#126 Weight Loss in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
July 20, 2008
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is so good at melting fat off people that I don’t know why there isn’t waiting lists to train. Honestly if you personally have not experienced weight loss from training BJJ, I’ll bet that you know someone who has. And unlike well, every other workout I can think of, jiu-jitsu is fun and addictive.
This week on the show we’ll hear from four guys who have lost significant amounts of weight because of training BJJ. I think you will be shocked at the weight some have lost. And they will all tell you that they have been having such a good time training BJJ that losing the weight becomes an afterthought. Seriously, why isn’t BJJ introduced to every child when they begin formal education?
And for those who are wondering, this artfully done photo you see above was taken on location at the Fightworks Podcast photo studio next to the sink and in front of the stove. Get it? The measuring tape instead of a BJJ belt?!?! Our editorial team has outdone itself this time. Kudos, gang. 
Below are pictures of our featured guest on the show this week before training jiu-jitsu and what he looks like now. Danny the Butcher from Long Island trains with Matt Serra and Nick Serra and is now in the best shape of his life because of BJJ.
Remember that our gi patch design contest is still underway!
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (recommended)
[mp3] Download the show
What Happens When We’re Choked Out?
July 18, 2008
Vinicius “Pezao” Magalhaes choking Frederico Zaganelli at the N.American BJJ Tournament in September.
Back in October or so I asked folks if they’d ever been choked unconscious in BJJ. I have to apologize because I kind of dropped the ball on that one and haven’t touched the topic since that post.
But good news folks! Well, The FightWorks Podcast’s resident medical consultant Doctor Aaron Schneir, an emergency medicine specialist at UCSD and a purple belt in BJJ, has agreed to come on again soon to discuss what is really happening to us when we get choked in BJJ! We’ll be debunking myths, learning what to REALLY do when someone is choked out, what it does to your brain, and more!
But I need your help in putting the interview together!
Here’s how you can help:
- Option A: Call our toll free number and leave us a message with your question for Doc, and I can integrate it directly into the show! Call us on (877) 247-4662 !
- Option B: email me your question to caleb AT (this website) DOT com.
If you’re wondering which of the two options will definitely make you a better grappler on the mats, it’s Option A. That is if one will help at all 
BJJ Blogs I Read
July 15, 2008
Last week I posted a note about our annual Best Brazilian jiu-jitsu Blog of the Year. I thought to myself, “Why not share the blogs I keep an eye on so others can see if they like them too?”
So, I’m attaching something to this post called an OPML file. Basically it’s a file you upload (”import”) into Google Reader. (I can’t promise it will work in other readers.) This OPML file contains the RSS feeds of more than 60 BJJ blogs. Here’s what you do:
- Download the OPML File of BJJ Blogs Here and save it to your desktop.
- Open Google Reader.
- Click Manage Subscriptions in the bottom left of Google Reader.
- Now find Import/Export and upload the file you just saved to your desktop.
After you import this file, Google Reader will display the contents of the newly updated BJJ blog whenever any of these BJJ bloggers write something new!
The one thing all of these bloggers have in common is a love for BJJ. There’s a lot of different styles of writing in here, as folks share their jiu-jitsu experiences in their personal ways. Among the list are BJJ bloggers from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America.
Now don’t get me wrong - I’m not endorsing any of these or saying they’re great. I’m sharing for the sake of sharing.
Take this list, taste some of the blogs on there and see what you think. Keep the ones you like, and ditch the ones you don’t. At a minimum you should have a better idea of how people experience BJJ in other places around the world. At best, you may make some new friends who share your love for jiu-jitsu!
If there are some you know about that are not on this list, definitely share it by posting it in the comments below!
#125 Nelson Monteiro and the Birth of the ADCC
July 13, 2008
Nelson Monteiro, Gracie Barra black belt.
This week on The FightWorks Podcast we have an interview with Nelson Monteiro, who along with Sheik Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nayan founded the ADCC Submission Grappling Championship. We’ll hear about that crucial moment in our sport’s history, as well as about the interesting moments about the early days of jiu-jitsu in Copacabana, when Carlson Gracie and Carlos Gracie Senior shared the same building and taught on different nights to the earliest practiotioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
We will also have an installment of What Are You Working On, in which one of the Mighty 600,000 presents a training question to a BJJ black belt. This time around, our listener Steve, who trains with Gracie Barra in Chicago, will have his question about playing guard answered by BJJ author Kid Peligro! If you would like to submit a question for What Are You Working On, here are the easy instructions!
Remember that our gi patch design contest is still underway!
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (recommended)
[mp3] Download the show
Note to BJJ Bloggers
July 8, 2008
You remember that we hold an annual Best Brazilian jiu-jitsu Blog of the Year, right? At The FightWorks Podcast we firmly believe that we all benefit from the cultural contribution that BJJ bloggers offer, and every December, a Best BJJ Blog of the Year is announced.
“But Caleb, it’s only July! Why are you going on about something that doesn’t happen until December?”
Relax, family. It’s important because I see the quality of BJJ blogs out there dramatically better than in the past already despite only being 7 months into the year. There are men and women all over the world who’ve been sharing and contributing their BJJ stories, experiences, thoughts, and interviews and I want them to do what they can to best position themselves for later this year.
Also, if you have a BJJ blog and want to be on our radar here for consideration for December honors, please post a comment below so we know you’re out there! We have a pretty good list of BJJ blogs in our RSS reader here at FightWorks Podcast headquarters, but I don’t want any good ones to go unnoticed!
