x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Open Mat Podcast

Tim Nelson & Adam

A deep dive into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu where coaches Adam and Tim cut through cliches to uncover practical insights on training, coaching, competing and jiu jitsu culture.

sports wrestling

All Episodes

53:29

Episode 34: How to create Ecological “games” for Jiu...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2026/02/13

Tim and Adam discuss how they create classes in which they don't demonstrate or drill techniques. They cover how to break technique apart into individual skills, how to create games that directly improve those skills, and how to do this for yourself.

en-us

36:18

Episode 33: Winning positions you can't control |...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2026/02/06

In this episode Tim and Adam address the difficult positions of Front Headlock and Turtle, and how to build a dominant game. They discuss why it's impossible to control right away, how to focus aggression into primary attacks, opening your opponents to further attacks and dilemmas. Finally, they address how to begin building those skills up immediately, whether or not you have a chance to drill them in class.

en-us

45:27

Episode 32: Is "Old School" Jiu Jitsu coming back?|...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2026/01/30

Tim and Adam discuss the cycle and evolution of Jiu Jitsu's competitive "metagame". They discuss how competitive BJJ has evolved since Tim started in 2009, what is currently happening, and also what they expect the next focus of competitors to be. They discuss whether or not "Old School" Jiu Jitsu to be coming back, and the danger of focusing on a set of techniques in competition too much.

en-us

32:11

Episode 31: Does lineage actually mean something? |...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2026/01/23

Tim and Adam discuss whether knowing and tracking Jiu Jitsu lineage still means anything in an art that continues to become more of a sport every year. They discuss how it may give meaning to belts that they don't have on their own, why we will probably always track lineage, and their own coaches.

en-us

38:58

Episode 30: Is guard pulling the best strategy? | Why...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2026/01/16

Continuing from episode 29, Tim and Adam tackle questions they have been asked on the mats before. They discuss why they believe it's important to teach heel hooks to beginners, where we can find significance in belts, why Derek Moneyberg IS a legitimate black belt, and why Tim insists that pulling guard is a good thing.

en-us

38:55

Episode 29: Why don't we show techniques? | Are...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2026/01/09

Tim and Adam answer questions they've been asked about coaching or learning styles, and also address some thoughts they've heard more generally. They discuss why specifically they typically do not demonstrate techniques for students start to finish, and why Tim has insisted that self defense isn't important to teach or learn in Jiu Jitsu classes. Finally, Tim explains and defends a comment from an earlier episode claiming that offense and defense are the same in Jiu Jitsu.

en-us

52:13

Episode 28: How to start the year with explosive...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2026/01/02

Tim and Adam ring the new year in discussing how to approach returning to the mats after the holidays, how to approach setting and attaining goals in Jiu Jitsu and why most people should not set a new goal when they return to the mats.

en-us

59:43

Episode 27: The year in Jiu Jitsu | Reflecting on...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2025/12/23

Tim and Adam take an episode to discuss their Jiu Jitsu journeys throughout the past year - the ups, the downs, the changes and the progress. They discuss what they've focused on and what they've discovered, and also offer practical advice to beginner, intermediate, and advanced Jiu Jitsu athletes on how to reflect on Jiu Jitsu in a way that will help you make quicker and greater progress as you return to the mats.

en-us

41:31

Episode 26: How to deal with losing to junior belts |...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2025/12/18

At some point in the journey of everyone who makes it past white belt, we deal with "losing" to someone we don't think we should lose to. Whether that loss is being tapped, having our guard passed, or anything in between, this fear costs us training opportunities at open mats, other gyms, and sometimes within our own home gyms. Adam and Tim discuss how to overcome these fears, opening the doors to more enjoyable training and more opportunities to get better.

en-us

38:38

Episode 25: How to build a suffocating mount | How to...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2025/12/04

