:28 - Introduction to bears spray vs guns 04:08 - Analysis of the first report, Bear Spray vs Bullets, Which Offers Better Protection, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. 04:30 - Analysis of second report, Bear S...
2024-05-0727 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting385 - Grappling with the Implications of the 46 Million Dollar Lawsuit for Jiu-Jitsu, with Dan Lukeheart, Alex Kask and Stephan KestingThe jiu-jitsu world was shaken recently when Jack Greener, severely injured in 2018 while sparring at a San Diego gym, was awarded $46,475,112 dollars by a jury. Rener Gracie testified for the plaintiff, and Clark Gracie testified for the defence. In this episode, I get together with Dan Lukeheart (Brea Jiu-Jitsu) and Alex Kask (Barrister and Solicitor) to discuss the specific technique that caused this injury (the 'Leo Viera Backtake'), training methods used in jiu-jitsu, who gets to set industry standards in jiu-jitsu, whether white belts should spar, and how teachers and club owners can protect themselves from being...
2023-05-072h 12The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting375 - How Skill, Athleticism and Rank Correlate in BJJ, with Rob Biernacki00:29 - Is technique enough by itself? 04:47 - Is Jiu-jitsu for everybody? 09:59 - Skill vs athleticism vs rank 22:43 - The resurgence of guard passing 25:34 - Intensity in training and belt promotion 32:43 - Hobbyist vs competitor training. 37:47 - The most effective takedowns for jiu-jitsu 39:12 - Training strengths vs working on weaknesses BJJ FOR OLD F***S, THE GUARD PASSING GAME Check out the latest Grapplearts instructional featuring Stephan Kesting and Rob Biernacki here: https://www.grapplearts.com/bjj-for-old-fs-guard-passing/ Good luck with your training, Stephan
2022-09-1651 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingRescuing People Trapped in Cults, Stephan Kesting with Joseph SzimhartIn episode 335 of The Strenuous Life Podcast Stephan Kesting talks to cult expert, cult survivor and cult deprogrammer Joeseph Szimhart. We go into depth about QAnon, New Age cults, Theosophy, cult recruitment tactics, and people escape them. I think this is a fascinating and very topical conversation. Find out more about Joe at https://www.jszimhart.com/ And if you enjoyed this episode then please, a rating or review within the podcast platform of your choice would be super appreciated! Thank you, Stephan Kesting
2021-08-091h 29The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingThree Steps to Improve Your Post-Training RecoveryYour health is like a credit card.. You can definitely put things onto your credit card once in a while. You can even use a credit card to help bridge the gap when you're short on funds. But sooner or later you need to pay it off. But if you keep on making withdrawals against your card without ever putting money back into it then you're going to end up in serious trouble. Your health is the same way. You can't borrow against it indefinitely. If you keep asking your body to...
2021-02-1122 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingJiu-jitsu Is The Art of Facing Challenges, with Elliott BayevBJJ black belt and entrepreneur Elliott Bayev on the ability to test new ideas in jiu-jitsu, how the basics change over time, how to use jiu-jitsu in sales and running a business, and much more. Follow Elliott on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/elliottbayev/. And you can find me (Stephan) on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/StephanKesting Cheers! Stephan
2021-01-2555 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting7 Mental Hacks I'm Going to Maintain Motivation in 20212020 has been a hell of a year, but better times are coming soon, so it's time to get our collective asses into gear. In today's podcast I'll take you through the 7 mental hacks I've successfully used to punch on through to the other side and that I'm going to develop and keep my momentum in 2021 as well! The second half of today's podcast was recorded during my 1000 mile solo in the arctic (go to https://www.grapplearts.com/solo to see my notes from the field for that trip). If you found today's episode useful...
2020-12-3118 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingEverything You Wanted to Know About Professional Wresting But Were Afraid to Ask, with Tad Lincoln MurphyToday I talk with pro-wrestler Tad Lincoln Murphy about catch wrestling in early American circuses, the development of luta livre in Brazil, Shootwrestling in Japan, and how one trains to becomes a pro wrestler in the first place! Follow Tad the wrestler on Instagram at @tadwrestler or in his customer success career at @lincolnmurphy And if you could find it in your black little heart to leave a rating or a review of The Strenuous Life Podcast on Apple Podcasts I would be forever indebted to you! Stephan Kesting
2020-12-091h 20The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingDebunking the Covid Myths, with Epidemiologists Dr Katrine Wallace and Madeline Lewis01:32 - Qualifications of epidemiologists Dr Katrine Wallace and Madeline Lewis 04:42 - Is COVID-19 actually 99.5% survivable? 06:33 - What are the current best estimates of the COVID-19 infection fatality rate and case fatality rates? 10:00 - How important are IFR and CFR in the policy decisions? 10:50 - Is COVID-19 no more deadly than the flu? 13:55 - Problems with comparing Covid to the seasonal flu 15:18 - Are scientists under-reporting the flu and/or counting every case or the flu as covid? 22:05 - Do scientists and the CDC want everyone to lock down forever? 23:57 - Did...
