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The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting

This is the Stephan Kesting's Grapplearts Radio Podcast where we discuss BJJ, Grappling, MMA, and all manner of martial arts training.

Stephan runs Grapplearts.com, where he has published many hundreds of martial arts videos, articles and tutorials.

His free guide to learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, A Roadmap for BJJ, has been downloaded more than 10,000 times and has become a foundational text for the art. Click here to download that book for free as well.

Stephan has a lengthy career in martial arts, spanning more than 3 decades.  He has dedicated many years to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and you can find his accessible and practical expertise on all BJJ matters at Grapplearts.com

A black belt in multiple martial art systems, he brings a range of approaches to self defense, and a critical eye for what works in the street.

Stephan has been featured in Black Belt Magazine, Ultimate Grappling, Tapout Magazine and Ultimate Athlete.

He is also a frequent guest on martial arts related podcasts, including The Fightworks Podcast, Atlantic MMA, Combatives Corner, The Warrior’s Den, The Spartan Underground and many more.

  1. All Episodes
  2. 296 - A People's History of BJJ, with Robert Drysdale

296 - A People's History of BJJ, with Robert Drysdale

Nov 5, 2020

Multiple time world champion Robert Drysdale comes onto the podcast to share his discoveries about the history of BJJ. Here's just some of what we talked about...

00:52 - Opening Closed Guard, the Book
06:16 - The first japanese martial artists in Brazil
16:51 - Who was Mitsyuo Maeda?
19:27 - The role of the circus in the development of BJJ
23:20 - Early lineages of jiu-jitsu in Brazil
31:02 - The development and role of Vale Tudo fighting
33:08 - Why jiu-jitsu became so ground oriented
43:41 - George Gracie
45:47 - Helio's early fights
47:58 - The period of decline in jiu-jitsu
52:36 - BJJ andmarks between the 1950's and 1990's
1:02:26 - The role of jiu-jitsu federations
1:09:07 - Effects of legalizing heel hooks
1:15:16 - BJJ in the Olympics