Michiel Mulder is a self-protection instructor based in the Netherlands who teaches across Europe and in the United States as well. His approach draws on lessons learned working as a bouncer and studying Urban Combatives under Lee Morrison. In this wide-ranging interview we explore what fight or flight stress does to the brain, ways to incorporate stress inoculation into training, and how martial arts may not always provide realistic solutions for defending against real-world violence.

Sam Ferguson is a police officer in Lexington, KY, an experienced competitor in combat sports including wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu, and the owner of Galo Combatives Group. In this episode we explore topics such as how grappling needs to adapt when there could be weapons or multiple attackers, the value of competitive shooting matches, and the history of barbecue in Kentucky.

In this episode I catch up with Jon Helton, head coach at MJJA in Monroe, NC. We dive deep on topics including how competition can help you learn to perform under pressure, the value of physical therapy and strength training for Jiu-Jitsu longevity, and a recent seminar at MJJA with Keenan Cornelius — famed in the Jiu-Jitsu community for innovations such as Worm Guard. Then we take a brief detour to talk Winnie the Pooh and Pixar's Inside Out.

For this episode, I chat with Zane Forrest, owner of Greenville Combatives Academy in Greenville, SC. We cover topics including our takeaways from a ShivWorks ECQC class we both attended at Apache Solutions in Yadkinville, upcoming seminars at GCA focused on combatives and wrestling, and Zane's philosophy for teaching kids useful life skills.

In this episode, I interview Jeremy Brown, owner and head instructor at Treadstone Defensive Tactics in Fort Mill, SC. Our conversation hits on topics including how self-defense training should be comprised of more than just fighting skills, why hand-to-hand training is crucial for those who carry a firearm, and how he got into the craft of bladesmithing.

For the very first episode of the Mats and Mags podcast, I chat with John Miller, head coach at Modern Gladiator Fight Training Academy in Roanoke, VA about combat sports, traditional martial arts, self-defense training and even the history of fighting in ancient Greece plus a little Japanese philosophy.