[buzzsprout episode='234586' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | Coming soon.
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Raf's Recollection | Full write up coming very soon. Listen in as we preview UFC 182 and chat with our pal, Jon Thomas, from Tap Cancer Out.
[buzzsprout episode='231955' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | Full write up coming soon!
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Raf's Recollection | Justin Rader [30:00] has been on our... podcast's radar for some time (see what I did there?).
Kev and I have been HUGE fans of Justin's jiu-jitsu game for ages. It's fast, it's aggressive, and it's destructive--a fascinating hybrid that combines the best of jiu-jitsu and wrestling (which has made for some truly impressive highlight-reel matches).
Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of meeting Justin in person and was truly impressed by his character. From the many instructionals and interviews we've seen from the guy, we know he's truly passionate about the sport (and isn't afraid to voice a controversial opinion about it every once in awhile).
Sure he's got an intensity to him, but it's never impolite or combative. In fact, off the mats, he's about as nice as they come.
He's one of the few guys I know who actually says the word "gosh." Yes, actually says the word "gosh" when he gets asked a good question. And it just works, cuz that's just the kinda guy Rader is.
Which is why it was awesome to find that the guy who was so relentless in the cage (or on the mats) can have a great laugh with us and crack a few goofy jokes with us in between serious conversations about the current state of jiu-jitsu, his MMA career, and what the future holds in store for him.
We get a cool look at his mindset going into the fight, what made his fight camp so great, and how it felt like to be on the same card with his mentor/training partner, Rafael Lovato Jr.
It's a great time and I wouldn't be surprised if you hear Rader back on the podcast sometime very soon.
Travis Conley: All Around Badass
Travis Conley's passport must be tired as hell. The dude literally just got back from an awesome overseas trip where he got to conduct some awesome BJJ seminars, only to come back home and lead our friend LC Davis to an impressive win at Bellator 124.
But that's not all. Travis also got invited to compete on the US Men's Sambo team.
So it seems like Conley may need to bust out that passport again for this unexpected and amazing opportunity. We wanna help Travis achieve his goal and represent America accordingly, so we're asking for our fans here to help out and donate a few bucks if they can to the cause.
For more info about his trip, head on over to UNGD.tv. And on the podcast, we make some compelling arguments as to why you should help the guy out.
Especially if they mean beating Kevin up.
But wait, there's more!
We also have our pal Steven Briggs back on the podcast to find out if he beat Kevin in this week's installment of Over/Under Kevin.
I don't want to spoil anything, but he stands a good chance of beating Kevin's picks.
We also review all things that took place at UFC 178.
So listen in and let us know what you think!
And be sure to add us and check out our social media.
Facebook: /VerbalTapCast
Twitter: @VerbalTapCast
Instagram: @VerbalTapCast
Vine: @VerbalTapCast
All I got for now, later on party people.
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Raf's Recollection | Our pal LC Davis drops in [24:02], moments after his big win at Bellator 124.
We chat with LC about his preparation for the fight, as well as rectifying the biggest problem of the broadcast:
The fact that they didn't even give him a chance to talk after his win.
Check it out as LC crushes it, not only in his (deserved) post-fight interview, but also in our exclusive interview with this rising Bellator MMA star.
Oh yeah, also we talk a little bit about our pal Travis Conley (welcome back to the USA, buddy :-)
But Wait, There's More...
A reddit post prompted us to start talking about the nerves people get before training. As someone who's had their own experiences with anxiety, we decided it'd be a great thing to have a little dialogue about one of the lesser talked-about phenomenon in BJJ.
I also talk a little bit about the amazing experience I had over at the Grapplethon over in Laguna Niguel.
All this and much, much more.
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Raf's Recollection | Not gonna lie, I'm a little jealous of Mik Milman's photography skills.
As an avid photography enthusiast, I spend a great deal of my spare time researching different photographers and trends within the field. Which is why it came as a nice surprise when I found there was a photographer taking the time to capture the essence of everyday jiu-jitsu practitioners.