2020-12-042h 07The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting301 - Back Pain in Sport and How to Fix It, with Dr Stuart McGillBack pain is incredibly common in sport, including all combative sports like jiu-jitsu, MMA, boxing and judo. That is why I was thrilled to talk to Dr Stuart McGill, one of the world's leading experts on back pain. Dr McGill spent 30 years researching and teaching spinal mechanics at the University of Waterloo in Canada. He has published more than 300 scientific papers, written 3 textbooks, and has worked to improve sports performance with countless athletes from almost every sport. His book, "Back Mechanic: The Step-by-Step McGill Method to Fix Back Pain" has become a classic manual for liv...
2020-11-241h 13The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting5 Principles for Taking RisksHere are 5 principles that I use on a daily basis for evaluating risk, along with concrete examples from martial arts training, fire fighting, white water kayaking, and behavior during a pandemic. I hope you find this useful! The single best way to stay in touch with what's going on with the podcast, grapplearts, and everything else is still my newsletter. Sign up for free at https://www.grapplearts.com/newsletter Cheers! Stephan Kesting
2020-11-1926 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingEfficient Training for Competition with Brandon MullinsToday I chat with Black belt no gi world champion Brandon 'Wolverine' Mullins about how the most efficient training methods to master the highly complex world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Lots of great takeaways in this one!! 02:18 - Learning technique only vs learning technique and theory 05:42 - Fundamental movements in BJJ 09:24 - Advanced applications of fundamental movements 14:48 - Winning by achieving depth in a technique 25:40 - Successfully setting up guard submissions 37:22 - Off speed pitches and surprising your opponent in BJJ 44:03 - Starting at step 3 52:19 - Top tips for training 1:01:39 - Safe techniques 1:11:03 - IBJJF legalising reaping and heel hoo...
2020-11-121h 21The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingThe Biggest Clue That It's Time to Quit Competing in Full Contact Martial Arts Like MMA, Boxing and KickboxingFull contact fighting is inherently risky, especially when you consider the traumatic brain damage that's so common in boxing, kickboxing and MMA. And competing in sports where head shots and brain trauma are abundant ramps those risks up exponentially. While I totally support your right to take risks (and have taken many myself) there comes a point when the risk outweighs the reward. So what is that point? In this episode I discuss the number one indicator that I think tells you when you should quit competing in contact sports... Check out my S...
2020-10-3009 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingMy Kung Fu Training Days...On today's episode I'm interviewed by Randy Brown on his podcast about my journey through Kung Fu and how I found jiu-jitsu. Lots of nuggets about training safely and effectively in this one! Follow Randy at https://www.youtube.com/c/Mantisboxers/videos https://www.instagram.com/randybrownmantisboxer/ https://randybrownmantisboxing.com/ Tweet me: @StephanKesting Check out my Instagram: @Stephan_Kesting And get on my email newsletter - I use it to put out a TON of good training information: grapplearts.com/newsletter Cheers!...
2020-10-271h 09The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting292 - Is It Safe to Train BJJ During Covid Yet? A Nuanced Answer...Is it safe to train BJJ in a pandemic? I wish it were a simple yes or no answer, but as I discuss in this episode (which is also available on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjyivFxPJMU&feature=youtu.be) it depends on a number of factors including... Your age, health, pre-existing conditions Your tolerance for personal risk The age and health status of your family Your health insurance situation, Your willingness to put other people in society at risk, Whether you're taking precautions in the rest of your life What the local Covid test...
2020-10-2327 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingYoga, Meditation, and... Conspiracy Theory? With Derek Beres from the Conspirituality PodcastOnly aligning your chakras can save you from the satanist deep state... Derek Beres is an author and former reporter who cohosts the Conspirituality podcast which investigates the convergence of left-wing spirituality in Yoga and wellness culture with feverish right-wing conspiracy theorists. I wish this podcast could have been a light hearted traipse down the kookier aspects of Yoga and spiritual utopianism but in a time when rampant conspiracy thinking on social media spreads mistruths, disinformation and 'alternative facts' this is a deadly serious issue. Follow the Conspirituality Podcast here: https://conspirituality.net/ - it's...
2020-10-201h 22The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingThe Fundamental Movements At The Core of Every Jiu-Jitsu Technique, with Brandon 'Wolverine' MullinsBlack belt world champion Brandon Mullins and I talk about the fundamental movements of jiu-jitsu and their advanced applications in almost every technique you'll ever use on the mat. Check out our bestselling book, 'Nonstop Jiu-Jitsu' on Amazon.com https://amzn.to/3kwkHRH or go here to get the links if you live in Canada, the UK, Japan, Italy or Germany: https://www.grapplearts.com/nonstop-jiu-jitsu-book/ This is the BJJ book of the decade! Stephan Kesting
2020-09-2925 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingCovid-19 Ground Zero in NYC with Medical Doctor and BJJ Black Belt Nicholas Tyau,Dr Nicholas Tyau is an internal medicine specialist who was working at a hospital in the Bronx, the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic in North America, during the spring of 2020. He's also a BJJ black belt, so he's no stranger to training and adversity! In this podcast we talk about the chaos that the pandemic created in the NY hospitals, the controversy over death certificates, hydroxychloroquine, vaccines, dealing with the second wave, and what it was like when Nicholas himself got infected by a patient. We get pretty granular in this one, but I hope it's still accessible for m...
