Get A Grip with Kendall Reusing

Why Winning Doesn’t Change Your Life: Burnout, Mental Toughness, and Growth Through Jiu Jitsu | Sula-Mae Loewenthal

In this episode of Get A Grip, Kendall sits down with elite jiu-jitsu athlete Sula-Mae Loewenthal to explore what it really means to have a grip on your life — on and off the mats. From the early days of launching Get A Grip in an Austin Airbnb to navigating burnout after ADCC 2024, this conversation goes deeper than wins and losses. Kendall and Sula break down mental toughness, balance, and wellness basics for high achievers chasing big goals, while also unpacking why competition doesn’t always “change your life” the way people expect it to. They discuss standout moments like beating Helena Crevar at Polaris, the pressure of elite competition, and how to stay grounded when you’re not winning everything — yet still becoming an influential, impactful athlete. This episode is especially for the driven person who may never be a “pro fighter,” but still wants to give their absolute best, grow through discomfort, and pursue something meaningful. If you’ve ever felt burnt out, questioned the point of competing, or wondered whether your goals are big enough, this conversation will challenge how you define success — and why chasing something that feels just out of reach might be exactly the point. 🎙️ Topics include: - What it really means to “have a grip” on your life - Recovering from burnout and inconsistency - Mental toughness beyond winning titles - Competing for growth, not validation - Why achievable goals aren’t always worth chasing ⭐️ Support the Show If this episode resonated with you, please consider subscribing, rating, and leaving a review. It helps more people find the show — and helps us keep these conversations going. 🎧 Connect: Follow Kendall Reusing Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendallreusing YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/kendallreusingbjj TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/kendallreusing Website: https://www.kendallreusing.com Follow Sula-Mae Loewenthal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sula_mae_loewenthal Episode Show Notes: 00:00 Launching Get A Grip in an Austin Airbnb 01:30 What does it mean to have a grip on your life? 02:45 The tightrope analogy: balancing life 06:25 Wellness basics when chasing big goals 07:04 Recovering from burnout after ADCC 2024 09:50 Why ADCC doesn’t really “change your life” 12:51 Beating Helena Crevar at Polaris 13:46 Sweet Sweat Ad – recovery, consistency, and showing up for your goals 15:17 Mental toughness without winning everything 17:11 Connecting through loss and struggle 19:51 What’s the point of competing? 22:41 Message to the high achiever 24:37 Why achievable goals aren’t worth chasing

44. LIVE Q&A at Jiu Jitsu Con 2025 | Mindset, Confidence, and Leveling Up On & Off the Mats

Another special live episode recorded straight from my booth at Jiu Jitsu Con 2025. You on the mic again… 🎤 From competition nerves and confidence building to training mindset, life balance, and leveling up your game plan… this episode dives into all the real questions from athletes, coaches, and fans who stopped by to chat. Whether you’re brand new to Jiu Jitsu or chasing that next belt, this one’s packed with insight you can use today — on and off the mats. 🥋✨ If you love hearing convos, please subscribe wherever you’re listening + share this one with a teammate or training partner who’d appreciate it too. Always cheering you on, Kendall 🤍 ⸻ PS – Upcoming stuff you’ll love 👇🏼 * Join the JJA 1:1 Mentorship Waitlist (currently closed, but this gets you first access to next cohort early 2026): https://kendallreusing.com * JJA IRL Weekend – Dec 6–7, 2025 | Newport Beach, CA: https://kendallreusing.com/events Hawaii Paradise BJJ Retreat – Feb 2026 with Kekoa Collective: https://kendallreusing.com/events K Merch (Use code “Champion10”): https://kendallreusing.com/shop 0:00 Start 0:01 Intro 0:36 What's the Hardest Part of Your Training? 2:49 Who Was Your Hardest Match? 3:00 What is Your Fav Comp Technique? 4:44 Kendall-cana Details 6:48 What's The Most Challenging Part of The Journey? 9:00 How Do You Escape Bottom Mount? 10:15 How Do you Think Brought So Many Women To BJJ? 16:15 Would You Do UFCBJJ? 19:58 What's Your Fav Armbar? 20:40 What Do You Do After Comp? 22:38 Have You Wanted To Quit Mid Comp? 28:07 How Many Years Have You Been Training? 31:05 Will You Fight For The Crown? 32:33 IBJJF VS ADCC Ruleset? 36:45 What Was The Experience of JJCON?