That's right, not the guys you see standing on podiums or shouting out their twenty thousand sponsors. Nor the guys selling you DVDs, telling you what you need to know about jiu-jitsu. Not even the people trying to make names for themselves showing you a cool move on YouTube.
In fact, Mik (pronounced "Mick") none of that really seems to matter all that much to Mik Milman. For him, there's a way bigger interest in the psychology behind why people step foot on a mat.
Mik's passion project, People Who Train, is a photography-based narrative BJJ endeavor that seeks to find out the psychology behind why ordinary people step on the mats.
And the results, thus far, have been fascinating.
I first caught wind of the projects a couple months ago and was intrigued by the quality of the photos. In each of Mik's still frames you truly get a representation of each interview subject's soul. And while I've never rolled with any of the people in the photos or heard a single word about their story beforehand, the photos give a great peek into the role jiu-jitsu plays in their life.
It's even more awesome when you see the photos juxtaposed with some of the short narratives that give you a little more insight into these folks' everyday lives.
On the podcast [his appearance starts at the 58:30 mark], Mik describes his process (all the way from the photography sessions, the type of people's he's interested in photographing, and the unexpected narratives that have propelled him to do even more for the BJJ community).
If you're interested in being one of the folks featured in this project (seriously, don't be shy. We all have cool stories that deserve to be featured), be sure to check out People Who Train and hit up Info@MikMilman.com.
You can also check out Mik's work on Instagram (@retrograding) and give him a like on Facebook.
But Wait, There's More
We talk about Dana White's latest PR fail, some stupid parents on a dumb reality show force their kids to do jiu-jitsu and are pretty extreme about it, the devastation of UFC 177, and Todd Levin [21:11] returns to find out if he beat Kevin on our last installment of "Over/Under Kevin" (spoiler alert, of course he did).
So take a load off and kick back as we help you unwind and make sense of this crazy week in BJJ and MMA. And don't forget to follow us on our social media stuff as well.
Facebook: /VerbalTapCast
Twitter: @VerbalTapCast
Instagram: @VerbalTapCast
Vine: @VerbalTapCast
Oh yeah, one more thing. We've got our new Around the Mat episodes coming out (we filmed one episode per Metamoris 4 match). Check our our first installment right here!
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Raf's Recollection | 
Karl Penn is our kind of idiot.
Well, jiu-jidiot to be precise.
In a short amount of time, Karl has made a name for himself as the guy behind some of the funniest jiu-jitsu memes hitting the net.
We've had the pleasure of getting name checked in a couple of his memes as of recently (including the one to the right-hand side here, pronouncing his appearance on this week's show), so we wanted to return the favor by having him on the show.
If you haven't seen some of his work, allow us to share a few of our favorites:
And my current favorite...
On this week's episode, we find a little bit about Karl's jiu-jitsu evolution, what he did before BJJ, and even get him to explain a few of his most recent status updates.
We love supporting folks like Karl who help put a smile on our face in this crazy world of BJJ. For a sport that can sometimes take itself a little too seriously, we love having an ally like Karl Penn who gets that a simple meme can help us make sense of the more ridiculous aspects of BJJ.
Be sure to follow Karl and his facebook page, Jiu Jidiots, and tell 'em your friends at Verbal Tap sent ya.
Where'd I Train This Week?
I made a stop over to train with the guys over at The Warrior's Club this week.
As some of you may recall, our pal Jim Lawson publicly put me on blast on last week's podcast and told me a beating was in in the foreseeable future.
He was certainly right.
A beating did happen, just not at my expense. As the picture on the right demonstrates, Jim may have pushed this white belt a little too far.
That aside, Jim teaches a really cool class, helping me lay a strong foundation for my footlock game (don't worry, I can't do any of it remotely well, so you're all safe for the time being).
