I tried to solve one of Jiu Jitsu's oldest debates and got beat up by a 50 year old man instead.Was Rickson Gracie actually that good… or did the legend get bigger than the man?Before we know whether or not Rickson was the goat we must answer a much bigger question: what does it actually mean to be good at jiu-jitsu? Not famous. Not decorated. Not good at one rule set. Actually good at grappling.This episode starts with the myth: the 450-0 record, the old-school stories, the Gracie aura, and the never-ending internet arguments. But it turns into something way more useful: a breakdown of efficiency, effectiveness, connection, weight distribution, and the kind of jiu-jitsu that still works when strength, speed, and youth start disappearing.And yes, I finally tell the story of getting beat up by a 50 year old and, one of Rickson’s most respected black belts, and why getting absolutely manhandled changed the way I think about skill forever.This is not really an episode about worshipping Rickson. It’s about figuring out whether there is a level of jiu-jitsu most people never learn how to see.Check at our new Skool Jiu Jitsu Curriculum: https://www.skool.com/headnodHalf off BJJ Mental Models with promo code "JOSH": https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/pricing0:00 Was Rickson Gracie actually that good?4:06 Did Rickson have secret jiu-jitsu knowledge?6:13 Learning from Henry Akins8:38 What does “good jiu-jitsu” actually mean?13:17 Learning to roll without strength21:50 Henry changed how I saw dominant positions26:25 Rickson vs modern jiu-jitsu rulesets31:50 Breaking the old-school training room code38:33 Rolling with Henry Akins44:28 The efficiency gap became obvious46:29 The best and worst moment of my jiu-jitsu life49:04 Why medals don’t tell the whole story54:36 Are modern black belts actually better?1:01:34 Why the Rickson debate is really about identity1:02:12 Was Rickson actually that good?1:03:56 The real lesson of the episode

Six jiu-jitsu black belt coaches with over 100 years of combined teaching experience sit down for an honest roundtable about what it really means to lead a team, run a school, and try to help the next generation.Josh McKinney is joined by Jared Weiner, Kyle Watson, Nick Sanders, Junior Silva, and Andrew Sabens to talk about the hidden cost of coaching, students leaving, gym culture changing, the pressure of being a role model, and where the “old dogs” fit in as jiu-jitsu keeps growing.Is opening a jiu-jitsu school still the dream? Or is there a side of leadership most people never see until it’s too late?All that and more on The I Suck at Jiu-Jitsu Show.Check at our new Skool Jiu Jitsu Curriculum: https://www.skool.com/headnodHalf off BJJ Mental Models with promo code "JOSH": https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/pricing0:00 Intro1:03 What do we do with the next generation?3:05 Coaching changes when you have a family4:54 Impact them while you have them7:13 The responsibility of being a jiu-jitsu role model8:26 Why a good coach keeps people around13:53 Jiu-jitsu coaches are not counselors18:40 The emotional cost of students leaving21:03 Learning to let students go23:49 Jiu-jitsu culture is changing fast25:03 Where do the old dogs fit in now?26:58 Why structure still matters in a gym29:16 Building the culture from the top32:05 The truth about opening a jiu-jitsu school33:13 The business stress nobody sees38:24 When your job makes you choose between career and jiu-jitsu42:41 The C***D years and gym owner pressure46:12 Why jiu-jitsu still matters in a divided world48:09 The worst travel stories in jiu-jitsu58:42 Kyle Watson vs. Jared Weiner1:03:45 How competition creates lifelong friendships1:07:18 Why refereeing is the worst job in jiu-jitsu1:09:38 Are BJJ refs better now?1:11:19 Why coaches still need to know the rules1:13:05 Coaching chaos at tournaments1:21:19 The lore of the team1:23:31 Why good teams happen organically1:25:23 Your enemies at blue belt become your peers at black belt

This might be the best Jiu-Jitsu advice I’ve ever given.

Because once you understand this Secret Concept, you’ll know who’s actually winning every position before the score ever changes.

