Hosts recap their trip to the 2025 IBJJF World No-Gi Championships in Las Vegas, sharing match breakdowns, surprising referee calls, upsets, and standout performances from friends and teammates.

They discuss preparation, travel and weight-cut tips, lessons about avoiding leaving results to the referee, and takeaways for future competitions.

Raf Esparza of the Grappling Hour joins Fighters Drinking Coffee to talk training, pro-wrestling influence, and how spectacle and fan experience can grow jiu-jitsu. He shares stories from Subversive and Survivor Series, media and performance coaching for athletes, and ideas for building entertaining grappling events.

They also discuss creative segments like Roast Raf and tape study, the importance of personality and promotion in combat sports, and where to find his work.

Support Grappling Hour here: https://www.patreon.com/grapplinghour

Buy Grappling Hour merch here: https://www.rafesparza.com/merch

Follow the show:

🎥 - YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/grapplinghour

📸 - INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/grapplinghour/

🍏 - APPLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grappling-hour/id1437702200

🎶 - SPOTIFY - https://open.spotify.com/show/28tKXEawj9SIwlr5fd1sx3?si=5415e680b0bc4fb5

Thank you!

This episode covers what to do after a jiu-jitsu injury: how to tell a tweak from a serious injury, when to seek medical help, and when to rest.

The hosts share practical tips for training while hurt—modify your game plan, train around the injured side, use controlled drilling, stay present at the gym, and study footage or tutorials.

They emphasize self-assessment, injury prevention (pace and tapping), cooperative training partners, and adapting your training so you can recover safely and return stronger.

On this episode of Fighters Drinking Coffee, Fury welterweight champion Sam Kilmer breaks down his wrestling and jiu-jitsu roots, training at Kaizen and Crazy 88, and his preparations for the December 14 title defense against Mancher Khera.

Sam discusses strength and conditioning with coach Asim, sparring strategy, weight-class decisions, and his goal of earning a UFC call and high-profile matchups in the future.

Check Sam out on Instagram @sam_kilmer

This episode explores the “blue belt blues”: the sudden drop in confidence and performance many feel after a promotion. Hosts discuss causes — targets on your back, merit-based expectations, comparison, and ego — and how coaches shape that experience.

They offer practical advice: humble yourself, keep showing up, use competition constructively, focus on skill acquisition over status, and embrace the long-term journey. Tips include finding new goals, practicing weaknesses, teaching others, and remembering the belt is a checkpoint, not the reward.

Overall, the episode is a pep talk to stay consistent, find challenges, and enjoy the process so you don’t quit when the honeymoon period ends.

This episode explores the white belt experience in jiu-jitsu — from signing the waiver and wearing a rental gi to learning to tap and leaving your ego at the door. Hosts share practical advice for new students on safety, mindset, and managing expectations.

They cover concrete tips like using micro-goals, slowing down drilling, finding mentors, embracing losses as practice, and staying flexible when life or gyms change. The message: show up, be humble, enjoy being a beginner, and keep training.

This episode features Kari Summers and Mendi Carlson of Genesis Jiu-Jitsu, co-founders of the Unbreakable Women’s Grappling Camp in Fort Worth, Texas. They discuss how their program grew from moms watching their kids train into a supportive women-only community that builds confidence, retention, and competition readiness.

The episode covers their women’s classes and outreach, camp format (gi day and no‑gi day), seminar instructors, VIP lunch, swag and open mat time, and logistical details: Feb 6–7, 2026 at the Sheridan downtown Fort Worth with a 3,600 sq ft mat area and a 150-person cap.

For more information visit unbreakable-bjj.com

Hosts sit down with BJ and Alex from Capital MMA to discuss their journeys in jiu-jitsu, strength and conditioning, and even Highland Games, plus their coaching and teaching philosophies developed through years of competition and pandemic training adaptations.

They also preview the Movember Super Fights — a team-based and individual tournament on November 22 at Capital MMA in Lorton — fundraising for men’s health. The episode covers event format, community involvement, livestream details, and how donations support Movember’s mission.

Donate here: https://movember.com/t/movember-super-fights?mc=1

Watch the live stream: https://youtube.com/@capitalmmafit?si=GAxalKtuwsC6mLcR