Shows / The Grapplezilla Podcast
The Grapplezilla Podcast
Grappling, Wrestling, BJJ, Sambo, Judo, MMA, Chidaoba, Bokh, Catch Wrestling, Shooto, SSireum and more. We live and breathe everything about the Grappling arts. The history, the inside stories, and the tips that will make you a better grappler and a better human being. Now what makes our podcast different is we can veer off into unexpected territory and like a bunch of guys in the Wrestling team locker room, just have fun too! So come listen to our podcast and enjoy! The Grapplezilla…
Episodes
The Grapplezilla Podcast#74 - Farrukh Niyazimbetov | Turon Explained: Uzbekistan's Combat Sport Going Global
Turon is Uzbekistan's national combat sport, with roots going back to the era of Amir Timur. Farrukh Niyazimbetov, president of the International Turon…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#73 - Jewish Wrestling Champions of the USSR: The Untold History of Soviet Wrestling
In the Soviet Union, "Line 5" (pyataya grafa) on your internal passport listed your ethnic nationality. If it said "Jewish," it could quietly close doors to…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#72 - Sambo Steve - The American Sambo Master of Sport: Unlocking Soviet Grappling Secrets #sambo
Sambo Steve Koepfer reveals why the smartest grapplers are thinking about throws, grips, and transitions all wrong. If you train jiu-jitsu, wrestling, judo, or…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#71 - Holly Anne Frazier -From the Dental Office to the Sambo World Championships | #sambo #girlpower
The hardest part of training isn’t the throw—it’s getting to the gym after a brutal workday. Holly Ann Frazier knows that challenge firsthand. A root canal…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#70 - Francis Pana - ADCC, Felipe Pena & Crushing Top Pressure - Grapplezilla - #adcc #jiujitsu #grappling
Francis Pignoti Pana joins the Grapplezilla Podcast for a deep dive into ultra-heavyweight no-gi grappling, elite competition, pressure passing, and the…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#69- Brett Pastore - rom New Jersey Teacher to Thai Fight Nomad - The Grapplezilla Podcast
Brett Pastore has fought his way from a New Jersey classroom to the brutal front lines of global combat sports, and his story is as wild as his style. The…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#68 - Ivan Vasylchuk - Sambo World Champion, Judoka and BJJ Blackbelt - Grapplezilla Podcast
The difference between winning and fading in grappling often comes down to one idea: one stance, one grip, one throw. Ukrainian Sambo world champion Ivan…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#67 - Kristiany Carvalho - Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, and Building a Complete MMA Game - The Grapplezilla Podcast
Kristiany “The Karate Queen” Carvalho is proving that elite striking can thrive inside MMA—and she’s doing it without abandoning her style. She breaks down how…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#66 - Vlad Polyanskiy - Inside Ukraine's BJJ Scene, Gordon Ryan and Craig Jones in Ukraine - Grapplezilla Podcast
What does it take to build a grappling life in a country at war, while balancing a demanding career, brutal training, and a completely different combat…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#65 - Eric Mina - Why Your Jiu Jitsu Needs Better Stand-Up - Grapplezilla Podcast
Is your jiu jitsu game missing a crucial piece? Grappling Eric joins Grapplezilla to explain why weak stand-up, jumping guard, and skipping takedown…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#64 - Doug Fournet - The American Sambo Pioneer: Sambo, BJ, Judo, MMA, & The Russian Grappling System
Doug Fournet proves why old-school grapplers still scare everyone: elite Sambo, brutal conditioning, and a mindset that makes excuses impossible. If you care…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#63 - Vlad Koulikov - The Master of Sambo Fusion: BJJ, Leg Locks & John Wick | Grapplezilla Podcast
How do you perfectly blend the devastating takedowns and leg locks of Russian Sambo with the guard and positional control of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? In this…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#62 - Santonio Thompson Jr. - Elite Wrestling, Coaching, Life and Legacy
The Hard Truth About Wrestling at the Highest Level in America. Greco-Roman wrestling is not just a style—it can rebuild your confidence, conditioning, and…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#61 - Mitch Aguiar - Navy SEAL to MMA Pro: Mitch Aguiar on Pressure, Combat & BJJ | Grapplezilla Podcast
How does the intense pressure of a Navy SEAL deployment translate to the MMA cage? In this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, we sit down with 10-year U.S…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#60 - Leo Leite - Judo, BJJ & MMA Mastery: Leo Leite on the Grapplezilla Podcast
In this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, we sit down with a true martial arts unicorn: Leonardo "Léo" Leite. Léo is a multi-time Pan American Judo…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#59 - Kevin Jackson - the Mindset That Won Olympic Gold & World Titles #usawrestling #freestylewrestling
Kevin Jackson breaks down what it really takes to become a wrestling legend—and why the mindset behind Olympic gold matters just as much as the medal itself…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#58 - Georgian Samurai - Chidaoba 101 - Georgia’s Grappling System
Chidaoba is not just Georgian wrestling - it is a brutal, beautiful system where sand, music, posture, and timing decide who gets thrown. Grapplezilla and the…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#57 - Alonzo Davis - How Alonzo Davis Built a Winning Wrestling System | Film Study, Pressure & Mat IQ
In this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, Josh sits down with Alonzo Davis, the mind behind Earn Your Gold, to break down the film study, systems, and…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#56 - Jacob Alexander Torres - Elite Canadian Wrestling
Wrestling is not just a base for MMA - it is a complete rewiring of how you fight, think, and survive. Jacob Alexander Torres breaks down what it really takes…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#55 - Kyven Gadson - From NCAA Champion to MMA Threat
Kyven Gadson is bringing elite wrestling mechanics into the cage, and if you care about MMA grappling, this is the blueprint. The NCAA champion and undefeated…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#54 - Sambo Shepherd - Sambo Is Not Russian Judo - Why It Deserves Its Own Spotlight
Sambo is not Russian judo, and Pierre Longblade Shepherd a.k.a. Sambo Shepherd is here to prove it. Sambo Shepherd breaks down why this brutally efficient…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#53 - Patricky "Pitbull" Freire - Inside the Mind of a Champion Who Trains to Finish, Not Survive - #mma
In this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, Josh sits down with Patricky Freire—better known to MMA fans around the world as “Pitbull”—for a deep, high-energy…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#52 - Tom "The Headhunter" Higgins - Reviving Irish Collar & Elbow Wrestling, Catch Wrestling & More...
