BJJ Mental Models

Ep. 397: Risk Management in BJJ, feat. Jake Luigi

This week, we're joined again by Jake Luigi! Jake is a jiu-jitsu analyst who made his name studying professional match footage, and he runs OutlierDB, an analytics database for grappling. In this episode, Jake lays out a three-part framework for managing risk: name the worst-case scenario, watch for the key indicators that it's coming, and only attack hard once those indicators are in your favor. Topics include: risk-reward analysis, points of control, grip fighting, terminal positions, and Goodhart's Law.Subscribe to Less Impressed More Involved on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@LIMIBJJCheck out OutlierDB:https://outlierdb.comMental models discussed in this episode:Return on Investmenthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/return-on-investmentBuilding Your Triggershttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/building-your-triggersDouble Troublehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/double-troubleCognitive Loadhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-loadConstraints-Led Approachhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/constraints-led-approachAvailability Heuristichttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/availability-heuristicPoints of Controlhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/points-of-controlTerminal Positionshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/terminal-positionsInvariantshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/invariantsGrips Dictate Positionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/grips-dictate-positionKuzushihttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/kuzushiRotational Controlhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/rotational-controlGoodhart's Lawhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/goodharts-law⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:https://bjjmentalmodels.comNeed more BJJ Mental Models?Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletterLearn more mental models in our online database:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/databaseFollow us on social:https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodelshttps://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodelshttps://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.socialhttps://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodelsMusic by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com

Mini Ep. 112: Coiling

In this mini-episode, we discuss coiling, or retracting your limbs and neck. It denies access to our body's vulnerable levers and positions us to explosively generate force.Staying coiled is a smart "default" position if you're not sure what to do. But there are times when you need to uncoil, and that is when:#1: there's a productive reason to do so, and #2: you can do so safely and without giving up a lever.Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:https://bjjmentalmodels.comNeed more BJJ Mental Models?Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletterLearn more mental models in our online database:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/databaseFollow us on social:https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodelshttps://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodelshttps://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.socialhttps://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

Ep. 396: Relative Strength, feat. Will Weisser

This week, we're joined by Will Weisser! Will is a jiu-jitsu black belt, co-founder of the competition-tracking site JiuJitsu.net, and author of the new book Scientific Jiu-Jitsu: A Unified Theory of Grappling. In this episode, Will lays out that unified theory: the idea that every jiu-jitsu technique exists to raise your own strength or reduce your opponent's. Topics include: relative strength, frames and misdirection, body alignment, and why being strong works.Get Will's book, Scientific Jiu-Jitsu: A Unified Theory of Grappling:https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594390355Check out JiuJitsu.net:https://jiujitsu.netFollow Will on Instagram:https://instagram.com/weisserwillMental models discussed in this episode:Theory of Alignmenthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/theory-of-alignmentDominant Angleshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/dominant-anglesAnatomic Hierarchyhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/anatomic-hierarchyKuzushihttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/kuzushiControlling the Distancehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/controlling-the-distanceDilemmashttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/dilemmaKinetic Chainshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/kinetic-chainsOverwhelming Forcehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/overwhelming-force⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:https://bjjmentalmodels.comNeed more BJJ Mental Models?Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletterLearn more mental models in our online database:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/databaseFollow us on social:https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodelshttps://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodelshttps://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.socialhttps://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodelsMusic by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com

Mini Ep. 111: Porcupine Strategy

In this mini-episode, we discuss porcupine strategy: the art of making your defense so painful that your aggressors think twice.Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:https://bjjmentalmodels.comNeed more BJJ Mental Models?Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletterLearn more mental models in our online database:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/databaseFollow us on social:https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodelshttps://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodelshttps://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.socialhttps://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

Ep. 395: Take the Slack Out, feat. Jesse Walker

This week, we're joined by Jesse Walker! Jesse is the head coach and co-founder of Rough Hands BJJ in Louisville, Kentucky, and a frequent BJJ Mental Models collaborator. In this episode, Jesse makes the case for loading a joint with tension before you ever start the breaking mechanics, so the finish takes a fraction of the effort. Topics include: adding traction before the break, the order of operations of a joint lock, backing up to retighten a loose position, fixing the much-maligned Americana, and leglock safety through control.Train with Jesse at Rough Hands BJJ:https://roughhandsbjj.comFollow Rough Hands on Instagram:https://instagram.com/roughhandsbjjMental models discussed in this episode:Breaking Mechanicshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/breaking-mechanics3 Joint Rulehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/3-joint-ruleDouble Troublehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/double-troubleCore Mechanicshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/core-mechanics⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:https://bjjmentalmodels.comNeed more BJJ Mental Models?Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletterLearn more mental models in our online database:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/databaseFollow us on social:https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodelshttps://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodelshttps://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.socialhttps://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodelsMusic by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com