2020-09-231h 07The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingTraining BJJ Outside, with Jeff ShawJeff Shaw and I geeked out about Jiu-Jitsu history at first, but then at about the 27:00 minute mark we pivoted to his school's innovative outdoor classes with dedicated training partners during coronavirus and how we can get back to normal in the sport. I hope you enjoy this episode. Please share it with your friends and training partners who are looking for ideas about how to continue training as safely as possible during the pandemic. Here are the recently updated guidelines for opening up BJJ academies in a time of Covid: grapplearts.com/openingupbjj
2020-08-211h 22The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting280 - The Key Difference Between Training and Competition, with Robert DrysdaleRobert Drysdale is one of the most highly decorated American grapplers in history. He remains the only person not born in Brazil to win both the IBJJF World Championships with the gi and the ADCC Open Division without the gi. Today we talked about the difference between Jiu-Jitsu in competition and in the gym, his research on the early history of jiu-jitsu in Brazil, and his upcoming documentary called, "Closed Guard: The Origins of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil." Find out more about the complicated relationship between Jigoro Kano, Mitsuyo Maeda, Carlos and Helio Gracie, and Kimura.
2020-08-131h 08The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingTrain Often, Test Rarely, with Stephan KestingThe difference between improving every day and setting a personal best every day in sport, training, and martial arts... Notes and pictures from my 1000 mile solo arctic in 2019: https://www.grapplearts.com/solo My in-depth discussion with endurance athlete Mike McCastle: https://www.grapplearts.com/pain-is-a-universal-language-with-endurance-athlete-mike-mccastle/
2020-06-2907 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingOleg Taktarov, the Sambo OG of the UFCI'm absolutely thrilled to welcome Oleg Taktarov to the podcast. Oleg used his Sambo skills to win UFC 6, beat Dolph Lungren in a widely publicised boxing match, and fought at the infamous Pentagon Combat event which ended in a riot and got MMA banned in Rio de Janeiro. Oleg is also a great teacher - I personally use techniques and concepts I learned from him more than 20 years ago almost every day that I step onto the mats. Today we cover dealing with fear in MMA matches, the path to mastering striking as well as gra...
2020-06-0157 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingMy BJJ Manifesto in 100 WordsLearn a technique and study all its aspects including set-ups, grips, body position, timing, balance, counters and recounters. Get help from your instructor, class-mates, the internet and instructional media. Repetition makes you smooth. Smooth makes you fast. Isolate the technique in sparring. Start with the smallest,least experienced person in the club. When the technique works consistently, move on and try it on the second smallest or second least experienced person. Repeat. In grappling, observe problems you encounter with the technique. Then take time to analyze, brainstorm and discuss with coaches and training...
2020-05-2818 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingADCC and IBJJF World Champion Yuri Simoes on Switching to MMAYuri Simoes is a two time ADCC World Championship, a two-time IBJJF black belt Absolute No-Gi World Champion, and a two-time Pan American Champion. In our chat we go deep into developing the motivation required to train at such a high level, the importance of self defense, how he took down a Olympic Judo champion in competition, and much more. I hope you enjoy it! 00:44: Growing up in Brazil 03:07: Training self defense 05:38: On making BJJ your way of life 10:08: Judo and BJJ cross training 14:40: Yuri's match against Travis Stevens
2020-04-201h 05The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingFive BJJ Training Strategies During Coronavirus LockdownCoronavirus has most of the BJJ world locked down and it sucks. I get it: you desperately want to get back on the mats and train. Here are 5 strategies to keep your head in the game and prevent you from backsliding too much before that happy, happy day comes! Grab my free app for iOS and Android. It's called The Grapplearts BJJ Master App and has more than 700 minutes of free black belt instruction. Plus it now has links to every podcast episode and in depth article I write. Grab the app for free at htt...
2020-04-1308 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting264 - Jiu-Jitsu Saved My Life, with Jamie KilsteinIn this episode I talk with BJJ brown belt and Joe Rogan approved professional comedian about how jiu-jitsu saved his life, ways to stay positive during the coronavirus lockdown, tribalism and much more. Follow Jamie on Instagram @thejamiekilstein, on the JamieKilstein podcast, on Rear Naked Radio and on his Youtube channel. Use the coupon code 'United' for 50% off on ANY of my instructionals at https://www.grapplearts.com/instructional-bjj-grappling-dvds/ for the duration of the corona crisis Here are some of my other social media links... Tiktok (NEW): https://vm.tiktok.com...
2020-04-071h 01The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingWhat I Learned Testing BJJ Against Multiple AttackersWhat's your best strategy vs multiple opponents? Can Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu be part of that strategy. I gave my answer to this during an Instagram and Tiktok live session that I did recently. I'm sure it'll ruffle a few feathers, but then again, every martial artist has an opinion on this including those that have NEVER tested it. By the way, here's me on Tiktok (NEW): https://vm.tiktok.com/QQDSBt (@StephanKesting) And here's me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting (@stephan_kesting) Good luck with your training, ...
2020-03-0624 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingFinding Your Optimal Way to Train BJJ - With Jon ThomasIn this conversation BJJ black belt Jon Thomas and I go deep into training and drilling methodologies that give you results as fast as possible. Jon is originally from the US but teaches at a school in Sweden. He still competes at a high level, so he has had to take extreme ownership over his results using reverse-engineering and a very analytical approach to his training. In this episode we go deep into how everyone learns BJJ differently and how therefore the optimal learning environment is also different for everyone. We also cover t...
