BJJ Mat Times

Ever wonder about the intertwining paths of creative passion and martial discipline?  From the mats of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the vulnerable showcase of a gallery wall, we traverse a diverse landscape of experiences, reflecting on the camaraderie and shared experiences that have shaped us along the way.

This time around, we peel back the curtains on the struggle with self-promotion, examining the connections viewers forge with artwork and the tranquility that inspiration from nature can instill in life. We also share stories from the Jiu-Jitsu journey—haircuts included!—revealing the personal development that occurs from white belt to black and how the martial art can become a catalyst for community, teaching, and transformation.

Justin doesn't shy away from the grittier details, discussing the ever-evolving learning process and how teaching Jiu-Jitsu can be an entry into a new level of understanding. As we dissect the balance between fundamental and innovative techniques, you'll gain insight into how age and mat experience shape a more strategic approach to the sport. Discover the parallels between the discipline required in Jiu-Jitsu and and how we approach life.  Join us as we look toward the future with an open mind for change and the growth it promises to bring.

From the wrestling mats to Jiu-Jitsu, our latest guest, Michael Jackula, shares how he came to train at North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Michael's wrestling background offers a glimpse into how his wrestler background has enhanced his jiu-jitsu performance. 

We also dive into the framework of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, Michael explains the connection between various MCMAP training and how that technique is progressed into a fighting sequence. 

Thanks for joining us in the conversation, and we hope to see you on the mats!!! 

Danny, Ed, and I got some great training in last weekend. We talked about how and when to use lasso guard and the benefits of using it to control the pace of a match. It was a good conversation about all things Jiu Jitsu! We hope you enjoy the episode! 

This week we sat down with Chris Payne. Chris is a blue belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu and has been training with us for about a year and a half. Chris competed at Jiu Jitsu World League in San Diego this past weekend, and we talked about the training leading up to the comp and the action on the mats. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. 

Saturday was a special night! Chance Snyder took part in his first MMA fight and brought home the win! I am super excited we were able to get together and have this post fight conversation. We hope you enjoy it! 

In this On the Mats talk, Chris Drozd and I have a quick talk about leg locks and leg defense! We hope you enjoy the conversation! 

In this episode of On the Mats, Jake and I discuss competition and competition training. Thanks for listening!!! 

This week we talk with Todd Stedman. Todd is a purple belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu and has been training with us since roughly 2020. We cover the benefits of flow class, the feelings around transitioning from belt to belt, and the community we train in. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

This week we talk with Rebeka O’Keefe. Rebeka is a brown belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu and has been training with us since the gym first opened! Rebeka is a teacher specializing in German language instruction and can speak several languages! Rebeka and I talk about her training over the past ten years and how she maintains focus and continues training while working full-time and being a mother of two. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

This week we talk with one of my close friends, Chris Roberts. Chris is a retired Navy Chief and retired police officer. We have been buddies for over a decade and we decided to get together and talk about his twenty years in the Navy and some of our conversations before he moves out of the Southern California area. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the show! 

This week we talk with Julio Valdez. Julio is a white belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu and has been training with us for about two years. He is also a Marine Corps Veteran, Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor, and high school wrestler! Julio and I talk about his service in the Marine Corps, how he found jiu jitsu, and what keeps him on the mats. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

This is a quick talk we call On the Mats, where we talk live after training and have a shortened discussion about jiu jitsu. This installment is with North Coast purple belt Jessie Stedman. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

This week we talk with Zack Kovacs. Zack is a white belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu and has been training with us for about a year. He is also an Army Infantry Veteran and wrestler. His experience in Army combatives and years of wrestling make rounds with him a bit more challenging than the average white belt! We also talk about Zack's military service and how he found his way back to grappling after the Army. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

This is a quick talk we call On the Mats, where we talk live after training and have a shortened discussion about jiu jitsu. This installment is with North Coast brown belt Carlos Perez. We hope you enjoy the conversation.

This week we talked with Ed Lopez, a purple belt training out of Halo Jiu Jitsu in Fresno, CA. Ted shares his experience of training and recovering as an older grappler and how to be effective on the mats. We also discuss the Halo team matches at Fight to Win and how the gym supports and competes at the event! Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

This is a quick talk we call On the Mats, where we talk live after training and have a shortened discussion about jiu jitsu. This installment is with North Coast black belt and instructor, Terence DeToy. We hope you enjoy the conversation.

This is a quick talk we call On the Mats, where we talk live after training and have a shortened discussion about jiu jitsu. This installment is with Justin Hoepner, a black belt, friend, and drilling partner training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. We hope you enjoy the conversation.

This week we talked with Ciara Gutierrez, a blue belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Ciara brings a brightness to the gym, and we are lucky to have her with us! She shares her experience with sign language, multiple gyms, and life on the move over the past few years. Now that Ciara is back in Southern California, she is training, working, and furthering her education and career. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

This week we talk with Liane Burchette, a purple belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Liane talks with us about training, life in the Navy, and training while deployed. We also talk about personal sacrifice with a career of military service and the difficulties of military life. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

A quick conversation with Big Los and Todd about the Flow Class and how it's helping our game. We hope you enjoy the shorter format in between longer interviews. 