What I appreciate was that as I struggled to grasp the proper grips and technique, Jim really made an effort to make sure I understood the concepts (even going as far as to blame himself for me not getting the techniques right). I assured him it's my general stupidity (or jiu-jitsu dyslexia I've diagnosed myself with that renders me incapable of even the simplest of BJJ moves), but I sincerely appreciated his efforts to go above and beyond helping me better understand the techniques of the day.
Those are the kinds of instructors you want in your corner, the people who make it their mission to make you better (and feel like they're letting you down if you don't quite get it). I can assure Jim that his help is greatly appreciated and will one day pay off.
Great rolls and fun times. I look forward to giving Jim his well-deserved rematch any time he likes, but let this be a lesson to all: it's not polite to call out your podcast host.
They might get angry.
You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.
... or hungry. Now that I think about it, that's probably worse: hangry.
Nonetheless, my thanks to all the good people at The Warrior's Club and I look forward to getting beat up by you all again sometime soon.
Oh and BTW
If you haven't watched it yet, please go check out the first technique video from your pals here at Verbal Tap. That's right. Our pal Travis Conley identifies a problem in my current game. Please feel free to like and share, and let us know if you want to see more of these in the future!
Let us know what you thought about this week's episode on our social media:
Facebook: /VerbalTapCast
Twitter: @VerbalTapCast
Instagram: @VerbalTapCast
Vine: @VerbalTapCast
Until next time, folks!
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Raf's Recollection | More about our conversation with our pal Mike Jasper coming soon!
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Raf's Recollection | Joey Diaz is a real motherfucker.
There's an old adage that says "never meet your heroes." The saying implies that you'll only set yourself up for disappointment when you finally meet the person you admire.
In entertainment, that saying consistently true. But not with Joey Coco Diaz.
I've always been a fan of his style of comedy and over the past year I've had the pleasure of getting to know Joey as both a stand up comic and a BJJ training partner.
On stage or on his podcast (The Church of What's Happening Now), Joey is ferocious, uncensored. A beast. He has this great old school energy that is severely lacking in this PC sensitive world.
Off stage, Joey is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. The dude's selfless and has gone out of his way to do nice things for his friends on numerous occasions. He's offered to do my talk show, he did this podcast, and he even offered to help me out with a new project that I'll be sharing with you all very soon.
On the podcast this week, we ask Joey about his training in BJJ, why MMA audiences gravitate toward his sense of humor, and get some fun stories about his time working with Robert DeNiro in the movie Grudge Match.
It's a great conversation that is truly an extension of the great vibe that Joey brings to my gym, Valley Martial Arts Center. And I can honestly say that our gym is all the better having him there. Our thanks to Joey D. for one of our favorite conversations.
Subconscious Jiu-Jitsu
Last week, I had the chance to train over at Subconscious Jiu-Jitsu over in North Hollywood. Friend of the podcast Brent Burniston teaches a hell of a class.
At the end of the podcast, I talk a little bit about what it was like to watch an instructor teach the counter to one of your go-to's (and love every second of it).
I was stoked to finally get to train there and I look forward to visiting Brent's academy sometime soon again!
Raf's Recollection | When it comes to birthdays, I'm really just a simple guy. All I need are some good friends, some great company, and a fantastic seminar hosted by one of the most decorated BJJ practitioners in the greater United States.
Is that too much to ask?
Fortunately this year, one of my best presents came in the gift of a fantastic seminar hosted by our pal, Rafael Lovato Jr. (ya know, that other Rafael who happens to do jiu-jitsu).
When I discovered that Rafael would be in Las Vegas the same weekend I would be in town, I couldn't think of any better way to mark the birthday than learning some new pressure passing techniques.
While I've been fortunate enough to get to see Rafael compete, I've never had the opportunity to watch how he teaches the art. We've heard so many great things from his students and fellow BJJ practitioners over the years, it was truly a pleasure to watch him break down the subtlest intricacies of his strong ground game.
