In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, hosts Steve Kwan, Mike Mahaffey, and Jesse Walker confront the relentless bullying and scapegoating of transgender athletes, especially within combat sports. They unpack how bad-faith arguments, misinformation, and moral panic have turned a tiny minority into a political and cultural punching bag, and discuss what gym owners, coaches, and training partners can do to create safer, more inclusive spaces.
🔗 Links Mentioned:
• Fighting Matters Linktree — https://linktree.com/fightingmatters
• BJJ Mental Models (Steve Kwan) — https://bjjmentalmodels.com
• Old Bastard BJJ (Mike Mahaffey) — https://instagram.com/oldbastardbjj
• Rough Hands BJJ (Jesse Walker) — https://roughhandsbjj.com
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👥 Featuring (Hosts):
• Steve Kwan — @bjjmentalmodels
• Mike Mahaffey — @oldbastardbjj
• Jesse Walker — @roughhandsbjj
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🧠 Topics Discussed:
• How trans athletes became a political and cultural scapegoat
• Bullying vs. good-faith discussion around sports and fairness
• Why hate movements target small, vulnerable groups
• Misogyny, fear, and propaganda in combat sports culture
• What gym owners can do to make their spaces safer and inclusive
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📖 Chapters:
00:00 — Why trans athletes are being targeted
03:30 — Scapegoating and bad-faith arguments
07:45 — Why this problem must be addressed by gym culture
13:10 — Sports, fairness, and fabricated moral panics
21:00 — Propaganda, fear, and political exploitation
42:30 — What coaches and gyms can do differently
54:10 — Final thoughts on dignity, accountability, and inclusion
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