BJJ Mental Models

Ep. 400: Always Timeless, feat. Rafael Lovato Jr.

This week, for our 400th episode, we're joined by Rafael Lovato Jr.! Rafael is a multiple-time jiu-jitsu world champion, a former Bellator middleweight MMA champion, and the creator of the Timeless Jiu-Jitsu philosophy. In this episode, Rafael makes the case that consistency beats intensity, and shows how a game built on timeless fundamentals lets you dominate opponents no matter your age. Topics include: consistency over intensity, competing in your 40s, playing the long game, mastering the fundamentals, and the case for the mount.Follow Rafael on Instagram:https://instagram.com/lovatojrbjjGet Rafael's new knee-passing instructional with his dad, Lovato Legacy:https://www.timelessjiujitsu.com/lovato-legacy-timeless-pressure-passing-from-the-kneesLearn more at Timeless Jiu-Jitsu:https://www.timelessjiujitsu.comTrain with Rafael in the Turks and Caicos Islands from Sep. 24-29, 2026:https://destinationjj.comMental models discussed in this episode:Consistencyhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/consistencyPrioritize Longevityhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/prioritize-longevityCompoundinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/compoundingTimeframe Paradoxhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/timeframe-paradoxInvesting in Losshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/investing-in-lossDo What Workshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/do-what-worksTokui Wazahttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/tokui-wazaPosition Over Submissionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/position-over-submissionProbabilistic Thinkinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/probabilistic-thinkingMarginal Gainshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/marginal-gainsSelf-Competitionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/self-competition⬆️ 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. 115: Incremental Learning

In this mini-episode, we discuss incremental learning: the practice of breaking down a new concept to learn it piece by piece.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. 399: Breaking Through Plateaus, feat. Giles Garcia

This week, we're joined by Giles Garcia! Giles is a black belt competitor and the head coach and owner of Ronin Grappling in Glasgow, Scotland. In this episode, Giles explains how to break through training plateaus: how to spot one, how to name the specific problem hiding underneath it, and how to build a plan to solve it. Topics include: overtraining, the elevator theory, naming your plateau, and treating training partners as collaborators.Train with Giles at Ronin Grappling in Glasgow:https://roningrappling.comWatch Giles's videos at BJJ Codex:https://www.bjjcodex.comFollow Giles on Instagram:https://instagram.com/el_guancheMental models discussed in this episode:Ecological Dynamicshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamicsRed Queen Effecthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/red-queen-effectDiminishing Returnshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/diminishing-returnsFeedback Loophttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/feedback-loopMarginal Gainshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/marginal-gainsDeliberate Practicehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/deliberate-practiceKaizenhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/kaizenConstraints-Led Approachhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/constraints-led-approachGrowth Mindsethttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/growth-mindset⬆️ 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. 114: Goodhart's Law

In this mini-episode, we discuss Goodhart's Law: when a measure becomes a target, it ceases to become a good measure.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. 398: Old Bastard Sweeps, feat. Mike Mahaffey

This week, we're joined by Mike Mahaffey! Mike is a second-degree black belt under Chris Haueter, best known for his Old Bastard Jiu-Jitsu style: a conservative approach built for older and less athletic grapplers. In this episode, Mike explains how to sweep from the bottom by disrupting your opponent's base instead of relying on speed or strength. Topics include: maintaining your base from the bottom, making them carry your weight, fulcrum sweeps, and the scissor and tripod sweeps.Follow Mike Mahaffey:https://instagram.com/oldbastardbjjhttps://threads.com/@oldbastardbjjTrain with Mike Mahaffey at Magic BJJ in Lansing, MI:https://magicbjj.comGet Mike's instructionals on Patreon:https://patreon.com/oldbastardbjjMental models discussed in this episode:Theory of Alignmenthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/theory-of-alignmentDirect vs. Proxy Controlhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/direct-vs-proxy-controlCenter of Gravityhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/center-of-gravityKuzushihttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/kuzushiCore Mechanicshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/core-mechanicsKinetic Chainshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/kinetic-chains⬆️ 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