In this episode, Jenn and Tom catch you up on everything that has gone down in the last year and a half since their last podcast. The big item on the agenda: switching schools! Tom and Jenn also discuss his return to the competition scene and what he learned from the process. So buckle up, grab a tasty beverage, get your workout going or whatever it is you do when you listen to podcasts and let's get to it!

This one gets a little heavy, but still family friendly - for the most part. Possibly PG-13, definitely not R. Tom and Jenn are big advocates for staying in your lane; discussing things from experience, knowledge and expertise. In this podcast, after bringing everyone up to speed on being newlyweds, Tom and Jenn share their individual stories of therapy and working through mental struggles including a mental breakdown that Tom went through in late 2020. Understanding their lane, Tom and Jenn readily admit that they are in no way licensed, certified or qualified to speak about mental health in the professional sense. This is merely their anecdotal offering of struggle and success, how therapy has helped them, and their humble suggestion of not conflating or confusing certain things with therapy.

“I said, ‘Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless, like water. Now, you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.'” Bruce Lee And we are back with Part 2 of our recent conversation.  Tom left you with a small cliffhanger, introducing but not going into the concept of “Make Me Better”, so that is where Tom and Jenn jump back in today. You won’t be hearing from this dynamic duo until around the end of the month. I know, this is hard to bear, but keep in mind that a week from now, Tom and Jenn will be getting married, thus becoming Mr. and Mrs. Writes and Rolls and then taking a sweet little honeymoon.  They are hoping to bring at least one more podcast episode to you by the end of November and another around mid-December, so stay tuned! In Part 2 of this podcast, Tom and Jenn cover: Tom’s concept of “Make Me Better”. Being a good training partner. A reader’s question: A husband is uncomfortable with his wife training, what can be done? Thanks for listening, and as always: We’ll see you on the mats!

“Honestly expressing yourself...it is very difficult to do. I mean it is easy for me to put on a show and be cocky and be flooded with a cocky feeling and then feel like pretty cool...or I can make all kind of phony things, you see what I mean, blinded by it or I can show you some really fancy movement. But to express oneself honestly, not lying to oneself...now that, my friend, is very hard to do.” ~Bruce Lee The response to the last two-part podcast was a good one, so Tom felt that it was only proper to bring back Miss Jenn, the Blue Belle! In today's podcast they are covering:  Reasons for starting and continuing BJJ change over time. Jiu-jitsu is hard. A reader's comments regarding comparing yourself to others. So come and have fun with Tom and Jenn as they share their experiences and laugh with, and at, each other.

I bet you thought Tom was going to leave you hanging for Part 2 for another four months? Well, guess again because Tom and Jenn are back for the conclusion of their conversation! In this episode, Tom and Jenn continue where they left off last week and cover questions and topics for Jenn such as: Training Pet Peeves Biggest misconceptions about BJJ Advice to male training partners from a female Thoughts on Self Defense And again, good times were had by all! Thanks for listening and please, let us know what you thought of both parts!

**Content warning** We did let a few cuss words slip on this one, so if you normally listen with kiddos around, listener discretion is advised. Tom is back after a near four month hiatus, but he brings with him the newly minted Blue Belt from the Reign Jiu Jitsu Boise Academy, Miss Jenn, The Blue Belle. Questions/Topics from Part 1 include:  Jenn's background What got her in to BJJ Her biggest struggles that she's overcome while training Advice to women just starting or curious to start BJJ Advice to young mothers who are training or want to train And much more!  Good times were had by all.

In this episode, Tom talks about two separate studies with very similar results regarding the most used/high percentage submissions. He also gives some solid interpretations and takeaways for the aspiring White and Blue Belt Jiu-Jitsu players out there. 

On today's episode, Tom covers a handful of topics, hence: BLITZ. A nice 35min episode to brighten your day and help you on your jiu-jitsu journey!

What do you know about the origins of Jiu-JItsu? Is it a cocktail of facts, fiction and marketing or have you seen a bigger picture? Tune in as Tom discusses what he currently understands of the History of this art as well as the resources he has acquired to dive even deeper. Tom references an article about Robert Drysdale in this podcast, you can find it here.

And we're back with another podcast! Do you know what happens when you forget your belt? Do you know what happens when you do this and you are supposed to be the one teaching?! Tune in to find out!