On Saturday, June 28th, I headed on over to Cobra Kai (http://www.ckjj.com/) to absorb as much as I could from Professor Lovato. I've long been a fan of his game and have been eager to try and implement some of the techniques I've seen him post on his website (lovatojr.com), his matches or even the cool things I've seen him teach on some of his online seminars.
The only problem being: I roll nothing like him.
Whereas Lovato is one to push the action, my game is a lot more reactionary. While he's known for his offense, my greatest skill (at present) is my defense. And while he is tall and lanky, I roll at an average height and weight. Knowing these differences up front, I walked into the seminar hoping to make some slight adjustments to my arsenal and hear him discuss the finer parts of his technique.
I was not disappointed.
What you find instantly at a Rafael Lovato Jr. seminar is the scope and breadth of the techniques. There were four concentrated areas that were detailed, drilled, and demonstrated at the seminar (that can chain together quite nicely).
And while I can tell you that the seminar included tips for side control, half-guard passing, and finishes from the mount, it would fail to properly describe the impressive array of instruction and options presented for each of those areas.
It's the small things, the details that make so many of the techniques that Rafael does so unique. With Rafael, there's a strong love for the basics with an appreciation and acknowledgement of the modern game.
After the seminar I got the chance to witness Rafael roll with some of Cobra Kai's upper belts and watch as he practiced the very jiu-jitsu he preached during the seminar. It was a refreshing supplement to the instruction that showed what can happen with a mastery of each minute correction (you can check out footage from that roll on the video up top).
Post-roll, I got the chance to catch up with Rafael (video embedded up top) and ask him about his plans for MMA, the rationale and impact of his Save Jiu-Jitsu podcast (listen to it obviously after you listen to the latest episodes of Verbal Tap), and even got him to play a 2 Minute Drill lightning round game with us.
I also got the chance to speak with Cobra Kai owner, Sim Go, about the seminar, the origin of his gym's bad ass name, and about what killers we need to be on the lookout from Cobra Kai.
Overall, Rafael teaches a mean seminar and the nice folks over at Cobra Kai are a great set of people to roll with. A week removed and I'm still working to implement the exact notes Rafael gave all of us into my game. I'm a slow learner (even slower implementer), but I like having a better understanding of the concepts behind the moves, as well as an appreciation for a game that—while I can't exactly emulate right now—can potentially be implemented into my arsenal with the proper practice and patience.
My thanks to all for a great seminar and experience, and the best way I could have possibly spent a birthday.
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Raf's Recollection | Coming soon, more about our STACKED episode with Dhiego Lima, Eric Jackman, and LC Davis.
And also I explain why a series of wasps outside of my place ruined a day of BJJ.
Yep, you'll want to come back for all that and more folks.
Until then, give the podcast above a listen!
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[buzzsprout episode='182765' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | Kevin, bless his heart, has no idea how the World Cup even remotely works. And for whatever reason, he thought it'd be a great idea to open up this episode of Verbal Tap by asking what MMA fighters would make for a great World Cup team.
Even worse, he gave me this prompt seconds before we started recording.
You can't do that to a lifelong soccer fan. It's just outright cruel.
Nonetheless, that's not the entire episode. We catch you up on (most) of the events from UFC 174 and find out who won this week's installment of "Over/Under Kevin."
Give a listen here and let us know what you think of it, folks!
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Raf's Recollection | What do you do when your co-host is unavailable during a week when you have an interview with Stuart Cooper and need to review what took place at this year's Worlds?
Well, naturally you carry on without the guy and replace him.
J/Ks everyone.
Don't worry, Kev isn't going anywhere. He just was out of town for the week (and will be back with us next week).
In the meantime: We landed a whale of an interview with Stu (We've been truly anxious to hear about his legendary filmmaking process for some time now).
If for some reason you're unfamiliar with Stuart Cooper, you would be well served to check out the documentary about him below.
And if that's not enough to help you understand the the man behind the camera, why not take a look at a few samples of his work.
