The J. Burden Show Steel and the Sinister w/ Paul Waggener: Ep. 454
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Apr 3, 2026 
Paul Waggener, a jack-of-all-trades musician, BJJ black belt, and organizer behind Operation Werewolf, talks about martial culture and communal physical training. He explores sport versus street training, building private gyms and tribes after exclusion, and creating heroic, analog art and institutions. Short, punchy, and provocatively practical.
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Operation Werewolf As Total Life Reform
- Paul Waggener presents Operation Werewolf as a blended life-reform project combining fitness, philosophy, and tribal organization.
- He runs Wolves of Inland, a crew focused on martial training, pagan-influenced lifestyle, and communal bonding that attracts detractors and committed members.
How Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Went Mainstream
- Paul traces BJJ's growth from obscure 1990s import to mainstream, driven by UFC exposure and Brazilian instructors.
- He notes modern competitors (young blue/purple belts) often out-skill older brown/black belts due to wider adoption and intense training.
Train Sport But Remember Street Reality
- Think street, train sport, and practice the art to balance realism and competitive skill.
- Use sport rules for safe high-effort training but periodically drill with MMA gloves or realistic scenarios to remember what works in fights.