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I Suck At Jiu Jitsu Show

I Suck At Jiu Jitsu Show

By Josh McKinney

Jiu-Jitsu is hard. Join host Josh McKinney on his forever quest to "suck less at jiu-jitsu." Learn from high level black belts, in depth conversations, and off the wall rants by the host himself.

It is guaranteed that each episode will help you suck just a little less at jiu-jitsu, or your money back.

Josh McKinney is an accomplished adult black belt competitor with a "suck-less" mindset that can help anyone progress
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#97 David "Vava" Littlewood: Training Smart(and sometimes harder)

I Suck At Jiu Jitsu ShowSep 02, 2021

00:00
01:36:13
#263 The 5 Mistakes I Made in my 16 Year BJJ Journey | #4 is SO COMMON
Mar 28, 202456:45
#262 An Ode to Jiu-Jitsu Competition | 3 Terrible Reasons You SHOULD Compete in BJJ

#262 An Ode to Jiu-Jitsu Competition | 3 Terrible Reasons You SHOULD Compete in BJJ

Welcome to a special episode of the "I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show." I'm your host, Josh McKinney, and today, we're diving deep into the heart of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions. With over 200 episodes behind us, we've explored various facets of BJJ, from techniques and training to mindset and beyond. This episode, however, is a tribute to the transformative power of competition.


Why compete? It's more than just medals and accolades. Competing in BJJ offers a unique opportunity to confront fears, test your skills in real-time, and foster a growth mindset that transcends the mats. Through personal anecdotes and stories from my own journey and those of my students, we'll explore how competition shapes us into not just better practitioners, but resilient individuals.


Whether you're on the fence about signing up for your first tournament or a seasoned competitor, this episode is for you. We'll discuss managing nerves, the importance of testing your game against unknown opponents, and how the mindset developed through competition can help you tackle life's challenges.


So, are you ready to embrace the struggle, learn from fear, and grow through competition? Join me as we celebrate the journey of competing in BJJ.


Join ⁠ISAJJ PRO⁠(every course Josh has ever made)

⁠Ask Questions/Suggest Topics⁠ for the show

FREE Copy of ⁠The 3 Lenses⁠

Follow the show on⁠ Instagram⁠

⁠Check out the ISAJJ Youtube Channel⁠



Remember to like, subscribe, and share your competition stories in the comments below!

Mar 21, 202439:22
#261 Jared Weiner: What I've Learned from 20 Years at Black Belt
Mar 14, 202401:27:34
#260 How Losing Made Me Good at BJJ | My Midwest BJJ Story
Mar 07, 202459:40
#259 How to Compete (After a Big Life Change)

#259 How to Compete (After a Big Life Change)

With a new age group, weight class, and training schedule can host Josh McKinney still compete?


Find out in today's episode where Josh breaks down his matches at the Memphis Open and explains which methods from the podcast worked and which ones didn't!


Check us out at simplfyingjiujitsu.com

Feb 29, 202448:49
#258 Devin Pirata: Competition Training, GOING TO SLEEP, and Making Friends

#258 Devin Pirata: Competition Training, GOING TO SLEEP, and Making Friends

In today's episode Host Josh McKinney sits down with one of the toughest coaches that he knows, Devin Pirata(@devinpirata).

Devin and Josh discuss coaching methods that led to HUGE SUCCESS for the VaVaPirata BJJ Team.The duo also discusses what it's like being choked unconscious 4 times in the same day.

Black belts and white belts alike will gain so much perspective during this conversation.

Teaching Chest Over Chest at Pirata BJJ

Ask us Anything
Feb 22, 202401:33:43
#257 Nick Sanders and Junior Silva: Competition Hacks, Injuring Each Other, and... Brazilians
Feb 15, 202401:37:18
#256 The ONE Reason you aren't getting Promoted (and How to Fix It)

#256 The ONE Reason you aren't getting Promoted (and How to Fix It)

In today's episode host Josh McKinney(@thejoshmckinney) does a deep dive on the most important thing when it comes to getting good at jiu jitsu.

This episode could have more information on getting very good in a short period of time than any ISAJJ EVER!

