PodcastsHealth & WellnessBJJ Mental Models

BJJ Mental Models

Steve Kwan
BJJ Mental Models
Latest episode

507 episodes

  • BJJ Mental Models

    Ep. 386: Don't Make Them Feel Stupid, feat. Heather Morgan

    13/04/2026 | 56 mins.
    This week, we're joined by Heather Morgan! Heather is a jiu-jitsu black belt, competitor-turned-coach, and content creator based in San Diego who teaches in person at the Collective in Ocean Beach and online to students worldwide. In this episode, Heather shares how she coaches students to find their own game rather than copying hers, and why making people feel capable is the real job of a teacher. Topics include: developing individual jiu-jitsu style, psychological safety in the training room, the gap between being good at jiu-jitsu and being a good coach, gamification and constraint-led training, and coaching hobbyist students.

    Follow Heather on Instagram:
    https://instagram.com/heather_morganbjj

    Watch Heather on YouTube:
    https://www.youtube.com/@Heather_MorganBJJ

    Mental models discussed in this episode:
    Psychological Safety
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/psychological-safety

    Curse of Knowledge
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/curse-of-knowledge

    Constraints-Led Approach
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/constraints-led-approach

    Gamification
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/gamification

    Ecological Dynamics
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics

    Keep It Playful
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-it-playful

    ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

    The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com

    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

    Learn more mental models in our online database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

    Follow us on social:
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
    https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
    https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
    https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

    Music by Enterprize:
    https://enterprize.bandcamp.com

    ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models!
    MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta
  • BJJ Mental Models

    Mini Ep. 101: Open Knowledge

    09/04/2026 | 7 mins.
    In this mini-episode, we explain the concept of open knowledge and when information should be kept secret, charged for, or shared freely.

    Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro

    ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

    The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com

    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

    Learn more mental models in our online database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

    Follow us on social:
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
    https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
    https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
    https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

    ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models!
    MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta
  • BJJ Mental Models

    Ep. 385: Jiu-Jitsu "Third Places," feat. Justin Relph

    06/04/2026 | 59 mins.
    This week, we're joined by Justin Relph! Justin is a self-described die-hard hobbyist, event marketer, and the black belt coach behind Jiu Jitsu Invermere, a not-for-profit gym in the mountains of British Columbia. In this episode, Justin shares his experience building community through jiu-jitsu in a small resort town, and we revisit the concept of third places: the social spaces beyond home and work that so many of us are missing. Topics include: the decline of third places in modern life, how to build gym culture around community rather than competition, bringing jiu-jitsu to where people are, and the power of unstructured social time after training.

    Follow Jiu Jitsu Invermere on Instagram:
    https://instagram.com/jiujitsuinvermere

    Train with Justin at Jiu Jitsu Invermere in Invermere, BC:
    https://invybjj.ca

    Mental models discussed in this episode:
    Third Places
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/third-places

    Growth from Discomfort
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/growth-from-discomfort

    Ecological Dynamics
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics

    ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

    The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com

    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

    Learn more mental models in our online database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

    Follow us on social:
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
    https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
    https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
    https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

    Music by Enterprize:
    https://enterprize.bandcamp.com

    ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models!
    MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta
  • BJJ Mental Models

    Mini Ep. 100: The Golden Rule

    02/04/2026 | 7 mins.
    In our 100th mini-episode, we explain the golden rule, also known as the ethic of reciprocity or the "do unto others" principle. In our opinion, despite not being explicitly about grappling, the golden rule is the most important mental model for jiu-jitsu.  

    Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro

    ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

    The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com

    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

    Learn more mental models in our online database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

    Follow us on social:
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
    https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
    https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
    https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

    ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models!
    MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta
  • BJJ Mental Models

    Ep. 384: Secret Gracie History, feat. Jeff Shaw

    01/04/2026 | 38 mins.
    This week, we're joined by Jeff Shaw! Jeff is a black belt, head coach at Bellingham BJJ, and a history professor with peer-reviewed publications on jiu-jitsu history. In this episode, Jeff shares his findings on one of the most obscure and underappreciated figures in jiu-jitsu history: Rorden Gracie.

    Follow Jeff on Instagram:
    https://instagram.com/jeffshawbjj

    Train with Jeff at Bellingham BJJ in Washington:
    https://bellinghambjj.com

    ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

    The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com

    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

    Learn more mental models in our online database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

    Follow us on social:
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
    https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
    https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
    https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

    Music by Enterprize:
    https://enterprize.bandcamp.com

    ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models!
    MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

More Health & Wellness podcasts

About BJJ Mental Models

Your guide to a conceptual and intelligent Jiu-Jitsu approach. BJJ black belt Steve Kwan and a slate of expert guests explain the concepts, strategies, and tactics behind the gentle art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
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