Are influencer belts and fast-tracked promotions ruining Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? In this episode of the BJJ Balance Podcast, we dive into one of the most controversial conversations in modern grappling: the legitimacy of belt promotions in the social media era.With the rise of superfight invitations, PGF qualifiers, creator-led gyms, and viral competitors, we’re seeing more athletes promoted faster than ever — sometimes skipping the traditional grind under established professors. Is this evolution of the sport, or is it watering down what belts truly represent?We discuss:• How influencer promotions are changing belt legitimacy• Whether competition success should outweigh training time• Why lineage still matters in jiu-jitsu• The difference between real skill and perceived rank• How amateur superfights compare to pro events• PGF qualifiers and what they mean for modern competition• Why “fame belts” are becoming a controversial topicIf you’ve ever questioned how belts are awarded or wondered if jiu-jitsu promotions are losing credibility, this episode answers the hard questions no one wants to say out loud.Please Follow BJJ Balance on all of our socials:IG: @BJJBalanceDiscord: discord.gg/bjjbalanceTik Tok: @BJJBalanceYouTube: YouTube.com/@BJJBalanceKenny IG: @FreakPartyBJJMatt IG: @oss_nation_bjj

From Christmas light disasters and gas station nachos to the real Jiu-Jitsu GOAT debate… this episode goes everywhere. Matt and Kenny talk about maxing out ladders for “forever lights,” free knives and Jordans, Kenny’s old DJ life, celebrity Jiu-Jitsu (Tom Hardy, AC Slater, Ashton Kutcher), and then dive into who actually belongs on the BJJ Mount Rushmore. Timeline-1They break down Hodger Gracie vs Buchecha resumes, ADCC finish rates, IBJJF world titles, and why the fourth “no-gi face” might still be up for grabs. Names like Marcelo Garcia, Andre Galvão, Leandro Lo, Eddie Bravo, Tom DeBlass, Craig Jones, B-Mac/PGF and more all get thrown into the mix as they talk impact versus just competition results. Timeline-1Listeners also sent in some wild questions:Which side should your belt bar/stripes sit on?Do big guys hate when small guys pull guard and spam triangles?Is it okay to switch gyms at purple belt?And Matt drops a legendary story about a team completely imploding from relationship drama at “team barbecues.” Timeline-1Plus: Thanksgiving food talk, gas station nachos, Starbucks baristas with moon tattoos, and which teammate Matt would choke unconscious in front of their significant other (with love). Timeline-1If you train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, obsess over memes, or argue about GOATs in the gym lobby, this one’s for you.In this episode:Christmas light horror story & $800 “forever lights” mistakeFree knives, Black Friday Jordans & sponsor loveKenny’s DJ background, vinyl collection & one-ear headphone breakdownShaq, Carter Cruise and why people get obsessed with new identitiesHodger vs Buchecha and the BJJ GOAT conversationBuilding a Jiu-Jitsu Mount Rushmore (Helio, Royce, Hodger/Buchecha + a no-gi future?)Purple belt loyalty & when it’s okay to switch gymsGym relationship drama and how it nuked an entire teamListener Q&A: belt bar etiquette, smalls pulling guard on bigs, choking teammates in front of their familySupport the show & follow us:Please Follow BJJ Balance on all of our socials:IG: @BJJBalanceDiscord: discord.gg/bjjbalanceTik Tok: @BJJBalanceYouTube: YouTube.com/@BJJBalanceKenny IG: @FreakPartyBJJMatt IG: @oss_nation_bjjDrop your questions in the comments for a chance to be featured in the next listener Q&A!