43. How to Build Your Jiu-Jitsu Road Map | 12-Week Training Plan Workshop W/ Kendall Reusing & Saul Viayra

In this live workshop recorded at Jiu-Jitsu Con, I sits down with my technical coach, 2nd degree black belt ( & WNO submission record holder!) Saul Viayra to break down one of the most powerful tools for your progress on (and off) the mats — Roadmapping. You’ll learn how to take the guesswork out of your training by organizing your strengths, exposing your weaknesses, and creating a clear 12-week plan that actually moves you toward your goals. Inside this episode: 🧭 What Road Mapping really is — and why every serious student needs one 🧠 How to do a full Brain Dump of your strengths & weaknesses 🔁 The art of Reverse Engineering your ideal game 🎯 How to identify 3–5 key focus areas and build your 12-Week Road Map 🗂 Structuring your order of progression for faster results 📈 Measuring progress over time and tracking your wins This is the episode to bookmark if you’re ready to train with intention, build a real system around your growth, and start seeing measurable progress on your path to black belt. ✨ For more free tools, training plans, and mentorship resources, visit kendallreusing.com 🏖️ To come to one of my events IRL (including Newport Beach in December and Hawaii next February), visit: kendallreusing.com/events 0:00 Start 0:01 Intro 1:01 What Road Mapping Is 2:20 Brain Dump - Strengths & Weaknesses 6:13 Reverse Engineering 11:03 Favorite Game Plan 15:56 Identify 3-5 Weaknesses in Game Plan 20:12 Twelve Week Road Map 21:32 Order Of Progression Mapped Out 27:00 Measuring Progress 32:00 Map Three To Six Months

42.⁠ ⁠Becoming Unstoppable: Confidence, Competition & Mindset Q&A Alchemize Women’s Grappling Fest

In this special live episode of Get A Grip, I sit down with over 200 incredible women at the Alchemize Women’s Grappling Fest in Los Angeles, California for a powerful Q&A following my seminar. We dive deep into some of the most important topics every Jiu Jitsu athlete faces… from competition mindset and daily routines, to developing confidence after a new belt promotion, training with intention to improve faster, and how to stay mentally strong through injuries. I also open up about working with other mindset coaches, what it really takes to train like a champion, and the importance of community in women’s Jiu Jitsu. Whether you’re a white belt just starting out or a seasoned black belt chasing your next goal, this conversation will help you refocus, and reignite your belief in yourself. Connect with me: Instagram — @kendallreusing TikTok — @kendallreusing Coaching & Camps — kendallreusing.com 📣 PS: don’t miss out on 2 very special events coming up!! 👇 🌺🥋✨🌈 Come to Hawaii with me (aka PARADISE — my all-inclusive BJJ vacation with Kekoa Collective in Feb. 2026) tickets are already 30% sold out at the time of this posting – https://kendallreusing.com/events 🏖️🥋 Come to JJA IRL Dec. 6 + 7 – Newport Beach, CA – https://kendallreusing.com/events 0:00 Start 0:06 Developing your mental game for competition 8:40 Getting injured while getting ready for a competition 14:07 Difference between brown/black belts and lower belts 12:47 Your Experience with Mindset Mike Coaching experience

41. Inside The Minds of BJJ + MMA Legends: Rafael Lovato Jr. & Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida

Guyssss I’m obsessed with this interview! 🤩 I grabbed these two legends for a Q&A — live at Jiu-Jitsu Con, and it’s one of my favorites of all time. This episode of Get A Grip brings together Rafael Lovato Jr. and Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida (two of the most accomplished and respected athletes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu history)… for a rare, open conversation about what it really takes to perform at the highest level. We dive into everything from competition-day rituals to the mindset behind chasing greatness over decades on the mats. In this episode, you’ll hear: ⚔️ How Lovato and Buchecha mentally and physically prepare for competition day 🧠 The toughest matches they’ve ever faced — and how they handled the pressure 💪🏼 Their advice for handling fatigue, adrenaline, and recovery 🏆 What it actually feels like to achieve your championship dream again and again ☕️ Their top coffee picks (yes, this is crucial intel 😂) 🕰 Tips for longevity and thriving in Jiu-Jitsu well into your 50s and beyond It’s a rare look into the minds of two champions who’ve not only built legacy, but continue to redefine it. If you love hearing the why and how behind greatness, this one’s for you. 🎧 Listen now and tag us with your biggest takeaway. Connect with me on Instagram @kendallreusing & the pod page @getagripwithk. 💫 PS… here are a few upcoming things to check out. 🤍👇🏼 🌺🥋✨🌈 Come to Hawaii with me (aka PARADISE — my all-inclusive BJJ vacation with Kekoa Collective in Feb. 2026) tickets are already 30% sold out at the time of this posting – https://kendallreusing.com/events Join the JJA 1:1 Mentorship Waitlist (re-opening in a couple months, my waitlist gets first access to spots): – https://kendallreusing.com Come to JJA IRL Dec. 6 + 7 – Newport Beach, CA – https://kendallreusing.com/events K Merch (Discount Code “Champion10” for podcast listeners) – https://kendallreusing.com/shop 0:00 Start 0:01 Intro 0:22 How Do You Prepare On Comp Day? 7:28 What Was The Toughest Match To Prepare For Mentally & Physically? 12:47 How to Prepare Outside Comp For Physical Fatigue & The Adrenaline? 20:21 What Is It Like Achieving Your Championship Dream Multiple Times? 28:27 What's The Best Coffee You've Had? 28:54 What Advice For 54 Yo With Longevity In BJJ?