Get Duck Guard
Feb 08, 202456:20
#255 Kyle Watson and Steve McKinney: Becoming a GREAT Coach
Feb 01, 202401:28:12
#254 Fatherhood Ruins BJJ Training, Designated Winner, and Why I'm not Popular

#254 Fatherhood Ruins BJJ Training, Designated Winner, and Why I'm not Popular

Another wild Q&A with Black Belt, Josh McKinney! Ask us Anything Learn more about Designated Winner: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2PIpSyKhOGye1lb7jgkfOo?si=JzIJ4Dh0Rh-W_3aDOXV1FQ
Jan 25, 202440:17
#253 Adam Meredith: How BJJ Sponsorships Actually Work and How to Enjoy the Journey
Jan 18, 202401:17:03
#252 Josh Severit: Hilarious Training Stories, Bjj for Small Guys, and Old School Training

#252 Josh Severit: Hilarious Training Stories, Bjj for Small Guys, and Old School Training

Did you know that the I Suck at Jiu-Jitsu show is "Sizeist?"Well not anymore! Today we have our smallest guest we've ever had, Josh Severit! Josh is a BJJ brown belt, a lawyer, and is able to beat you down at only 140 pounds!


In this episode Josh and host Josh McKinney(@thejoshmckinney) discuss what it's like to train jiu-jitsu as a smaller guy, what jiu-jitsu was like 17 years ago, and share a bunch of hilarious training/competition stories.


Black belts and white belts a like will get plenty of laughs from this episode.


BJJ Strength in 15 min: https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/15


Check out our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JoshMcKinney

Jan 11, 202401:46:30
#251 Robert Arias: Midwest Black Belt Journey and a Little Racism

#251 Robert Arias: Midwest Black Belt Journey and a Little Racism

Welcome to a new episode of the I Suck at Jiu-Jitsu Show. Today, Josh Mckinney(@thejoshmckinney) interviews  his newest black belts, Robert Arias (Ariasbrosbjj). Robert is the first person to go from white to black belt under HeadnodHQ. In this episode, Josh and Robert talk about Robert’s BJJ Journey, What it's like to train at Headnod, and even the worst beatings they've ever taken. They also dive into a very funny story of getting kicked out of a restaurant for being brown. Black Belts and White belts all will have something to learn from this thought provoking Episode of ISAJJS. YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JoshMcKinney

Jan 04, 202401:23:40
#250 Andrew "Mop" Ebers: UFC, Coaching Coaches, and Universal Grappling Concepts

#250 Andrew "Mop" Ebers: UFC, Coaching Coaches, and Universal Grappling Concepts

Welcome to a new episode of the I Suck at Jiu-Jitsu Show.

Today, Josh Mckinney(@thejoshmckinney) interviews the always entertaining Andrew Ebers. They discuss what it's like to coach in the UFC, how Mop and Dana White are almost BFFs at this point, and how to find the right coaches to coach at your school.

The episode will not only make you laugh but also make you reconsider conceptual Jiu-Jitsu approaches especially for Self Defense or MMA.

Students and Coaches a like will Enjoy this wide ranging conversation with Josh and Mop.

Master Chest Over Chest
Jan 02, 202401:12:21
#249 Matt Kwan: Chasing Your Passion, Training Methods, and Conspiracy Theories

#249 Matt Kwan: Chasing Your Passion, Training Methods, and Conspiracy Theories

Welcome to a new episode of the I Suck at Jiu-Jitsu Show. Today, Josh Mckinney(@thejoshmckinney) interviews Black Belt Competitior, Head Coach(On Guard BJJ), and Podcast Host( @TheEssentialJiuJitsuPodcast ), Matt Kwan. This conversation starts on creativity but as they dive deeper Josh learns that Matt is motivated so much by chasing his Passion. Matt brings up so many good points about how teaching jiu jitsu can free people from the things that they hate. Matt and Josh also discuss their hatred for sous vide cooking, the struggles of school ownership, doing Pro wrestling in high school, and whether or not the moon landing was faked. Practitioners at any level will enjoy this wide ranging conversation with Josh and Matt Master Chest Over Chest

Dec 28, 202301:37:56
#248 BJJ Hot Takes: AJJ vs BJJ, Techniques don't exist, and Gi is Unrealistic