2020-02-201h 13The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingTraining Brock Lesnar for the UFC, with Coach Greg NelsonA deep dive into designing and running MMA fight camps, how to mix striking with wrestling and jiu-jitsu, conditioning for fights, and much more with Greg Nelson. Greg has trained many MMA and UFC fighters including Brock Lesnar, Dave Menne, Sean Sherk and Thug Rose Namajunas. I really enjoyed this conversation and I think you will too! Grab my free downloadable guide to learning BJJ fast at https://www.grapplearts.com/book Check out the huge archive of techniques and detailed training tips at https://www.grapplearts.com/articles/ ----------------------------------- ...
2020-01-291h 08The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting251 - Gameplan Development and Learning New TechniquesIn this Q&A I cover gameplan development, what to do about training partners figuring out your game, how to find a good gym, whether loyalty to your instructor always a good thing, how sparring is the secret sauce of any effective martial art, and taking time off from jiu-jitsu! These questions came from an Instagram Live session I did. Follow me on Instagram @stephan_kesting or click here: https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting/ And while I have your attention, here are some of my other social media links... Tiktok (NEW): https://v...
2020-01-0912 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingBJJ for Law Enforcement and Corrections with Rory Van VlietRory is a corrections officer with a ton of experience in other branches of law enforcement. He's also a very skilled BJJ black belt at Island Top Team under Rob Biernacki. In this chat we go into depth about how BJJ can be applied in law enforcement situations as well as talking about Rory's latest BJJ instructional, The Guard Retention Formula, which you can find out more about at https://www.grapplearts.com/guardretention. If you've read down this far then you're probably a fan of the podcast. And if that's the case can I ask you for...
2020-01-061h 06The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingOn the value of BJJ Competition, with Thomas LisboaA fun conversation with BJJ black belt Thomas Lisboa about why testing yourself occasionally in competition gives you things that you just can't get from regular training, how Brazilian black belts use their skills on the mat to emigrate to North America, how to develop your weakest positions, why even advanced students should attend the beginner's class, and much more. If you enjoy the podcast then a rating or a review would be super-useful! If you're not sick of me yet then here are some of my social media links... Tiktok (NEW): https...
2019-12-2248 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingA Roadmap for BJJ, the Complete Audiobook (Free)Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) can seem incredibly complicated when you're first exposed to it. In this episode I explain the positional hierarchy, the underlying logic, and the method behind the madness of what happens when two people are rolling on the ground. I think this'll really help you and I hope you share it with your friends! Download 'The Roadmap for BJJ' in PDF form for free at https://www.grapplearts.com/book And grab 'The Roadmap for BJJ App' for Apple and Android devices for free at https://www.grapplearts.com/roadmap G...
2019-11-2258 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingBoxing vs BJJ in a Fight (plus Stephan's Epic Rant on Self Defense)In this podcast I answer a question I received on an Instagram Live Q&A about a boxing beating jiu-jitsu in a real streetfight. Then I go on an epic rant about the three specific things most BJJ guys need to do first to make their martial art streetworthy. Follow me on Instagram (@stephan_kesting) and maybe a future podcast episode will be devoted to answering one of your questions! Also go to https://www.grapplearts.com/guardretention to find out more about the upcoming step-by-step formula for stopping your guard from getting passed. I guarantee this inst...
2019-11-1216 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingPain is a Universal Language, with Endurance Athlete Mike McCastleMike McCastle has accomplished some of the most amazing tasks of endurance I've ever heard of. In this episode we go deep into developing mental strength, maintaining commitment in the face of adversity, and dealing with physical and emotional pain. This is an amazing episode and I hope you really like it! Mike's feats of endurance are part of the 12 Labors Project and include setting the world 24 hour pull-up record while wearing a 30 lb pack (5804 pull-ups), pulling an F150 pickup truck for 22 miles through Death Valley, climbing the height of Mount Everest (29,029 feet) by going up and dow...
2019-11-041h 05The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingOn Being Willing to Die in the Ring with Tristan Connelly, UFC FighterTristan Connelly, fresh off his absolutely amazing underdog win over Michel Pereira in the UFC, talks with Stephan Kesting on The Strenuous Life Podcast. We went into detail about mindset, strategy and training. I think you'll find this a great episode! Specific topics included, 00:14 A detailed breakdown of his fight with Michel Pereira, 07:00 Weight control for MMA Fighters, 09:23 What quitting fighting will look like, 11:10 On being a chronic trainer, 12:09 Developing fight strategies, 15:10 Taking a fight on short notice, 18:14 What he does for recovery after hard training, 19:46 What the average week of training looks like, 21:56 The factor that...
