Forever White Belt

Join us as we dive into the inspiring journey of Felipe Simplicio, a third-degree black belt under the legendary JT Torres and owner of Red Zone Jiu-Jitsu Academy. From his early days in Brazil to establishing a thriving academy in Connecticut, Felipe shares his passion for teaching, the importance of continuous learning, and the unique programs he offers, including a scholarship initiative for families in need. Discover how Felipe balances the art of Jiu-Jitsu with the business acumen required to run a successful academy, all while fostering a welcoming and supportive community. Tune in for insights on training, personal growth, and the power of a positive mental attitude.Links:https://www.instagram.com/f__simplicio/https://linktr.ee/f__simplicioSalt Electrolytes use code FWB for 15% off. https://saltelectrolytes.com/?fwb Please buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://buymeacoffee.com/foreverwhitebeltInstagram @foreverwhitebeltshow.Buy Forever White Belt rash guards at https://fwb.printful.me/.Linktree https://linktr.ee/foreverwhitebeltChapters00:00 Introduction to Felipe Simplicio and His Journey06:08 Innovative Class Offerings: Family Jiu Jitsu and Q&A Drills10:28 Transitioning Students: From Beginners to Fundamentals16:51 What Makes a Great Student and Instructor24:51 Learning from the Best: Training with JT Torres31:39 Overcoming Doubts and Challenges36:42 Creating a Sense of Community45:55 Fundamentals of Jiu Jitsu Training

In this engaging episode, Chris "Bones" Burns, a second-degree Rickson Gracie black belt, shares his unique journey through the world of Jiu-Jitsu. From his early struggles and injuries to his teaching philosophy and the founding of Zero Point Academy, Chris offers insights into the art of Jiu-Jitsu, the importance of foundational skills, and the balance between sport and self-defense. Discover how Chris's experiences have shaped his approach to teaching and his views on the evolving landscape of martial arts.Links:https://www.instagram.com/chrisbonesjj/https://www.instagram.com/zeropointsydneyhttps://www.instagram.com/the.bjjprojectSalt Electrolytes use code FWB for 15% off. https://saltelectrolytes.com/?fwb Please consider buying me a cup of coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/foreverwhitebeltBecome a VIP member for only .99 a month, get ad free, uncensored, early episodes https://is.gd/GytgXMInstagram @foreverwhitebeltshow.Go buy your Forever White Belt swag at teespring.com/forever-white-belt.Linktree https://linktr.ee/foreverwhitebelt

In this episode, I sit down with Clay Mayfield, a Pedigo Submission Fighting black belt under Heath Pedigo and the founder of Triangle Academy. Clay shares his inspiring journey from being homeschooled to becoming a respected black belt and academy owner.We discuss the importance of finding the right training environment, building a strong community, and balancing the demands of competition, business, and personal growth. Clay opens up about overcoming injuries, the lessons he’s learned as both a coach and competitor, and how he’s cultivated a positive, supportive culture at his gym.From belting criteria and youth development to the impact of judo on modern Jiu-Jitsu, Clay offers deep insights into what it takes to build not only great athletes but great people.Linkshttps://www.trianglefranklin.com/https://www.instagram.com/claymayfield_bjj/Salt Electrolytes use code FWB for 15% off. https://saltelectrolytes.com/?fwb Become a VIP member for only .99 a month, get ad free, uncensored, early episodes https://is.gd/GytgXMInstagram @foreverwhitebeltshow.Go buy your Forever White Belt merchandise at teespring.com/forever-white-belt.Linktree https://linktr.ee/foreverwhitebelt

In this episode, we are joined by none other than Heath “The Ref” Massery, ADCC referee, PGF referee, and one of the most knowledgeable voices when it comes to understanding the rules that shape elite-level Jiu Jitsu.In this episode, we dive deep into the art of optimizing your Jiu Jitsu for competition. Heath shares insights from his unique perspective on the mat—what competitors often overlook, the must-know rules that can make or break a match, and the strategies that separate high-level grapplers from the rest. Whether you’re a competitor looking to sharpen your edge, a coach trying to better prepare your athletes, or just a fan who wants to understand the hidden layers of the sport, this conversation is packed with essentials you won’t want to miss.Links:@heath_the_refhttps://www.heferee.com/https://linktr.ee/HeathTheRefSalt Electrolytes use code FWB for 15% off. https://saltelectrolytes.com/?fwb Become a VIP member for only .99 a month, get ad free, uncensored, early episodes https://is.gd/GytgXMInstagram @foreverwhitebeltshow.Go buy your Forever White Belt swag at teespring.com/forever-white-belt.Linktree https://linktr.ee/foreverwhitebeltDojoChimp Gi's https://www.dojochimp.com/

In this episode, we are joined by the insightful and candid Bird Wiltse. Known for his unique approach to teaching and his journey through the highs and lows of the sport, Bird shares his experiences from competing on the world stage to his passion for creating instructional content. Join us as we explore the art of Jiu-Jitsu, the evolution of techniques, and the personal stories that have shaped Bird's path.Links:BJJ Fanatics https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_sathya-wiltse?list=1Patreon https://www.patreon.com/BirdWiltsebjjYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@birdwiltsebjjIG https://www.instagram.com/birdwiltse20/Salt Electrolytes use code FWB for 15% off. https://saltelectrolytes.com/?fwb Become a VIP member for only .99 a month, get ad-free, uncensored, early episodes https://is.gd/GytgXMInstagram @foreverwhitebeltshow.Go buy your Forever White Belt swag at teespring.com/forever-white-belt.Linktree https://linktr.ee/foreverwhitebeltDojoChimp Gi's https://www.dojochimp.com/