We've had the pleasure of being in contact with Stuart Cooper for some time now, but we've long been fans of his work.
His documentaries do a superb job of filling in the metaphorical and narrative ellipses for the avid BJJ enthusiast. The stories behind many of our favorite BJJ athletes often extend further than what we see on the mats during tournaments. When you watch a Stuart Cooper film, you get more than just why a match or a tournament is important. We get a rare insight into the philosophy, the psyche, and even the small nuances of the fighter's personal lives (try telling me any two Stuart Cooper documentaries are alike).
For me, his films aren't just comparable to quality found on the big budget, fight countdown shows (similar to the ones produced for the UFC and Bellator), the creativity exhibited in many of these vignettes stand up against a number of documentaries period. They strive for uniqueness in an industry where narratives are often uniform and bland.
On the podcast, we talk about his filmmaking process, some of the crazier experiences he's faced, and his new Indiegogo campaign he's mounted (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stuart-cooper-films) to help off-set the costs of making these films.
While the notion of traveling around the world, training BJJ, and making films sounds like a dream, the cost of making multiple, high quality videos on a regular basis basis is anything but glamorous. As a man who's portfolio has been a free and open book for the past several years (and who's films have often showcased the sport in an entirely different light), we highly implore you to donate to his Indiegogo.
Believe us, we know no one likes taking out their wallet when they don't have to. But the breakdown of his production costs is a mere fraction of what other places would charge for a comparable product-- and a loss of films like his would be a huge setback for a sport we all love.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stuart-cooper-films
Verbal Tap Goes to Worlds
This was my first time attending a Worlds competition. While I've been a number of tournaments over the past year and a half, I learned a lot from my experience down in Long Beach last week.
For example, Worlds is loud (http://instagram.com/p/oorT9Wj6rD/).
And there's a lot of matches that happen all at once.
(#TwoEyesTwelveMats was a personal favorite hashtag to use).
And it's a lot to take in all at once.
But it was a great experience and I got to see a ton of great matches and friends.
(I didn't get the chance to mention it on the podcast, but I really do believe this: Much in the same way they have warm up mats for the competitors, they should also have mats designated just for spectators who want to start drilling something they learned and thought was cool during the competition.
Hell, I should get some perk for my spectator fee, right?).
But, I did go at it alone. I had back up at the event to help me better understand all of the action taking place.
Yep, that's right. Our good pal, BJJ Breakdown's John Evans (seen in the accompanying picture looking more bad ass than ever thanks to me, #streetcred) was there to help explain all of the moves that blew my mind.
John not only covered the event with me, but he also shows up on this podcast to walk us through some of the highlights.
All this plus we get in a One Minute Review of The Ultimate Fighter (!!!).
What are you waiting for, listen in now!
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Raf's Recollection | Coming soon: More on this awesome episode with TUF 19 cast member Dhiego Lima (who sits in for our "One Minute Review," our awesome conversation with MMA Roasted's Adam Hunter, and we play a game of Over/Under Kevin for UFC 173 with one of our favorite guests.
Until then, download the episode and let us know what you think!
[buzzsprout episode='171680' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | ... is on hiatus this week. Been a busy week, but you definitely want to tune into this week's MMA Summer Preview Extravaganza, as we not only review all the major cards going down this summer, but also give you another thrilling installment of the 1 Minute Review.
Be back next week with a HUGE new guest folks :-)
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Raf's Reflection | Coming soon more about our time with one of our favorite guests, James Koh.
Not only does take on Kevin in another thrilling installment of Over/Under Kevin: UFC 172 edition, but we also hear a little more about his new gig at the NFL Network.
So, come for the UFC analysis and stay for the repeated shots at Kev's ineptitude.
Also, be sure to follow James on his twitter over at @JamesDKoh
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Raf's Recollection | It's a busy week for the UFC. Coming right off an event out in Abu Dhabi, the organization has not one, but two big events happening this week (including tomorrow night's TUF Nations Finale and Saturday's UFC on FOX 11). It's a busy week for MMA that prompted us to take some time to answer some pressing questions in the world of MMA.
