Host Pete Deeley welcomes listeners back to The Jujitsu Mindset, promotes Submission Coffee, the JiujitsuMindset.com store, and a Jiujitsu Mindset Online Academy kids class for ages 7–12, then interviews professor Eddie Fyvie. Fyvie describes growing up in a rough upstate New York neighborhood with a single father in AA, being bullied, and finding direction through sports. He recounts starting peewee wrestling after being drawn to a pro-wrestling ring, using a double-leg takedown and cradle on a neighborhood bully, then discovering UFC 1 and Royce Gracie, which cemented his commitment to grappling and led to enthusiastic early training in 1998 via a club learning from videotapes rather than formal instruction. Fyvie discusses how early exposure to adversity created numbness and forced maturity, and he outlines his view that being "reasonable" relates to one's relationship with force; he also explains how jiu-jitsu can provide controlled "gradient exposure" to stress for resilience without overwhelming students. He contrasts jiu-jitsu skill acquisition with other sports due to close contact and stress as a barrier to learning, and he comments on the shift from self-defense contexts to skill-versus-skill rolling. On competition, Fyvie says his perspective has changed: he supports competing only as a personal choice, noting potential negatives and that some students—especially kids—can be overwhelmed and quit after tournaments. His most memorable fight is his first MMA bout in Atlantic City at Boardwalk Hall against Jim Miller, describing the surreal reality of the moment, the perceived danger, and the crowd's hostility. He distinguishes different "tranches" of violence (kids, adults, law enforcement, military, MMA) and calls MMA psychologically strange because it involves willful violence without a direct cause. Fyvie explains that after leaving ownership of his academy, he is now teaching full-time in a new business, and he began a focused inquiry into why people quit, plateau, lose motivation, or feel confused—teaching 40–50 classes a week and turning insights into long-form writing. He introduces his book "Understanding Jiu-Jitsu," describes writing as clarifying and therapeutic, and notes topics such as belt imposter feelings and older beginners questioning their place. He discusses the importance of language and communication for teaching and understanding, shares that he disliked school but read extensively (including Russian literature), and recounts a pivotal moment teaching law enforcement: realizing techniques might be used immediately in real encounters and feeling heightened responsibility. Fyvie directs listeners to eddiefyvie.com and his Substack, where he plans to publish an article a day for a year, and he and Deeley close with an invitation to continue the conversation in a future episode.

00:00 Welcome Back + JiuJitsu Mindset Updates (Submission Coffee, Kids Academy)

01:03 Meet Professor Eddie Fyvie: A Mind-Body Commitment to Jiu-Jitsu

02:10 Growing Up Tough: Finding Direction Through Sports

04:05 1998 Training Scene: Learning from Tapes, Fighting Mentality, and Early Wrestling

05:33 The 'Superpower' Moment + Discovering UFC 1 & Royce Gracie

08:42 Maturity Under Pressure: Numbness, Force, and Becoming 'Reasonable'

11:25 Parenting & Stress Inoculation: Teaching Resilience the Safe Way

14:30 Why Jiu-Jitsu Is Different: Closeness, Stress Barriers, and Skill-vs-Skill Learning

18:27 Competition in Development: When It Helps—and When It Hurts

20:49 Most Memorable Moment Tease: The First MMA Fight as a Culmination

21:31 First MMA Fight Reality Check: Walking Out to Face Jim Miller

22:45 When the Crowd Turns: Fear, Pressure, and 'What Am I Doing Here?'

23:59 Different Kinds of Violence: Kids, Street Fights, Military, and MMA

25:50 Why MMA Is Psychologically Strange: Manufactured Animosity & Fighting Without Cause

28:16 From Fighter to Writer-Teacher: Leaving the Academy & Going All-In on Teaching

28:45 The Black Belt Question That Sparked a 3-Year Deep Dive (and a Book)

30:57 Why People Quit Jiu-Jitsu: Plateaus, Motivation, Belts, and Unspoken Emotions

33:22 Love of Language: Communication as the 'Universal Solvent'

38:04 Teaching That Matters: The Moment a Cop Used Last Week's Takedown

40:33 Where to Find the Book & Substack + Closing Thoughts

Jiu Jitsu Journeys: Jake Johnston From Skateboarding to Jiu Jitsu

In this episode of Jiu Jitsu Mindsets, host Pete Deeley welcomes Jiu Jitsu expert Jake Johnston for an engaging conversation. They discuss the importance of self-defense in Jiu Jitsu, reflecting on Jake's path from a technically minded skateboarder to a seasoned Jiu Jitsu practitioner under the mentorship of Pedro Sauer. The episode covers Jake's early experiences with competitive Jiu Jitsu, memorable challenge matches, and the transformative impact of Jiu Jitsu on his students. Jake also shares his insights on the differences between competition-focused and self-defense-focused Jiu Jitsu, advocating for a balanced approach that emphasizes self-defense skills. Throughout the episode, Jake's anecdotes and reflections provide a deep dive into the values and principles that have shaped his Jiu Jitsu journey.

00:00 Introduction and Announcements

00:43 Meet Professor Jake Johnston

02:08 Jake's Journey into Skateboarding

03:54 Transition to Martial Arts

05:22 Discovering Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

07:09 Training with Pedro Sauer

14:39 First Impressions and Early Challenges

20:28 Competitions and Memorable Fights

26:16 Introduction to Personal Fights and Early Jiu Jitsu

27:11 First Real Fight Experience

28:39 The Mullet Guy and Other Challenge Matches

35:39 Impact of Jiu Jitsu on Students' Lives

42:56 The Philosophy of Jiu Jitsu and Competition

52:49 The Future of Jiu Jitsu and Its Influences

In this episode of Jiu Jitsu Mindset, host Pete Deeley interviews Professor James Driskill about the profound impact Jiu-Jitsu has had on his life. They discuss the mutual benefits of martial arts for personal discipline and overcoming life's challenges such as addiction and homelessness. Professor Driskill shares anecdotes about his journey, including memorable experiences with his master, Hixson, and how Jiu-Jitsu has helped transform the lives of his students. The conversation also touches on the importance of competition, stress management, the concept of 'invisible juujitsu,' and how martial arts can positively influence community interactions. The episode concludes with humorous and insightful stories from their martial arts and personal lives.

00:00 Introduction and T-Shirt Feedback

00:37 Guest Introduction: Professor James Driskill

00:45 The Impact of Martial Arts on Life Choices

02:46 Addiction and Obsession: Channeling Energy into Jiu-Jitsu

06:46 Regenerative Agriculture and Personal Interests

09:57 The Essence of Jiu-Jitsu: Effortless Technique

16:22 Personal Challenges and Health

19:00 Memorable Rolls and Street Fights

21:44 Recognizing Consequences and Avoiding Violence

22:42 Competitive Experiences and Lessons Learned

24:42 Street Fights and Conflict Resolution

29:23 The Role of Competition in Personal Development

34:06 Impact of Jiujitsu on Students

38:53 Breath Control and Performance

40:55 The Doodle Bug: A Unique Superhero Name

41:55 Conclusion and Final Thoughts