#248 BJJ Hot Takes: AJJ vs BJJ, Techniques don't exist, and Gi is Unrealistic

Dec 21, 202357:29
#247 Mark RosenKoetter: Concepts, Training with Rener, and Finding Your BJJ Self
Dec 19, 202301:04:10
#246 Eric Huebner Returns: How to Develop Elite Level Mental Toughness
Dec 14, 202301:36:36
#245 Finding a Great Mentor, The BJJ School Owner of the Future, and Controlling Your Own Training
Dec 07, 202359:42
#244 Sal Woods and George Kirgan: From Wrestling to BJJ | A Grappling Journey
Dec 05, 202301:23:17
#243 Picking Up BJJ Chicks, Making Money, and Unlearning BJJ

#243 Picking Up BJJ Chicks, Making Money, and Unlearning BJJ

In today's Episode of Josh's Jiu-Jitsu Journal, Josh tackles important listener mail questions like...
Training without a Black Belt Mentor, Picking Up BJJ Chicks, Unlearning bad habits, and who the smelliest person he's ever competed against.
Nov 30, 202346:01
#242 Beating the Competition Adrenaline Dump, Analyzing your own Progression, Josh's Biggest Mistake
Nov 23, 202344:50
#241 Kenny Florian: BJJ vs Battlebots, Aging like a Martial Artist, and Concepts that Matter
Nov 21, 202301:14:05
#240 Josh's JJ Journal: Avoiding things that make jiu-jitsu not fun, Josh’s son is disrespectful, Training with big egos
Nov 16, 202343:11
#239 Mark Vives: Perfecting Your Weekly Training Schedule

#239 Mark Vives: Perfecting Your Weekly Training Schedule

In this episode of ISAJJ host Josh McKinney(@thejoshmckinney) sits down with TAC Team Black Belt, Mark Vives. Mark is one of the most active  @ibjjf  competitors on the planet and has his weekly routine down to a science. Learn Mark's weekly program modelled after NFL athletes and how YOU can create a weekly training schedule to optimize your training and be the best competitor(and hobbiest) that you can be! Efficient Strength for BJJ in 15 Min

Nov 14, 202301:09:31
#238 Unlocking Jiu Jitsu Secrets | The Art of Asking Better Questions
Nov 09, 202355:03
#237 Steve Kwan: Asking Better Questions to Better Your Understanding | BJJ Mental Models
Nov 07, 202301:14:01
#236 Finding Consistency After Major Life Changes
Nov 02, 202338:46
#233 Jiu-Jitsu is... Pro-Football | Manage the Clock Like Tom Brady
Oct 26, 202332:14
#235 Competition Mindset, Injury Prevention, and Josh's terrible Nutrition
Oct 26, 202341:20
#234 Jiu-Jitsu is... Cooking
Oct 24, 202330:30
#232 Jiu-Jitsu is... Pro-Wrestling
Oct 17, 202335:12
#231 Jiu-Jitsu is... Dragon Ball Z | Nerdiest Episode of ISAJJ Ever
Oct 12, 202338:42
#230 Jared Weiner(repost) | Old School Violence

#230 Jared Weiner(repost) | Old School Violence

In this 2020 episode host Josh McKinney (@thejoshmckinney) sits down with the head of his affiliation(TAC Team) Jared Weiner.

Jared is an OG of Competitive Jiu-Jitsu and one of the toughest competitive minds in Jiu-Jitsu.

Chest Over Chest

ISAJJ Gi/No-Gi Preorder
Oct 10, 202301:18:53
#229 2 of the WORST Beatings I've taken(and how they made me better)
Oct 05, 202337:06
#228 Jeff Shulze(Repost): Imagery Training (The real science of visualization)

#228 Jeff Shulze(Repost): Imagery Training (The real science of visualization)

In this repost Josh sits down with Doctor of Clinical Psychology, Jeff Shulze.


Jeff gives an incredibly thorough explanation of what imagery training is, how to do it, and WHY to do it.


Enjoy one of the most useful episodes of ISAJJ ever!


Chest Over Chest Full Seminar


Books Discussed: Kabat-Zinn, J., & Hanh, T. N. (2009). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness. Delta. Mumford, G. (2015). The mindful athlete: Secrets to pure performance. Parallax Press.


