The Fighting Priests
The Fighting Priests
The Fighting Priests
Welcome to The Fighting Priests, a podcast exploring Orthodoxy and Jiu-Jitsu: two paths, one struggle. Fr. Ted Paraskevopoulos and Fr. Thomas Sandberg are two orthodox priests who also happen to be practitioners of Jiu-Jitsu. Together they explore how these two unique worlds intersect and what it means for our spirituality.
S5 Ep76: “Back Again”
After six months away, Fr. Ted gives an update on what’s been going on and reflects on the journey to Easter 2024.
May 24, 2024
16 min
S4 Ep75: “Getting Up Again” w Carollynn Xavier
Stand up comic Carollynn Xavier is back on The Fighting Priests podcast to give an update on her spiritual journey and her career in comedy, taking a break from jujitsu and then coming back again.
Dec 3, 2023
1 hr
S4 Ep74: “War, Peace & War Again”
With the war, both in Ukraine, and now in Israel, Fr. Ted and Fr. Thomas, discuss the idea of war, defence of one’s people, and the Orthodox understanding of it all.
Oct 16, 2023
45 min
S4 Ep73: “Just Stand Up!”
In this episode Fr. Ted and Fr. Thomas discuss the difficulty of falling and getting back up. Defeat, both in BJJ and in the spiritual life can be difficult to overcome. Here they discuss how they deal with it and how BJJ and Orthodoxy has helped.
Oct 2, 2023
46 min
S4 Ep72: “Finding Purpose” w Dimitri Tsourounis
Fr. Ted and Fr. Thomas discuss with blue belt Dimitri Tsourounis, a Gracie Combatives certified instructor at RevMMA in Toronto, Canada. Together they explore the theme of “finding purpose“ through becoming part of a community and giving back.
Sep 18, 2023
57 min
S4 Ep71: “Strength & Humility” Part 2 w Fr. Yuri Hladio
In part two, Fr. Ted and Fr. Yuri, continue their conversation about the tension between strength and humility, and how it affects Orthodox Christians, who train BJJ.
Sep 4, 2023
37 min
S4 Ep70: “Strength & Humility” Part 1 w Fr. Yuri Hladio
In part one of this two-part interview, Fr. Ted speaks with white belt Fr. Yuri Hladio from Hamilton, Ontario. Together, they discuss the tension between strength and humility, and what that means for Orthodox Christians, who train BJJ.
Aug 21, 2023
41 min
S4 Ep69:  “Staying the Course” - Consistency in Training w Yianni Avgeropoulos
In this episode, Fr. Ted interviews Yianni Avgeropoulos, a two stripe white belt from Markham, Ontario. Together they discuss the importance of consistency in training and in spiritual life.
Aug 7, 2023
45 min
S4 Ep68: “The Clothes Make the Man” - Gis & Vestments
In this episode, Fr. Thomas and Fr. Ted explore the history and practicality of both Orthodox, priestly, vestments and jujitsu uniforms.
Jun 5, 2023
58 min
S4 Ep67: “Doubt, Confidence & Trust”
In this episode Fr. Ted and Fr. Thomas discuss the importance of trust in any relationship, including religion and Jiu Jitsu.
May 8, 2023
52 min
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