Livia Giles explains what actually moves the needle on women's participation in #BJJ gyms. youtu.be/-vIh6S6bAHc

Every game plan needs a final destination. Here's how to think about yours. substack.com/home/post/p-...

In this week's mini-episode, we explain the relationship between DIRECT CONTROL and PROXY CONTROL. Direct control means a dominant grip through immediate contact; proxy control means using something else (like the gi). youtu.be/m_hGMc6SvH8

Rob Biernacki explains the 90/90: a yoga-style "pigeon pose" position ideal for defending leglocks and getting to the running man escape. youtu.be/cP6Du0Tz8oQ

We've danced around the topic of impostor syndrome before. Maybe it's time we tackle it head-on. bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/i-cant-bel...

Did Steve get emotional and write the best Jiu-Jitsu newsletter of the year so far? Guess we'll find out tomorrow at 11am when our next newsletter launches 😅

Impostor syndrome: The common (but false) belief that you are unworthy of your rank or accomplishments. youtu.be/FL6lxp15KMc

Cal Jones joins us to discuss the different types of "reps" in Jiu-Jitsu practice: repetition and representation. Great info on balancing quantity and quality. youtu.be/qbmu32W-EdU

"Jiu-Jitsu on Autopilot:" What driving taught Margot Ciccarelli about the gentle art bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/jiu-jitsu-...

If a Prince can be held accountable, so can a President.

KINETIC CHAINS: A #BJJ concept from mechanical engineering and physiology that explains how movement in our joints affects the other joints in that limb. Kinetic chains are OPEN when the hand/foot is unconnected, or CLOSED when connected to a surface. youtu.be/mRtA1hDnO4k

BJJ Mental Models Ep. 377 is now live! Margot Ciccarelli is back to share mindset advice on staying present in #BJJ and escaping the mental trap of "anticipating" negative outcomes. youtu.be/C-BPk4YcWhg

A bonus episode for #BJJ business owners: The Economics of Jiu-Jitsu Gyms in 2026, feat. David Bayarena youtu.be/3wE8aEEo-yU

Plus, minus, equals is a team-based training concept often attributed to UFC legend Frank Shamrock. youtu.be/Oj0Dh6rUS0E

Meanwhile on Reddit...

BJJ Mental Models Ep. 376 is live! Lachlan Giles is back for a rethink of what "fundamentals" really mean in modern Jiu-Jitsu. youtu.be/BpHF9xLehSE

Maintaining momentum is super important for high-percentage #BJJ. More coaches need to talk about it. youtu.be/6vkgBalGEsw

BJJ Mental Models Ep. 375 is now live! This week, we're joined by Andrew Green! Andrew is the creator of the Kids Jiu-Jitsu Playbook and a 25-year veteran of martial arts coaching. In this episode, Andrew teaches what truly makes a great kids #BJJ coach. Listen here: bjj.plus/375

Does note-taking make you a better grappler? bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/does-note-...

In this week's mini-episode, we discuss leading edges, and why it's important to identify which part of the body is responsible for making an attack work. youtu.be/pWXL5hhIE9M

If you aren't brave enough to speak up, fine. But few things are more cowardly than trying to discourage OTHER people from doing the right thing.

Jake O'Driscoll (Essence BJJ) explains how elite Jiu-Jitsu athletes study differently from everybody else. youtu.be/92l5XPnaj3Y

Great advice from mental performance coach Erin Herle on finding your worth in Jiu-Jitsu. bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/read-this-...

In this week's mini-episode, we discuss force vectors and how understanding them makes frames more effective. youtu.be/IfsbtWeLIz4

Great chat with Erin Herle about self-worth, burnout, and impostor syndrome in #BJJ. — BJJ Mental Models youtu.be/9TTEzKT49xg

Should Jiu-Jitsu students ask their coach for help, or struggle through on their own? bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/when-is-it...

We know what a dilemma is, but *why* do they matter? Let's chat about it! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpz9...