In this episode, host Adolfo Foronda speaks with Matt Kwan, a black belt and owner of On Guard Jiu-Jitsu Academy, about the recent CJI 2 (Craig Jones Invitational) event. They discuss the production quality, match dynamics, standout performances, and the controversies surrounding the event, including tiebreaker rules and referee decisions. Kwan shares insights on the women's competition, including standout athletes and the challenges faced by competitors, such as injuries. The conversation also touches on Kwan's current endeavors and the importance of feedback for future events.Links:https://www.instagram.com/onguardbjj/https://www.instagram.com/theeverydayjiujitsupodcast/Buy SALT electrolytes, use code “FWB” for 15% off @saltelectrolytes https://linktr.ee/foreverwhitebelthttps://www.instagram.com/dojochimp/ @dojochip

Welcome to Forever White Belt, where we dive into the dynamic world of Jiu-Jitsu with the insightful Christos Papadelos. A PGF athlete, money maker, and 3x ADCC Open Champion, Christos is also the creator of the Enigma Jiu Jitsu grappling events and EnigmaJiuJitsu.tv. Training under the legendary Jon Danaher and Gordon Ryan at Kingsway Jiu Jitsu in Austin, TX, Christos shares his unique perspective on the sport, the art of grappling, and the entrepreneurial spirit that drives him. Join us as we explore the intricacies of technique, the evolution of his game, and the future of Jiu-Jitsu. links:https://www.instagram.com/cpapadelos/https://linktr.ee/CPapadeloshttps://www.instagram.com/enigmajiujitsuofficial/https://www.enigmajiujitsu.tv/https://linktr.ee/EnigmaJiuJitsuSalt Electrolytes use code FWB for 15% off. https://saltelectrolytes.com/?fwb @SaltElectrolytes  Become a VIP member for only .99 a month, get ad free, uncensored, early episodes https://is.gd/GytgXMInstagram @foreverwhitebeltshow.Go buy your Forever White Belt merchandise at teespring.com/forever-white-belt.Linktree https://linktr.ee/foreverwhitebelt

Max Hanson, a Canadian BJJ black belt and top 170 lb no-gi grappler, shares stories from training under Dante Leon and Heath Pedigo. He talks discipline and relentless work ethic. He breaks down study habits, technical priorities like back-takes and arm-triangles, rule-set strategy, coaching qualities, and plans to run a gym while balancing competition and coaching.

In this episode, I'm joined by Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, brilliant thinker, and true renaissance man, Drew Weatherhead. You may know him from his hilarious and insightful Because Jitsu page, his mind-expanding book "Fractures," or his world-class instruction on DrewJitsu Online, but there’s so much more to Drew than that.Drew and his family live as digital nomads, traveling the world while he continues to teach, create, and share his unique perspective on Jiu Jitsu and life. In this conversation, we delve into his approach to learning and teaching, the philosophy that drives his success, and why his ability to make complex ideas accessible has earned him a reputation as one of the most engaging instructors in the field.Links:https://www.instagram.com/drew.weatherhead/https://www.instagram.com/because_jitsu/https://linktr.ee/because_jitsuhttps://www.instagram.com/drew.w.author/https://www.amazon.com/stores/Drew-Weatherhead/author/B0CZKXYX4CGive us a 5 star review Become a VIP member for only .99 a month, get ad free, uncensored, early episodes https://is.gd/GytgXMInstagram @foreverwhitebeltshow.Go buy your Forever White Belt swag at teespring.com/forever-white-belt.Linktree https://linktr.ee/foreverwhitebeltBuy Salt Electrolytes  @SaltElectrolytes  use code FWB for 15% off. https://saltelectrolytes.com/?fwb

In this episode of the show, I’m joined by Shawn Melanson — a Jiu-Jitsu black belt, highly respected instructor, and the owner of Precision Jiu Jitsu in New Hampshire. Known for his incredibly refined and effective teaching style, Shawn is a coach’s coach — a technician with a deep understanding of wrestling for BJJ integration and a powerful advocate for intelligent grappling.Shawn has become a go-to resource on BJJ Fanatics, where his instructional series, such as Precision Wrestling for Jiu Jitsu and Precision Attacks and Sweeps from Butterfly, Half, and Knee Shield, have helped practitioners around the world elevate their game. In this conversation, we talk about the evolution of his style, how wrestling has shaped his Jiu-Jitsu, his approach to coaching, and what it means to develop high-percentage techniques that hold up under pressure. We also dive into training culture, competition prep, and modern grappling.Links:https://www.instagram.com/shawnmelanson160/https://precisionjiujitsunh.com/https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_shawn-melanson?list=1Salt Electrolytes use code FWB for 15% off. https://saltelectrolytes.com/?fwb Become a VIP member for only .99 a month, get ad free, uncensored, early episodes podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/foreverwhitebelt/subscribe@foreverwhitebeltshow.Go buy your Forever White Belt merchandise at teespring.com/forever-white-belthttps://linktr.ee/foreverwhitebelt#brazilianjiujitsu #jiujitsu #grappling #bjj #nogi