2019-10-2850 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingSurvive First and Win Later - Timeless Jiu-Jitsu Wisdom"Survive first, win later" was one of the very first pieces of advice I ever received in jiu-jitsu. It helped me then and it still helps me now, both on and off the mat. I hope this mentality helps you too! And just a quick reminder that a rating or a review of the podcast is the easiest thing you can do to help out, so thank you for that in advance. Good luck with your training, Stephan Kesting
2019-10-1904 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingHow to Get More Submissions with Rob BiernackiHow to get more chokes, armlocks and leglocks in BJJ with Rob Biernacki. We break down a 6 step submission formula that will allow you to hit more submissions on good people, even if they're bigger and stronger than you. Plus we talk about training submissions as positions, an incredibly important skill to develop if you want to get better at tapping people out. Check out The Submission Formula featuring Rob Biernacki and Stephan Kesting (that's me!) at https://www.grapplearts.com/submissionformula And, as always, good luck with your training! Stephan
2019-10-0824 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingOne Thing to Do Right Now So You'll Still Be Training in 10 YearsBJJ is a fantastically fun sport that's also undeniably hard on the body. Here's my single biggest tip for people in their 30's and 40's who want to keep on training into their 50's and 60's If you're not already doing so then follow me on instagram where I post cool pics and informative videos quite regularly https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting And if you're thinking about starting BJJ, or have done it for less than 2 years, then grab my free guide to learning the art as fast as possible here: https://www.grapplearts...
2019-09-1505 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingWhy I'm Planning to do a 1,000 Mile Trip in the Arctic by Myself this SummerThis summer I am attempting to travel 1,000 miles in a canoe by myself in Canada's northern boreal forest and the barren lands of the eastern arctic. In this episode I talk about why I would ever want to do such a thing, the logistics and planning involved, contingency plans, dealing with bears, and how I'm going to pack 50 days of food into a boat that doesn't quite seem large enough... During the trip I hope to use a satellite data link to upload short updates and episodes to this podcast, as well as the occasional picture to m...
2019-06-1947 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting216 - How to Find a Good School to Train AtOne of the most common questions I get is how to find a good school. This is a REALLY important issue, given that in your martial arts journey you'll potentially be spending thousands of hours training and placing your health in the hands of total strangers. In this podcast I give you some of my very best tips for picking the best school for your needs Check out my instagram at https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting Get tons of BJJ and grappling tips at https://www.grapplearts.com/articles And find out mo...
2019-06-1307 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingWhy You MUST Regularly Calibrate Your Skills Against People Better Than You!This is a short rant about the dichotomy of individuality in the martial arts. On the one hand you absolutely have to take responsibility for finding techniques and strategies that fit your body, your physical attributes, and your personality. On the other hand if you spend too much time training in a small group without the opportunity to calibrate your skills against people much better than you then you can end up king of your local hill and never make it up the slopes of the higher mountains around you! Stephan Kesting
2019-06-0509 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingHow to Become More Comfortable in No Gi GrapplingSwitching to no gi grappling can be difficult. Here are 5 steps that will make it easier... 1) Accept that No Gi is an inherently faster style of grappling and be prepared to push the pace harder at times, 2) Change your grips so that they aren't gi dependent, 3) Get rid of your gi dependent guards and start developing guards that work in no gi, 4) Learn how to take the back, maintain the back and submit from the back because it's the best position in no gi grappling, 5) Develop your leglock and guillotine choke submissions because those are much more prevalent in...
2019-03-2309 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingWhat to Do When You're Just Not Getting Better at BJJHere's one simple thing you should do every time that your training has stalled out and you're just not getting any better. Hell, you should probably be doing this even if your training is going great! Today's episode came from a Q&A I did on Instagram. Follow me there where I'm @stephan_kesting or go to https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting
2019-03-2103 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingThree Ways to Turn On Aggression in BJJ MatchesIt's important to be able to dial your aggression level up or down in a BJJ match. There are essentially 3 ways to do this... #1, by using so-called 'dick' moves, and/or #2, by using more force and strength, and/or #3, by simply moving faster. You turn the dials on these 3 variables in your training, but be especially careful if you're using options 1 and 2 against smaller training partners or people who aren't serious competitors. This question came from a Q&A I did on Instagram - follow me there where I'm...
2019-03-0709 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingJamie Flynn, British Special Forces Operator, Base Jumper, Wingsuit Pilot and BodyguardI think you guys are really going to LOVE this talk I had withJamie Flynn, a British Special Forces operator turned world base jumping champion. Jamie is also a wingsuit pilot, a professional bodyguard, has protected giant tanker ships against Somali pirates, and - surprise, surprise - does BJJ. In this episode we go into the selection procedure used by elite units in the British army, the crazy story of how he started base jumping and parachuting, close calls in Iraq and Afghanistan, triggers in sport for optimal performance, his horrific basejumping injury and the road back to...
2019-03-051h 51The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingSport-Specific Conditioning with Red SullivanRed Sullivan is a strength and conditioning expert who has worked with athletes in many different sports to help them realise their athletic potential. In this podcast we go deep into skill vs physical attributes, how body types influence sport, insane underwater workouts with Laird Hamilton, and the difference between improving as a person and improving in training. Find out more about Red and his training services at https://www.theredgimen.com/, or follow him on Instagram at @strictlyred —————————————————— OFFICIAL STEPHAN KESTING LINKS —————————————————— YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/stephankesting INSTAGRAM @Stephan_Kesting https://www.instag...
