Vanessa English, aka 'Jiu jitsu Woman' is taking things more slowly, as she is recovering from her latest ACL surgery. This isn't her first rodeo, and she shares some fantastic advice on how to prepare and recover in the most effective way.

She is a woman on a mission to return to competing, and sparring with intensity, despite her surgeries, tattoos and a not so recent growth into adulthood! We talk about the intensity of competition, and the variety of intensity as one progresses through the belts.

There are so many laughs as well as weirdness in this episode, it really is one to listen to until the end where we go back to the very beginning of Vanessa's story with dance and self-defence.

Topics:

• ACL Recovery
• Competing
• Preparing for ACL surgery
• Sparring with intensity
• What to do whilst recovering!
• Tattoos
• Competition Playlists
• Visualisations
• Jiu Jitsu is weird

Sponsor of this episode is:

Digit Tape: https://www.instagram.com/digittapeuk/

Supporting Jiu Jitsu Athletes on and off the mats.

Vanessa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jiu_jitsu_woman

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JiuJitsuLou

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jiu.jitsu.lou

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jiujitsuloupodcast

JIU JITSU LOU Merch Collab with BRUIZHAUS: https://bruizehaus.co.uk/search?q=jiu+jitsu+lou USE DISCOUNT CODE: JJL30

PRODUCTION CREDIT: Kerr Mathieson of Audio Outsource

MUSIC CREDIT:

ARTIST: Maleki Ram | TRACK: Just A Little Boy

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Enea Lapa, also known as BJJ Comedy, has recently been promoted to Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He started Jiu Jitsu just to find a way to stay in shape as a twentysomething. As like many of us, Enea went into his first class thinking he could beat most guys in the room, of course this wasn't the case!

Jiu Jitsu has changed Enea's life from many perspectives, and has always used his determination to keep going. The mindset he shares is that training and competing at Jiu Jitsu is not going to be easy, but it is going to be worth it. We talk about friendships, and the importance of the values of respect and equality within the jiu jitsu community.

Topics:

• Promotion to Black Belt
• Learning to Tap
• Being a Competitor
• Gaining weight
• Friendships
• Viral videos
• We are all equal
• Mutual respect
• Being a Referee
• Growing as a Black Belt
• Creating BJJ content

Sponsor of this episode is:

BJJ Comedy: https://www.instagram.com/bjj.comedy/

Enea on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enea.lapabjj/

Xcell Jiu Jitsu on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xcelljiujitsu/

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JiuJitsuLou

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jiu.jitsu.lou

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jiujitsuloupodcast

JIU JITSU LOU Merch Collab with BRUIZHAUS: https://bruizehaus.co.uk/search?q=jiu+jitsu+lou USE DISCOUNT CODE: JJL30

PRODUCTION CREDIT: Kerr Mathieson of Audio Outsource

MUSIC CREDIT:

ARTIST: Maleki Ram | TRACK: Just A Little Boy

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Caswell is living the dream! Having started Lau Gar Kung Fu in his 20's, he now trains Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has recently been promoted to Black Belt. Paul is incredibly intentional in all of his jiu jitsu practice, and shares some of the detail that has got him to where he is today.

We talk about the benefits of using the Kata gatame in the game, and ways that Paul records and measures his progress, gaps and skills in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Exploring how he approaches competition, and some of the challenging times during preparation and competing is a topic Paul shares with complete honesty. If you want to be a healthy older person, start and continue training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Another great episode, so take a listen until the end!

Topics:

• Lau Gar Kung Fu
• Mindset
• Being intentional
• Growth Mindset
• Kata gatame
• Lower leg attacks
• Brabo Choke
• Imposter Syndrome
• Learning styles
• BJJ Ambitions

Sponsor of this episode is:

BRUIZEHAUS: https://www.instagram.com/bruizehaus

Paul on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlepaulbjj/

Masters Mat Fit: https://www.instagram.com/mastersmatfit/

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JiuJitsuLou

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jiu.jitsu.lou

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jiujitsuloupodcast

JIU JITSU LOU Merch Collab with BRUIZHAUS: https://bruizehaus.co.uk/search?q=jiu+jitsu+lou USE DISCOUNT CODE: JJL30

PRODUCTION CREDIT: Kerr Mathieson of Audio Outsource

MUSIC CREDIT:

ARTIST: Maleki Ram | TRACK: Just A Little Boy

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Day is a Mum of two, and a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt who shares her story from being a Social Worker, feeling lonely and having not yet discovered her tribe, through finding her calling, to now having found human connection and growth in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Natalie took the brave step in giving up her career as a Social Worker, to go all in on learning how to teach jiu jitsu. Having a dedication to serving people, and especially young people is what Natalie focuses her energy on, not just as a Jiu Jitsu coach but as a mentor and coach in life.

Connecting with ones feelings, and overcoming fear is the progression that all of us can achieve with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, even from a young age, and especially as an older individual. We talk about so many different topics in this episode, and round up with discussing flow state, reducing the amount of thinking we do on the mats, and importantly, neurodiversity in young people.

Topics:

• Feeling lonely
• Not having a tribe
• Being a Young Mum
• Helping people
• Family support
• Connection
• Wrestling
• Teaching Jiu Jitsu
• Personal Growth
• Autistic Athletes

Sponsor of this episode is:

GROW JIU JITSU www.growjiujitsu.com

Natalie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliedaydreamer/

Grow Jiu Jitsu: https://www.instagram.com/growjiujitsu/

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JiuJitsuLou

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jiu.jitsu.lou

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jiujitsuloupodcast

JIU JITSU LOU Merch Collab with BRUIZHAUS: https://bruizehaus.co.uk/search?q=jiu+jitsu+lou USE DISCOUNT CODE: JJL30

PRODUCTION CREDIT: Kerr Mathieson of Audio Outsource

MUSIC CREDIT:

ARTIST: Maleki Ram | TRACK: Just A Little Boy

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Professor Salvo joins me to talk about jiu jitsu for community, and welcoming new students. Travelling around the UK, and all over the World to teach, or train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is something that grows our game, both in the art and in life.

