In this week's mini-episode we discuss the importance of staying loose when sparring. Being relaxed makes it easier to conserve energy, avoid being controlled, and conceal your intentions. There are times to be tense, such as when completing a throw or finishing a submission, but your "default mode" should be staying loose.

Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro


Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!

If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.

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https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

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This week we're joined by Timothy Lee Peterson! In this episode, Timothy explains why gaze tracking — or where your eyes are looking — is a surprisingly important aspect of Jiu-Jitsu.

Follow Timothy on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/timothyleepeterson
https://www.threads.com/@timothyleepeterson


Resources discussed in this episode:

Free+Style: Maximize Sport and Life Performance with Four Basic Movements, by Carl Paoli
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1628600209


Mental models discussed in this episode:

• Theory of Alignment
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/theory-of-alignment/
  
  
• Head Position
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/head-position/
  
  
• Kuzushi
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/kuzushi/
  
  
• You Are What You Train
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/you-are-what-you-train/
  
  
• Teach to Learn
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/teach-to-learn/
  
  
  

Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!

If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.

Sign up here for a free trial:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

Music by Enterprize:
https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

In this week's mini-episode we discuss controlling the distance, a key lesson in most martial arts, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As general advice, many instructors will coach you to close the distance when attacking and make space when defending. While this is often true, in this mini-episode we'll explore the exceptions to that rule and settle on a more general guideline for controlling the distance: find the distance where you can control them but they can't control you.

Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro


Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!

If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.

Sign up here for a free trial:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

Follow us on social:
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https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

This week we're joined again by Charles Harriott! In this episode, Charles discusses the problem of "gatekeepers" in Jiu-Jitsu, or people who try to enforce their way of thinking over others. Charles explores how gatekeeping can shut down creativity, personal development, and fun.

Follow Charles on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/charlesharriott

Charles Harriott's website:
https://charlesharriott.com/

Get Charles' instructionals on BJJ Fanatics:
https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/dvd/fighter_charles-harriott

Subscribe to Charles' YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjQfov7RyQ5fn3TLfqSmezQ

Support Charles on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/charlesharriott


Mental models discussed in this episode:

• Do What Works
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/do-what-works/
  
  
• Shuhari
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/shuhari/
  
  
• Concepts Over Techniques
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/concepts-over-techniques/
  
  
• Ecological Dynamics
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics/
  
  
• Keep it Playful
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-it-playful/
  
  
  

Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!

If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.

Sign up here for a free trial:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

Music by Enterprize:
https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

In this week's mini-episode we discuss kuzushi, the Japanese concept of breaking balance! Kuzushi is critical in Judo, but it's just as important in Jiu-Jitsu — both standing and on the ground.

Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro


Resources discussed in this episode:

Mini Ep. 51: Technique Chaining
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/episodes/17035097-mini-ep-51-technique-chaining

Mini Ep. 52: Shifting Platforms
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/episodes/17077049-mini-ep-52-shifting-platforms


Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!

If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.

Sign up here for a free trial:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

This week we're joined by the founders of Inverted Gear: Hillary Witt and Nelson Puentes! Three years ago, Hillary and Nelson took the Inverted Gear brand beyond Jiu-Jitsu equipment and opened a physical academy in Pennsylvania! In this episode, Hillary and Nelson share key lessons learned from their journey into academy ownership.

Follow Inverted Gear on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/invertedgear

Train at Inverted Gear Academy in Bethlehem, PA:
https://www.invertedgearacademy.com/

Shop Inverted Gear:
https://www.invertedgear.com/

Order the SWEET Moo Deng rashguard from BJJ Mental Models x Inverted Gear:
http://bjjmentalmodels.com/moodeng


Mental models discussed in this episode:

• Feedback Loop
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/feedback-loop/
  
  
• Constraints-Led Approach
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/constraints-led-approach/
  
  
• Ecological Dynamics
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics/
  
  
• Gamification
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/gamification/
  
  
• Defensive Thinking
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/defensive-thinking/
  
  
• Return on Investment
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/return-on-investment/
  
  
• Incremental Learning
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/incremental-learning/
  
  
• Survivorship Bias
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/survivorship-bias/
  
  
  

Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!

If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.

Sign up here for a free trial:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

Music by Enterprize:
https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

In this week's mini-episode we discuss shifting platforms, wherein you as the bottom player use continuous movement to prevent your opponent from fully establishing their base on top of you. Moving away from big, explosive escape attempts and toward smaller, continuous movement makes a huge difference in your success from bottom positions.


Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro


Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!

If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.

Sign up here for a free trial:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

This week we're joined again by Erin Herle! In this episode, Erin introduces the PLAY framework and explains why humor is a fundamental element of good culture and learning.

Follow Erin on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/erinherle/

Get Erin's new book, If You’re Not Laughing, You’re Losing:
https://amzn.to/4jP5x8K

Work with Erin:
https://www.erinherle.com/
http://highmentalperformance.com/


Resources mentioned in this episode:

Humor Styles Questionnaire, by Rod A. Martin, PhD:
http://www.humorstyles.com/

If You’re Not Laughing, You’re Losing, by Erin Herle:
https://amzn.to/4jP5x8K

VIA Character Strengths Survey:
https://www.viacharacter.org/


Mental models discussed in this episode:

• Keep it Playful
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-it-playful/
  
  
• Habits Over Results
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/habits-over-results/
  
  
• Defensive Thinking
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/defensive-thinking/
  
  
• 10-10-10 Rule
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/10-10-10-rule/
  
  
• Survivorship Bias
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/survivorship-bias/
  
  
• Consistency
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/consistency/
  
  
• Psychological Safety
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/psychological-safety/
  
  
• Respect People, Not Positions
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/respect-people-not-positions/
  
  
• Yes, And...
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/yes-and/
  
  
• Flow
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/flow/
  
  
• Reflecting "As If"
  https://bjjmentalmodels.com/reflecting-as-if/
  
  
  

Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!

If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.

Sign up here for a free trial:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

Music by Enterprize:
https://enterprize.bandcamp