Many years ago, I sat across from a martial arts "master" who claimed his punch could burst someone's aorta. That moment taught me everything I needed to know about unchecked ego, and it's a lesson that extends far beyond the dojo.

In this episode, I share 35+ years of martial arts wisdom about ego: what it is, why it's dangerous, when it's useful, and most importantly, how to tame it. From getting destroyed by a secret Brazilian national champion to taking private lessons from a brown belt as a black belt, these stories reveal how ego can either drive excellence or block growth entirely.

What You'll Learn:

1. The difference between healthy ambition and toxic ego • Why ego stops you from learning and improving
2. How to recognize when your ego is blinding you
3. The 7-step framework for taming your ego
4. Real stories from BJJ that illustrate ego's impact
5. Bruce Lee's "lengthen your line" philosophy
6. Why Jonas Salk refused to patent the polio vaccine

Whether you're in martial arts, business, or just trying to grow as a person, understanding ego is critical. It can drive you to achieve greatness or trap you in delusion. The key is learning to use it as a tool, not let it define you.

Links for Show notes:

Bruce Lees “one inch punch”

https://youtu.be/kXwOU5HzTZQ?si=iZ2Rdp6ZLqhXCre2

Way of the Peaceful Warrior book

https://www.peacefulwarrior.com/way-of-the-peaceful-warrior/

“Their pain, our pleasure: stereotype content and schadenfreude”

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4472308/

Professor Wally Jay

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wally_Jay

Small Circle Ju Jitsu

https://smallcirclejujitsu.com/

Eddie Bravo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Bravo

10th Planet Jiu Jitsu

https://www.10thplanetjj.com/

Carlos Machado

https://machadomethod.com/

Dr. Jonas Salk

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonas_Salk

Landmark Forum

https://www.landmarkworldwide.com/the-landmark-forum

The Four Agreements book

https://www.miguelruiz.com/the-four-agreements/

Zen in the Martial Arts book

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/424340.Zen_in_the_Martial_Arts

Music:

“Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A

Get in touch!

This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, produced by Robbie Lockie, music kindly provided by Robel Borja.

Many people don't fail because they're mentally weak, they fail because they're mentally rigid.

In this episode, I explore one of the most powerful skills I've learned from decades of martial arts training: the power of adapting. Whether you're in a BJJ match, running a business, or facing life's unexpected challenges, your ability to adapt determines your success.

Key insights covered:
• Why rigidity defines your boundaries, but adaptability is boundless
• The difference between discipline and stubbornness
• How to know when to stay the course vs. when to pivot
• Viktor Frankl's philosophy on adapting your attitude when you can't change circumstances
• Practical examples of adaptation from BJJ, music, and disaster response

As Bruce Lee wrote: "Absorb what is useful, discard what's not, and add what's uniquely your own."

Links for Show notes:

Tom Skeeter, Sound City
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_City_Studios

Carlos Gracie
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Gracie

Helio Gracie
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A9lio_Gracie

Mitsuyo Maeda
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsuyo_Maeda

UFC
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_Fighting_Championship
https://www.ufc.com/

Mapquest
https://www.mapquest.com/

Hurricane Katrina
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina

Viktor Frankl
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Frankl

Auschwitz Concentration Camp
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auschwitz_concentration_camp

Eric Ries, The Lean Startup
https://theleanstartup.com/

Bruce Lee
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Lee

Dan Inosanto
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Inosanto
https://inosanto.com/

James DeMile
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_DeMile

Professor Wally Jay
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wally_Jay

Small Circle Jujitsu
https://smallcirclejujitsu.com/

Winston Churchill
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill

Professor David Mitchell
https://www.instagram.com/dmitch442/?hl=en

Professor John Will
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Will_(fighter)
https://www.redcatacademy.com.au/

Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A


🔔 Subscribe for weekly lessons from the Ageless Warrior Lab 💬 Share your adaptation stories in the comments!📺

Get in touch!