Today, I(@thejoshmckinney) will break down the idea of "Positional Pacing" and why it's important to base your game around the right positions. 

Most grapplers don’t lose because they don’t know enough techniques. They lose because they don’t know when they’re already in trouble. 

They think all guards are equal. They think close matches are close because the scoreboard says they are.

They’re wrong.

In this episode, I’m going to show you the hidden way good grapplers measure every position: who has real offense, who controls the pace, who is closer to scoring, and who is slowly getting dragged into hell.

I call it Positional Pacing and using the ideas you’ll learn you will start to see Jiu Jitsu’s Secret scoreboard!

And once you see it, guard, passing, pressure, pacing, and match strategy will never look the same again.

Somebody is always winning.

Most people just don’t know how to see it yet.

Subscribe to the I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show for weekly AJJ advice, mindset, training stories, and questionable life choices that help you suck just a little bit less at Jiu Jitsu.

Get my free ebook The Competitor’s Journey:

simplifyingjiujitsu.com

Get a free copy of jiu jitsu for imbeciles: bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck

Sponsored by Datsusara:

Use code ISUCK at dsgear.com

Get Champions Stay Present(mindset hacks for competition): https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/csp

0:00 Most Black Belts Don’t Know This BJJ Hack

4:23 Welcome to I Suck at Jiu-Jitsu

5:05 The Secret Scoreboard in Every Sport

7:28 Why Some Positions Are Worth More Than Points

8:24 Closed Guard Isn’t Neutral

10:44 Smashed Half Guard Means You’re Losing

14:16 The Chicago Open Story That Changed My Game

23:51 He’s Tired… Go Now

27:56 The Blitz: When to Attack and When to Wait

47:34 The Black Belt Answer: “You Shouldn’t Have Been There”

50:57 How to Beat the Annoying Blue Belt

1:03:00 How to Use Positional Pacing in Your Rounds

1:07:22 The Dormammu Strategy for Jiu-Jitsu

1:09:18 The Positions You Should Build Your Game Around

BJJ Black Belt, Josh Longood, went viral for saving a Frontier Airlines Flight.Josh was on a flight home when another passenger allegedly started attacking workers and causing all sorts of chaos. The Bjj spidey sense in Josh’s head started to tingle and he handled the situation exactly how a black belt should. He was able to control the aggressive passenger, keep everyone calm, and go super viral while doing it!Today, I(@thejoshmckinney) get to sit down with Josh and ask him exactly how he was able to subdue the passenger so easily. We also find out what Frontier Airlines did to thank him for saving everyone in what could have been an absolute disaster.If you’ve ever wondered, “I wonder if my jiu jitsu could work in a real life situation?” This episode is for you!Watch this before your next flight!Subscribe to the I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show for weekly AJJ advice, mindset, training stories, and questionable life choices that help you suck just a little bit less at Jiu Jitsu.Get my free ebook The Competitor’s Journey:simplifyingjiujitsu.comGet a free copy of jiu jitsu for imbeciles: bjjmentalmodels.com/isuckSponsored by Datsusara:Use code ISUCK at dsgear.comGet Champions Stay Present(mindset hacks for competition): https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/csp0:00 Intro1:33 The viral Frontier flight story3:35 Flying home from Puerto Rico5:04 When Josh knew something was wrong8:38 Going hands-on with the passenger10:29 “I only used 2%”11:47 Zip ties, seatbelts, and keeping everyone calm13:22 Passengers started yelling “choke him!”15:39 Police, FBI, and the emergency landing16:37 When Josh realized the story went viral19:30 Riding the wave after going viral23:48 Why this went bigger outside the BJJ world28:33 Every jiu-jitsu guy’s airplane fantasy30:13 Does jiu-jitsu actually work in real life?34:06 Josh’s wrestling, MMA, and competition background41:30 Coaching vs. teaching jiu-jitsu45:36 The IBJJF rule mistake that cost him gold55:21 The best jiu-jitsu advice Josh ever received57:04 Where to train with Josh

Every BJJ white belt needs this.

