Forever White Belt

In this episode, I had the pleasure of meeting Elaine Biersdoerfer. Elaine is a Gracie Barra Pelham, Alabama Blue Belt, under Judo and Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, professor Kaliffa Oliveira. Elaine is my new hero and inspiration. You may remember Elaine from winning the world over at the Pan American Games with her masters 7 division highlights. On the surface, you may make the mistake of only seeing a silver-haired grandmother of 7, who just happens to be 72 years young, but underneath the veneer is an incredibly fierce, driven, relentless BJJ practitioner and competitor. There are so many things to love about Elaine, one of the virtues she shares with us is a raw sense of vulnerability we can all empathize with. For example, during one point in the show, she details a tournament match she lost that she studied and trained so very hard for and admits she did not execute what she trained, her voice shakes with the deep disappointment that embodies the moment and it nearly pulled my heart out of my chest. At another point, Elaine says she’s pursuing a sport that she isn’t good at, but in the end aren’t we all? She just has the courage to say it. Don’t get the wrong impression, she loves BJJ and says she would never quit. So when you wake up and think about skipping class, just remember Elaine is showing up. Some housekeeping notes: Elaine lives in rural Calera, AL so her internet connection is not the best. Also, you can now support the show by becoming a monthly patron by hitting the support button on our website at https://anchor.fm/foreverwhitebelt/. You can also send us a message by clicking that “message” button on that same page. We also now have a merchandise store at https://teespring.com/forever-white-belt where you can buy FWB shirts, hats, coffee mugs, and lots more.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with 10th planet Eddie Bravo black belt, Zach Maslany. Zach is also a 2nd degree Tiger Shulman black belt, a former kickboxer, golden glove boxer, MMA competitor, co-founder of 10th Planet Bethlehem, 10th Planet Allentown, Finishers tournaments, podcaster, YouTuber, and coffee shop owner as well as so much more. It’s no wonder Zach has so many exciting and successful endeavors going on, it’s infectious to stand in the whirlwind of his space, it makes you want to jump in and be part of whatever initiative he has dreamt up. There is a great deal of inspiration to take from Zach’s story. Zach lives in Pennsylvania, he felt much of the Jiu-Jitsu action was concentrated in other areas of the country and neglected in PA. So in typical Zach fashion, he creates two academies that produce two of the best no-gi Jiu-Jitsu competitors to date (and this is the reason I refer to him as the king and queen maker), Grace Gundrum and Jon Thor Blank, if that was not enough, he goes on to create a platform for the local practitioners to shine via his Finishers tournaments. This seems to be a trend in Zach’s life, if it’s not available, make it yourself, and be proud of your work, I greatly appreciate and relate to his DIY ethos. https://linktr.ee/zachmaslany https://www.instagram.com/zachmaslany/

In this episode, I have the honor to speak with Alec Baulding. Alec is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Romero Cavalcanti, being one of the most accomplished grapplers produced by the legendary Alliance Jiu-Jitsu co-founder on American soil. Baulding earned the reputation of being one of the top grapplers of his generation in the lower belts of the sport, where he conquered a world title and 2 Pan American championships. Alec is a familiar face to many people searching for free jiu-jitsu techniques on YouTube and Instagram, covering everything from wrestling to day-one basics to techniques that are custom-designed for shorter athletes. But honestly, regardless of your size his online content is fantastic and well-produced, Kudos to him for wearing a microphone on his headband when filming, why every teacher offering  BJJ free online Youtube or IG content does not do this yet is beyond me. In this episode, I speak with Alec about how he developed into the man he is today. His vast travels, his home of Georgia and the BJJ scene there, his thoughts on various belt colors, diet, and how to mitigate injury, and more. http://alecbaulding.com Short Guy Guard Instructional https://shortguyguard.com https://www.youtube.com/user/hyouske320 https://www.instagram.com/alecbaulding/ Solo Inversion Drill https://youtu.be/DqK1XFZTOLo

Today on the show I have the honor to engage in conversation with the 4th degree eligible BJJ black belt Stephen Whittier.  Stephen is one of the most decorated martial arts instructors in the country, he is one of only a handful of head coaches with Straight Blast Gym International (under SBG founder Matt Thornton) as well as the organization's Director. He is also the South Coast region's highest-ranking instructor in both Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (under New England's senior ranked black belt, Roberto Maia) and Muay Thai kickboxing (under Sityodtong USA director, Mark DellaGrotte). In 2018, he became only the 4th trainer ever to earn the rank of Red Monkgol in Sitydtong Muay Thai. In addition, he has earned black belts and instructor ranks in a number of martial arts disciplines over decades of study and has trained a broad range of students and athletes – from local, state, and federal law enforcement to multiple UFC competitors. Due to his parallel background as a former University lecturer and consultant, Stephen brings a unique and deeply analytical perspective to his martial arts and business instruction. He also runs 40 Plus BJJ which is dedicated to the unique tactical and technical needs of Jiu-Jitsu students and instructors 40 and up. Stephen truly is a renaissance man and deep thinker as I researched and spoke to the man I quickly came to this conclusion both by seeing his vast body of work, experience, and products available as well as his systems thinking approach to almost everything. If you are a practitioner or BJJ business owner I think you will gain much inspiration and more importantly immediate value out of listening to Stephens's story and ever-evolving perspectives. It was both a joy and honor to speak to Mr. Whittier and I hope this is the first of many conversations we eventually have. YouTube Facebook SatoriCoach Private Mentoring

