Shows / Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
Roll Models Wanted is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu podcast that explores the transformative power of Jiu-Jitsu and uncovers the connections between Jiu-Jitsu and life beyond the mat. Whether you are a new white belt, or a seasoned grappler, this podcast offers a unique blend of personal experiences, challenges, and breakthroughs. In each episode, you get the perspectives of the ever-curious (various ranked) Jen Edds OR nonsense person Risser!, along with Black Belt and coach AJ Clingerman. Episodes…
Episodes
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
194: Teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: What New Instructors Need to Know
What do you do when your coach asks you to teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for the first time? Are you ready to run the class? The Highlight Reel (02:26) What makes…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
193: Takedowns to Takeaways: On and Off the Mat Lessons from Roll Model Grappling Camp 2024
We share our big takeaways and lessons from this year’s Roll Model Grappling Camp. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how the camp was curated to foster both…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
192: Elevate Your Jiu-Jitsu Faster with Better Note Taking
How can you elevate your Jiu-Jitsu faster? Take notes! This episode is packed with actionable practices to enhance your retention, refine your skills, and…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
191: Gameplans and Growth Lessons from Jiu-Jitsu Competition Training Camp
How much planning, preparation, and practice have you committed to the first 30 seconds of your match? Taking control and setting the tone of your match by…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
190: Finding Your Stand-Up Game in Jiu-Jitsu
How confident are you in your stand-up game? It’s a question that often goes unasked, but it’s one that can make a significant difference in your Jiu-Jitsu…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
189: Grace, Growth, and Getting Back on the Mat After an Absence
Jen is back from Greece and her two week break from Jiu-Jitsu. This episode was recorded after her first day back on the mats. It was a doozy. This episode is…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
188: Brown Belt Jennifer Risser!
We are announcing the 4th instructor for this year's Roll Model Grappling Camp in Indianapolis. If you've been listening for a while, then you've heard Risser…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
187: Taking Time to Look Back and Celebrate Milestones
Are you taking time to celebrate your growth, milestones, and victories, whether big or small? It’s so easy to move on to the next thing without taking time to…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
186: Do You Feel Pressure to Bring Value When Rolling with a Higher Rank?
Do you feel pressure to bring “value” when rolling with a higher rank? From brand-new white belts to experienced black belts, we all bring unique value to the…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
185: Rachel Casias on Jiu-Jitsu, Coaching, and Navigating Alzheimer's
Rachel Casias makes a return visit to the show because she is coming back to teach at this year’s Roll Model Base Camp in July! When Rachel joins us, we always…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
184: Communication, Competition, and Your Jiu-Jitsu Community
You're gearing up for a Jiu-Jitsu competition, and when you least expect it, your opponent slides into your DMs. Wait, what?! We’ve pulled AJ’s soapbox out for…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
183: Small Victories, Big Impact: Nurturing an Upward Spiral in Your Jiu Jitsu
We’ve talked about the downward spiral in previous episodes. You know, that moment when you make a mistake, can’t get out of your own head, and then the wheels…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
182: The Rise of Women’s Jiu-Jitsu and Our Thoughts on the American Jiujiteira Documentary
Have you watched the American Jiujiteira documentary? We watched it and have some thoughts to share with you in this episode. (00:00) Episode Intro (01:29) The…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
181: When Life Throws You Off Your Jiu-Jitsu Game and Vice Versa
From battling with self-doubt to finding inspiration in the daily struggles, we explore the multifaceted impact of Jiu-Jitsu and life on and off the mat. Life…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
180: BJJ Black Belt Sarah Chamberlain
BJJ Black Belt Sarah Chamberlain is the first instructor to be announced for Roll Model Grappling Camp 2024. Get to know Sarah as she talks with AJ, Jen, and…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
179: New Year Reset: Intention, a Shift in Perspective, and Announcing the Theme for Roll Model Camp 2024
As we roll into a new year, there's a sense of renewal and possibility. We are kicking off the new year by talking about intention, embracing a shift in…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
178: Rolling into 2024: Creating Your Yearly Game Plan for Life On and Off the Mat
Are you ready to roll into 2024 with a game plan to help get what you want out of life on and off the mat? This is not just another episode about goal setting…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
177: What to do When You Think Your Jiu Jitsu is Garbage
Have you ever had one of those days when you felt like your Jiu-Jitsu was total garbage? How do you work through it? This episode was recorded right after Jen…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
176: Wrestling with the Decision to Compete and the Emotional Rollercoaster of a Jiu Jitsu Competition
Has wrestling with doubt and uncertainty ever kept you from registering for a Jiu-Jitsu tournament? Normally, when it’s time to register for a tournament, AJ…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
175: What Do You Do When You Want to Quit Jiu Jitsu?