When you start Jiu Jitsu, you don’t know the positions, you don’t know the rules, you don’t know the etiquette, and worst of all… you don’t know what you don’t know.

So after 18 years of training and 13 years of teaching beginners, I made the White Belt Survival Guide I wish someone gave me on day one.

These are the 10 white belt mistakes that keep people confused, injured, frustrated, annoying to train with, and worst of all… stuck at white belt forever.

If you’re brand new to BJJ, trying to get to blue belt, constantly getting smashed, addicted to YouTube techniques, scared to ask your coach questions, rolling way too hard, or wondering why everyone else seems to be improving faster than you, this episode is for you.

This is not just “beginner advice.”

This is how to survive white belt, stop sucking faster, avoid quitting, and actually become dangerous on the mats.

Watch this before your next Jiu Jitsu class!

Subscribe to the I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show for weekly BJJ advice, mindset, training stories, and questionable life choices that help you suck just a little bit less at Jiu Jitsu.

Get my free ebook The Competitor’s Journey:

simplifyingjiujitsu.com

Get a free copy of jiu jitsu for imbeciles: bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck

Sponsored by Datsusara:

Use code ISUCK at dsgear.com

Get Champions Stay Present(mindset hacks for competition): https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/csp

0:00 Every White Belt Starts Completely Lost

2:02 There Is No Perfect Time to Start BJJ

8:46 The Skill That Makes White Belts Improve Faster

16:02 Jiu Jitsu Will Ruin Your Social Life

21:53 The Truth About Consistency

30:03 Why White Belts Need to Pay Attention

35:06 Winning in the Gym Is Not the Goal

44:27 Jiu Jitsu Does Not Automatically Make You Better

56:28 Do YouTube BJJ Moves Actually Work?

1:00:59 If It Hurts, Tap

1:04:04 Recovery Rules White Belts Ignore

1:10:22 Volume vs Intensity: How White Belts Stay on the Mat

1:14:34 Final Advice for Every White Belt

Have you ever walked into a Jiu Jitsu tournament feeling ready… and then got absolutely smashed in the first round?You trained hard. You thought you were prepared. You knew some techniques. Maybe you even had a plan.Then the match started and everything fell apart.In this episode, I’m breaking down 3 mindsets that might be the real reason you keep losing BJJ matches — not because you don’t know enough moves, not because the ref screwed you, and not because your opponent was just “stronger.”My name is Josh McKinney (@thejoshmckinney) and after 18 years of competing, coaching, winning, losing, and watching students go through the same patterns over and over again, I’ve noticed that most people don’t lose because of one big technical mistake.They lose because they don’t understand how to perform on command.They lose because they get trapped in the wrong story after a bad match.They lose because they walk into chaos with no real plan and hope their Jiu Jitsu magically shows up.If you’re a white belt, blue belt, purple belt, or anyone trying hard to compete but you can’t figure out why you keep falling short, this episode is for you.We’ll talk about competition mindset, game planning, pacing, exchanges, staying present, and how to actually compete in your own match instead of just “seeing what happens.”Get my free ebook The Competitor’s Journey:simplifyingjiujitsu.comGet a free copy of jiu jitsu for imbeciles: bjjmentalmodels.com/isuckSponsored by Datsusara:Use code ISUCK at dsgear.comGet Champions Stay Present(mindset hacks for competition): https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/csp

Chapters:

0:00 Why you keep losing BJJ matches
2:34 Mistake #1: The learner’s mindset
5:06 How to actually perform on competition day
7:00 Finding your real competition A-game
9:47 Performance mindset vs. learner mindset
10:54 Free gift: The Competitor’s Journey
12:24 Mistake #2: Victim mentality
15:05 The brutal truth about losing in front of everyone
16:13 The match I thought I won
17:01 Understanding exchanges and pacing
20:22 Why I should have turned it up sooner
23:18 Free BJJ Mental Models course
24:33 The wildest victim mentality story ever
31:24 Take responsibility for your own doodoo
33:09 Why excuses ruin your Jiu Jitsu
37:21 Datsusara hemp gear
38:49 Mistake #3: The chaos mindset
40:43 The opposite of chaos is being present
43:00 Why “just see what happens” loses matches
44:32 How I stopped losing at adult black belt
46:02 Why your game plan has to be simple
49:04 The 3 mindsets that decide your matches
50:02 Why my coach changed my finals game plan
53:28 Being present in your training camp
55:17 Know the rules, know your opponent
56:44 Why losing is part of becoming dangerous
57:39 Final thoughts