#124 Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles, Toney Waldecker
July 6, 2008
Cobrinha wins at the 2008 Pan-Ams.
Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles is our guest this week on The FightWorks Podcast 2008 BJJ World Championships. Not familiar with the name? Well if it helps at all, Cobrinha came in first place in the past two years in the Featherweight division of both the Pan-Ams and the Mundials!
In this interview from FightWorks Podcast contributor Emilio Novoa, Cobrinha talks about his transition to BJJ from capoeira, current plans, and more.
We’ll also hear from BJJ black belt Toney Waldecker, the head instructor back at FightWorks in Northern Virginia. Waldecker discusses dealing with typical BJJ injuries (among others), the benefits of grappling in the gi, his experience fighting muay-thai in Thailand, and yep! - much more.
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (recommended)
[mp3] Download the show
#123 Andre Galvao
June 29, 2008
Andre Galvao’s hand is raised after defeating the very tough Braulio Estima to win first place at the Mundials.
This time on The FightWorks Podcast we bring you Andre Galvao, of Brasa Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Galvao is a multiple time world champion who has had an amazing year, which recently culminated in taking the gold medal in the middle heavyweight division of the 2008 BJJ World Championships.
In this interview lead by FightWorks Podcast cohost Dan, Andre Galvao offers insight into…
- the recent schism in Team Brasa, and details about how it unfolded
- his controversial first match at the Mundials, which was made into a very popular YouTube video (and later removed), in which he played with his opponent like a cat might with a toy
- his thoughts on entering MMA
…and much more.
Also in this episode of the FightWorks Podcast, we’ll debut a new feature we are going to call “What Are You Working On?” If you (yes YOU!) would like to ask our elite BJJ guests a question, here is how you can get on the show! Our question this time around comes from Steve of SteveBJJ.com.
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (recommended)
[mp3] Download the show
What Are You Working On?
June 29, 2008
“What Are You Working On?” is a segment introduced to The FightWorks Podcast in June 2008 after FWP cohost Dan got the idea that we could present our Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt interviewees with questions from you, our listeners about ways to improve your BJJ game!
How’s it work?
- Call (877) 247-4662 and leave a message regarding what it is you’re having troubles with or want to improve in your BJJ or just email me an audio file with your question.
- Dan and I will present your audio recording to our interviewee and include it in an upcoming show!
Easy, no? Not only do you get your question answered by some of the best in BJJ today, but you get to appear on The FightWorks Podcast!
Some tips… It’s probably going to be tough to explain the intricacies of exact hand placement for that new killer sweep you saw in a magazine, so that may not be the most ideal question. What might be a good question is, “Mister Ridiculous Black Belt, how much of your training time to you devote to cardio when a tournament is coming soon? What do you recommend?”
Stuff like that. So remember: (877) 247-4662!!! Can’t wait to hear your questions!
Design a FightWorks Podcast Gi Patch Contest!!!
June 27, 2008
Over time I’ve had folks email asking if we had FightWorks Podcast gi patches for sale, and honestly I have never gotten around to putting one together. At the rate I’m going it will never get done, so I figure it’s about time we set things in motion around here!
Do you have any graphic design skills? Want to take a stab at designing the what will surely be the coolest gi patch in very recent Brazilian jiu-jitsu history?
We are looking for designs for a FightWorks Podcast gi patch and you can be our hero. Here’s what we need… it needs to do two things: look cool, and do a good job of helping to spread the word about the show.
Specifically, here are the criteria we would like to see:
- The words “TheFightWorksPodcast.com” in large, easily read font. It is alright to be in all caps if that’s what your critical, highly-trained designer’s eye desires.
- Bonus credit goes to those who can also fit the words “BJJ Radio” on there too.
- The dimensions of the patch will be 12 inches x 5.5 inches, so that’s the space you have to work with.
- Integration of the tiger & shark artwork (done by comic illustrator Pop Mhan, for those wondering) is preferred. Email me and I will send you the original artwork back. You don’t have to get the whole picture in there, but elements that tie the patch back to the full image would be cool.
Just for the record: Multiple entries are okay!
Yes, this contest will surely test your design skills! What’s in it for you?
- Immeasurable pride in knowing you designed the official gi patch of the Mighty 600,000!
- A pair of BJJ DVDs courtesy of OnTheMat.com!
- A brand new FightWorks Podcast patch for your gi!!!
- We’ll bring the winner on the show for the announcement. If you are a professional graphic designer or offer such services, you’ll have a chance to plug your services in front of our BJJ family.
Entries don’t have to come from folks in the BJJ community, so if you are reading this and know someone in the design field, feel free to pass this contest in their direction.
Send all entries to caleb AT (this domain) . COM along with all your contact information before August 10, 2008. The winner will be announced in the episode of The FightWorks Podcast on August 17th!
Can’t wait to see the final results!
BJJ Mundials Photos Posted
June 26, 2008
Xande Ribeiro defends a dangerous armbar attempt from Roger Gracie in the closing
moments of the 2008 BJJ Mundials absolute division match for the gold medal.
Hey Mighty 600,000!
A very quick note to tell you to head over to AliciaPhotos.com, where Alicia has posted her photos from the 2008 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Championships! Photos from the mens & womens divisions for all weight classes are posted.
I have to admit, when you see BJJ photos like the one above, it makes you wish BJJ were in the Olympics.
Alicia is a real asset to the BJJ community. She is a great photographer and has been very generous in supporting The FightWorks Podcast over the years. If you see a photo over there you think would look great mounted in your academy, office, or wherever, you can buy a copy right there on her site.
Thank you Alicia for your hard work!
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