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BJJ Mental Models

Steve Kwan
BJJ Mental Models
Latest episode

542 episodes

  • BJJ Mental Models

    Mini Ep. 119: Trading Up

    13/08/2026 | 5 mins.
    In this mini-episode, we discuss trading up: the strategic importance of getting more than you give in any jiu-jitsu exchange.

    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
  • BJJ Mental Models

    Ep. 403: Learning from Kids Class, feat. Brennan Strimple

    10/08/2026 | 46 mins.
    This week, we're joined again by Brennan Strimple! Brennan and his wife founded Rochester Jiu Jitsu in 2014, and almost all of their kids classes are taught by black belts. In this episode, Brennan explains why kids don't grapple like adults, and what the rest of us can learn from teaching them. Topics include: teaching goals instead of moves, coaching cues kids actually understand, how slowly kids process instruction, treating the tap like a video game respawn, and building young athletes.

    Follow Brennan on Instagram:
    https://instagram.com/coachbrennanstrimple

    Follow Rochester Jiu Jitsu on Instagram:
    https://instagram.com/rochesterjiujitsu

    Train at Rochester Jiu Jitsu:
    https://rochesterjiujitsu.com

    Mental models discussed in this episode:
    Concepts Over Techniques
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/concepts-over-techniques

    Effortful Retrieval
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/effortful-retrieval

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

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

    Win Conditions
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/win-conditions

    Gamification
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/gamification

    Direct vs. Proxy Control
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/direct-vs-proxy-control

    Incremental Learning
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/incremental-learning

    Cognitive Load
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-load

    Spaced Repetition
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/spaced-repetition

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

    Investing in Loss
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/investing-in-loss

    External Cues
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/external-cues

    ⬆️ 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
  • BJJ Mental Models

    Mini Ep. 118: Labeling

    06/08/2026 | 9 mins.
    In this mini-episode, we discuss labeling: the practice of attaching a name, category, or descriptor to something in order to make it easier to identify and understand.

    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
  • BJJ Mental Models

    Ep. 402: Dichotomies of Jiu-Jitsu, feat. Charles Harriott

    03/08/2026 | 1h 14 mins.
    This week, we're joined by Charles Harriott! Charles has been doing martial arts since he was four years old, and after years of traveling the world teaching seminars for BJJ Globetrotters and BJJ Fanatics, he recently opened his own gym, Lofi Dojo, in Gainesville, Florida. In this episode, Charles walks through the dichotomies of jiu-jitsu, the apparent opposites that often turn out to be sliding scales. Topics include: climbing versus leaping, gameplans versus improvisation, following the meta versus innovating, concepts versus techniques, and fun versus adversity.

    Train with Charles at Lofi Dojo:
    https://instagram.com/lofi.gnv

    Follow Charles on Instagram:
    https://instagram.com/charlesharriott

    Support Charles on Patreon:
    https://patreon.com/charlesharriott

    Get Charles's instructionals on BJJ Fanatics:
    https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_charles-harriott

    Mental models discussed in this episode:
    Silver Bullet Fallacy
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/silver-bullet-fallacy

    Certainty Heuristic
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/certainty-heuristic

    Position Over Submission
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/position-over-submission

    Placeholders
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/placeholders

    Concepts Over Techniques
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/concepts-over-techniques

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

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

    Self-Organization
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/self-organization

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

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

    Psychological Safety
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/psychological-safety

    Gamification
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/gamification

    Prioritize Longevity
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/prioritize-longevity

    ⬆️ 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
  • BJJ Mental Models

    Mini Ep. 117: Mnemonics

    30/07/2026 | 4 mins.
    In this mini-episode, we discuss mnemonics: memory shortcuts that help you remember what you learned in jiu-jitsu class.

    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
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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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