Rose Miller, aka @rosierollz, is everywhere on BJJ Instagram right now because she does something that sounds simple but is actually incredibly rare: she gives simple but helpful advice.In this episode of the I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show, Rose and I talk about how to actually learn Jiu Jitsu faster, why so many people waste years training without a real plan, and how a black belt thinks about improvement differently than a beginner.We get into her start in Jiu Jitsu, losing a lot early, competing, getting injured, learning how to learn, teaching white belts and blue belts, creating BJJ content, CLA/ecological training, drilling, women leading in Jiu Jitsu, and why starting every round from your knees is probably making your Jiu Jitsu worse.This is not just a “do these 3 moves” episode. This is a conversation about how to train smarter, how to think better, and how to keep getting better at Jiu Jitsu without making your entire life miserable.Follow Rose on Instagram: @rosierollzGet my free ebook The Competitor’s Journey:simplifyingjiujitsu.comGet a free copy of jiu jitsu for imbeciles: bjjmentalmodels.com/isuckSponsored by Datsusara:Use code ISUCK at dsgear.com

00:00 Intro
00:46 How Rose Miller got into Jiu Jitsu
03:31 Why Jiu Jitsu gave Rose structure and direction
05:28 Starting at Gracie South Bay with elite women
08:45 Rose’s first Jiu Jitsu competition
11:18 Losing a lot and learning how to learn
13:02 Why Rose refused to quit Jiu Jitsu
15:09 The original goal of becoming a black belt
16:30 What changes when you finally get your black belt
18:19 Injuries, COVID, concussions, and loving the process
22:01 Becoming a “try-hard hobbyist”
25:17 Why Rose makes beginner-friendly BJJ content
29:13 Rose’s intention behind creating content
34:10 Women leading in Jiu Jitsu
40:42 Training in San Diego vs smaller Jiu Jitsu scenes
43:56 Cross-training, loyalty, and gym culture
47:23 Would Rose be different if she started at a hobbyist gym?
49:57 Using competition as a learning tool
53:06 Why Rose’s Jiu Jitsu content works
57:31 Drilling, CLA, and live training
1:04:33 Why CLA people can be so annoying
1:07:10 Advice for beginners learning Jiu Jitsu today
1:10:27 Stop starting rounds from the knees
1:12:34 Why Jiu Jitsu standup is still evolving
1:16:37 Is Jiu Jitsu Brazilian or American?
1:17:50 Final thoughts

BJJ works… until it doesn’t.

In this episode, I sit down with Jena Bishop, a BJJ World Champion, elite grappler, and now professional MMA fighter, to talk about the brutal truth of taking world-class Jiu-Jitsu into the cage.

Jena has beaten some of the biggest names in grappling, including Mackenzie Dern, Angelica Galvão, Luiza Monteiro, and Gabi McComb. But after transitioning into MMA, she learned something most Jiu-Jitsu athletes don’t want to hear:

Your sport Jiu-Jitsu game might not survive punches, wrestling, scrambles, and people who refuse to play guard.

We talk about why guard pulling doesn’t translate, why being on top matters more than ever, why some elite grappling styles fail in MMA, how striking changes every position, and what BJJ athletes need to fix before stepping into a cage.

Jena also opens up about burnout, fight week anxiety, weight cuts, PFL, the current state of women’s safety in Jiu-Jitsu, and why the culture of hero-worship in BJJ has created serious problems.

This is one of the most honest conversations we’ve had on the show.

