In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models is joined by Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ and attorney/mediator Andrew Burcham for a deep dive into the legal minefield of free speech, particularly how it intersects with combat sports culture and the internet.

What does the First Amendment actually protect? Can private companies limit your speech? Why do so many fighters and fans misunderstand their rights, and what happens when “free speech” is weaponized to shield bigotry?

From Dana White to Gordon Ryan, from hate speech to stochastic terrorism, this episode explores how legal frameworks shape behavior online and on the mats—plus what it means for those navigating both the Jiu-Jitsu community and public discourse today.

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👥 Featuring:

Andrew Burcham – Attorney & Mediator
Jesse Walker ‪@RoughHandsBJJ‬
Steve Kwan ‪@bjjmentalmodels‬

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• What the First Amendment actually says
• Why free speech doesn’t mean freedom from consequences
• The legality of hate speech in the U.S. vs. Canada
• Stochastic terrorism, incitement, and internet mobbing
• Citizens United and how money became “speech”
• How lawfare, venue shopping, and religious freedom collide
• What Jiu-Jitsu can learn from better civic literacy

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 – Intro: Meet Andrew Burcham, attorney & Jiu-Jitsu practitioner
01:15 – Free speech in the U.S. vs. Canada
03:55 – Bryce Mitchell, Dana White, and the misuse of “free speech”
06:24 – What the First Amendment really protects
10:00 – The cake maker case: religion vs. discrimination
14:41 – How venue shopping influences legal outcomes
17:23 – U.S. vs. EU: why American law varies state to state
20:08 – The illusion of blind justice and stacking the courts
25:14 – Social media, incitement, and Brandenburg v. Ohio
29:59 – Internet mobs: the Gordon Ryan effect
32:18 – Stochastic terrorism and platform accountability
35:07 – Hate speech laws in Canada vs. the U.S.
39:37 – Can employers fire you for what you say online?
42:00 – Protected classes colliding: religion vs. gender identity
46:16 – Weaponizing religion in legal challenges
51:18 – Citizens United: when corporations got free speech
55:25 – Buying political power: Elon Musk, TrumpCoin & ROI
58:45 – Cuts to Medicaid: real-world consequences in rural America
01:02:33 – Why Americans misunderstand free speech
01:06:34 – The myth of “free speech absolutism”
01:09:13 – Why some grapplers can’t speak out
01:10:36 – Final thoughts: Be kind, question power, fight for truth

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models is joined by Stephan Kesting (Grapplearts), Jesse Walker (Rough Hands BJJ), and the incomparable Giles Garcia (Ronin Grappling) for a raw, unscripted deep dive into the political and cultural fault lines running through the Jiu-Jitsu world.

From media manipulation to fascist creep in martial arts, Giles brings the fire with unfiltered commentary on how the right hijacked the narrative, why conspiracies thrive in the fight scene, and what it really means to stand for something as a coach and leader.

If you’ve ever wondered why “just stick to Jiu-Jitsu” is a cop-out, or what role you play in the bigger fight, this one’s for you.

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👥 Featuring:

Giles Garcia – Ronin Grappling
Stephan Kesting – Grapplearts
Jesse Walker – Rough Hands BJJ
Steve Kwan – BJJ Mental Models

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• The rise of fascism in martial arts culture
• Why conspiracy theories thrive in Jiu-Jitsu
• Media consolidation and fake neutrality
• How coaches can lead without preaching
• Culture war vs. class war in BJJ
• Giles responds to Nazi commenters (for real)
• What real leadership looks like in hard times

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions
02:50 The Role of Martial Arts in Society
05:36 Personal Stories and Experiences with Organizations
08:43 Global Perspectives on Societal Threats
11:51 Media Control and Government Overreach
14:41 The Illusion of Left and Right Politics
17:54 Conspiracies and Their Impact on Society
20:24 The Influence of Popular Media Figures
23:11 The Fight Community and Its Dynamics
26:13 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
36:00 The Rise of New Media and Its Impact
39:02 The Challenge of Truth in Media
42:10 Understanding the Left's Struggles
47:01 The Need for a Political Reset
48:49 Addressing Real Concerns in Society
52:53 Navigating Power Dynamics in Coaching
58:40 The Importance of Safe Spaces in Training
01:01:45 Responding to Controversial Comments

Stephan, Jesse, and Shelby are joined by Eva Schubert from the popular Villains and Virgins Podcast to discuss tactics used by all authoritarian states regardless of whether they are theocratic, fascist, or communist in nature. They examine Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale' in the context of today's political climate and address the need for protests and collective action in combating these issues while emphasising the need for empathy and humanity in the face of adversity.

Check out Eva's podcast at https://www.villainsandvirgins.com and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnOZJsYzx1k&list=PLteESDDVIavTfrljkgjFpLlrlCuC3I2dV