Meanwhile on Reddit...

BJJ Mental Models Ep. 372 is now live! Ryan Rich (head coach at Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu) discusses the difference between pre-made #BJJ games versus building your own. youtu.be/ly4yhBuHIK8

We see a lot of folks trying to rationalize or explain away what ICE is doing, and we want to let you know that you should absolutely not do that. This is an inflection point in history, and how you respond determines how you will be judged forever. Do the right thing and stand up to these monsters.

In this week's mini-episode, we discuss table selection: a concept from poker teaching us that choosing the right environment greatly increases our odds of success. youtu.be/pvpCveYUGaY

BJJ Mental Models episode 371 is live! Todd Richards shares his experience building atop an existing curriculum put in place by his coach, the late Keith Owen. bjj.plus/371

Cool BJJ Mental Models stat: Of our 10 most-listened episodes from 2025, HALF the featured guests were women. The metrics don't lie: The #BJJ community at large wants to learn from women. Content creators and event organizers would be wise to remember this in 2026.

In this week's mini-episode, we discuss opening salvos: the tactics and strategies you use when entering into an engagement. Ensuring your opening salvo is successful helps tremendously for standup and the engagement phase of guard. youtu.be/oh3USmQaK5E

I put way too much thought into this. 🤣 bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/steves-bes...

BJJ Mental Models Ep. 370 is now live! This week, we're joined again by Nick Volpe from Dark Bear Jiu-Jitsu! In this episode, Nick breaks down a very holiday-relevant technique: the gift wrap! Listen now by searching for BJJ Mental Models in your podcast app, or visit this link: bjj.plus/370

Merry Christmas! Here's a small Jiu-Jitsu stocking stuffer: a treatise on why we should "do what works." youtu.be/ZBdSgXa1mrU

Episode 369 is now live! Nick Salles (co-founder @ Movement Art, Mikey Musumeci black belt) explains what "humility" really means for coaches, and why students deserve control of their training. youtu.be/M5ORBr8K1QU

You don't need to be explosive to be an effective wrestler. bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/5-reasons-...

In this week's mini-episode, we discuss the certainty heuristic: the natural human tendency to prefer answers that offer a simple, easy solution... even if that solution is wrong. youtu.be/JdvaXWEmKyo

Thomas and Phillip Barreiro (D1 wrestlers & multi-time Canadian national champions) break down their "lazy wrestling" framework. youtu.be/d_xqX1vofcY

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wins Game of the Year. Very well deserved, this game is an absolute landmark masterpiece. It's such a transcendent piece of art. If you have any love for the medium of video games, and any fond memories of Final Fantasy VII, you owe it to yourself to play this game.

I watched this whole video. It was riveting. What an incredible portrait of one person’s obsession and pursuit of mastery. youtu.be/9c3oXERMTCM

In this week's mini-episode, we discuss the importance of probabilistic thinking: viewing Jiu-Jitsu as a game of probabilities where your goal is to create (and maintain) the greatest possible chance of success. youtu.be/XiXq0mQtsww

BJJ Mental Models Ep. 367 is now live! Jesse Phillips (Head Coach @ Gentle Giant Jiu-Jitsu) explores burnout in martial arts and real life, often caused by the crushing weight of personal expectations that we place upon ourselves. youtu.be/UwP4-Npvurk

Many of you asked for a write-up on Chris Round's grip fighting scorecard, and you had to know we wouldn't let you down! bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/steal-this...

Learning styles are a myth. Use this instead. youtu.be/vXRBB6aqej4

New bonus podcast! MARCELO GARCIA VS LACHLAN GILES takes center stage as Drew Foster breaks down ONE Fight Night 38’s generational clash. This is from Drew Foster’s excellent State of the Meta podcast, exclusively available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! youtu.be/wUWUbhbkXTM

BJJ Mental Models Ep. 366 is now live! #BJJ and Judo black belt Chris Round explains his helpful "gripfighting scorecard." youtu.be/75P0EXCShBg