Let's start with the TUF Nations. I know a lot of you have wondered why we haven't done any 1 Minute Reviews of the current season of TUF that (occasionally) airs on Fox Sports Juan. To answer your question, I give you the following chart I like to call Exhibit A:
These are the ratings. MMA Payout has done us all a favor of breaking down what all of this really means. But you may notice that a couple episodes actually dipped below the 100k viewer count. Those episodes aired on Fox Sports 2. In the podcast, we address our full response to this season of TUF and let you know what the future holds in store for the 1 Minute Review.
It seems the UFC was keenly aware of how few people were watching this season and decided to enlist the talents of Tim Kennedy and Michael Bisping to carry the weight of promoting this fight.
Some might argue there's more hype surrounding this match than any of the other rivalries going down on Saturday's UFC on FOX 11 card. But it's clear, these two gents do not like each other. In fact, a couple weeks ago, Tim was nice enough to stop by our podcast to talk about this fight (Verbal Tap, Episode 64), and even then he seemed baffled by "The Count's" unstable form of trash talk.
In retrospect, all of that seems like child's play compared to the nonsense Bisping spewed in his general direction at yesterday's weigh-ins. Look here for more evidence.
Where else can you get this type of drama, folks?
My personal favorite: After walking up and telling him, "it all ends for you tomorrow," Bisping then follows up that gold by asking Tim "you wanna go right now?"
Tim shrugs and says "I'm always ready."
Bisping: You are such a fucking pussy!
Because, as we all know, the biggest pussies are notorious for stepping up to the plate when being called out by a bully.
Bar Rescue
Enjoy watching UFC PPV's at your favorite bars? Well, that may soon start to change.
A new article from the LA Times was brought to my attention (thanks Dad) that talks about how the UFC and Boxing are going after bars that don't pay a hefty fee to show a PPV. And just to make things more interesting, there are people who are being sent to bars on the down low to find out if the bars are adhering to the proper fines.
Kev and I spend a few minutes talking about this very issue and discuss why this paranoid shakedown has a set of serious implications for watching PPVs at your local bars--especially if they are unaware such fines exist.
We hope you'll help us spread the word to your favorite bars so that they don't get these assholes coming after them.
Verbal Tap Responds to Viewer Fan Mail
We opened up a new segment tentatively titled, Viewer Mail, where (you guessed it) we'll be taking your questions and answering them on the podcast.
But wait, we're now opening up our voicemail for you to leave messages. That's right, feel free to call us with your questions--and if we like 'em, we may just play your call and answer it on our next podcast.
So feel free to hit us up with a message at (703) 635-2168!
But Wait, There's More
In addition to your viewer mail, we also share our takes on Royler Gracie saying he wasn't impressed with Eddie Bravo's performance at Metamoris, this so called organization called Bellator (sp?) trying to produce a fight PPV, and review Roy "Big Country" Nelson's huge KO win at UFC Fight Night 39.
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Raf's Recollection | Without a doubt, Scott Nelson is single-handedly the best pre I've ever conducted.
In the world of entertainment, the pre (or pre interview) is typically where agents and publicists tell a producer what their clients will or will not talk about with the host. When people ask why most talk show interviews come off so phony, it's because of this very concept.
However, when you conduct a pre-interview with Scotty, you're in for a treat.
"I'll talk about anything. I don't have a very good filter and I'm not very PC. Ask away and be prepared for honest answers, cuz I don't give a fuck."
So it should be no surprise when we inform you that the owner of On The Mat, Scott Nelson, really came through with a MUST-LISTEN interview this week.
On the podcast, Scotty tells us what it was like to be a last minute replacement ref on the Metamoris card, being a part of the very first instant replay in jiu-jitsu (or, as we've dubbed it, the honorary "Scotty Nelson Instant Replay"), what it was like to live and train in Brazil, his role as a mentor to new businesses (both inside and out of BJJ), and even at some point offered to make a Verbal Tap gi(?).