Guided Mediation

Oct 03, 202301:09:00
#227 Is Technique Dead?
Sep 28, 202352:16
#226 Nick Sanders(Repost): Black Belt Competitor, School Owner, and Purple Heart Recipient
Sep 26, 202301:17:58
#224: The 3 Biggest Rules of Bjj Progression
Sep 21, 202346:23
#223 Chris Paines(Repost): Defend Everything, Everywhere, All at Once

#223 Chris Paines(Repost): Defend Everything, Everywhere, All at Once

Welcome back to the "I Suck at Jiu Jitsu" show! In this reposted gem from 2020, I sit down with my now good friend, Chris Paines( @ChrisPainesBJJ ) the mastermind behind the "How to Defend Everything" concept in BJJ.


Despite living oceans apart (he's in England, I'm in America), Chris and I discover an astonishing convergence of training philosophies and ideas that will blow your mind.


Join us as we dive into his unique lineage, the revolutionary concept that skyrocketed his popularity, and our shared perspectives on jiu-jitsu style warm-ups. Brace yourself for a jaw-dropping conversation that's bound to simplify your approach to jiu-jitsu!


Chest Over Chest


Free Sample of Chest Over Chest


Chris' How to Defend Everything

Sep 19, 202301:17:11
#222 The BroScience of Visualization
Sep 14, 202333:45
#221 Robert Drysdale: The Legacy of Carlson Gracie Sr. and the Evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Sep 12, 202301:06:39
#220 Evolving Together: Bridging the Gap Between Old and New School BJJ
Sep 07, 202343:17
#219 Shawn WIlliams(Repost): Simple Effective Training Method Ideas
Sep 06, 202301:21:42
#218 The Best Jiu-jitsu Advice I've ever Received 2.0
Aug 31, 202339:27
#217 Henry Akins: Fix Your Jiu-Jitsu Training Method
Aug 29, 202301:27:57
#216 Random Ranting | Literally that's it
Aug 24, 202349:35
#215 The Art of Controlled Force | Using Physical Attributes Wisely in BJJ

#215 The Art of Controlled Force | Using Physical Attributes Wisely in BJJ

Today Josh(@thejoshmckinney) explores the dynamic relationship between physical attributes and technique. Discover how to harness your physical attributes to elevate your BJJ game, while also understanding the crucial importance of not relying solely on them.
Join Josh as he provides actionable insights on maximizing your strengths, optimizing cardio, and cultivating efficient strength to augment your Jiu Jitsu performance. Find the delicate balance between technique and physicality, and gain a fresh perspective on how to truly excel on the mat.
Whether you're a beginner looking to understand the fundamentals or a seasoned practitioner aiming to refine your approach, this episode offers invaluable guidance on achieving a harmonious synergy between physical attributes and skillful technique in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Efficient BJJ Strength in 15 Minutes
Aug 17, 202338:04
#214 Steve McKinney: The 15-Minute BJJ Strength Boost | Building Habits for a Lifetime

#214 Steve McKinney: The 15-Minute BJJ Strength Boost | Building Habits for a Lifetime

Join host Josh McKinney in an ISAJJ episode, where he sits down with his father, Steve McKinney, a seasoned BJJ black belt with over 35 years of experience in the fitness industry. Get ready to dive deep into the world of building habits, mastering mindset, and optimizing strength and conditioning for Jiu Jitsu athletes.
In this captivating interview, Steve unveils his revolutionary 15-minute-a-week HIT workout program designed specifically for BJJ practitioners. Discover how this innovative approach not only yields incredible results but also prioritizes joint protection, ensuring that your training journey is both effective and sustainable.
Tune in to gain valuable insights from a true BJJ veteran and fitness expert, as Josh and Steve discuss the intersection of mental resilience, physical strength, and the unique demands of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just starting out on your BJJ path, this episode will equip you with the tools you need to elevate your game.

Efficient BJJ Strength is 15 Minutes
Aug 15, 202301:17:20
#213 White Belt Wisdom | Mindset Tweaks for White Belts to Fix Right Away
Aug 10, 202301:00:44