Open Mat Podcast

At some point in the journey of everyone who makes it past white belt, we deal with "losing" to someone we don't think we should lose to. Whether that loss is being tapped, having our guard passed, or anything in between, this fear costs us training opportunities at open mats, other gyms, and sometimes within our own home gyms. Adam and Tim discuss how to overcome these fears, opening the doors to more enjoyable trai...

Tim and Adam discuss what is considered by some to be the most devastating position in Jiu Jitsu, but for many practitioners is a challenge both to control and attack. Tim discusses the keys to avoid being thrown or rolled off from top position, and the one objective that will shut down all other attacks. Adam describes how he flipped the switch from consistently losing the mounted position to consistently submitting from there, an...

In this episode Tim and Adam discuss submissions - and specifically, why Tim believes that submission is the only thing that even matters in Jiu Jitsu. They briefly define Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for any listeners unfamiliar, but focus then on what it means to focus on submission before anything else and how that impacts our training. Finally, they discuss what things like passing the guard, pinning and taking the back mean if submissi...

Pinning is an important part of all grappling sports, but is much less important in Jiu Jitsu compared to other similar sports. Or is it? In this episode Tim and Adam discuss how pinning serves a different purpose, and why it remains an absolutely critical skill in a sport that rewards it so little. They discuss how to define pinning, how to use it strategically, and how to progress pins toward submissions while maintaining control...

As we get better at Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, we tend to develop certain areas of our game we're better at than others. But how do we take those skills and turn them into true specialties? In this episode Tim and Adam discuss how to develop specialties in Jiu Jitsu, the two ways they tend to develop, and Tim shares his thoughts on the most critical part of developing specialized skills which we often overlook.

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Back Control is one of the most powerful positions in Jiu Jitsu, but behind closed doors most hobbyists have to admit they struggle to control from the back long enough to submit. In this episode Tim and Adam discuss how to be consistently successful in exposing and attacking the back, and also how to build the skills needed to maintain control for extended periods of time.

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At some point in our Jiu Jitsu career, we run into one or more training partners we're completely helpless against. In this episode, Tim and Adam discuss what to do when the skill gap between you and your partner is too great for rounds to be competitive, and how to still improve in those rounds. They discuss how to approach them differently, why focusing on survival is never the answer, and even what you can gain from these r...

Adam and Tim discuss how to use class time leading up to a competition to prepare to win. They discuss how to avoid getting robbed in a tournament, why and how to train differently with a competition coming up, and how to develop the foundations of skill in stand up if you're too afraid to pull guard.

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In this conversation Adam and Tim dive into the deeply frustrating topic of passing the guard, and why much of the time we spend drilling passes is not useful. Tim lays out his views on how to truly improve at passing, including details on his particular framework on the foot positions of passing. Adam details some of the challenges his students have had in learning, and Tim gives advice to his blue belt self.

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In this concise episode Adam and Tim hone in on the idea that Jiu Jitsu is a zero sum game, and what this means for us strategically and for our learning. They delve into how every movement increases or decreases control, and how to make sure that the small exchanges add up over time to huge advantages and inevitable submissions.

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Adam and Tim give commentary on the first Craig Jones Invitational that is as definitive as it is late. They discuss the matches, evaluating some major matchups in both the context of the tournament and how BJJ has continued to evolve since. Tim has very strong words for the strong focus on takedowns shown and the degree to which they influenced the outcome and progress of the matches. The two discuss how CJI has influenced the spo...

Tim and Adam have an in-depth conversation around competition, including its importance, how to gameplan effectively, and recounting some of their own competitive history. They discuss the specific advantages competition gives in the journey of jiu jitsu progress, as well as how to create and implement gameplans that actually make a measurable difference in performance.

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In this episode Tim and Adam dive into the elusive skill of learning by reviewing Jiu Jitsu matches - whether those of top competitors or your own. While most top teams discuss their film study often, most hobbyists have never been taught how to bridge the gap between watching a match and gaining useful insights. Tim and Adam talk about how they do this, which competitors they have studied, the usefulness of filming yourself, and t...

Tim and Adam discuss one of the Jiu Jitsu community's most sensitive topics - the Black Belt. In this conversation they discuss when Tim felt he was "ready" for his black belt, what Adam feels he still needs to learn before he will be ready, and how each of them define the belt itself. They also discuss whether the black belt is as subjective as the other belts are,  and what to work towards as you try to become a bl...

In this episode Adam and Tim discuss the one challenge that faces both brand new students and instructors coaching brand new members: How do you start to learn Jiu Jitsu without having any idea where to start? They discuss how to define Jiu Jitsu and Jiu Jitsu skills, the first focus that will help new practitioners build skill immediately, and how to focus both your own learning and your students' learning through areas of fa...

Tim and Adam discuss the experience of being new to Jiu Jitsu, sharing tips and advice they wish they'd had for their first class. They discuss a variety of topics, including Jiu Jitsu culture, the differences between different types of gyms, and etiquette. This episode is indispensable for newer grapplers or those interested in starting in the sport, but also offers commentary on the state of Jiu Jitsu for more seasoned grapp...

Tim is joined by guest Morgan Frazer in a discussion around optimizing classes for competitors. Morgan teaches at M Theory Martial Arts in Minnesota, where he runs an early morning weekend class which draws students from other academies, some of whom drive 3 hours to attend. Morgan discusses how he approaches these classes, his teaching methodology, and how he views training and coaching Jiu Jitsu to maximize his students' per...