Get my free competition training ebook, The Competitor’s Journey:

simplifyingjiujitsu.com/comp

Sponsored by Datsusara:

Use code ISUCK at dsgear.com

Free BJJ Mental Models course:

bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck

What You’ll Learn

Why elite BJJ doesn’t automatically work in MMA

Why pulling guard is usually a terrible idea in a fight

How punches change guard, back control, leg locks, and top pressure

Why Jena stopped training mostly in the gi

The biggest mistake Jiu-Jitsu athletes make when transitioning to MMA

How fight camp, burnout, weight cutting, and mindset really work

Why Jena believes BJJ culture needs to stop protecting the wrong people

0:00 Intro

0:50 Jena’s biggest BJJ wins

1:53 Why Jena switched to MMA

4:36 Getting punched changes everything

6:11 Finding her first MMA fight

9:14 Training BJJ vs training MMA

11:41 Why guard pulling fails in MMA

14:35 Bad BJJ habits for fighting

15:35 Why half guard works in MMA

18:11 Why top position matters most

18:49 MMA rounds vs BJJ matches

21:00 Preparing for opponents

24:10 Jena’s fighting style

25:26 How Jena handles fight nerves

29:44 Burnout and fight camp

33:40 Weight cut karaoke

37:35 Post-weigh-in ritual

39:00 Cutting weight for MMA

42:23 Fight week routine

45:34 Jena’s MMA goals

48:27 Should MMA fighters train gi?

54:22 BJJ habits that don’t translate

56:19 Why elite grapplers struggle in MMA

58:04 Wrestling exposes BJJ athletes

1:00:25 BJJ culture problems

1:05:20 Protecting women and kids in BJJ

1:09:57 Leaving toxic gyms

1:13:03 Annoying BJJ gym characters

1:14:43 Jena’s next PFL fight

Is your Jiu-Jitsu gameplan actually helping you win… or are you just collecting random techniques?

In this episode, I sit down with Beatrice Jin( ⁨@berimbozo⁩ ), black belt competitor, coach, and one of the funniest creators in Jiu-Jitsu, to talk about how to build a real competition game instead of just “getting better at everything.”

Beatrice breaks down why specificity matters, how she rebuilt her own game after tough losses, why most technique content misses the point, and how competitors should think about grips, guards, training rounds, and strategy if they actually want to improve.

We also talk about guard pulling, drilling, women’s open mats, funny Jiu-Jitsu content, competing at black belt, and why your gameplan might suck.

What you’ll learn:

- Why “training everything” can hold you back

- How to build a specific A-game for competition

- Why your grips matter more than your moves

- How Beatrice structures competition training

- Why guard pulling might be the smartest strategy

- When drilling helps — and when it’s a waste of time

- How to stop training randomly and start training with intent

Try this in training:

Pick one primary guard, one secondary guard, and one grip sequence you want to force. Start rounds from there. Your goal is not to “do Jiu-Jitsu.” Your goal is to get to your spot, score first, submit first, or learn exactly where your game breaks.

Get Josh’s free competition prep ebook, The Competitor’s Journey, at simplifyingjiujitsu.com/comp

Get Rob Biernacki’s free Jiu-Jitsu for Imbeciles course from BJJ Mental Models at bjjmentalmodels.com/suck

Check out Datsusara hemp gear and use promo code ISUCK at dsgear.com for 10% off.

New episodes of the I Suck At Jiu-Jitsu Show every Thursday.

Subscribe so you can suck less at Jiu-Jitsu.

0:00 Beatrice Jin Joins The Show

1:50 Why The Whiteboard Videos Went Viral

7:03 Being A Serious Competitor AND A Meme

10:49 Why Most BJJ Technique Videos Suck

18:35 Why Black Belt Competition Feels Different

23:45 There Are No Mindset Tricks

26:36 How Beatrice Trains Between Competitions

28:33 Should Competitors Actually Drill?

31:01 Why She Added K Guard

32:15 How To Build Your Competition Game

35:47 Beatrice’s Genius Competition Class

48:18 Should Women Train With Men?