Welcome back to Episode 113 of the BJJ Balance Podcast!This Thanksgiving special is PACKED — fatherhood lessons, jiu-jitsu parenting struggles, Super Cup competition stories, celebrity black belt debates, Gordon Ryan drama, and everything in between. Whether you're listening on the road to family dinner or trying to hide from your crazy uncles, we’ve got you.In this episode, we cover:🥋 How to help your kid bounce back after a tough jiu-jitsu loss🔥 Super Cup recap — Team No Sleep dominates again🤼 Ashton Kutcher’s black belt & the “celebrity jiu-jitsu” controversy💥 Moneyberg & Gordon Ryan discourse👊 Handling haters who say jiu-jitsu is “fake”🧠 Competition mindset, game-planning & leveling up your strongest moves🤖 AI’s future role as jiu-jitsu coaches😂 Back takes, Thanksgiving chaos, and uncles talking recklessIf you train BJJ, coach kids, compete, or love jiu-jitsu culture, this episode hits every angle — humor, real talk, advice, and technical gems.👍 LIKE if you’ve ever dealt with a family member talking trash about BJJ🔔 SUBSCRIBE to support the fastest-growing jiu-jitsu podcast🗣️ DROP A COMMENT: What’s your take on celebrity black belts?Please Follow BJJ Balance on all of our socials:IG: @BJJBalanceDiscord: discord.gg/bjjbalanceTik Tok: @BJJBalanceYouTube: YouTube.com/@BJJBalanceKenny IG: @FreakPartyBJJMatt IG: @oss_nation_bjj00:00 — Thanksgiving intro & gratitude message

In this week’s episode, Matt and Kenny go FULL CHAOS — sick-day mustaches, serial-killer ancestors, handlebar identities, WWE-style super-fights at 6am, and somehow… some of the best Jiu-Jitsu advice you’ll hear all year.This one is absolutely unhinged and absolutely BJJ Balance.🔥 In This Episode We Cover:🟦 1. The REAL Reason White Belts Quit Jiu-JitsuThe guys break down one of the most important topics in all of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:👉 How to retain new students — especially introverts👉 Why pairing matters👉 How upper belts should treat trial students👉 Clicks, class culture, and the “prison yard effect”👉 The coach’s responsibility vs the students’ responsibilityThis segment alone is huge for BJJ school owners, professors, coaches, and anyone trying to build a strong gym culture.🟥 2. Craig Jones, Makachev, and Jiu-Jitsu vs MMA RealityWe get into:• Whether Craig’s jiu-jitsu works on Islam Makachev• Anti-wrestling vs pure grappling• Weight differences• CJI vs ADCC and how future seasons might play out• Why the Mo & Craig alliance matters for the sportFans of ADCC, CJI, UFC crossover grapplers, and No-Gi strategy will love this part.🟩 3. Big Guy Jiu-Jitsu: What Actually WorksKenny breaks down the #1 big-man skill that changed everything for him (and it isn’t pressure).The guys discuss:• Patience as a weapon• Cooking opponents from side control• Learning from higher-weight black belts• How game development changes by size and agePerfect for anyone 200lbs+ trying to tighten up their top pressure and passing.🟧 4. Listener Q&A (Wild Edition)Includes:• Rolling with black belts — etiquette & rules• Competing at each belt level• How many tournaments per belt?• Retention mistakes that ruin gyms• “Fried chicken tier list” (yes, really)• The most deranged FMK question in podcast history• Mustache super-fights, cuckwall origins, and more madness💬 Why People Love This Podcast:Listeners tell us every week:👉 “You guys are the only BJJ podcast I never miss.”👉 “It feels like hanging out with my teammates.”👉 “Funny as hell, but also real Jiu-Jitsu advice.”👉 “Every Tuesday like clockwork.”We appreciate all of you.🎧 Listen, Subscribe & Join the CommunityIf you love Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, gym culture, competition talk, and pure comedy mixed with real technique and life advice… you’re in the right spot.Subscribe for more episodes every Tuesday.Please Follow BJJ Balance on all of our socials:IG: @BJJBalanceDiscord: discord.gg/bjjbalanceTik Tok: @BJJBalanceYouTube: YouTube.com/@BJJBalanceKenny IG: @FreakPartyBJJMatt IG: @oss_nation_bjj