Unlock the secrets to reviving lost martial arts and mastering the art of hybrid grappling in this compelling episode featuring Tom Headhunter Higgins—one of…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#51 - Shako Benetidis - The Power of Discipline and Fire Inside: Lessons From a Three-Time Olympian Coach
Unlock the secrets behind Georgian wrestling’s legendary resilience and discipline as Shako Bentinidis, a three-time Olympian and renowned coach, shares his…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#50 - Kenny Johnson - The Untold Secrets of Wrestling’s Most Disciplined Coach #wrestling #mma
Uncover the relentless mindset and technical mastery that shaped one of the world’s greatest wrestling coaches—whose principles extend far beyond the mat…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#49 - Jabari Irons - America's Beach Wrestling Pioneer
Most wrestlers never unlock the secret to dominating on the mat—and Jabari Irons is here to change that. From competing at the world level to pioneering beach…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#48 - Chad Lyman - The No-Nonsense Jiu-Jitsu that Saves Lives in Real-World Encounters
Unlock the secrets that turn martial arts into life-saving skills with Chad Lyman—law enforcement veteran and relentless self-defense expert. Discover how…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#47 - Adam Tibbitts - 50 Years on the Mat: Catch Wrestling, Sambo, Wrestling, BJJ & Judo
Most grappling podcasts focus on just one style or forget the deep roots of combat sports. This episode flips the script, diving into the chaos, technical…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#46 - Shannyn Gilespie - Wrestling's Best Kept Secret
Most wrestlers and coaches focus so much on technique that they overlook the ONE invisible trait that separates the good from the great: the mindset. Shannon…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#45 - Valentin Kalika - High Level Soviet Style Coaching
Most wrestlers and grapplers focus heavily on techniques but often overlook the critical foundation of pressure and control that separates good from great…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#44 - Taylor Weber - Three-Time Sambo Champion Ready to Dominate the MMA World
Most fighters stick to one martial art, but Taylor Weber combines Sambo, Judo, BJJ, and MMA into a relentless, fight-effective system that’s breaking barriers…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#43 - Gabriel Kitober - BJJ’s Evolution, Brazilian Roots & Modern Newaza
In this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, I sit down with my coach and BJJ black belt Gabriel Kitober to dissect the shifting landscape of ground fighting…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#42 - Greg LeBoeuf - The Art of Weaponizing Violence
The Art of Weaponizing Violence for the Everyday Man. In this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, we sit down with Greg LeBoeuf, a 30-year professional combat…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#41 - Emanuele Papa - WRESTLING IN CHINA: The Shuai Jiao Deep Dive!
🎙️ Wrestling the Soul of China: Shuai Jiao, Bokh, and the Philosophy of Grappling.In this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, we sit down with Emanuele Papa…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#40 - Les Allen - Former Lion's Den Fighter, Pancrase and MMA Legend!
🎙️ Welcome to The Grapplezilla Podcast! In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking to Les Allen who is an absolute legend and pioneer in the world of…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#39 - Val Childs - North American Catch Wrestling
🎙️ Welcome to The Grapplezilla Podcast! In this episode, we're diving into North American Style Catch Wrestling with Val Childs! Get ready for a great insight…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#38 - The Hidden Science of Wrestling: 10 Secrets Only 0.01% Know
🤼♂️ THE HIDDEN SCIENCE OF ELITE WRESTLING 🧠 Ever wonder why Olympic champions seem to react before their opponents even move? Or why your shots stop working…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#37 - The Inside Story of The Karelin Lift
The Karelin Lift…one of the most iconic Heavyweight Greco Roman Wrestling Techniques of all time and synonymous with the Great Aleksandr Karelin.Here’s the…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#36 - Khamzat vs Dricus - The Lessons Learned.