I'm sorry, I needed to stop for a second. My heart kinda stopped at the very concept of a Verbal Tap gi.
And when Scotty says he isn't afraid to provide honest responses, he truly means it—as he gives us some very direct answers about the problems with modern jiu-jitsu and weighs in on the very controversial issue of producing hemp gi's.
Of course, there are few people better equipped to talk about the trouble of creating and maintaining a brand than Scott Nelson. As a business owner who's seen his own share of highs and lows, Scott doesn't mince words when it comes to crisis communication. He's been there, he's lived it, and he knows what it's like to be the center of attention when something goes awry.
But what I've always like about Scott can be summed up in the following example: Right before Metamoris 3, Scotty could be seen greeting friends and fans alike. About ten minutes before the show, Scotty walked around the perimeter of the waiting area distributing a set of On The Mat sponsored flyers around the tables.
My first thought was: "Couldn't he just get someone to do that for him?" While I was slightly perplexed at first (as I'm pretty sure Scotty could easily get someone else to drop the flyers off for him), it later all made perfect sense. This is a guy who not only understands the value of making yourself accountable to consumers, but who also takes great pleasure in meeting new people and staying connected with the community he loves.
Perhaps that small follow through is just one of the reasons his business continues to flourish?
Jeremy Lafreniere
According to everyone, ever, running a gym is tough.
It certainly helps, however, when you've got a strong acumen for business, a nice personality to get along with customers, and you get your start teaching MMA classes in an elementary school room filled with art supplies.
Yep, you read that right.
Capital MMA and Elite Fitness owner Jeremy Lafreniere tells us how he was able to take his Elementary School teaching degree and parlay that into a journey that took him from teaching friends martial arts in an elementary school classroom to the owner of an MMA school that has branched out to four other locations.
It's a great story that demonstrates how a passion for jiu-jitsu, patience, and some encouragement from Royce can do for you.
Oh, yeah, sorry. That's Royce Gracie who strongly suggested Jeremy open up an academy. No big.
And in my favorite part of the interview, Jeremy tells us a great story about watching one of his former students asked to open up a school under the Capital MMA and Elite Fitness banner.
If you've ever remotely wondered what the experience of opening up your own gym might be like, you'd definitely want to hear Jeremy provide his insight. And if you're in the Alexandria, Virgina area, do yourself a favor and hit up his academy!
But Wait, There's More
We discovered this week that Kev still harbors some resentment the photo right here.
He spent the early part of the podcast calling this maneuver (many of you enlightened individuals would know as a sharpshooter) "illegal."
What part of this completely legit BJJ move is "illegal," I ask you?
Nonetheless, we take the conversation as an opportunity for me to educate Kevin about why the Undertaker's 21-1 streak at Wrestlemania is such a big deal.
And why I can't stop laughing at this guy.
That's all we got for this week.
Be sure to follow us on:
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Raf’s Recollection | Nic Gregoriades is a saint.
Of course, he he’d never say that about himself, but when you put up with Open Mat Radio’s Paul Moran (my BJJ podcast nemesis) on a regular basis and somehow find a way of maintaining that kind of zen-like clarity, you deserve all the accolades that come your way.
Such adulation is nothing new to a guy who famously became Roger Gracie’s first black belt in a four year time span, but Nic’s more than just a dude who happens to be pretty slick at jiu-jitsu. Nic is a ambassador of the sport who travels across the globe helping others become better at the craft—all while finding his own spiritual enlightenment along the way.
Nic just finished writing a new book entitled The Black Belt Blue Print. A couple months back, I got the opportunity read an advance copy of the book and was truly impressed by the way Nic encapsulates the jiu-jitsu process. Here is a guy who not only knows how to provide advice to help the physical aspects of your game (offering tips on how to improve your cardio, describing some cool techniques, and even tips on setting realistic goals), but who also provides fantastic insight on how to get the most out of the mental and philosophical aspects of the sport.