Progressing skills in Jiu Jitsu, is done by training more jiu jitsu is very wise advice shared by Salvo in this episode, and whilst we can find ways to enhance our own health, training jiu jitsu is the only thing that is going to make us better. Salvo talks about clean submissions, and the priority of keeping training partners safe, especially within the children's classes. As always, his mindset of training hard, having fun and staying playful will enable us to train longer.

Topics:

• Seminars
• Playing Jiu Jitsu
• Competition Classes
• Gracie Barra
• Physical and Mental Health
• Positional sparring
• Keeping safe
• Clean submissions
• Fundamentals

Salvo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salvogb1/

Gracie Barra Bath: https://www.instagram.com/gracie_barra_bath_/

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JiuJitsuLou

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jiu.jitsu.lou

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jiujitsuloupodcast

JIU JITSU LOU Merchandise AVAILABLE NOW : https://jiujitsulou.com/shop

PRODUCTION CREDIT: Kerr Mathieson of Audio Outsource

MUSIC CREDIT:

ARTIST: Maleki Ram | TRACK: Just A Little Boy

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jolie joined a Women's Open Mat at the age of 33, and is now a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu having had an amazing journey. She shares her experience of training, and testing her jiu jitsu at both open mats and competitions.

Getting through sad times in life has been helped by training jiu jitsu for Jolie. Over time, she has increased her ability to listen and act upon intuition, as much for life in general as well as for jiu jitsu. Jolie shares heartbreaking stories of the domestic abuse she suffered and now the strength she finds in the community of women she shares the mats with. An episode that is truly inspirational, and heartfelt.

Topics:

• Women's Open Mat
• Life priorities
• Competition
• Busy life
• Increased discipline
• Grief
• Domestic abuse
• Intuition

“If you're going through hell, keep going”

- Winston Churchill

Jolie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djjolie/

The Jiu Jitsu Sanctuary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tjjs_uk/

London Women's Open Mat on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonwomensopenmat/

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JiuJitsuLou

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jiu.jitsu.lou

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jiujitsuloupodcast

JIU JITSU LOU Merchandise AVAILABLE NOW : https://jiujitsulou.com/shop

PRODUCTION CREDIT: Kerr Mathieson of Audio Outsource

MUSIC CREDIT:

ARTIST: Maleki Ram | TRACK: Just A Little Boy

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Gwinnett is now a Blue Belt, who needed a new challenge when he started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Having spent years doing Ultra Marathons, it was seeing and hearing Tom Hardy competing, and describing how life changing BJJ was in dealing with addiction. James was inspired to begin his journey of sobriety back in 2016, after 3 years of heavy addiction and depression due to injury, and began long distance running.

As a new parent, James now balances his family life with regularly training jiu jitsu. He shares moments of the challenging three years of alcohol addiction, and depression after a serious rugby injury. James is the author of #READYSETLIFE. We discuss the mental fitness that takes place when we train jiu jitsu, the value of keeping showing up on the mats and making consistent improvements.

Topics:

• Challenge
• Ultra Marathons
• Celebrity BJJ Players
• Addiction
• Sobriety
• Mental fitness
• Goals
• Priorities
• Fear

James on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesgwinnett/

CSJ on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chippenham_school_of_jiujitsu/

Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/recreational-drugs-alcohol-and-addiction/

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JiuJitsuLou

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jiu.jitsu.lou

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jiujitsuloupodcast

JIU JITSU LOU Merchandise AVAILABLE NOW : https://jiujitsulou.com/shop

PRODUCTION CREDIT: Kerr Mathieson of Audio Outsource

MUSIC CREDIT:

ARTIST: Maleki Ram | TRACK: Just A Little Boy

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Craig Young is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu having started training by-chance. Craig shares that very first experience; all the bad, and all the learning. Finding an outlet for his mental health was supported with training jiu jitsu regularly, and now has an incredible amount of focus, dedication and gratitude for competition.

Moving gyms as a new Black Belt, can be intimidating. Craig talks about joining Checkmat Essex, with Spencer Hewitt, and being welcomed by everyone at the gym. Craig has surrounded himself with mentors, and people also outside of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu who truly have his best interest at heart. We talk about the strategies to support and encourage our children to train jiu jitsu, and the importance of allowing them to find their own way through life's journey.

Taking the opportunity in 2024 to be on Polaris, from his personal doubt at local and regional competitions to the feeling of belonging has been an incredible journey for Craig. Staying injury free, and being consistent is Craig's goal to win Gold at every upcoming competition.

Topics:

• Fighting
• Boxing
• Victim mentality
• Default Medals
• Mindset
• Mentors
• Aspirations
• Consistency
• OnPoint Apparel

Craig on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigyoungjiujitsu/

Checkmat Essex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/checkmatessex/

OnPoint Apparel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onpointjiujitsu/

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JiuJitsuLou

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jiu.jitsu.lou

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jiujitsuloupodcast

JIU JITSU LOU Merchandise AVAILABLE NOW : https://jiujitsulou.com/shop

PRODUCTION CREDIT: Kerr Mathieson of Audio Outsource

MUSIC CREDIT:

ARTIST: Maleki Ram | TRACK: Just A Little Boy

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.