PODCAST

Fighting Matters

Fighting fascism and the far-right in combat sports like MMA and BJJ.

sports wrestling

All Episodes

2:49

Derek Moneyberg, Jiu-Jitsu black belt? My thoughts… —...

Fighting Matters ·

2025/07/12

en-us

3:31

Antisemitism has no place in Jiu-Jitsu. — Jeff Shaw,...

Fighting Matters ·

2025/07/11

en-us

7:33

A statement on Josh Saunders

Fighting Matters ·

2025/07/08

en-us

62:41

Teddy Roosevelt Was a Jiu-Jitsu Badass

Fighting Matters ·

2025/07/07

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-...

en-us

5:04

America is still worth fighting for. — Jesse Walker,...

Fighting Matters ·

2025/07/05

en-us

5:16

July 4th Meditations on Being American. — Mike...

Fighting Matters ·

2025/07/04

en-us

66:08

How Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" Will Cripple BJJ

Fighting Matters ·

2025/07/04

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 w...

en-us

51:14

🧬 Real Talk: What Science Says About Gender Differences

Fighting Matters ·

2025/07/01

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 ...

en-us

72:20

⚖️ BJJ, Law, and the First Amendment

Fighting Matters ·

2025/06/29

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 ...

en-us

74:24

🎙️ Giles Garcia Unleashed: Jiu-Jitsu's Voice of Reason

Fighting Matters ·

2025/06/26

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...

en-us

59:31

Is the USA Becoming a Handmaid's Theocracy?

Fighting Matters ·

2025/06/21

Stephan, Jesse, and Shelby are joined by Eva Schubert from the popular Villains and Virgins Podcast to discuss tactics used by all authoritarian states regardless of whether they are theocratic, fascist, or communist in nature. They examine Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale' in the context of today's political climate and address the need for protests and collective action in combating these issues while emphasising the need for empathy and humanity in the face of adversity. Check...

en-us

75:07

What Jiu-Jitsu Gets Wrong About Masculinity

Fighting Matters ·

2025/06/19

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models is joined by Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ, Mike Mahaffey of Old Bastard BJJ, and mental health advocate David Figueroa-Martinez to challenge the outdated definitions of masculinity still thriving in the Jiu-Jitsu world. Why are men in Jiu-Jitsu still afraid to talk about emotion? What’s the cost of performative toughness on and off the mats? And how can coaches reshape gym culture to support real growth—for everyone? ...

en-us

58:38

🥋 Jiu-Jitsu Is a Platform. Use It.

Fighting Matters ·

2025/06/16

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models sits down with Mike Mahaffey of Old Bastard BJJ and Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ for a raw conversation about why it matters—now more than ever—for Jiu-Jitsu practitioners to speak out. Why do so many people say “keep politics out of the gym”? What does it really mean to use your platform responsibly? And how can community, not conflict, be the most powerful form of resistance? From running inclusive gyms to dealing w...

en-us

4:31

It's time for the Jiu-Jitsu community to speak up.

Fighting Matters ·

2025/06/13

en-us

77:18

🦠 Why MRSA is so dangerous for grapplers

Fighting Matters ·

2025/06/12

We're doing this episode in light of Ben Askren's battle with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models sits down with Jeff Shaw of Bellingham BJJ and Dr. Clayton Green, a board-certified dermatologist and microbiologist, to dig into one of the scariest health threats in combat sports: MRSA. Why are otherwise healthy grapplers winding up hospitalized with life-threatening infections? Why does doing “everything ...

en-us

60:57

Extremist “Active Clubs” Are Infiltrating Jiu-Jitsu

Fighting Matters ·

2025/06/05

Neo-Nazis are infiltrating Jiu-Jitsu—and most of us don’t even know it’s happening. In this episode of Fighting Matters, we’re joined by investigative journalist Mack Lamoureux to expose the rise of “active clubs”: decentralized extremist groups using martial arts like Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai as recruiting tools for white supremacist and neo-Nazi causes. Mack spent nearly a decade reporting on far-right extremism for VICE News and now works with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, trackin...

en-us

57:13

Jordan Klepper's Investigation into the MMA and MAGA...

Fighting Matters ·

2025/06/04

Luke Thomas just appeared on The Daily Show with Jordan Klepper to talk about how the UFC has become a tool of radicalisation for the MAGA movement, so we invited him onto Fighting Matters to dig a little deeper. You can watch the original segment on Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePbMNq8m7Jw Follow Luke Thomas on his Morning Kombat show here: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorningKombat And check out Luke's Substack here: https://lthomas.substack.com/

en-us

83:43

☠️ The Dangerous Rise of Bro Science in Jiu-Jitsu

Fighting Matters ·

2025/06/02

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Stephan Kesting are joined by scientist and author Kristi Charish to investigate how Jiu-Jitsu became a hotbed for pseudoscience, supplement scams, and influencer grifts. We explore how a culture of male insecurity and anti-intellectualism has opened the floodgates to misinformation—fueled by algorithm-chasing gurus and podcast personalities more interested in profit than truth. From testosterone fads and supplement sponsors to sunning your...

en-us

82:48

Jiu-Jitsu and Intimate Partner Violence, feat. D'Juan...

Fighting Matters ·

2025/05/28

Jesse Walker, Jeff Shaw, and Steve Kwan are joined by longtime martial artist, educator, and activist D’Juan Owens. Together, they examine how self-defense training often overlooks the realities of abuse, how martial arts culture can enable victim blaming, and what it really means to create a safe, accountable training environment. ⸻ 👥 Featuring: • D’Juan Owens – Martial artist, educator, activist • Jesse Walker – @RoughHandsBJJ • Jeff Shaw ‪@BellinghamBJJ‬ • Steve K...

en-us

19:26

💬 The BJJ Community Is Split on Jay Rod

Fighting Matters ·

2025/05/22

🎙️ Jay Rod was removed from B-Team. The community response was just as revealing as the offense. In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan, Jesse Walker, and Jeff Shaw dissect the fallout from the Jiu-Jitsu world after Jacob “Jay Rod” Rodriguez was kicked out of B-Team following revelations of inappropriate behavior. While the gym acted swiftly and decisively, parts of the community rushed to defend him—and that’s where the real conversation begins. This isn’t about legal definitions

en-us

46 results

Fighting Matters

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

Keeping Karlsson Fantasy Hockey Podcast

Elan Dubrofsky and Brian Kom

Daily Fantasy Sports by Ship It Nation

Ship It Nation

Fantasy Football Today

CBS Sports, Fantasy Football, FFT, NFL,...

Bring The Pain

Heat00veride

ESPN SportsCenter Update

ESPN