Today on the show I have the pleasure of chatting with 25 years old, Chad The Beast Hardy. Chad is probably best known for occasionally appearing on the very popular Chewjitsu YouTube channel. Chad actually earned his Black Belt under Nick Chewy Albin himself and was assistant head instructor at Derby City MMA in Louisville, KY. Chad is now a head instructor at Guardian Mixed Martial Arts in Murfreesboro, TN This is a young man at an exciting inflection point in his life, newly engaged with a great job and creating great products with so much runway in front of him and the wind at his back. In contrast to the present, in the episode, you will hear me allude to much of Chad's earlier years being comprised of so much sadness and tragedy. Let me give you some context, Chad is originally from Bloomington, IN, and before the age of 5 his mother passed away, soon after, his father was shot in the head and fell into a coma for over a year, for that duration he was cared for by his grandmother. After that year his father came out of the coma and moved them away from the gang plagued area they lived in, to another crime and violence-filled area of Louisville, KY. On his first day at the new school, in the new town, Chad was punched in the face for no reason, he was robbed twice in one month, witnessed a shooting directly in front of his apartment, was regularly assaulted for simply trying to come home from school, his drug-addicted aunt would attempt to steal from them, and at age 15 he lost his beloved grandfather and uncle, all of this resulted in Chad one day ingesting a bottle of pills, only to awake in a hospital from a failed suicide attempt, surrounded by those he loved and that loved him and fortunately for all, this is where the story does not end, but rather begins. There are trees that remain strong and durable and even thrive in the most hostile conditions. In a study, scientists found that the acacia tree in the Arava desert in Israel is the world’s largest tree growing in such a hot and dry climate. The tree has an even higher growth rate during the hot, rain-free desert summers than during the slightly wetter winters, and scientists continue to research into its remarkable resilience and how it might provide valuable information to us.

Malachy Friedman is a second degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the legendary Master Ricardo Liborio, co-founder of American Top Team (ATT) and Carlson Gracie lineage. With 18 years of experience, Professor Friedman is adept in multiple fight disciplines including MMA, BJJ, Boxing, Muay Thai, and Wrestling. Beginning in 2001, Malachy started his training with the late UFC Middle-Weight Champion, Evan Tanner. After years of competition, he joined American Top Team headquarters in Coconut Creek, FL considered to be the #1 MMA training camp in the country and one of the only teams capable of putting out world champions. While at headquarters, Malachy spent 8 years coaching the late, great Kimbo Slice to his win against Ken Shamrock at Bellator. He also cornered and coached Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters, IBJJF and ADCC BJJ competitors, and hundreds of newcomers to the sport. In addition to coaching, Malachy is both a strategist and innovator in the sport, having created video instructionals, The Darce Killer, The HeisenGuard, Flower Power, Sh*t Your Instructor Never Showed You, Unf*ck Your Jiu-Jitsu, and Acai Free . He is a regular contributor to Jiu-Jitsu Magazine. In 2015, Malachy brought his experience and knowledge back to his hometown of Charleston where he owns and operates Black Label Martial Arts Academy, formerly known as American Top Team Lowcountry, with his wife, Sarah. Malachy also owns Black Label Jiu-Jitsu Raiders Team and teaches free Women’s Self-Defense seminars to the Charleston and surrounding areas. Malachy is a bit of an enigma with one foot firmly planted in over a decade of traditional BJJ expertise and his other foot in a wild experimental research lab of techniques and concepts, you get the sense his brain is inhabited by both a bit of madness and genius. His experimentation has birthed a library of fantastic instructionals, his Darce Killer instructional is absolutely mandatory viewing in my opinion. In this interview you will hear that Malachy often wears his heart on his sleeve, I was pleasantly surprised with how candid and how honest he was in our conversation, it’s refreshing to speak with people like this. We talk about how he developed these traits, the trajectory of his career, running an academy, academy drama, developing talent, and his future plans. 