2019-01-311h 08The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingGrappling Dummies and Other Tips to Train When You Can't Make It to ClassDoes training with grappling dummies actually work to improve your skills? And what else can you do to get better when training time is limited and it's difficult to make it to class as often as you like? This podcast rant is also available in written and video form as an in-depth blog post at https://www.grapplearts.com/will-grappling-dummy-drills-help-bjj/ Regardless of how you decide to solve the problem I wish you good luck with both your time management and your training! Stephan Kesting
2019-01-1807 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingGuard Passing Strategies in BJJ with Stephan Kesting and Rob BiernackiRob Biernacki and I sit down to discuss BJJ guard passing from a strategic point of view. When should you pass standing and when should you pass on your knees? When should you go for submission based guard passes and when should you try to force your opponent into a different type of guard? Check out Rob's groundbreaking BJJ Formula at http://grapplearts.com/bjjformula and his amazing leglock instructional at https://www.grapplearts.com/leglocks/
2018-11-1215 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting158 - Are Kung Fu Forms and Karate Kata Useful for Fighting?OK, I kind of go off on a big rant here about traditional Kung Fu forms and Karate kata based on my years of training Hung Gar, Northern Shaolin, Southern Crane, Hsing I, Tai Chi and Wing Chun Kung Fu. Are they at all useful for learning how to fight? In this episode I refer to an article I wrote called "How to Make Sure Your Martial Art Will Work in the Street" - you can find that here: http://selfdefensetutorials.com/how-to-make-sure-martial-art-work-street/ You can also find the video version of that article, called "5 Steps to...
2018-07-2312 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting140 - BJJ Specific Exercises, Supplements and Conditioning Routines with Ben ZhuangI talk with personal trainer and BJJ black belt Ben Zhuang going DEEP into the supplements, exercises, and conditioning protocols, and recovery procedures to help with Brazilian jiu-jitsu and other grappling arts. Follow Ben and see the exercises he's referring to on Instagram @coachbz Follow Stephan on Instagram @stephan_kesting
2018-04-151h 35The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting136 - The Differences between 'Sport' and 'Self Defense' BJJIn this (likely controversial) episode I argue that the differences between 'self defense' and 'sport' jiu-jitsu have largely been exaggerated. The real magic of jiu-jitsu is in training against resistance and learning to deal with pressure, not learning a set of magical 'self defense approved' techniques. If your interest is in self defense then you should still train at the best BJJ school you can find and then, if necessary, supplement the curriculum with a little bit of additional training. Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com http://www.selfdefensetutorials.com
2018-04-0408 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting132 - Twelve BJJ Black Belts Give Their Best Advice for People Starting Jiu-JitsuThis episode is just a little different! Today 12 BJJ black belts give their single best piece of advice for people just starting out in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. White belts looking for tips and help with their training will really benefit from watching this, and if it doesn't fire you up and get you on the mat grappling then nothing will! Here are the BJJ black belts featured in this video: Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com Bernardo Faria https://bernardofaria.com Brandon 'Wolverine' Mullins http://www.justgipants.com Travis Stevens http://www.fujisports.c...
2018-03-2519 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting124 - My Interview on the Cody Jitsu PodcastThis is a fun episode: instead of me doing the interviewing the tables get turned and I get grilled by Cody from the Codyjitsu podcast. We covered tons of stuff including my martial arts background, how I got my black belt, my favourite moves and techniques, specific strategies to train around injuries, the role of competition in training, and much more. Follow Cody on Instagram: @AmericanGrapplingAcademy Follow me on Instagram: @Stephan_Kesting And if you've actually read down this far then why not go and give The Strenuous Life Podcast a rating or revi...
2018-03-031h 12The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting119 - A Trick for Beating Exhaustion When You Roll or CompeteGetting tired when you're rolling sucks. And it's even worse when you're competing; you can't breathe, you go into survival mode, your plans goes out the window and life starts sucking. In this episode I share my number one tip for beating this exhaustion and performing up to your potential in competition. Let me know what you think of these tips and mini-rant podcast episodes. You can find me at the following places... Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/stephankesting Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting Snapchat: I'm 'stephankesting' o...
2018-02-2204 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting118 - Tips for Minimising Injuries and Maximising RecoveryTo get better fast in any sport you have to be able to train hard, which means minimising injuries and maximising your recovery. In this episode I give you some of my best tips to accomplish both of these goals. If you found this information useful then please share the podcast with ONE other person who might also benefit from hearing it. Thank you so much , Stephan Kesting www.grapplearts.com www.selfdefensetutorials.com
2018-02-1711 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting112 - A Live Q&A Session with Stephan KestingToday's episode comes from a Q&A session I did on Instagram live (@stephan_kesting) and gave the answers to a ton of BJJ and training topics including... 05:00 - When I started training BJJ 06:56 - Is BJJ ever going to make it into the Olympics 08:04 - Advice for remote learners without access to a school 12:33 - Teaching seminars? 13:19 - Grappling and submissions when there's a weapon involved 17:51 - Grapplearts leglock videos 19:01 - The leglock positional hierarchy 20:39 - Dealing with cauliflower ear 23:28 - What does my training look like? 24:51 - How powerful is the ankle lock, and what's the...
