Do you have to compete in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to be considered “serious”?

In Episode 9 of the Mat Rats Podcast, we break down one of the most debated topics in BJJ culture — whether everyone should compete.

We discuss:

• The pressure to compete in Jiu Jitsu gyms

• The benefits of competition

• The risks of competing

• Hobbyist vs competitor mindset

• Injury concerns and family balance

• Is avoiding competition fear… or wisdom?

Whether you’re a white belt thinking about your first tournament or a seasoned hobbyist who’s never stepped on the competition mats, this episode will challenge your perspective.

Follow the Mat Rats Podcast for real conversations about:
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
BJJ culture
Grappling mindset
Competition psychology
Martial arts lifestyle

#matratspod #bjj #brazilianjiujitsu #jiujitsupodcast #bjjcompetition #grappling #martialarts #bjjlife #nogi #gi

Have you ever felt burned out from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

In this episode of the Mat Rats Podcast, we talk about what happens when BJJ stops being fun — and how to get your motivation back.

From the blue belt blues to training plateaus, competition pressure, ego struggles, and burnout, every grappler goes through seasons where Jiu Jitsu feels more like a job than a passion.

We break down:

• Why burnout happens in BJJ

• How plateaus actually signal growth

• The mental side of losing motivation

• How ego kills enjoyment

• Practical ways to make training fun again

• How to reconnect with why you started training

Whether you’re a white belt, blue belt, or black belt, this conversation will hit home.

If you train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, compete in grappling tournaments, or just love the art, this episode is for you.

🔥 Follow Mat Rats Podcast for real conversations about:
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
BJJ mindset
Grappling culture
Competition psychology
Training motivation

In this episode of the Mat Rats Podcast, we keep it looseand talk about the random side of Jiu Jitsu — the things that happen on and offthe mats that no one plans for but everyone experiences.

We cover:
🥋 Weird and unspoken gym moments
🧠 How BJJ follows you outside the gym
🔥 Techniques you always end up using
💭 Rapid-fire BJJ hot takes
🏆 Jae’s mindset heading into his upcomingcompetition
🔁 Tapped In / Tapped Out to close it out

This one’s for anyone living the mat life — planned ornot.

New episodes weekly.
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Disclaimer 1: Discussion of Allegations (ATOS Topic)

This podcast includes discussion of publicly reportedallegations and community conversations within the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu space.We are not making factual claims, accusations, or legal conclusions about anyindividual or organization. All commentary reflects personal opinions based onpublicly available information and is shared for discussion purposes only.Listeners are encouraged to seek primary sources and verified reporting and toform their own conclusions.

Disclaimer 2: Todd’s Non-Affiliation Statement

Todd has no personal, professional, or trainingrelationship with André Galvão and has never trained with or been affiliatedwith him or his organization. Any discussion referencing public figures ororganizations does not imply personal knowledge, endorsement, or insiderinformation.

This episode isn’t about submissions or strength — it’sabout what Jiu Jitsu does for your head.

In this episode of the Mat Rats Podcast, we talkopenly about mental health, anxiety, stress, and why #BJJ becomes therapy for somany of us. We break down how rolling resets us mentally, why training forcespresence, and what changes when we don’t train for a while.

We cover:
🧠Mental health and anxiety
🥋Why BJJ feels like therapy
🔥How rolling resets stress and clears the mind
⏸️What happens when we stop training
💭Confidence, control, and staying calm under pressure

If you’ve ever walked into the gym stressed and left feelinglighter, this episode will hit home.

New episodes weekly.
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In this episode of the Mat Rats Podcast, we’re coming to you straight from Monday Night Brewing after competing at BrewJitsu — a unique Jiu Jitsu tournament hosted inside a brewery.

We break down:
🥋 Jae and Rob’s matches
🧠 Pre-fight mindset and game plans
🔥 What worked, what didn’t, and lessons learned
👀 Todd’s perspective watching and cornering
🍻 The vibe, atmosphere, and why BrewJitsu is different
📈 Takeaways we’re bringing back to the gym

This episode is raw, honest, and filmed right in the middle of the action.

New episodes weekly.
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In this episode of the Mat Rats Podcast, we put thespotlight on Jae as he steps into a new role — coaching fundamentals class onMonday and Friday mornings.

We talk about:
🥋 Why he started teaching
🧠 Favorite positions and concepts to teachbeginners
🔥 How teaching exposed holes and leveled uphis own game
👊 The biggest challenges of coaching whitebelts
📈 Developing a coaching style and philosophy
💡 Advice for purple belts and upper beltsthinking about teaching

Whether you’re a beginner, an upper belt, or someonecurious about coaching, this episode breaks down what really changes when youstop just training and start teaching.

New episodes weekly.
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If you train Jiu Jitsu long enough, injuries aren’t a possibility — they’re a guarantee.

In this episode of the Mat Rats Podcast, we get real about the injuries we’ve had, how they happened, how we handled them (both the right way and the wrong way), and what we learned coming back to the mats.

We cover:
🥋 Our worst BJJ injuries
🧠 The mental battle of being sidelined
💥 Mistakes that made injuries worse
🏋️ Training around injuries instead of quitting
⏳ Longevity, recovery, and learning to train smarter

If you’re dealing with pain, coming back from an injury, or trying to train long-term without breaking down, this episode is for you.

New episodes weekly.
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In this episode of Mat Rats Podcast, we sit down with a gym teammate to talk about Jiu Jitsu from the ultra-heavyweight point of view.

We cover how he got started, what it’s like being the biggest guy on the mats, training privates with Big Dan, fitness and recovery, gym culture, bad training partner habits, and gi vs no-gi preferences.

Whether you’re a big guy, roll with big guys, or just want a different perspective on BJJ, this episode delivers real insight and honest conversation.

New episodes weekly. OSS.