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PODCAST: Oliver Taza

Oliver Taza is already one of the best no-gi grapplers in the world just 7 years after starting jiujitsu. He talks with us about how great instruction contributes to his success, about the mental and physical challenge of recovering from ACL surgery, about the similarities and differences between Firas Zahabi and John Danaher, and much more. We also talk about the new podcast he’s launched with Pierre-Olivier LeClerc, the Off Balance podcast, which you can check out wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks as always to our sponsors! US Grappling comes to Raleigh, North Carolina, on Jan. 4. Support the tournament that’s by grapplers, for grapplers, and has the best competitor experience around. Remember, black belts compete for free — and register early for the Richmond, Virginia event in April! Tell them we sent you. We’re also sponsored by Intellitonic. Rooted right here in Bellingham, Washington, Intellitonic is a Bellingham SEO and digital marketing agency with national reach. If you’re interested in Search Engine Optimization or Pay Per Click marketing, Intellitonic is a great choice.

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PODCAST: MMA For Africa at Toro Cup 11

Were you at Toro Cup 11? Lourdes did a bunch of interviews with competitors — and with the people behind MMA For Africa, the beneficiary of the charity event. Hear about what inspired them, the centuries old Senegalese wrestling style that may be helping BJJ evolve, the possibility of African athletes on Toro Cup, and how YOU can volunteer to help.

Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Sep. 29 in Virginia Beach, or in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 27. Both are Submission Only tournaments — and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! Plus, get ready for Sub Only Worlds on Dec. 1. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA — and welcome to our latest sponsor, Gold BJJ! To get a discount on anything at GoldBJJ.com, just enter DirtyWhiteBelt10 at checkout or follow this link and it will be directly applied:
goldbjj.com/discount/DirtyWhiteBelt10

If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Jason Wingate and Betty Broadhurst did this month — thanks, y’all!

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PODCAST: Grapplers, here’s how to prevent staph, MRSA and more

Hey grapplers, have you ever wondered what the best way to prevent skin infections is? How soon you need to shower after training, and what soap to use? Hey gym owners: want to know a few small, important steps you can take to keep your mats safer? Dr. Azam Anwar joins us to answer listener questions about just that! After Dr. Anwar’s battle with MRSA 10 years ago, he was inspired to figure out ways to prevent this from happening to others. His team developed a product called CLn BodyWash, which he talks to us about as well.

Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Sep. 29 in Virginia Beach, or in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 27. Both are Submission Only tournaments — and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! Plus, get ready for Sub Only Worlds on Dec. 1. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA — and welcome to our latest sponsor, Gold BJJ! To get a discount on anything at GoldBJJ.com, just enter DirtyWhiteBelt10 at checkout or follow this link and it will be directly applied:
goldbjj.com/discount/DirtyWhiteBelt10

If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month — thanks, y’all!

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PODCAST: Masters Worlds with Chela Tu, Austin Daffron goes to Switzerland

It’s hard to make great radio while you’re competing on the big stage, but twin sisters Chela & Maylin Tu did just that while Chela was getting a bronze at masters worlds! You should hear the segment they produced — especially if you’re a jiujitsu competitor whose loved ones don’t understand it. We also do a long, featured interview with Austin Daffron, an active purple belt competitor in the Northwest whose jiujitsu travels are taking him to Switzerland.

Register online at usgrappling.com to compete onSep. 29 in Virginia Beach, or in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 27. Both are Submission Only tournaments — and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! Plus, get ready for Sub Only Worlds on Dec. 1. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA — and welcome to our latest sponsor, Gold BJJ! To get a discount on anything at GoldBJJ.com, just enter DirtyWhiteBelt10 at checkout or follow this link and it will be directly applied:
goldbjj.com/discount/DirtyWhiteBelt10

If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month — thanks, y’all!

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PODCAST: Sarah Kurchak on Writing, Pillow Fighting, Wrestling and More

Sarah Kurchak is one of the most interesting writers about fight culture. Her introduction to this world came when she competed in a professional pillow fighting league — and you’ll learn what black belt world champion ALSO competed in that league. We also talk about Sarah’s entry into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and muay thai, what she thinks is the most vital storytelling currently happening — professional wrestling — and her advice for autistic people who train jiu-jitsu, and for their training partners.

Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA — and welcome to our latest sponsor, Gold BJJ! To get a discount on anything at GoldBJJ.com, just enter DirtyWhiteBelt10 at checkout or follow this link and it will be directly applied:
goldbjj.com/discount/DirtyWhiteBelt10

Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on July 28 in Richmond, Virginia, or for Submission Only Philadelphia Aug. 11 — and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month — thanks, y’all!

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PODCAST: Jamil Hill-Taylor, the 1st African American IBJJF World Champion, talks technique

Jamil Hill-Taylor is a rising star in the jiu-jitsu world. He’s young, he’s talented, he’s now a black belt world champion — and he’s just getting started. When he was at Checkmat Charlotte for a seminar this past week, Lourdes took the chance to interview the soon-to-be graduate of Howard University about his proudest achievement so far, his toughest competition at worlds, and what he really thinks about yoga.
They also discuss the woman black belt teammate that he thinks is the *next* world champion and the importance of youth outreach programs in jiu-jitsu.

Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA — and welcome to our latest sponsor, Gold BJJ! To get a discount on anything at GoldBJJ.com, just enter DirtyWhiteBelt10 at checkout or follow this link and it will be directly applied:
goldbjj.com/discount/DirtyWhiteBelt10

Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on July 28 in Richmond, Virginia — and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month — thanks, y’all!

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PODCAST: Talking Art and Open Minds With James “300” Foster

James “300” Foster is a renaissance man, a lover of jiu-jitsu, art, charity work, and open-minded attitudes. I met him at his academy in Kent, Washington, where he hosted 10th Planet athletes Nathan Orchard and Phill Schwartz for a joint seminar. He walked in carrying a Chewbacca lunchbox and I knew this was going to be a great conversation.

He’s also an accomplished competitor, having won the black belt master world championship. We talked about that, about how marketing labels can undermine the growth of jiu-jitsu, about what each belt level means to him, about his favorite comic artists, and how he uses jiu-jitsu as a tool to make a difference in people’s lives.

Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA — and welcome to our latest sponsor, Gold BJJ! To get a discount on anything at GoldBJJ.com, just enter DirtyWhiteBelt10 at checkout or follow this link and it will be directly applied:
goldbjj.com/discount/DirtyWhiteBelt10

Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on July 14 in Charlotte or July 28 in Richmond, Virginia — and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month — thanks, y’all!

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PODCAST: Gustavo Dantas, the BJJ Mental Coach, plus Bryce Lighthall and Ryan Homer

At IBJJF worlds, we talk to Gustavo Dantas, the BJJ Mental Coach, about the high-level performance coaching he provides, his jiu-jitsu non-profit, and the top mental mistakes competitors make. Check out his work at www.thebjjmentalcoach.com/. We also catch up with purple belt competitors Bryce Lighthall of Alliance, who trains under Bruno Malfacine, and Ryan Homer of Diego Bispo Academy.

Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA — and welcome to our latest sponsor, Gold BJJ! To get a discount on anything at GoldBJJ.com, just enter DirtyWhiteBelt10 at checkout or follow this link and it will be directly applied:
goldbjj.com/discount/DirtyWhiteBelt10

Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Columbia, SC, June 30 or July 14 in Charlotte — and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month — thanks, y’all!

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PODCAST: Toro Cup 10 Is a Milestone

After 10 events, Toro Cup has put on hundreds of matches and raised more than $17,500 for charity. We offer a recap, including interviews with competitors Deandre Corbe, Evan Arredondo, Christina Linn, Terah Heiber and Aren Besson — and a fascinating group conversation with Lourdes, Amber Agee, Caitlin Huggins, Chrissy Linzy and Samantha Seff!

Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA — and welcome to our latest sponsor, Gold BJJ! To get a discount on anything at GoldBJJ.com, just enter DirtyWhiteBelt10 at checkout or follow this link and it will be directly applied:
goldbjj.com/discount/DirtyWhiteBelt10

Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Columbia, SC, June 30 or July 14 in Charlotte — and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month — thanks, y’all!

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PODCAST: Robert Drysdale Makes Jiu-Jitsu History — Again

You probably know Robert Drysdale because he’s one of the most accomplished grapplers of his generation, having won both the IBJJF world championship and the ADCC absolute championship. What you might not know is that he’s a trained historian. And his project Closed Guard: The Origins of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil, is going to be the first comprehensive film that tackles Brazilian jiu-jitsu history from a scholarly perspective. At the world championships this year, we sat down outside the Walter Pyramid with him to talk about progress on the film (slated for release toward the end of 2018), what surprised him most when researching the documentary and about the feedback he’s received so far.