2018-01-2348 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting098 - Why Do So Few BJJ Gyms Teach Takedowns?Are takedowns important even though so few BJJ gyms teach them, and can you get away with never training them if your focus is competition? And what about self defense? This are questions I answered during an recent Instagram Live Q&A session - follow me on Instagram @stephan_kesting and maybe next time I'll be answering YOUR question!
2017-11-1703 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting097 - A Q&A About Training BJJ for Older GrapplersIn this episode I answer questions and share some tips and tricks for training in BJJ as an older grappler. How often should you train? How can you recover faster? Should you also do weight training as an older athlete and more! The questions came from an Instagram Live broadcast I did; follow me on Instagram @stephan_kesting and maybe next time I'll be answering YOUR question on one of these Q&A sessions.
2017-11-1234 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting095 - Increasing Mobility for Jiu-JitsuSome quick thoughts about improving the different forms of 'mobility' for jiu-jitsu, both in terms of movement on the ground, and joint mobility, from a recent Instagram Live Q&A. You can find me on Instagram at @stephan_kesting and I'd be thrilled if you followed me because I'm releasing pics and videos there all the time!
2017-11-0602 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingStephan Kesting vs Budo Jake; Training around the World, Advice to Newbies and More...This is a really good episode in which I talk to my friend, BJJ black belt, and world traveller Budo Jake. We cover a ton of topics including the evolution of Japanese ju-jutsu into BJJ, getting choked unconscious, the effectiveness of wrist locks in grappling, brain damage from striking, yoga and other recover methods, training at different academies, and advice for newbies. Enjoy!
2017-05-0244 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingEP 043: The Training and Conditioning Routines of 5 x BJJ World Champion Bernardo FariaBernardo Faria, 5 x BJJ World Champion, discusses his training and conditioning routine with Stephan Kesting. We talked about what Exactly what his day to day training regimen looks like, Who he spars with How he's balancing his training as he gets older, How his training regimen changes as he gets closer to competition, Whether you should do extra conditioning or not, How he gets his signature guard pass on everybody, Health and nutrition, And a whole lot more. This was an episode of my podcast, the 'Grapplearts Radio Podcast', which you can find on iTunes, Y...
2017-02-011h 13
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingStephan Kesting and Ritchie YipStarting with a discussion of Darth Vader's lightsabre technique in Rogue One we then go deeply into the topic of paralysis by analysis in jiu-jitsu, teaching technique, the best way to train to get good fast, and many other fun topics. We finish up by talking about areas that we've focussed on in our own training this last year and what's on the menu for next year!
2016-12-3153 min
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingEddie 'Wolverine' Cummings on Leglocks, Leglocks, LeglocksEddie 'Wolverine' Cummings talks with Stephan Kesting about leglocks, including why the heel hook is one of the most powerful submissions in BJJ, how to train them safely, and how to apply them correctly. Leglocks are incredibly dominant in modern no gi competition, so learn more about them in this podcast.
2016-02-241h 12
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingThe Second-Ever Grapplearts Q&A Podcast with Stephan KestingThe second-ever Grapplearts Radio Q&A format podcast. In this episode I answer questions from my newsletter readers and cover many topics, including How to come back to BJJ training after an injury... and not lose your mind while you're rehabbing... Options for transitioning out of Z guard (and half guard in general) to open guard How to improve your BJJ cardio so you don't gas out on the mats so easily A beginner's approach to learning guard passing How to know what techniques you should be focusing on in your drilling And much more...
2015-09-2937 min
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingJeff Westfall on Skepticism and the Martial ArtsStephan Kesting interviews Jeff Westfall from The Martial Brain podcast. They discuss kata vs real training, chi power and other martial hoaxes, and the power of applying a skeptical mindset to learning martial arts.
2015-09-1358 min
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingBernardo Faria, Double Gold Medallist at the 2015 BJJ Mundials In this episode of the Grapplearts Radio Podcast Stephan Kesting talks with Bernardo Faria, the 2015 BJJ Mundials 99kg and Absolute division winner. Bernardo Faria talks about... How he won the Worlds despite 'not being at all talented in jiu-jitsu' Competition mindset going into big tournaments His highly individual BJJ gameplan What he's learned training with Marcelo Garcia in NYC The physical conditioning routine that gets him into top shape for competition How he's modifying his game to work no-gi in ADCC And much more...
2015-07-0647 min
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingUFC Fighter Roxanne Modaferri's MMA Comebacks and Continuing to ImproveStephan Kesting interviews Roxanne Modaferri about the differences between MMA training in Japan and the USA, continuing to improve after 12 years in the sport, snapping a 6 fight losing streak, and what tryouts forThe Ultimate Fighter were really like. Download Stephan Kesting's Roadmap for BJJ book for free at http://www.grapplearts.com/book
2015-06-3038 min
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingBJJ Beginner Tips with Ritchie YipBJJ Black Belts Ritchie Yip and Stephan Kesting have a wide-ranging discussion, centered around tips that BJJ beginners need to know. Material covered includes: Whether beginners should in their own class or mixed in with more advanced people Things to look for when checking out a new school How to avoid situations where you're just going to get maliciously rag dolled by senior students How instructors can teach a class of differing levels What the the only real spiritual benefits of martial arts training is How to tell if a martial arts school is run by a c...
