In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan of BJJ Mental Models and Jeff Shaw of Bellingham BJJ uncover the forgotten history of Jiu-Jitsu in America, and how none other than President Theodore Roosevelt played a pivotal role in its rise.

Between 1900 and 1906, Roosevelt brought Jiu-Jitsu into the White House, trained with Japanese masters, and helped spark a nationwide media craze that once made Jiu-Jitsu a household name. But the movement was derailed by xenophobia, racism, and short-sighted politics, costing the U.S. what could have been a century-long head start in martial arts.

This conversation explores what Roosevelt’s story tells us about inclusion, politics, and what Jiu-Jitsu might have become if America had embraced its potential.

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👥 Featuring:

Steve Kwan @BJJMentalModels
Jeff Shaw @BellinghamBJJ

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• How Roosevelt’s training popularized Jiu-Jitsu in early 1900s America
• Why his support nearly created a U.S. black belt generation a century early
• The role of xenophobia in driving Yamashita out of the country
• How women like Fude Yamashita and Misawa Soga shaped early Jiu-Jitsu
• Why the art was more inclusive in 1905 than it often is today
• What the media got right (and wrong) about Jiu-Jitsu at the time
• The forgotten roots of Jiu-Jitsu as a progressive political tool
• What Roosevelt’s vision can teach today’s Jiu-Jitsu leaders
• How exclusion and short-term thinking still threaten the sport’s future
• The myth of “keeping politics out” of martial arts

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Jiu-Jitsu History
02:47 The Role of Media in Jiu-Jitsu's Evolution
06:06 The Impact of Theodore Roosevelt on Jiu-Jitsu
08:51 The Confusion Between Judo and Jiu-Jitsu
11:50 The Arrival of Judo in America
15:04 Yamashita's Influence and the Military Connection
17:59 The Political Landscape and Jiu-Jitsu's Growth
20:54 The Consequences of Racism and Nativism
23:55 The Hypothetical Impact of a Strong Jiu-Jitsu Presence
26:43 Politics and Jiu-Jitsu's Historical Context
30:58 The Politics of Jiu Jitsu
34:15 Challenging Gender Norms in Jiu Jitsu
36:34 Historical Contributions of Women in Jiu Jitsu
46:16 The Evolution of Jiu Jitsu Training
58:27 Lessons from History for the Future of Jiu Jitsu

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan of BJJ Mental Models and Jeff Shaw of Bellingham BJJ examine the sweeping consequences of Trump’s newly passed “Big Beautiful Bill,” and how it threatens the future of Jiu-Jitsu in America.

This legislation is poised to eliminate healthcare for millions, deepen economic inequality, and significantly expand the power of ICE—all while cutting vital programs that support working-class families. For the Jiu-Jitsu community, the downstream effects will be substantial: rising medical costs, gym closures, reduced access to training, and increased barriers to international movement and competition.

This conversation explores how the bill will reshape the landscape of martial arts and what practitioners, gym owners, and supporters can do in response.

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👥 Featuring:

Steve Kwan @BJJMentalModels
Jeff Shaw @BellinghamBJJ

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• Why rising healthcare costs endanger Jiu-Jitsu practitioners
• The economic pressures forcing students to leave the mats
• How this bill isolates American Jiu-Jitsu from the global community
• The collapse of public services and what it means for gym owners
• The dramatic expansion of ICE and its impact on international athletes
• How political instability is already affecting travel and tourism
• The risk of long-term damage to Jiu-Jitsu infrastructure
• What community leaders can do to prepare and respond

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: The Bill and Its Implications
04:10 Understanding the Scope of the Legislation
08:30 Healthcare Losses and Medical Debt in Jiu-Jitsu
12:55 Wealth Transfers and the Erosion of Social Support
18:20 Disposable Income and the Future of Gym Memberships
23:47 Impacts on Jiu-Jitsu Schools and Their Students
28:15 ICE Funding and Deportation Risks
33:05 Border Restrictions and Athlete Movement
38:10 The Broader Economic Downturn
41:00 Comparing U.S. and Canadian Healthcare Access
45:50 First-Hand Experiences with Medical Systems
48:30 Civil Liberties, Surveillance, and Detention Centers
52:15 “Alligator Alcatraz” and Escalating Immigration Policy
57:00 Practical Advice for the Jiu-Jitsu Community
01:03:00 Final Thoughts on Civic Responsibility and Solidarity

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Stephan Kesting of Grapplearts and Jeff Shaw of Bellingham BJJ sit down with clinical psychologist, author, and BJJ black belt Dr. David Ley to challenge everything you think you know about gender.

Is “alpha male” behavior really about dominance and strength? Or is it just bad psychology wrapped in influencer hype? Dr. Ley breaks down the biological, psychological, and cultural science behind gender norms, toxic masculinity, and the emotional hunger many men bring to the Jiu-Jitsu mat.

From PowerSlap to Jordan Peterson to NoFap, we explore how pseudoscience and insecurity get weaponized—and how grappling can offer men a healthier, evidence-based path forward.