The Khamzat Chimaev vs Dricus Du Plessis fight at UFC 319 was one of the biggest MMA Fights of the year. The fight was a very one sided fight but had many many…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#35 - Enrique Matute - Sambo, Judo & Life
On this episode of the Grapplezilla podcast, I had the pleasure of having Enrique Matute as a guest. Enrique is a great Sambo and Judo practitioner as well as…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#34 - Liav Ben Shalom - Coaching Kids, MMA & Life.
On this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, I had the pleasure of having Liav Ben Shalom as a guest on this episode.. Liav is an excellent coach with kids and…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#33 - Sambo World Champion - Tariel Abbasov
🎙️ Grapplezilla Podcast Ep.33 | Tariel Abbasov: Combat Sambo World Champion and MMA Fighter 🥋💪Join us for an explosive episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast as…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#32 - Dealing with Bad Days at BJJ Class
Are you having a hard time at BJJ class? Feeling like quitting going to Jiu-Jitsu? Here we discuss some strategies for common reasons people want to stop…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#31 - Underhooks: The Secret to Winning Your Wrestling and BJJ Match
There is one common theme around all grappling arts which is to achieve a good grip as getting a good grip can open up an opponent to a huge amount of…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#30 - Everton "Alemao" De Goes Vieira - Wrestling & MMA
Everton “Alemao” De Goes Vieira is a Top Level Wrestling Coach who specializes in teaching Wrestling for MMA and BJJ. Coach Alemao has had many fighters…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#29 - Solo - BJJ CAN Work in MMA...Here's How
MMA is an extremely dynamic sport which has been heavily influenced by Brazilian jiu-jitsu. That doesn't mean that if you practice the art of BJJ that you’ll…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#28 - Tyson LaRone - BJJ, Strongman & Self-Defense
On the episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, I had the pleasure of having Tyson LaRone as a guest. Tyson, is a BJJ Blackbelt and a tier 1 Strength and…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#27 - Andreas Achniotis Perales - Palestra Jiu Jitsu Cyprus
Andreas Achniotis Perales is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo Blackbelt who is the owner of Palestra Jiu Jitsu in Nicosia, Cyprus. I had the pleasure of having…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#26 - Eduardo Walmory - Brazilian Catch Wrestling and BJJ
I had the pleasure of having Eduardo Walmory who is no doubt the most interesting Grappler I’ve had the pleasure of speaking within a long time. Eduardo is a…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#25 - Brian Roig - Catch Wrestling + BJJ - PCI Jiu-Jitsu
One of our best episodes yet, I had the pleasure of having Brian Roig of PCI Jiujitsu who is one of the most interesting grapplers and martial artists in the…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#24 - Calen Paine - My Friend and Mentor - RIP Brother
This episode of the Grapplezilla is a short memorial for Calen Paine, the martial arts instructor who had the biggest impact on me, a mentor of mine and a very…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#23 - Roy Neeman - Pitbull BJJ TLV
On the episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, we speak to Roy Newman who is a 3rd degree BJJ Blackbelt and runs Pitbull BJJ in Tel Aviv, Israel. Roy has a great…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#22 - From Sand to Glory: 🇸🇳 Senegalese Wrestling
Senegalese Wrestling: The Power, Tradition, and Spirit of West Africa's Iconic Grappling Style! 🇸🇳💪 Discover the rich history, culture, and intense competition…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#21 - Andy Campbell of Martial Mindset
On this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, I get the opportunity to speak to Andy Campbell who is the owner of Martial Mindset and an absolutely class act!…
The Grapplezilla Podcast#20 - Morgan Flaharty of Mogo Training
One of the most knowledgeable Strength and Conditioning coaches in the world, Morgan Flaherty has an immense amount of knowledge in Sport’s Science as well as…
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#19 - Should Wrestling for Other Countries be Allowed?
Watch any major Wrestling competition and you will notice many Wrestlers who switched from other countries national teams to represent a new nation. A great…
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#18 - What Happened to the US Wrestling Olympic Team in Paris???
It's been 56 Years that the US Men's Olympic Freestyle Wrestling Team has gotten at least one Gold Medal in each Olympics yet at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the…
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#17 - Isaac Knable Interview - Footwork, Stance & Motion
Isaac Knable is the founder of Invicta Wrestling Academy as well as the founder of both footworktrainer.com and the Stance & Motion App. An extremely…
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#16 - Chidaoba - Georgian Folk Wrestling
Chidaoba is one of the most important and interesting Grappling Styles you most likely have never heard of. It has influenced many grappling arts such as Sambo…
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#15 - Rodrigo Artilheiro Interview - The Complete Grappler
Rodrigo Artilheiro is one of the most interesting and complete Grapplers on the planet. Rodrigo has competed at the highest levels in Judo, BJJ and Greco Roman…