This week we talked with Carly Drelleshak, a blue belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Carly shares a bit about her jiu jitsu journey and how the 75 Hard program has transformed her approach to setting goals and making changes in her life. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

This week we talked with Jon Aasted, a blue belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Jon shares a bit about his background in law enforcement, the military, and battling cancer twice. Jon also talks about leaving jiu jitsu in 2018 and returning after a four year break. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

This week we talked with Cody Guy! Cody is a blue belt training out of Excel in Oceanside and is a frequent visitor to open mat at North Coast. Cody is also an amateur boxer with Nevarez Boxing and has around fifteen fights under his belt. Cody has a wealth of information to share about his training and what makes him successful in boxing and jiu jitsu. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

Derek and I talked about how he found jiu jitsu and some wild times on the mat this week. Derek has cardio for days and can push his training partners to their cardio limits. He competes frequently and always hits the mats with intensity and intent. We hope you enjoy the conversation. 

Thanks 

This week we talked with Sean Fallon. If you are looking for a challenging and heavy round, look no further. Sean is one of the very first people I ever rolled with and helped introduce me to the world of jiu jitsu. He gives us his perspective on ego and how letting it go can help improve your game. We also talk about how some of the best rounds are flow rounds, where you get lots of movement and get into the flow state of mind. We hope you enjoy the conversation. 

This week we talked with Corey O’Keefe, a brown belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. I have known Corey since the beginning of my jiu jitsu journey, and he has been one of my training partners that has helped shape my game. Corey shares his story of getting started and insight on how to train in class and prepare for competition. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

This week we are talking with Texas Ben Rodriguez. He is a blue belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu in Vista, CA. He has been one of my training partners for the last year or so, and unfortunately, he will be leaving us and moving on to the next phase in his life and career on the East Coast. I'm glad we had the opportunity to sit down and talk about how his Jiu Jitsu game has evolved during his time with North Coast and his plan to restart training once he gets settled in at his new place. We hope you enjoy the show!

This week we talk with Shaun Skelton, a purple belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Shaun takes some time to speak with us about his journey, his life, and his perspective on how we keep moving forward through hardship in life and on the mats. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

This week Charles and I talked about mindset, competition, and the benefits of jiu jitsu. We also spent much of our time talking about how helping others helps you. We hope you enjoy the conversation! 

Today we talk with No Gi Billy out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu about his years training and what keeps him on the mats. We had a great conversation about transitioning from belt to belt, diet, and training outside of jiu jitsu. We hope you enjoy the discussion! 

This week Jessie, Alma, and Carly talk about what it’s like to train in a sport where the participants are typically men. They each talk about different challenges, how they overcame them, and offer their perspective on rolling with various opponents. We hope you enjoy the conversation! 

Today we talked to a few competitors from North Coast Jiu Jitsu about their matches at Jiu Jitsu World League Del Mar. It was great seeing the team compete and watching them put what we train to work on the mats! 

Just in case I didn't mention their names during the interview, the list is below! 
Interviews - 1) Tyler Moulton
                            2) Derrick McCartney
                            3) Amanda Rodriguez

After a few requests to be on the other side of the table, it has been done. I had the pleasure of being interviewed by my wife,  Angela, and she asked all of the heavy hitter questions! LOL!!! I hope you enjoy this episode. Thanks for listening!!!

We talked with Laurynn “Iron Butterfly” Garcia this week, who is just coming off a win via TKO at Epic 48. Laurynn is a brown belt training out of Excel Jiu Jitsu in Oceanside, and she is also a coach! We are fortunate to get Laurynn’s perspective on training for jiu jitsu and MMA and talk about what is involved with getting ready for competition and fighting. We hope you enjoy the talk!

Instagram - @ironbutterfly_mma
Sponsors - @klash.supply.co 

This week we talked with Steve “Thunderbeast” Kozola about jiu jitsu, MMA, and the mindset of training. Steve stepped into the cage a total of seventeen times before retiring in 2020. Although he has retired, he’s not finished. Steve is still involved in martial arts and jiu jitsu as a coach with Gracie Carlsbad and instructor at Kozola Combatives. We hope you enjoy the conversation about jiu jitsu!

Instagram - @stevekozolamma 
Origin Maine discount code - Kozola10

After some time off due to a knee injury, Alma is getting back to training. We had a great conversation about the challenges life will throw at you and the community of jiu jitsu. We also find out some interesting facts about Alma's grappling background! From wrestling to rock climbing, Alma is about action and pushing her limits. We hope you enjoy the episode! 

Today we talked with Adam out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Adam has been one of my training partners for the last few years, and rolling with Adam brings unique challenges because of his sheer power and strength. He is also an avid weight lifter, and we talk about his training regimen and how he approaches working out and Jiu Jitsu. There's also some talk about Turkish oil wrestling and Shotokan Karate, we hope you enjoy the episode! 