This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, produced by Robbie Lockie, edited by Phil Marriott and music kindly provided by Robel Borja.

🥋 In this incredible episode of Dirty Dozen Remembers, Dave Meyer sits down with Professor Bob Bass—the SECOND non-Brazilian to ever receive a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (1995).

Bob shares never-before-heard stories from the earliest days of BJJ in America, including:

• His first encounter with Rickson Gracie and Royce Gracie in a garage in 1985
• How he convinced Rigan Machado to stay in America and open a school
• Building the legendary training platform in Rigan's backyard with garage doors
• The historic 1995 Pan-American match against Marcio Feitosa (and the bathroom encounter that changed everything)
• Training wars with Craig Cook, the first American black belt
• Gene LaBelle showing up on a motorcycle doing wheelies
• The politics and referee controversies of early BJJ tournaments
• Why he's still rolling at 63 and plans to train until 70

Bob Bass was consistently the top fighter out of the Machado Academy and helped prove that Americans could compete with—and beat—the best Brazilians. This interview is essential viewing for anyone who wants to understand the roots of BJJ in the United States.

Links from the show:

To contact Bob Bass for seminars, BobBassJJ @ Gmail.com (no spaces)

Rickson Gracie
https://www.ricksongracie.com/

Rorion Gracie
https://www.roriongracie.com/

Royler Gracie
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royler_Gracie

Carlos Gracie Junior
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Gracie_Jr.

IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation)
https://ibjjf.com/

1995 IBJJF Pan American Games- Bob Bass v. Marcio Fetosa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UauuTMMsJL4

1996 Bob Bass v. Marcio Fetosa
https://youtu.be/7Kii9qrQ7KE?si=gMaJVInvJID1UsA0

Black Belt Legacy
https://blackbeltlegacy.com/

Follow Your Heart restaurant
https://www.theheartmarketcafe.com/

Atama Kimonos
https://atamausa.com/collections/mens-jiu-jitsu-kimonos

Kickskin
http://www.kikskinmartialarts.com/main.asp

The Compound MMA
https://www.thecompoundmma.com/

Gene LeBell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_LeBell

Bart Vale
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Vale

Dan Inosanto
https://inosanto.com/

Erik Paulson
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Paulson

Music:
“Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A

Get in touch!

This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, produced by Robbie Lockie, edited by Phil Marriott and music kindly provided by Robel Borja.

Are you thinking about entering your first competition? Or struggling with competition anxiety? In this episode, we dive deep into the psychology of competition, why you should compete, how to prepare mentally and physically, and why winning shouldn't be your primary goal.

Drawing from decades of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition experience, this episode covers:

✅ The TRUE reasons to compete (hint: it's not about the gold medal)

✅ How to manage pre-competition anxiety and stress

✅ The "bracket" concept—understanding what's actually in your control

✅ Why caring LESS about winning can help you win MORE

✅ Practical preparation tips for your training camp

✅ The role of a corner coach and what they should (and shouldn't) say

✅ How to learn from both wins AND losses

✅ Mental strategies for stepping onto the mat with confidence

Whether you're into BJJ, grappling, MMA, or any competitive sport, these principles apply universally. Competition is a path of self-discovery that reveals who you truly are under pressure.

Links for Show notes:

“Training for Competition: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Submission Grappling” book
https://a.co/d/dOweTaX

Gene LeBell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_LeBell

Don Jacob
https://purple-dragon.com/founder-don-jacob/

Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A

Get in touch!

This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, produced by Robbie Lockie, edited by Phil Marriott and music kindly provided by Robel Borja.

In this BJJ Bonus episode, I sit down with Melissa Will—one of the true pioneers of women's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. With nearly 36 years on the mats, Melissa has been training longer than any other non-Brazilian woman in the world.

Melissa shares her incredible journey from being a 2nd-degree karate black belt to discovering BJJ at a seminar taught by John Will (who would later become her husband). She describes the moment she realized her karate was "useless" when pinned on the ground—and how learning the bridge and roll changed everything.