Welcome back to the BJJ Balance Podcast — where real talk meets the mats! In this wild episode, Kenny and Matt dive deep into everything from training injuries and peptide recovery to midlife career shifts, the return of Craig Jones Invitational 3, and Ronda Rousey’s ongoing meltdown.We cover:🥋 Rib injuries, Epsom salt baths, and how to actually use BPC-157 peptides for recovery🚔 Kenny’s shocking idea to become a cop — and why every officer he talked to said do it💀 SWAT raid stories, close calls, and what it really means to balance danger and family💬 Craig Jones & Mikey Musumeci tease CJI 3 — is it really happening?🔥 Ronda Rousey vs. the world — why fans turned on her and what humility in defeat really means💡 Listener Q&A: BJJ nemesis rolls, turtle vs. closed guard, and how to stay motivated to trainWhether you’re into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, peptides for recovery, or just love honest podcast banter, this one hits everything from mat talk to mindset.👊 Subscribe for weekly BJJ discussions, real-life stories, and listener questions from the BJJ Balance community!📺 Watch full episodes & clips: youtube.com/@bjjbalance🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts — video available on Spotify!📱 Submit listener questions on Instagram: @bjjbalancepodPlease Follow BJJ Balance on all of our socials:IG: @BJJBalanceDiscord: discord.gg/bjjbalanceTik Tok: @BJJBalanceYouTube: YouTube.com/@BJJBalanceKenny IG: @FreakPartyBJJMatt IG: @oss_nation_bjj

From Christmas chaos and dad jokes to Ronda Rousey calling out Joe Rogan, this episode takes a hilarious and brutally honest dive into life, jiu-jitsu, and manhood. Kenny and Matt talk about what it means to chase glory in your youth vs. building longevity later in life, plus how 40-year-olds can train BJJ while balancing work and family.But it doesn’t stop there—things get wild with listener “Would You Rather” questions that go completely off the rails (you’ve been warned). 💀🔥 In This Episode:Ronda Rousey’s viral comments about Joe Rogan and women’s MMAMcKenzie Dern’s big win & Kayla Harrison fight talkPGF qualifiers and future competition plansThe debate: early glory vs. late-life success in jiu-jitsu and lifeAdvice for 40-year-olds starting BJJNSFW listener questions that had us crying laughing 🤣👊 If you’re into:Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu podcasts, BJJ humor, Joe Rogan MMA drama, blue belt struggles, or balancing fatherhood and training—this episode’s for you.📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: youtube.com/@bjjbalance🎧 Listen everywhere podcasts are streamedPlease Follow BJJ Balance on all of our socials:IG: @BJJBalanceDiscord: discord.gg/bjjbalanceTik Tok: @BJJBalanceYouTube: YouTube.com/@BJJBalanceKenny IG: @FreakPartyBJJMatt IG: @oss_nation_bjj

Halloween might be the #1 sex night of the year (fight us 😅). We kick off with spicy Halloween takes, then break down UFC heavyweight chaos (Aspinall vs Gane, Jon Jones, Alex Pereira), the Mackenzie Dern title win and a potential Ronda Rousey comeback. We also unpack the Craig Jones / B-Team split, and finish our Blue Belt → Purple Belt arc: dirty-blue mindset, learning speed, half-guard game, pressure, “don’t let them download your power,” coaching at comps, and community Q&A.If you train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (gi or no-gi), you’ll snag practical mindset upgrades—especially if you live in half guard (lockdown, deep half, dogfight, X). Plus: Checkmat Murrieta vs Menifee, Team No Sleep, and why blue belt is the most fun belt in BJJ.

Please Follow BJJ Balance on all of our socials:IG: @BJJBalanceDiscord: discord.gg/bjjbalanceTik Tok: @BJJBalanceYouTube: YouTube.com/@BJJBalanceKenny IG: @FreakPartyBJJMatt IG: @oss_nation_bjj

If you dig the show, like, comment, and subscribe—and drop a listener question for next episode!

In this episode of BJJ Balance, Kenny and Mat kick things off with a hilarious talk about beards, elf books, and random life tangents before diving into real-world jiu-jitsu topics that every grappler can relate to.They talk training motivation, diet struggles, favorite foods, and how gaming actually parallels jiu-jitsu progress. Then, the guys tackle listener questions about ego on the mats, competition mindset, rolling with moms, and the biggest pet peeves in BJJ.This one’s equal parts funny, honest, and brutally relatable — from beard oil to bad etiquette, no topic is safe.👊 Subscribe to BJJ Balance for weekly conversations about jiu-jitsu, fatherhood, mindset, and the culture that keeps us rolling.🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Please Follow BJJ Balance on all of our socials:IG: @BJJBalanceDiscord: discord.gg/bjjbalanceTik Tok: @BJJBalanceYouTube: YouTube.com/@BJJBalanceKenny IG: @FreakPartyBJJMatt IG: @oss_nation_bjj