Today we talk with Adrian about his ups and down with training and what it's like taking a few breaks from the game then returning.  Adrian loves to share what he has learned over the past five years of training, and he is a great person to roll and learn with. We hope you enjoy the episode!

The Wrasslin' Sasquatch and I spend some time talking about his career and getting back into jiu jitsu. We also get into some talks about wrestling and how it helps with jiu  jitsu transitions and how to be effective in a scramble. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy the conversation! 

Jon and I spent some time joking around and talking about when we trained together at North Coast Jiu Jitsu. In early 2020 he moved out of state but kept training and making jiu jitsu a significant part of his life. He now trains out of Alliance Atlanta and has some great stories to tell us about training, competition, and how jiu jitsu has helped him personally. Jon is also a volunteer with the We Defy Foundation, which provides combat veterans coping with military connected disabilities a long term means to overcome their challenges through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and fitness training. If you have time, check out the website at www.wedefyfoundation.org and consider donating to their worthy cause.

This week we talked with Ryan Grandon, a black belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. It was great to speak with him about how he trains, his thoughts on training for competition, his recovery regimen, and teaching. Ryan is a great professor and training partner who spends extra time building the skillset of those around him and is a really tough roll on the mats. On the lighter side, Ryan tells us a funny story about his first competition after only a few months of training, and that competition just happened to be the Pan Ams. Soon, he’ll be opening his own gym in Texas, and we can’t wait to see what the future has in store for him and his family!  I hope you enjoy the podcast and being part of the conversation. 

Today, we talk jiu jitsu with Philip King and get to know him better. We talk about his favorite moves, why he trains, and what keeps him on the mats. A special thanks to Alma King for coming along and helping us understand a bit more about Philip’s journey and how he found jiu jitsu! 

Andrew Lowen and I talk about his wrestling background, the differences between wrestling and jiu jitsu, and his mindset on the mats. Andrew also shares his experience running a business, raising a family, and still making time to train several days a week. We have a fun conversation, and I hope you enjoy learning more about Andrew and how he sets himself up for success in life and on the mats. Thanks for listening!

Today we have the pleasure of talking with Terence DeToy, He is a black belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu and someone I am fortunate enough to train with very often. Terence has quite the story from the beginning in Tae Kwon Do, transitioning to Kickboxing, stepping into the cage after his friends signed him up for a mixed martial arts fight and his transition to jiu jitsu. Terence and I dive deep into thoughts about Jiu jitsu, and we also discuss his progression over the years. He has trained at many gyms, and we are fortunate to have him training and sharing his expertise with us at North Coast Jiu Jitsu. 

Today I have the pleasure of talking with Justin Hoeppner @justhoep , a brown belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. We discuss progression in training from positional rounds to theory in practice and drilling, and we also talk about how live rounds and starting from standing help with training. Justin is also an awesome photographer; if you want to see great photos of the ocean and sunsets follow him on Instagram at @justhoep 

Chance is a purple belt, a training partner, and one of my friends. He was my very first roll when I first started jiu jitsu and has helped me along in my journey. Please forgive our laughter through this one and remember all of what we say is jest between friends. I can’t wait to see what Chance’s jiu jitsu and MMA future look like, and I’ll be in his corner cheering when he makes his next move. Today, we discuss topics like wanting to be a world champion, moving towards MMA, and losing in competition. I hope you enjoy the conversation. 

Today I had the pleasure of talking with Jake Mapes, owner of North Coast Jiu Jitsu, about his journey from getting started in jiu jitsu to owning a gym. We made a few stops along the way to cover his MMA career as well as his involvement in various training camps. I hope you enjoy the conversation! 

This week I had the pleasure of talking with Taylor Holmes. He is a brown belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu, and someone who has helped me greatly with my jiu jitsu journey.  He has a great story of how he began training and we talk about his moving around to various gyms and his time in the cage! We made it halfway through his story, and a few weeks down the road, we'll pick up where we left off! I hope you enjoy it!!!

B-Ryan and I have been friends for several years. After much peer pressure and right timing, we were finally able to get together on the mats! We had a great time talking about his experience with competition and what jiu jitsu means to him. Enjoy!

From the days of training in a garage to becoming a coach, ADCC Ryan is always looking to further his skill and share his love of jiu jitsu. Ryan tells us about his grappling journey that started with middle school wrestling and eventually led to where he is now at North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Enjoy!

Big Los has a wealth of knowledge on the mats and is one of my regular training partners. The Silverback shares how he started in jiu jitsu and the challenges of juggling work, family, and training. Hope you enjoy it! 

Jessie and I have a talk about training and injuries. I hope you enjoy the conversation!

Wes is a purple belt out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu in Vista, CA. We had a great talk about training and the gym. I hope you enjoy the conversation! 

Todd and I talk about training and good times on the mat!

You're about to listen to the very first episode of BJJ Mat Times. This was our first attempt, ever, at recording and publishing a podcast. In a short amount of time, the podcasts' content has changed immensely. Also, the sound quality and production are constantly evolving. If you are looking for something a little more polished, check out later episodes, but if you want to hear how this started, hit play, and enjoy!

Thanks for listening!