2015-01-2455 minThe Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingScotty Nelson's BJJ Adventures Around the WorldStephan Kesting interviews Scott Nelson from On the Mat about the history and evolution of BJJ in North America. Along the way Scott shares some pretty crazy stories from his travels around the world.
2014-04-0946 min
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingRitchie Yip on The Art and Science of Teaching Martial ArtsWant to find out how to be a more effective martial arts teacher? Stephan Kesting interviews BJJ black belt Ritchie Yip about the art and science of teaching martial arts. Lots of tips and tricks for teachers and aspiring instructors in this one!
2014-02-041h 01
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingRafael Lovato Jr on Training for High Level BJJ CompetitionStephan Kesting interviews Rafael Lovato Jr, one of the most successful North American BJJ competitors. They discuss technique, mindset, training, conditioning, and the keys to being successful in competition. The full transcript of this interview is available at http://www.grapplearts.com/lovato
2013-08-0254 min
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingPhilip Gelinas, Black Belt Hall of Fame MemberStephan Kesting interviews one of his most influential teachers, 9th degree Kajukenbo black belt and Black Belt Hall of Famer Philip Gelinas. Topics include the evolution of Georges St Pierre, the relevance of BJJ and MMA to self defense, grappling with sticks and knives, and how the martial arts continue to change and adapt in the 21st century.
2013-07-191h 01
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingKeenan Cornelius on training, competition, and a life in BJJKeenan Cornelius is a BJJ phenomenon. Having won double gold medals at four of the biggest IBJJF tournaments - The World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Pan-American Championship, European Open Championship, and the Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship, he's one of the most active, most successful North American competitors on the scene today. In this interview with Stephan Kesting from www.grapplearts.com, Keenan talks about his training regimen, competition mindset, dealing with nerves, his time at Team Lloyd Irvin, and what he hopes to accomplish in the future.
2013-04-2443 min
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingRoy Dean on BJJ, Judo, Aikido, and Path of the Martial ArtistProof that a serious BJJ competitor can still be classy; Roy Dean talks with Stephan Kesting about BJJ, Judo, Aikido, and Path of the Martial Artist. Roy Dean has black belts in kodokan judo and aikikai aikido, japanese jujutsu and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He's recognized as a black belt by the international brazilian jiu jitsu federation (IBJJF), with affiliated academies around the world.
2012-10-0853 min
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingVinicius 'Draculino' Magalhães on Surfing, Beach Fights and the History and Evolution of BJJVinicius 'Draculino' talks with Stephan Kesting about how surfing beach fights brought him into jiu-jitsu, what it was like training with the top Gracie and Machado fighters in Rio in the 1980's, and how self defense and vale tudo training were incorporated into the classes. He also talks about the early BJJ competition scene, and how BJJ has changed over the last 3 decades. His contributions to the Spider Guard Position, and why he gets more nervous for BJJ competition than for MMA fights. Then they move on to why he thought that many matches at...
2012-07-2027 min
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingThe Very First Grapplearts Q&A Podcast with Stephan KestingAnswers for your BJJ questions! Stephan takes questions from his newsletter readers in the first ever Q&A Podcast. Find out how how to taper for competition, what to do when you're getting crushed all the time, what to do when your wrestling coach wants you to stop doing BJJ, and how to remember all these bloody techniques...
2011-11-2551 min
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingThe Intersection Between BJJ, Submission Grappling and MMA with Ryan HallRyan Hall is one of North America's most prolific competitors in BJJ and Submission Grappling. In this in-depth interview with Stephan Kesting he shares tips on training, competing, the 50-50 guard, the triangle choke, sparring with Marcelo Garcia, the construction of an effective guard game, and so much more!
2011-08-3158 min
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingJudo for BJJ, 2009 Judo Olympian Daniel McCormick in conversation with Stephan KestingDaniel McCormick, the 2008 US National Judo Champion and 2009 Judo Olympian, talks about his Olympic experience, training BJJ, and "judo for bjj" or how exactly how Judo can be adapted to be effective in a BJJ context.
2011-06-1438 min
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingA Woman's Perspective on the Journey to Black Belt - Emily KwokEmily Kwok is a BJJ black belt, a decorated BJJ competitor and runs her own school in Princeton, New Jersey. In this interview she talks about how and why she abandoned a conventional white collar lifestyle to pursue her BJJ dreams, as well as sharing lots of great information about choosing BJJ schools, gender etiquette on the mats, and how to survive and thrive when you're always the smallest person at your school. She has also collaborated with Stephan Kesting on a series of instructional apps and DVDs called 'How to Defeat the Bigger, Stronger Opponent Series 1" a...
2011-05-1239 min
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan KestingMMA Training and Coaching - Erik PaulsonErik Paulson is an MMA Master Coach. He's trained tons of fighters competing at the highest levels of Mixed Martial Arts. And he also held the Shooto light-heavyweight title in Japan for 5 years. In this interview with Stephan Kesting from www.grapplearts.com, Erik reveals • What training with the Gracies in their 'garage days' was like • How wrestling can improve your BJJ, and visa versa • The theory of the jiu-jitsu wheel • The strategic and tactical differences between catchwrestling and BJJ • The key to rapid-fire submission attacks • Erik's philosophy on training with and without the gi • When is the...
2010-12-221h 05