BJJ Mental Models

In this mini-episode, we explain differential learning: a training approach used in sports proposing that motor skills are learned by varying how the movement is executed rather than trying to get it identical every time.

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https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro

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This week, we're joined by Jesse Walker and Shelby York! Jesse and Shelby own Rough Hands BJJ in Louisville, Kentucky, a gym of about 200 students with an unusually high number of women and older grapplers (the average student is around 43). In this episode, they walk a complete beginner through what happens before your first jiu-jitsu class. Topics include: vetting a gym, what to bring, why you should tap early, panic and intensity, injury risk.

Learn more at Rough Hands BJJ:
https://roughhandsbjj.com

Follow Jesse and Shelby at Rough Hands BJJ on Instagram:
https://instagram.com/roughhandsbjj

Resources discussed in this episode:

Yoga for BJJ, by Sebastian Brosche:
https://yogaforbjj.net

Women's Grappling Network on Facebook:
https://facebook.com/groups/341922519178021

Mental models discussed in this episode:
Keep It Playful
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-it-playful

Psychological Safety
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/psychological-safety

Acute Stress Response
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/acute-stress-response

Prioritize Longevity
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/prioritize-longevity

Survival Mode
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/survival-mode

Compatible Intent
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/compatible-intent

Respect Your Opponent
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/respect-your-opponent

Investing in Loss
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/investing-in-loss

Beginner's Mind
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beginners-mind

Motivation
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/continuum-of-motivation

Prevention Over Cure
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/prevention-over-cure

Paradox of Tolerance
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/paradox-of-tolerance

⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com

Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

Learn more mental models in our online database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

Follow us on social:
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

Music by Enterprize:
https://enterprize.bandcamp.com

In this mini-episode, we explain gamification: the practice of adding game-like elements to something in order to motivate a certain type of behavior. It's a concept from software design with elements of applied psychology and is used for everything from marketing to products to (of course) jiu-jitsu.

Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro

⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com

Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

Learn more mental models in our online database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

Follow us on social:
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

This week, we're joined by Barbara Ruiken and Giles Garcia! Barbara is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and the new head coach at Bergen Grappling in Norway, and she wrote her political science master's thesis on power and politics in jiu-jitsu organizations. Giles is the head coach and owner of Ronin Grappling in Rutherglen, just outside Glasgow, and a returning guest on the show. In this episode, Barbara and Giles explain why every gym has politics, whether the coach wants them or not. Topics include: informal power, accountability structures, setting your gym's culture on purpose, the jiu-jitsu cycle of abuse, and leadership burnout.

Read Barbara's master's thesis, Power and Politics in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Teams:
https://bit.ly/4iIUYH0

Follow Barbara on Instagram:
https://instagram.com/superbabs_bjj

Train with Barbara at Bergen Grappling:
https://www.bergengrappling.com

Train with Giles at Ronin Grappling:
https://roningrappling.com

Giles's jiu-jitsu portal, BJJ Codex:
https://www.bjjcodex.com

Mental models discussed in this episode:
Psychological Safety
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/psychological-safety

Respect People, Not Positions
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/respect-people-not-positions

Emotional Contagion
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/emotional-contagion

Paradox of Tolerance
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/paradox-of-tolerance

Extreme Ownership
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/extreme-ownership

⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com

Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

Learn more mental models in our online database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

Follow us on social:
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

Music by Enterprize:
https://enterprize.bandcamp.com

In this mini-episode, we explain constraints-led approach (CLA) in simple terms, and how it impacts your jiu-jitsu training.

Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro

⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com

Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

Learn more mental models in our online database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

Follow us on social:
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels