In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan of BJJ Mental Models and Jeff Shaw of Bellingham BJJ examine the sweeping consequences of Trump’s newly passed “Big Beautiful Bill,” and how it threatens the future of Jiu-Jitsu in America.

This legislation is poised to eliminate healthcare for millions, deepen economic inequality, and significantly expand the power of ICE—all while cutting vital programs that support working-class families. For the Jiu-Jitsu community, the downstream effects will be substantial: rising medical costs, gym closures, reduced access to training, and increased barriers to international movement and competition.

This conversation explores how the bill will reshape the landscape of martial arts and what practitioners, gym owners, and supporters can do in response.

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👥 Featuring:

Steve Kwan @BJJMentalModels
Jeff Shaw @BellinghamBJJ

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• Why rising healthcare costs endanger Jiu-Jitsu practitioners
• The economic pressures forcing students to leave the mats
• How this bill isolates American Jiu-Jitsu from the global community
• The collapse of public services and what it means for gym owners
• The dramatic expansion of ICE and its impact on international athletes
• How political instability is already affecting travel and tourism
• The risk of long-term damage to Jiu-Jitsu infrastructure
• What community leaders can do to prepare and respond

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: The Bill and Its Implications
04:10 Understanding the Scope of the Legislation
08:30 Healthcare Losses and Medical Debt in Jiu-Jitsu
12:55 Wealth Transfers and the Erosion of Social Support
18:20 Disposable Income and the Future of Gym Memberships
23:47 Impacts on Jiu-Jitsu Schools and Their Students
28:15 ICE Funding and Deportation Risks
33:05 Border Restrictions and Athlete Movement
38:10 The Broader Economic Downturn
41:00 Comparing U.S. and Canadian Healthcare Access
45:50 First-Hand Experiences with Medical Systems
48:30 Civil Liberties, Surveillance, and Detention Centers
52:15 “Alligator Alcatraz” and Escalating Immigration Policy
57:00 Practical Advice for the Jiu-Jitsu Community
01:03:00 Final Thoughts on Civic Responsibility and Solidarity

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models is joined by Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ and attorney/mediator Andrew Burcham for a deep dive into the legal minefield of free speech, particularly how it intersects with combat sports culture and the internet.

What does the First Amendment actually protect? Can private companies limit your speech? Why do so many fighters and fans misunderstand their rights, and what happens when “free speech” is weaponized to shield bigotry?

From Dana White to Gordon Ryan, from hate speech to stochastic terrorism, this episode explores how legal frameworks shape behavior online and on the mats—plus what it means for those navigating both the Jiu-Jitsu community and public discourse today.

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👥 Featuring:

Andrew Burcham – Attorney & Mediator
Jesse Walker ‪@RoughHandsBJJ‬
Steve Kwan ‪@bjjmentalmodels‬

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• What the First Amendment actually says
• Why free speech doesn’t mean freedom from consequences
• The legality of hate speech in the U.S. vs. Canada
• Stochastic terrorism, incitement, and internet mobbing
• Citizens United and how money became “speech”
• How lawfare, venue shopping, and religious freedom collide
• What Jiu-Jitsu can learn from better civic literacy

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 – Intro: Meet Andrew Burcham, attorney & Jiu-Jitsu practitioner
01:15 – Free speech in the U.S. vs. Canada
03:55 – Bryce Mitchell, Dana White, and the misuse of “free speech”
06:24 – What the First Amendment really protects
10:00 – The cake maker case: religion vs. discrimination
14:41 – How venue shopping influences legal outcomes
17:23 – U.S. vs. EU: why American law varies state to state
20:08 – The illusion of blind justice and stacking the courts
25:14 – Social media, incitement, and Brandenburg v. Ohio
29:59 – Internet mobs: the Gordon Ryan effect
32:18 – Stochastic terrorism and platform accountability
35:07 – Hate speech laws in Canada vs. the U.S.
39:37 – Can employers fire you for what you say online?
42:00 – Protected classes colliding: religion vs. gender identity
46:16 – Weaponizing religion in legal challenges
51:18 – Citizens United: when corporations got free speech
55:25 – Buying political power: Elon Musk, TrumpCoin & ROI
58:45 – Cuts to Medicaid: real-world consequences in rural America
01:02:33 – Why Americans misunderstand free speech
01:06:34 – The myth of “free speech absolutism”
01:09:13 – Why some grapplers can’t speak out
01:10:36 – Final thoughts: Be kind, question power, fight for truth