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👥 Featuring:

Dr. David Ley – Clinical Psychologist, Author, BJJ Black Belt
Jeff Shaw @BellinghamBJJ
Stephan Kesting @StephanKesting

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• The real psychology of “alpha males”
• How hostile masculinity leads to loneliness and harm
• Why BJJ helps men form healthy, platonic bonds
• The gender equality paradox: more freedom, more difference
• Is toughness always a virtue—or just a blunt force fantasy?
• Why touch, teamwork, and problem solving matter more
• How pseudoscience fuels fascist masculinity movements
• What “white knighting” critics get completely wrong
• The role of Jiu-Jitsu in reshaping modern masculinity

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Defining Masculinity
06:09 Cultural Constructs of Masculinity
12:05 Toxic Masculinity vs. Healthy Masculinity
18:43 The Role of Jiu-Jitsu in Masculinity
25:32 Problem Solving and Masculinity
28:03 Healthy Masculinity in Sports
30:06 Protecting the Vulnerable: A Discussion on Masculinity
32:19 The Role of Empathy and Pretending
34:02 Masculinity and Femininity as a Spectrum
35:55 The Alt-Right and Masculinity Influencers
38:20 Cuckolding and Masculinity
41:23 Toxic Femininity: A Counter Perspective
44:50 Guidance for Healthy Masculinity

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models is joined by Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ and attorney/mediator Andrew Burcham for a deep dive into the legal minefield of free speech, particularly how it intersects with combat sports culture and the internet.

What does the First Amendment actually protect? Can private companies limit your speech? Why do so many fighters and fans misunderstand their rights, and what happens when “free speech” is weaponized to shield bigotry?

From Dana White to Gordon Ryan, from hate speech to stochastic terrorism, this episode explores how legal frameworks shape behavior online and on the mats—plus what it means for those navigating both the Jiu-Jitsu community and public discourse today.

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👥 Featuring:

Andrew Burcham – Attorney & Mediator
Jesse Walker ‪@RoughHandsBJJ‬
Steve Kwan ‪@bjjmentalmodels‬

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• What the First Amendment actually says
• Why free speech doesn’t mean freedom from consequences
• The legality of hate speech in the U.S. vs. Canada
• Stochastic terrorism, incitement, and internet mobbing
• Citizens United and how money became “speech”
• How lawfare, venue shopping, and religious freedom collide
• What Jiu-Jitsu can learn from better civic literacy

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 – Intro: Meet Andrew Burcham, attorney & Jiu-Jitsu practitioner
01:15 – Free speech in the U.S. vs. Canada
03:55 – Bryce Mitchell, Dana White, and the misuse of “free speech”
06:24 – What the First Amendment really protects
10:00 – The cake maker case: religion vs. discrimination
14:41 – How venue shopping influences legal outcomes
17:23 – U.S. vs. EU: why American law varies state to state
20:08 – The illusion of blind justice and stacking the courts
25:14 – Social media, incitement, and Brandenburg v. Ohio
29:59 – Internet mobs: the Gordon Ryan effect
32:18 – Stochastic terrorism and platform accountability
35:07 – Hate speech laws in Canada vs. the U.S.
39:37 – Can employers fire you for what you say online?
42:00 – Protected classes colliding: religion vs. gender identity
46:16 – Weaponizing religion in legal challenges
51:18 – Citizens United: when corporations got free speech
55:25 – Buying political power: Elon Musk, TrumpCoin & ROI
58:45 – Cuts to Medicaid: real-world consequences in rural America
01:02:33 – Why Americans misunderstand free speech
01:06:34 – The myth of “free speech absolutism”
01:09:13 – Why some grapplers can’t speak out
01:10:36 – Final thoughts: Be kind, question power, fight for truth

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models is joined by Stephan Kesting (Grapplearts), Jesse Walker (Rough Hands BJJ), and the incomparable Giles Garcia (Ronin Grappling) for a raw, unscripted deep dive into the political and cultural fault lines running through the Jiu-Jitsu world.

From media manipulation to fascist creep in martial arts, Giles brings the fire with unfiltered commentary on how the right hijacked the narrative, why conspiracies thrive in the fight scene, and what it really means to stand for something as a coach and leader.

If you’ve ever wondered why “just stick to Jiu-Jitsu” is a cop-out, or what role you play in the bigger fight, this one’s for you.

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👥 Featuring:

Giles Garcia – Ronin Grappling
Stephan Kesting – Grapplearts
Jesse Walker – Rough Hands BJJ
Steve Kwan – BJJ Mental Models

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• The rise of fascism in martial arts culture
• Why conspiracy theories thrive in Jiu-Jitsu
• Media consolidation and fake neutrality
• How coaches can lead without preaching
• Culture war vs. class war in BJJ
• Giles responds to Nazi commenters (for real)
• What real leadership looks like in hard times

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions
02:50 The Role of Martial Arts in Society
05:36 Personal Stories and Experiences with Organizations
08:43 Global Perspectives on Societal Threats
11:51 Media Control and Government Overreach
14:41 The Illusion of Left and Right Politics
17:54 Conspiracies and Their Impact on Society
20:24 The Influence of Popular Media Figures
23:11 The Fight Community and Its Dynamics
26:13 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
36:00 The Rise of New Media and Its Impact
39:02 The Challenge of Truth in Media
42:10 Understanding the Left's Struggles
47:01 The Need for a Political Reset
48:49 Addressing Real Concerns in Society
52:53 Navigating Power Dynamics in Coaching
58:40 The Importance of Safe Spaces in Training
01:01:45 Responding to Controversial Comments