Turns out you can be obsessed with Jiu Jitsu and still have days when you've wanted to quit. You can even love Jiu Jitsu, but there will be days when you don’t…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
174: Always Getting Paired with the New Girl in Jiu Jitsu Class - Frustration or Opportunity?
Picture it: you're the only woman in your Jiu-Jitsu class. You’ve shown up consistently, you work hard, you’re training for your next tournament, but now…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
173: What do you look for in a Jiu-Jitsu Coach and Gym Culture
What do you look for in a Jiu-Jitsu Coach and gym culture? Have you been intentional in finding a coach and gym that shares a similar moral compass and core…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
172: Navigating Unsolicited Opinions: When Your Loved Ones Don't Support Your Jiu-Jitsu Journey
What do you do when you feel like your family, friends, or spouse are not supportive of you doing Jiu-Jitsu? From concerns about injuries to doubts about our…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
171: Should You Attend Jiu Jitsu Open Mats: The Benefits of Cross-Training
We have BIG opinions on cross-training and whether or not it’s a good idea to attend Jiu Jitsu open mats. Picture It: You love going to open mats, but your…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
170: If You Want to Get Better at Jiu-Jitsu, You’ve Got to be Coachable
What does being coachable mean to you, and how does that impact your Jiu-Jitsu success? We are talking about being coachable from everyday training to how to…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
169: Maintaining a Beginner’s Mindset: Why You Need it from White Belt All the Way Through Black Belt
We are exploring how adopting the mindset of a beginner can unlock your potential and help you improve at every level, from white belt through black belt. You…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
168: Grappling with Drama at the Gym
What do you do when team drama rears its ugly head at the gym or outside of it? Whether it’s the mean girls ganging up on you, or relationship drama between…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
167: Jiu-Jitsu, Shenanigans, a Dance Party, New Friends, and Abby’s Trail Mix - Highlights and Favorites from Roll Model Camp 2023
Why do AJ and Jen believe that this was the best Roll Model Grappling Camp yet? This is not your typical Jiu-Jitsu camp. Listen to learn why. And if you were…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
166: The Jiu Jitsu Coach - Student Relationship: What Does Your Coach Owe You as the Student?
What does a Jiu Jitsu coach owe their student? Rolls? Coaching at tournaments? Promotions? Unlimited Access? What is the obligation and where does it end? We…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
165: The Jiu-Jitsu Coach - Student Relationship: What Do You Owe Your Coach?
Brace yourself! We are exploring the complex dynamics of the Jiu-Jitsu Coach - Student relationship. What do you owe your coach? Do you owe them anything more…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
164: Quiet Confidence - The Introverts Guide to Jiu Jitsu Camp and other Social Situations
How do you navigate the Jiu-Jitsu world, or any other large social gatherings, as an introvert? We are sharing our experiences and tips from our listeners for…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
163: Emily Kwok
This episode is packed full of wisdom for life on and off the mat because Emily Kwok is on the show! Emily talks about her experiences teaching Jiu Jitsu and…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
162: What to do When Your Training Partner Breaks Your Trust and More Listener Questions
Has a training partner ever broken your trust? How do you handle that? What do you do when you feel like you’re training with a target on your back? Does it…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
161: What You Need to Know about the IBJJF Podium and Lessons in Sportsmanship
What should you know about podium expectations and behavior at IBJJF Tournaments? That’s where we are starting this week’s episode. We also discuss the…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
160: Going from Fear to Fun with Jiu-Jitsu On and Off the Mat
What did you do the last time you were scared to try something new or found yourself in an uncomfortable situation on or off the mat? Have you ever not worn…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
159: IBJJF Tournaments 101: The Rules,Regulations, and Expectations - What You Need to Know
What do you need to know before competing in your first International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) tournament? If you're new to the IBJJF, don't…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
158: Building Confidence in Your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Are you confident in your Jiu Jitsu? What does it truly mean to be confident? This episode was inspired by a recent episode of the Mel Robbins podcast where…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
157: Jiu-Jitsu, Food, Surfing, and Community: Adventures from the BJJ Hero Retreat in Costa Rica
This episode is an auditory dream board for anyone who loves jiu-jitsu and is thinking about going to a jiu-jitsu camp or retreat in some fabulous destination…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
156: The Controversy over Demi Lovato's Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt Promotion
Demi Lovato’s recent promotion to purple belt in Jiu-Jitsu has been a big topic of discussion online. Everybody’s got an opinion and some folks have big…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
155: BJJ Black Belt Nattie Boss on Success, Acceptance, and Growth
Nattie Boss, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Black Belt, shares her journey to becoming a black belt and the lessons she learned along the way. Nattie discusses…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
154: Showing Up When You Don't Feel Like It
What makes you show up when you don't feel like it? Is it external motivation or discipline? How do you differentiate being lazy from practicing self-care? We…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
153: Is Your Identity Wrapped up in Jiu Jitsu or Any Other One Thing?
