Every Jiu-Jitsu gym has that guy.The person everyone avoids when it’s time to roll. The person who treats Tuesday night training like the ADCC finals, refuses to tap, coaches you while losing, and somehow has an excuse ready before the round is even over.But here’s the uncomfortable part:That guy usually has no idea he’s that guy.After 18 years in Jiu-Jitsu and 11 years running schools, Josh has seen exactly where these habits lead. Some people become incredible training partners who make everyone around them better. Others slowly become unsafe, exhausting, uncoachable... and eventually avoided.In this episode, Josh breaks down what it actually means to be a great training partner, a good teammate, and a student who never stops improving.Train hard. Protect your partners. Stay out of drama. Stay coachable.And don’t be that guy.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 Why Everyone Hates You1:57 The Worst Training Partner10:57 Why Winning Practice Hurts You22:22 Why You Rolling Too Hard is dumb25:00 My Students nearly ended me for $20036:29 Why You Must Respect the Tap39:56 Why Vulturing Makes People Hate You42:06 The Most Annoying Training Partner Habit45:17 The Time I Was the Problem51:17 Why Gym Drama Ruins Teams55:25 Why Purple Belts Stop Improving1:02:15 A Final Story

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.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 Most Black Belts Don’t Know This BJJ Hack4:23 Welcome to I Suck at Jiu-Jitsu5:05 The Secret Scoreboard in Every Sport7:28 Why Some Positions Are Worth More Than Points8:24 Closed Guard Isn’t Neutral10:44 Smashed Half Guard Means You’re Losing14:16 The Chicago Open Story That Changed My Game23:51 He’s Tired… Go Now27:56 The Blitz: When to Attack and When to Wait47:34 The Black Belt Answer: “You Shouldn’t Have Been There”50:57 How to Beat the Annoying Blue Belt1:03:00 How to Use Positional Pacing in Your Rounds1:07:22 The Dormammu Strategy for Jiu-Jitsu1:09:18 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.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 Every White Belt Starts Completely Lost2:02 There Is No Perfect Time to Start BJJ8:46 The Skill That Makes White Belts Improve Faster16:02 Jiu Jitsu Will Ruin Your Social Life21:53 The Truth About Consistency30:03 Why White Belts Need to Pay Attention35:06 Winning in the Gym Is Not the Goal44:27 Jiu Jitsu Does Not Automatically Make You Better56:28 Do YouTube BJJ Moves Actually Work?1:00:59 If It Hurts, Tap1:04:04 Recovery Rules White Belts Ignore1:10:22 Volume vs Intensity: How White Belts Stay on the Mat1:14:34 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/cspChapters:0:00 Why you keep losing BJJ matches2:34 Mistake #1: The learner’s mindset5:06 How to actually perform on competition day7:00 Finding your real competition A-game9:47 Performance mindset vs. learner mindset10:54 Free gift: The Competitor’s Journey12:24 Mistake #2: Victim mentality15:05 The brutal truth about losing in front of everyone16:13 The match I thought I won17:01 Understanding exchanges and pacing20:22 Why I should have turned it up sooner23:18 Free BJJ Mental Models course24:33 The wildest victim mentality story ever31:24 Take responsibility for your own doodoo33:09 Why excuses ruin your Jiu Jitsu37:21 Datsusara hemp gear38:49 Mistake #3: The chaos mindset40:43 The opposite of chaos is being present43:00 Why “just see what happens” loses matches44:32 How I stopped losing at adult black belt46:02 Why your game plan has to be simple49:04 The 3 mindsets that decide your matches50:02 Why my coach changed my finals game plan53:28 Being present in your training camp55:17 Know the rules, know your opponent56:44 Why losing is part of becoming dangerous57:39 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.com00:00 Intro00:46 How Rose Miller got into Jiu Jitsu03:31 Why Jiu Jitsu gave Rose structure and direction05:28 Starting at Gracie South Bay with elite women08:45 Rose’s first Jiu Jitsu competition11:18 Losing a lot and learning how to learn13:02 Why Rose refused to quit Jiu Jitsu15:09 The original goal of becoming a black belt16:30 What changes when you finally get your black belt18:19 Injuries, COVID, concussions, and loving the process22:01 Becoming a “try-hard hobbyist”25:17 Why Rose makes beginner-friendly BJJ content29:13 Rose’s intention behind creating content34:10 Women leading in Jiu Jitsu40:42 Training in San Diego vs smaller Jiu Jitsu scenes43:56 Cross-training, loyalty, and gym culture47:23 Would Rose be different if she started at a hobbyist gym?49:57 Using competition as a learning tool53:06 Why Rose’s Jiu Jitsu content works57:31 Drilling, CLA, and live training1:04:33 Why CLA people can be so annoying1:07:10 Advice for beginners learning Jiu Jitsu today1:10:27 Stop starting rounds from the knees1:12:34 Why Jiu Jitsu standup is still evolving1:16:37 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/compSponsored by Datsusara:Use code ISUCK at dsgear.comFree BJJ Mental Models course:bjjmentalmodels.com/isuckWhat You’ll LearnWhy elite BJJ doesn’t automatically work in MMAWhy pulling guard is usually a terrible idea in a fightHow punches change guard, back control, leg locks, and top pressureWhy Jena stopped training mostly in the giThe biggest mistake Jiu-Jitsu athletes make when transitioning to MMAHow fight camp, burnout, weight cutting, and mindset really workWhy Jena believes BJJ culture needs to stop protecting the wrong people0:00 Intro0:50 Jena’s biggest BJJ wins1:53 Why Jena switched to MMA4:36 Getting punched changes everything6:11 Finding her first MMA fight9:14 Training BJJ vs training MMA11:41 Why guard pulling fails in MMA14:35 Bad BJJ habits for fighting15:35 Why half guard works in MMA18:11 Why top position matters most18:49 MMA rounds vs BJJ matches21:00 Preparing for opponents24:10 Jena’s fighting style25:26 How Jena handles fight nerves29:44 Burnout and fight camp33:40 Weight cut karaoke37:35 Post-weigh-in ritual39:00 Cutting weight for MMA42:23 Fight week routine45:34 Jena’s MMA goals48:27 Should MMA fighters train gi?54:22 BJJ habits that don’t translate56:19 Why elite grapplers struggle in MMA58:04 Wrestling exposes BJJ athletes1:00:25 BJJ culture problems1:05:20 Protecting women and kids in BJJ1:09:57 Leaving toxic gyms1:13:03 Annoying BJJ gym characters1:14:43 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 intentTry 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/compGet Rob Biernacki’s free Jiu-Jitsu for Imbeciles course from BJJ Mental Models at bjjmentalmodels.com/suckCheck 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 Show1:50 Why The Whiteboard Videos Went Viral7:03 Being A Serious Competitor AND A Meme10:49 Why Most BJJ Technique Videos Suck18:35 Why Black Belt Competition Feels Different23:45 There Are No Mindset Tricks26:36 How Beatrice Trains Between Competitions28:33 Should Competitors Actually Drill?31:01 Why She Added K Guard32:15 How To Build Your Competition Game35:47 Beatrice’s Genius Competition Class48:18 Should Women Train With Men?52:41 Guard Pulling Is Mathematically Correct54:04 If Your Guard Gets Passed, You Deserve To Lose1:09:06 How To Suck Less At Jiu-Jitsu