In this episode, I have the honor of having a conversation with Brandon Mccaghren co-owner of 10th Planet Decatur, Alabama. Brandon earned his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Eddie Bravo and was the first 10th Planet Instructor in the entire Southeastern United States. He has received each of his Jiu-Jitsu ranks directly from Eddie Bravo. In addition to being an experienced teacher and Black belt in the Traditional Martial Arts, Brandon has staked his claim as one of the top grappling competitors in the Southeast by taking titles in Kakuto, Good Fight, IBJJF, NAGA, and even Freestyle Judo to name just a few. He has also led 10th Planet to multiple Team Titles at many of these same events. Brandon is also one of the most highly respected instructors in the global 10th Planet organization, teaching seminars all over the United States on a regular basis. 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Decatur was recognized as the top-ranked academy in the 10th Planet system in 2014, largely in part to the team's competitive successes and Brandon's reputation as a world-class instructor. Brandon is a prolific idea machine and with the help of his wife Lindsay (also a black belt) to filter and execute on the good ideas, together they have cultivated a fascinating life based on a foundation of doing exactly what they want to do. It sounds so simple, right? But I would argue the majority of us make compromises in our career paths and that is partially what makes people like Brandon so interesting to share time with. In this episode we talk about the evolution of his martial art, how he started, grew and maintains his academy, some of his online strategies, his love of Pearl Jam and Radiohead, super chat sound effects whomp whomp whomp and his most recent endeavor and passion the PGF Professional Grapplers Federation.

Welcome to episode 2 of Forever White Belt, in this episode I have the pleasure of chatting with Steve Kwan, co-host of my favorite BJJ podcast BJJ Mental Models. Steve is a black belt under Don Whitefield from West Coast Martial Arts and he teaches and trains at Ascension Martial Arts in British Columbia, Canada. I’m a huge fan of his and his brother's podcast BJJ Mental Models where they discuss Conceptual Jiu Jitsu in a highly effective technical and humor filled way. Some of the funnier moments for me were their discussions on taint sweeps, Steve’s jumping to turtle, and constant cat interruptions during recording. His brother and co-host, Matt Kwan is an Academy owner, competitor and black belt under Rob Bernaki and author of Modern Jiu Jitsu an instructional on Grapplearts. As you will hear Steve has the gift of being a highly effective communicator and speaker. I honestly think you could put a mic in front of him, pick a topic and you would probably have a hit podcast or radio show. I also think the majority of BJJ hobbyists will and do identify with him because he is exactly that, a hobbyist, a full time working regular guy with a family and obligations not some super athlete who spends all of his waking hours engrossed in BJJ. And it is that particular lens that will appeal to so many of you, because he has very interesting insights in a vast array of topics such as how he got his black belt, the logistics of starting and running a growing Jiu Jitsu podcast, life under Covid, and what makes the BC Canadian Jiu Jitsu community so special. That being said we are all still waiting with bated breath for his Turtle instructional. Other Links Mentioned: The BJJ Mental Models Database Logo Making Site Logaster

It's so fitting that the inaugural Forever White Belt episode features BJJ royalty Karel The Silver Fox Pravec on the show. Fox was one of the first US Renzo Gracie students and earned his black belt in 2006. Karel is also the author of the Fluid BJJ book, Digitsu video series, Roll with the Fox and Anti Virus YouTube series,  Fundamental Armbar Mechanics on BJJ Fanatics, and is regularly featured on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel with renowned MMA coach, Firas Zahabi. As promised, here is the link to the unofficial Silver Fox Technique Guide I created, it's an encyclopedia of Fox's techniques and philosophy that is actively updated. I created and update the technique guide as a thank you to Fox, Enrique, Mike, and the Anti Virus Tribe. I had such a great time with Fox, his humor and depth of knowledge draws you into his universe. Enjoy, I think you're going to love both this part 2 and the previous part 1 with The Silver Fox.

It's so fitting that the inaugural Forever White Belt episode features BJJ royalty Karel The Silver Fox Pravec on the show. Fox was one of the first US Renzo Gracie students and earned his black belt in 2006.  Karel is also the author of the Fluid BJJ book, Digitsu video series, Roll with the Fox and Anti Virus YouTube series,  Fundamental Armbar Mechanics on BJJ Fanatics, and is regularly featured on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel with renowned MMA coach, Firas Zahabi. As promised, here is the link to the unofficial Silver Fox Technique Guide I created, it's an encyclopedia of Fox's techniques and philosophy that is actively updated. I created and update the technique guide as a thank you to Fox, Enrique, Mike, and the Anti Virus Tribe. I had such a great time with Fox, his humor and depth of knowledge draws you into his universe. Enjoy, I think you're going to love both this part 1 and subsequent part 2 with The Silver Fox.