More than anyone I’ve encountered in my short time as a BJJ practitioner, I found Nic’s focus on the philosophy of jiu-jitsu to be the most fascinating. The book does a great job of describing how the practice of jiu-jitsu is more than just sweeps, drilling, and technique, there’s a journey that happens alongside the practice that is worthy of exploration—and Nic is very forthcoming about many aspects of his own personal journey.
On our podcast, we got the chance to ask Nic how the book came into existence, what it was like to train under Roger Gracie, and even get a supremely candid discussion on training partners who sometimes take sparring a little too far (it’s one of my favorite parts of the interview, and I think it’s well worth your time).
When Nic asked me to provide to a blurb review of the book, I felt pretty intimidated. Plenty of other notable folks in the community (with credentials and talent that far exceed my own) have already said fantastic things about The Black Belt Blue Print. But what I can tell you is this: The book doesn’t give playbook to become a black belt. Instead, it gives a map filled with suggested routes and guidance that makes the impossible seem ultimately attainable.
As luck would have it, Nic made his way out to Los Angeles shortly after we recorded this episode. I actually just got done meeting with him this afternoon (an accomplishment, considering that my BJJ podcast nemesis, Paul Moran, has yet to meet his very own Journey Podcast co-host in person) and was glad to share a few laughs and exchange some BJJ insight.
And I can affirm, the funny, easy going, and quotable dude you hear on this week’s podcast is every bit of the guy you meet in person. Hell, Nic even let out a huge laugh when I told him there may be an impression of his trademark accent on an upcoming episode of Open Mat Radio performed by yours truly.
Which is why I want this article to serve as the last living will and testament should he decide to kill me when he drops by to train with us sometime later next week.
I'll definitely be sure to tell you all about that experience sometime next week. Until then, be sure to check out The Black Belt Blue Print right here.
Over/Under Kevin: UFC 170 Edition
It wouldn't be a major UFC PPV without a game of Over/Under Kevin. Although this time we decided to bring in a big gun. That's right, we brought back the man, Bubba McDaniel. The two of them do battle making their picks over who will win UFC 170 and make a bet that's so odd,
I'm not sure who I actually want to win.
Allow me to apologize now if the audio during Bubba's segment cuts in and out a lot.
This was the biggest audio problem we've encountered on the podcast yet. But Bubba powered through all of our technical difficulties and gave us a truly entertaining segment. That's how you know this guy is family on our podcast.
Also, props to Kevin. He did a fantastic montage of the struggle that was trying to get that segment together. I'm now far enough removed from the episode that I can laugh at it.
My Girlfriend is Awesome
When my girlfriend handed me a gift box with this ridiculously amazing Datsusara MMA gear bag, she won Valentine's Day.
I had no clue I was getting this (let alone a Valentine's Day gift), but man was this the best gift I could have possibly asked for.
I've been using this bag for a little over a week and it's absolutely amazing. I can fit two (maybe even three) gi's in there. I have a compartment for my laptop. I have plenty of compartments for all my training accessories (several compartments for tape). AND it even comes with a detachable bag to separate clean and dirty clothes.
This is miles above my last training bag and I hope all of you who like this will go give our friends at Datsusara some love. It's amazing and they've got some really cool other products that are worth a view.
Where Should I Train?
As many of you know, I am now well into my first days of my indefinite hiatus from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Which now means I have the rare opportunity to go train at new places in my downtime.
Since I don't know how long my hiatus is going to last, I am turning to all of you in the greater Los Angeles area to throw as many places I should go train at me. Simply hit me up at @VerbalTapCast on our Twitter page with your suggested academy, gym or dojo and hashtag #TrainHereRaf. I'm gonna try to do as many as I possibly can!
Who knows, maybe you can tap me out on a mat near you very soon.
All I got for now, talk to you later, folks.