On this episode, Chewy and Eugene discuss the best advice they would give or wish they got through each belt rank in Jiu-Jitsu.

We also discuss the most powerful technique to employ in BJJ (learn to experiment, how to avoid stagnation in BJJ, and the benefit of teaching.

Thanks to the podcast sponsors:

Charlotte's Web CBD.

Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase.

Epic Roll BJJ.

Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase.

Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene discuss two rules for Jiu-Jitsu.

Rule #1 - Expect to get thrown off a horse into a pile of manure.

Chewy shares a story of getting thrown off of a horse and how the expectation of this possibility helped with the discomfort and difficulty of the process of learning to ride.

We discuss the realization that struggles and difficulties are a part of getting better at Jiu-Jitsu, expect that there will be difficulties with learning Jiu-Jitsu, why failure is the "buy in" for improving, avoiding failure will hold you back, and the goal in training should be to develop skills.

Rule #2 - When your lungs are burning…look fresh!

Chewy shares a story of a tough tournament match where even though he was tired, looking fresh gave him the edge over his opponent. We also discuss why showing fatigue will give your opponent a boost, the importance of paying attention to your opponent’s breathing pattern, how much of Jiu-Jitsu is mental vs. physical, why the physical precedes the mental when building confidence, why Jiu-Jitsu is a philosophy of doing, update your ego through challenging yourself, and move towards your fears.

Thanks to the podcast sponsors:

Charlotte's Web CBD.

Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase.

Epic Roll BJJ.

Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase.

Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

On this episode of the podcast we are joined by Michael Pixley.

Michael is a Jiu-Jitsu purple belt training out of Pedigo Submission Fighting, he is the NAIA 2017 National Champion and Wrestler of The Year, 2019 NCAA Division 2 National Champion, 2x World and Pan Am Champion at Blue Belt, and the 2024 ADCC West Coast Trials winner in the <99 kg division.

Michael shares some of his most intense weight-cut stories, starting out in Judo and then transitioning to wrestling, his toughest wrestling match and the turning point in his wrestling career, how he beat the number one ranked high school wrestler in the country, his switch to Jiu-Jitsu and his first class at Pedigo Submission Fighting, the most challenging part of transitioning from wrestling to BJJ, the major difference between wrestling and BJJ practices, his thoughts on drilling, the driving force for his rapid improvement in BJJ, favorite BJJ ruleset, dealing with competition nerves, what helped him get over the hump to win ADCC Trials, how his wrestling style has kept him injury-free, his thoughts on the Craig Jones Invitational, what Michael does to relax, his favorite place to travel, his advice to younger grapplers, and what it's like learning from Heath Pedigo, and the culture at Pedigo Submission Fighting.

Thanks to the podcast sponsors:

Charlotte's Web CBD.

Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase.

Epic Roll BJJ.

Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase.

Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene do a live recording of the podcast and discuss the importance of building a solid system of escapes from side control.

We also discuss if escaping from side control is the most difficult position to escape from, the approach you should take when escaping side control and what people lack the most, if escaping is a skill learned in the instructional setting or from experience, the biggest misconception when escaping side control, one quality or attribute to give you the ability to become amazing at escapes, and the “Iron Squirrel.”

Q&A:

Is it better to look for escapes such as shrimping, ghost escape, inverting, or waiting on your opponent to move?

If Chewy has learned something new when teaching a technique?

What side control escapes chain together well based on common reactions?

What’s the best way to escape once you get flattened out?

What is the best way to shoot a single leg takedown?

How to improve cardio for BJJ?

What to do when you’re the smallest person in the gym?

How to implement information from an instructional into training?

If you’re interested in picking up Chewy’s new side control escape series check out the link: https://www.chewjitsu.io/sales-page1718800981045

Thanks to the podcast sponsors:

Charlotte's Web CBD.

Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase.

Epic Roll BJJ.

Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase.

Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene discuss the importance of building a strong defensive side control to create a better offensive Jiu-Jitsu game.

We discuss how initially we focus on bottom side control defense as newer grapplers, but eventually stop focusing on this part of our game. We also discuss why having poor defense can make your offense less effective, how a solid defense will improve your submission rate in competition, why confidence in your escapes works like a safety net, why grapplers panic in bottom side control, the first step in getting better at side control escapes, why Chewy decided to start focusing on his bottom side control escapes as a BJJ brown belt, the biggest and most common mistakes in relation to escapes and defense, and the importance of mastering a handful of techniques.

Thanks to the podcast sponsors:

Charlotte's Web CBD.

Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase.

Epic Roll BJJ.

Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase.

Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene discuss the impact the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) will have on the state of grappling and the upcoming ADCC world championships.

We discuss our thoughts on Craig’s motives and strategy when promoting the CJI, the importance of using high quality production to attract spectators, the increased attention that Craig Jones and the CJI has brought to grappling, why the timing of the CJI is bad for the athletes, the pros and cons of splitting the elite grapplers between the two tournaments, the CJI ruleset, the Gabi Garcia vs Craig Jones superfight, and the results of Chewy’s Instagram poll of whether people would attend the CJI, ADCC, or neither.

Thanks to the podcast sponsors:

Charlotte's Web CBD.

Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase.

Epic Roll BJJ.

Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase.

Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

On this episode, we answer the question of whether you should always focus on “position before submission” in Jiu-Jitsu.

We discuss getting chokes without solidifying a position, using leg locks, advantageous positions that aren’t the “traditional”BJJ positions, the benefits of position before submission for beginners, how submissions are initiated through transitions, how tournament rules dictate the grappling style, a rule that is commonly broken in Jiu-Jitsu, and the importance of being coachable.

Thanks to the podcast sponsors:

Charlotte's Web CBD.

Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase.

Epic Roll BJJ.

Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase.

Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene answer 5 questions that we received from podcast listeners.

We discuss the following topics:

1. What’s the best way to “unlock” the hips?
2. What is Chewy’s favorite historical time period?
3. Should Jiu-Jitsu have an “off season”?
4. Where do we see BJJ evolve in the next 5-15 years?
5. What are some strategies for dealing with the negative voice inside you when you get smashed in training?

Thanks to the podcast sponsors:

Charlotte's Web CBD.

Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase.

Epic Roll BJJ.

Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase.

Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast