by James Clingerman
In this episode, we sit down with Dean Lister, a 3x ADCC Champion and one of the early pioneers of leg locks in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Dean talks about growing up in a military family, getting his start in wrestling and Sambo, and eventually discovering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He shares stories from his early training, the development of his leg lock game, and his memorable run through the 2003 ADCC Absolute Division. Dean also discusses competing in PRIDE, training with some of the biggest names in Jiu-Jitsu and MMA, his return to ADCC in 2011, and the evolution of leg locks in the sport. We also get into competition mindset, coaching, women’s self-defense, the early days of submission grappling, and some wild stories from old-school Jiu-Jitsu tournaments.
In the first edition of Open Mat, James and Ryan sit down with no real agenda and see where the conversation goes. They talk about Jonah Hill’s recent comments about Jiu-Jitsu and whether training actually means you can beat up the average person. From there, the conversation gets into people refusing to tap, some brutal armbars, and a few of the craziest students and visitors they’ve encountered over the years. They also talk about the upcoming IBJJA expansion, Ryan’s struggles training at a new gym, and using those bad rounds to get better. Finally, they get into AI, how it’s changing graphic design and marketing, and whether we’re eventually going to see AI-powered Jiu-Jitsu coaches.
In this episode, we sit down with Tom McMahon, a 5x IBJJF World Champion with an incredible story. Tom has an impressive competitive résumé and a wealth of Jiu-Jitsu knowledge, but his biggest battle came in 2021 when he was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. Tom shares stories from his competitive career, including winning IBJJF Worlds and facing BJJ legends like Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu and Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida. He also takes us through his entire journey with cancer—from his diagnosis and treatment to his recovery and eventual return to the competition. Follow Tom on Instagram — @riseagainbjj
When learning Jiu-Jitsu, as with any skill, it's crucial that we start from the beginning. That's what we call the foundation: the fundamental concepts, principals, and techniques which lay the groundwork for whatever skill we are developing. When building a skyscraper, you ALWAYS start with the foundation. And the taller the skyscraper, the deeper the foundation must be. The same is true for your Jiu-Jitsu. This is why we built BJJ Foundation, an online Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals Curriculum available to the public. In this episode we talk about the process of building and releasing BJJ Foundation, and why a fundamentals-first approach is the best way to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
In this episode, we're joined by Coach Mat Stratta, the Head Kids' Coach at Indiana Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy. Mat is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with a Bachelor's in Elementary Education, and he shares the approach that's helped him build successful kids classes over the past two decades. We talk about classroom management, keeping kids engaged, building discipline and confidence, and creating an environment where kids can learn and enjoy training. Mat shares the methods, habits, and mindset that have shaped his approach to teaching over the years. If you teach Kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or any martial arts for that matter, this episode is for you!
Welcome to the very first episode of The Fight Hub Podcast! We introduce ourselves, talk about how we got into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and share the story behind The Fight Hub, Indiana Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy (IBJJA), and BJJ Foundation. We also talk about what you can expect from future episodes. This podcast is all about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: learning, teaching, coaching, competing, improving as a martial artist, and the day-to-day reality of running a successful martial arts academy. James also tells the story he is asked about more than any other: the night he was shot in the face at a traffic light 26 years ago.