What if you couldn’t do Jiu-Jitsu anymore? Then what? Is your identity wrapped up in Jiu-Jitsu or any other ONE thing? AJ talks about losing her voice recently…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
152: First Year as a BJJ Blue Belt
We are celebrating Jen's first year as a blue belt. It's been packed full of ups, downs, jiu-jitsu epiphanies, and lessons learned. Learn More about Roll Model…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
151: Have You Heard This Terrible Jiu Jitsu Advice?
There are folks that love to spew advice about Jiu-Jitsu. Unfortunately, there is a lot of bad advice out there. Or maybe it's not bad advice, but it isn't the…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
150: Spilling the Tea
We are spilling the tea! CW: We discuss some heavy topics in this episode - Divorce, Coming Out, Suicide, Bullying, and Mental Health. Learn More about Roll…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
149: Leg Locks and Stocking Stuffers
Leg locks - do you love them or despise them? We're sharing our thoughts on leg locks. In keeping with our leg theme for the episode, we wrap up with some…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
148: Getting Intentional with your BJJ Rounds and Drilling and Drilling
Are you showing up to Jiu-Jitsu class with intention? Setting intentions for what you want to get out of rounds and drilling will help you progress with your…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
147: Things We No Longer Do
The things we don't do often impact our lives just as much as things we do that are part of our habits, practices, and routines. If you're looking to make…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
146: Do You Know Jiu Jitsu Well Enough to Teach It?
What happened when Jen had to (scratch that) was unexpectedly given the opportunity to teach a class one morning? Teaching Jiu Jitsu or anything else to…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
145: Back to Drilling Jiu Jitsu Basics and Competing at Black Belt for the First Time
We are getting back to drilling Jiu-Jitsu basics this week in class. It's helpful to give your brain a break from learning more Jiu-Jitsu while you give your…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
144: Five Things You Can Do to Make Your Jiu Jitsu Better Today
Here are five simple actions you can take that will help you and your Jiu Jitsu. They might sound basic, but these habits considerably impact how you show up…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
143: Preparing for IBJJF Masters Worlds
How do you prepare to compete at IBJJF Masters Worlds? AJ is walking us through how she is training and preparing. We also talk about managing the mindset…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
142: AJ's Road to Black Belt
What does it take to become a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Blackbelt? AJ shares the ups and downs along the road she traveled to earn her black belt. Learn More about…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
141: How to Start Putting What You've Learned Into Your Game and Roll Model Camp Recap v2
How do you start putting what you learn at Jiu Jitsu camps and seminars into your game? You get so much new information that it can often feel overwhelming. We…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
140: How to Get the Most Out of Jiu Jitsu Camps and Seminars
Attending a Jiu-Jitsu camp or seminar can feel overwhelming because of the amount of information your brain is trying to process. We are sharing some tips and…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
139: Breaking Up with Your Jiu Jitsu Gym
What do you do when you're not feeling good about the gym or the coach where you're training? Do you switch gyms? Do you have a conversation with your coach?…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
138: Resetting Your Jiu-Jitsu Expectations
Jiu-Jitsu can be frustrating when it feels like you're not improving. We are sharing some ways to get out of your head and your Jiu-Jitsu funk. Learn More…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
137: Changes for Coach AJ and Starting Roll Model Grappling Academy
Coach AJ talks about some big changes and starting Roll Model Grappling Academy. We also get an update on Roll Model Grappling Camp. Learn More about Roll…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
136: BJJ Black Belt Dominyka Obelenyte
BJJ Black Belt Dominyka Obelenyte shares her knowledge and experience when it comes to prioritizing jiu-jitsu and life’s other responsibilities and activities…
- Roll Models Wanted: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
135: BJJ Black Belt Claire North
BJJ Black Belt Claire North is dropping all kinds of on and off-the-mat jiu-jitsu wisdom in this episode. Highlights include the quickest way to improve your…