We discuss what it was like being the ONLY woman on the mat for years, how she won the Pan-American Championships at blue belt in 1997, and the mental shift required to keep training after taking 9 years off to raise her son Felix (now also a BJJ black belt and instructor).

Melissa offers invaluable advice for women starting in martial arts, guidance for men training with women, and insights on building a healthy gym culture that welcomes everyone.

🥋 Topics Covered:

• Her transition from karate to BJJ
• Being a woman pioneer in the sport
• Winning competitions against heavier opponents • Romantic relationships between instructors and students
• Training philosophy: "The more you tap, the more you learn"
• Tabata training and staying fit at 55
• Raising a BJJ black belt son
• Building inclusive gym culture
• Advice for women and men in BJJ

Links mentioned in the show

Andrew Bews physical trainer
http://www.andrewbews.com.au/

Melissa Will books:

Australia Link: https://tinyurl.com/MelissaWillAUST

USA Link: https://tinyurl.com/MelissaWillUSA

UK link: https://tinyurl.com/MelissaWillUK

ITALY link: https://tinyurl.com/MelissaWillIT

Canada Link: https://tinyurl.com/MelissaWillCA

Japan: https://tinyurl.com/MelissaWillJapan

Music:
“Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A

“Erotic Spring” by Robel Borja

https://open.spotify.com/track/20RAs5iOvZGYSxQTjx8AAM?si=5c2e9b66c221483d

Get in touch!

This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, produced by Robbie Lockie, edited by Phil Marriott and music kindly provided by Robel Borja.

Are you living on autopilot? Most people never take real time alone to examine their lives—until a crisis forces them to. But what if you could proactively gain clarity, purpose, and direction without waiting for disaster to strike?

In this episode, I reveal my "Mission Days" practice—a powerful personal retreat I've used for years to build a major nonprofit, land significant business deals, and make life-changing realizations. This isn't meditation. It's intentional contemplation designed to unlock your inner wisdom and create actionable breakthroughs.

You'll learn: ✅

1. The 6-step framework for conducting your own Mission Days retreat ✅
2. Why boredom is actually the key to creativity (backed by science) ✅
3. How to "live into the future" instead of being held back by your past ✅
4. The "tipping point" strategy from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that applies to life goals ✅
5. How Bill Gates, Carl Jung, Thomas Edison, and even the Buddha used similar practices ✅
6. Specific prompts to guide your thinking during the retreat ✅
7. How to turn insights into actionable results

Whether you're feeling stuck, seeking more meaning, or simply want to ensure you're on the right path, this episode gives you a proven system for regular life evaluation and course correction.

Get the full Mission Days guide and prompts at my website: agelesswarriorlab.com/blog

Links from the show:

4 Hour Work Week book

https://fourhourworkweek.com/

"Does being bored make us more creative?" Published in 2014 in the Creativity Research Journal.

"Mind wandering during creative incubation predicts creative performance” published in 2025 in Scientific Reports

https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2014-19753-005

2018 article called "Solitude as an approach to affective self-regulation". Published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319643109_Solitude_as_an_Approach_to_Affective_Self-Regulation

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance book

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/629.Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance

2001 paper called “Self-concordance, goal attainment, and the pursuit of happiness: Can there be an upward spiral?” published in the Journal of Happiness Studies

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325671224_Self-concordance_goal_attainment_and_the_pursuit_of_happiness_Can_there_be_an_upward_spiral

Landmark Forum

https://www.landmarkworldwide.com/the-landmark-forum

Adopt-a-Pet.com

https://www.adoptapet.com/

Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A

Get in touch!

This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, produced by Robbie Lockie, edited by Phil Marriott and music kindly provided by Robel Borja.

