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

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models is joined by Stephan Kesting (Grapplearts), Jesse Walker (Rough Hands BJJ), and the incomparable Giles Garcia (Ronin Grappling) for a raw, unscripted deep dive into the political and cultural fault lines running through the Jiu-Jitsu world.

From media manipulation to fascist creep in martial arts, Giles brings the fire with unfiltered commentary on how the right hijacked the narrative, why conspiracies thrive in the fight scene, and what it really means to stand for something as a coach and leader.

If you’ve ever wondered why “just stick to Jiu-Jitsu” is a cop-out, or what role you play in the bigger fight, this one’s for you.

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👥 Featuring:

Giles Garcia – Ronin Grappling
Stephan Kesting – Grapplearts
Jesse Walker – Rough Hands BJJ
Steve Kwan – BJJ Mental Models

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• The rise of fascism in martial arts culture
• Why conspiracy theories thrive in Jiu-Jitsu
• Media consolidation and fake neutrality
• How coaches can lead without preaching
• Culture war vs. class war in BJJ
• Giles responds to Nazi commenters (for real)
• What real leadership looks like in hard times

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions
02:50 The Role of Martial Arts in Society
05:36 Personal Stories and Experiences with Organizations
08:43 Global Perspectives on Societal Threats
11:51 Media Control and Government Overreach
14:41 The Illusion of Left and Right Politics
17:54 Conspiracies and Their Impact on Society
20:24 The Influence of Popular Media Figures
23:11 The Fight Community and Its Dynamics
26:13 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
36:00 The Rise of New Media and Its Impact
39:02 The Challenge of Truth in Media
42:10 Understanding the Left's Struggles
47:01 The Need for a Political Reset
48:49 Addressing Real Concerns in Society
52:53 Navigating Power Dynamics in Coaching
58:40 The Importance of Safe Spaces in Training
01:01:45 Responding to Controversial Comments

Stephan, Jesse, and Shelby are joined by Eva Schubert from the popular Villains and Virgins Podcast to discuss tactics used by all authoritarian states regardless of whether they are theocratic, fascist, or communist in nature. They examine Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale' in the context of today's political climate and address the need for protests and collective action in combating these issues while emphasising the need for empathy and humanity in the face of adversity.

Check out Eva's podcast at https://www.villainsandvirgins.com and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnOZJsYzx1k&list=PLteESDDVIavTfrljkgjFpLlrlCuC3I2dV

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models is joined by Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ, Mike Mahaffey of Old Bastard BJJ, and mental health advocate David Figueroa-Martinez to challenge the outdated definitions of masculinity still thriving in the Jiu-Jitsu world.

Why are men in Jiu-Jitsu still afraid to talk about emotion?
What’s the cost of performative toughness on and off the mats?
And how can coaches reshape gym culture to support real growth—for everyone?

This isn’t about making BJJ "softer." It’s about making it stronger, by fostering vulnerability, empathy, and honesty in an often hypermasculine sport.

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👥 Featuring:

• Jesse Walker ‪@RoughHandsBJJ‬
• Mike Mahaffey ‪@OldBastardBJJ‬
• David Figueroa-Martinez ‪@dfm.2099‬
• Steve Kwan ‪@bjjmentalmodels‬

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• Why emotional repression hurts male athletes
• The damage done by “fake toughness” in Jiu-Jitsu
• Why coaching is about more than just technique
• How to build mentally healthy gym culture
• The double standard for male vs female emotion
• Why acknowledging weakness is a sign of strength

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
02:58 Exploring Men's Mental Health
05:59 Emotional Intelligence in Men
08:49 Generational Perspectives on Emotions
11:53 The Impact of Media on Masculinity
14:44 The Role of Vulnerability in Leadership
17:35 Navigating Grief and Loss
20:29 The Dichotomy of Progress and Pushback
23:30 The Importance of Authenticity in Coaching
37:28 The Performative Coach
38:55 Vulnerability in Coaching
39:25 The Evolving Stigma of Mental Health
40:39 Public Figures and Mental Health
41:38 Emotional Vulnerability in Leadership
43:41 Relatability in Leadership
45:30 The Mask of Professionalism
47:47 The Role of Jiu-Jitsu in Mental Health
49:03 Emotional Intelligence and Anger
51:15 The Dangers of Anger
53:21 Generational Challenges
56:35 Cultural Backlash and Representation
58:03 The Impact of Social Media
01:00:55 Cyberbullying and Youth Challenges
01:03:41 The Role of Jiu-Jitsu Coaches
01:05:17 Authenticity in Coaching
01:07:22 The True Essence of Coaching
01:09:15 Redefining Success in Coaching
01:11:01 Closing Thoughts on Authenticity

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models sits down with Mike Mahaffey of Old Bastard BJJ and Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ for a raw conversation about why it matters—now more than ever—for Jiu-Jitsu practitioners to speak out.

Why do so many people say “keep politics out of the gym”? What does it really mean to use your platform responsibly? And how can community, not conflict, be the most powerful form of resistance?

From running inclusive gyms to dealing with trolls, threats, and the myth of “virtue signaling,” this episode is a call to action for anyone who believes that Jiu-Jitsu should stand for something more than just fighting.

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👥 Featuring:

Mike Mahaffey – ‪@oldbastardbjj‬
Jesse Walker – ‪@roughhandsbjj‬
Steve Kwan – ‪@bjjmentalmodels‬

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• Why speaking out doesn’t hurt your business—sometimes it builds it
• How to use privilege as a force for good
• What “virtue signaling” really means (and why it’s a lazy critique)
• How to build a gym that welcomes everyone
• Why moderating your community isn’t censorship—it’s care
• What to do if you’re “just a white belt” but still want to help

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Fighting Matters and the Hosts
01:02 Addressing Criticism in Martial Arts Advocacy
05:07 Personal Experiences and Advocacy in BJJ
11:06 Creating Inclusive Spaces in Martial Arts
15:39 The Impact of Speaking Up on Business and Community
20:47 Countering Virtue Signaling Criticism
26:32 The Importance of Resistance and Community Building
32:48 Finding Your Voice in the Community
38:14 The Importance of Intention
52:02 Courage to Speak Up
56:24 Building Connections and Community