52:41 Guard Pulling Is Mathematically Correct

54:04 If Your Guard Gets Passed, You Deserve To Lose

1:09:06 How To Suck Less At Jiu-Jitsu

I asked the internet for their hottest BJJ takes… and honestly, this was a mistake.

In this episode of The I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show, Josh, Bryce, and Brian react to listener-submitted BJJ hot takes that range from painfully true to completely unhinged. We talk about injured training partners who still roll like it’s ADCC finals, why “let’s roll light” basically means nothing, whether you should wash your belt, why middle-aged blue belts might have the biggest target in the gym, and whether submission-only rulesets are actually ruining grappling.

If you’ve ever had a teammate say “I’m injured, let’s go light” and then immediately try to kill you… this episode is for you.

Call the Hot Takes Hotline

Got a BJJ hot take?

Call 951-HOT-TAKE and leave us your worst, funniest, or most controversial jiu-jitsu opinion.

We may roast you.

We may agree with you.

We may accidentally start a gym war.

Get Josh’s free competition prep ebook, The Competitor’s Journey, at simplifyingjiujitsu.com

Get Rob Biernacki’s free Jiu-Jitsu for Imbeciles course from BJJ Mental Models at bjjmentalmodels.com/suck

Check out Datsusara hemp gear and use promo code ISUCK at dsgear.com for 10% off.

Should You Compete or Waste Money?

If you’ve ever sat on the fence about competing in Jiu-Jitsu… this episode is for you.

We break down the real reasons people compete (and the lies they tell themselves), whether tournaments are actually worth the money, and how competition can completely change your Jiu-Jitsu, and your mindset.

This isn’t just ADCC vs IBJJF. It’s about who competition is for, who it’s NOT for, and how to actually get value out of it.

If you’re a competitor (or thinking about becoming one), this episode will help you decide: 👉 Should you compete at all? 👉 Which tournaments actually make sense for you? 👉 And how to stop overthinking it and just go.

• Why most people compete (and why they’re wrong)

• The real benefit of competition (it’s not medals)

• How competition forces faster improvement

• ADCC vs IBJJF: pros, cons, and who they’re for

• Why local tournaments might be the smartest move

• The biggest mistake beginners make with competing

• How to know if competing is right for YOU

• Add 1 “performance day” per week (competition-style rounds only)

• Stop talking about competing, be about competing

• Treat each tournament like a rep, not a result

• Compete more locally before chasing “big” events

🔥 What You’ll Learn🥋 Try This in Training (Mini Playbook)

• Add 1 “performance day” per week (competition-style rounds only)

• Stop talking about competing, be about competing

• Treat each tournament like a rep, not a result

Compete more locally before chasing “big” events

ISAJJ Rash Guards: https://imposedwill.com/collections/i-suck-at-jiu-jitsu-showJiu-Jitsu for Imbeciles, feat. Rob Biernacki(FREE): https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/isuckDatsusara 10% OFF with Promo Code “ISUCK”: https://www.dsgear.com/ The Competitor’s Journey: https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/comp

00:00 – Should You Even Compete?
01:00 – Why People Say They Compete
02:00 – The Truth: Competing Is Selfish
05:00 – The Real Value of Competition
07:00 – Competition vs “Who’s Better”
08:30 – Why Competition Forces Growth
10:30 – Stop Talking, Start Competing
12:00 – The “Performance Day” Hack
15:00 – Why Competition Changes You
18:00 – Regret & Missed Opportunities
21:00 – Fear of Competing Explained
23:00 – Just Sign Up (Big Mistake People Make)
24:30 – Which Tournaments Matter?
26:00 – ADCC vs IBJJF Overview
27:30 – IBJJF Pros
33:30 – IBJJF Cons (Cost, Politics)
38:00 – ADCC Pros (Clout, Culture)
43:00 – ADCC Cons (Organization Issues)
48:00 – Local Tournaments Explained
49:30 – Why You Should Compete More Often
53:30 – The Real Answer: Just Compete
55:00 – What To Do After You Lose
59:00 – Why Competition Changes You Forever
1:02:00 – Final Advice for Competitors