Join us for an in-depth interview with Rick Williams—one of the original “Dirty Dozen” American black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, retired police officer, and executive protection specialist for NBA legends like Kobe Bryant. In this episode, Rick shares powerful stories from his decades-long career, including:

• How Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu saved lives on the police force
• Behind-the-scenes insights from protecting NBA superstars
• The evolution of BJJ from street self-defense to modern sport
• The intense rivalries and loyalty of early American BJJ
• Life lessons and advice for finding your passion

Whether you’re a martial artist, law enforcement professional, or just love a good story, you’ll find inspiration and wisdom in Rick’s journey. Discover what it takes to thrive in high-pressure environments, adapt to change, and build a life around passion and service.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction: Rick Williams’ Martial Arts Journey
01:00 – Law Enforcement Career: 28 Years on the Force
03:00 – The BJJ Dirty Dozen & Early Black Belts
05:00 – Executive Protection for NBA Stars
07:00 – Getting Started in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
10:00 – Training with the Gracies and Machados
13:00 – Rivalries and Early Tournaments
16:00 – Balancing Police Work, Jiu-Jitsu, and Wrestling
20:00 – The Value of BJJ in Law Enforcement
25:00 – Realities of Policing: Risks, Training, and Survival
30:00 – Weapon Retention & Specialized Police Jiu-Jitsu
35:00 – Transition to Executive Protection: Life with NBA Clients
40:00 – Lessons from Elite Athletes & Maintaining Fitness
45:00 – The Evolution of BJJ: Sport vs. Self-Defense
50:00 – Advice for the Next Generation & Closing Thoughts

This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, produced by Robbie Lockie, edited by Phil Marriott and music kindly provided by Robel Borja.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more interviews and insights from the world of martial arts, law enforcement, and personal development!

Links mentioned in the show

Royce Gracie
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royce_Gracie

Machado Brothers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machado_family

Rigan Machado
https://www.theacademybeverlyhills.com/instructors/rigan-machado/

Rico Chiapparelli
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rico_Chiapparelli

Dan Henderson
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Henderson

Krav Maga
https://www.kravmaga.com/

CJI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Jones_Invitational

Music by Robel Borja
“Disambiguation” https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A
“Erotic Spring” https://open.spotify.com/track/20RAs5iOvZGYSxQTjx8AAM?si=a0a5cead10e0441b

Get in touch!

This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, produced by Robbie Lockie, edited by Phil Marriott and music kindly provided by Robel Borja.

In this inspiring episode, Dave Meyer—author, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, entrepreneur, and philanthropist—shares his powerful journey from martial arts champion to animal rescue hero. Dave recounts the extraordinary story of leading a daring animal rescue mission with Dr. Pia Salk and Jane Garrison during the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, saving over 100 dogs and cats.

Dave breaks down the three layers of meaning, offers practical steps to find your purpose, and challenges you to make your life matter—no matter where you start. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, a new direction, or just a great story, this episode will move you to action.

00:00 – Introduction: Does Your Life Have Enough Meaning?
00:57 – The Hurricane Katrina Animal Rescue Story
02:32 – No Shelter, No Plan: Making the Impossible Decision
04:15 – The Miracle: A Mystery Man Named Bill
05:43 – The DC-9 Arrives: Loading 100 Animals
07:05 – The Best Sound I've Ever Heard
07:57 – Every Animal Saved: No One Left Behind
08:23 – What Gives Your Life Meaning?
09:05 – The Three Layers of Meaning
11:44 – How to Start Living a Life of Purpose
15:21 – Radical Change: Fighting for What You Believe In
17:41 – Realizing Time is Limited: Take Action Now
19:39 – Building a Career Around Doing Good
22:52 – The Meaning Checklist & Final Inspiration
24:31 – Don't Die With Your Potential Intact

Links from the show

Dr. Pia Salk
https://www.drpiasalk.com/

The Man of La Mancha
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_of_La_Mancha

The Impossible Dream (song)
https://youtu.be/ZxpMe_bF1Sc?si=wxgLMAbeLAoWEoBI

Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A

Get in touch!

This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, produced by Robbie Lockie, edited by Phil Marriott and music kindly provided by Robel Borja.