Tim and Adam discuss what is considered by some to be the most devastating position in Jiu Jitsu, but for many practitioners is a challenge both to control and attack. Tim discusses the keys to avoid being thrown or rolled off from top position, and the one objective that will shut down all other attacks. Adam describes how he flipped the switch from consistently losing the mounted position to consistently submitting from there, and the two talk about the role patience plays in success.

en-us

25:36

Episode 24: Only one thing matters in Jiu Jitsu | How...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2025/11/26

In this episode Tim and Adam discuss submissions - and specifically, why Tim believes that submission is the only thing that even matters in Jiu Jitsu. They briefly define Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for any listeners unfamiliar, but focus then on what it means to focus on submission before anything else and how that impacts our training. Finally, they discuss what things like passing the guard, pinning and taking the back mean if submission is the only thing that truly matters If you enjoy this podc...

en-us

32:13

Episode 23: Guaranteeing submissions through pins |...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2025/11/19

Pinning is an important part of all grappling sports, but is much less important in Jiu Jitsu compared to other similar sports. Or is it? In this episode Tim and Adam discuss how pinning serves a different purpose, and why it remains an absolutely critical skill in a sport that rewards it so little. They discuss how to define pinning, how to use it strategically, and how to progress pins toward submissions while maintaining control. If you enjoy this podcast, don't forget to follow us on Inst...

en-us

48:32

Episode 22: How do we develop specialized skills in...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2025/11/12

As we get better at Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, we tend to develop certain areas of our game we're better at than others. But how do we take those skills and turn them into true specialties? In this episode Tim and Adam discuss how to develop specialties in Jiu Jitsu, the two ways they tend to develop, and Tim shares his thoughts on the most critical part of developing specialized skills which we often overlook. If you enjoy this podcast, don't forget we have an Instagram! We are always happy to eng...

en-us

44:23

Episode 21: How to actually control from the back |...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2025/11/05

Back Control is one of the most powerful positions in Jiu Jitsu, but behind closed doors most hobbyists have to admit they struggle to control from the back long enough to submit. In this episode Tim and Adam discuss how to be consistently successful in exposing and attacking the back, and also how to build the skills needed to maintain control for extended periods of time. If you find this podcast helpful, don't forget we have an instagram at open.matpodcast! We frequently engage with listen...

en-us

26:24

Episode 20: How to get better when you're getting...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2025/10/28

At some point in our Jiu Jitsu career, we run into one or more training partners we're completely helpless against. In this episode, Tim and Adam discuss what to do when the skill gap between you and your partner is too great for rounds to be competitive, and how to still improve in those rounds. They discuss how to approach them differently, why focusing on survival is never the answer, and even what you can gain from these rounds that you can't gain from others. If you like what you hear, d...

en-us

39:52

Episode 19: How to prepare to win competitions | How...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2025/10/21

Adam and Tim discuss how to use class time leading up to a competition to prepare to win. They discuss how to avoid getting robbed in a tournament, why and how to train differently with a competition coming up, and how to develop the foundations of skill in stand up if you're too afraid to pull guard. If you enjoy this podcast, don't forget we have an Instagram page at open.matpodcast! We post clips of upcoming episodes and actively engage with listeners.

en-us

33:37

Episode 18: What you aren't told about passing the...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2025/10/14

In this conversation Adam and Tim dive into the deeply frustrating topic of passing the guard, and why much of the time we spend drilling passes is not useful. Tim lays out his views on how to truly improve at passing, including details on his particular framework on the foot positions of passing. Adam details some of the challenges his students have had in learning, and Tim gives advice to his blue belt self. If you enjoy this podcast, consider following us on Instagram at open.matpodcast! W...

en-us

28:37

Episode 17: Everything good for you is bad for...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2025/10/07

In this concise episode Adam and Tim hone in on the idea that Jiu Jitsu is a zero sum game, and what this means for us strategically and for our learning. They delve into how every movement increases or decreases control, and how to make sure that the small exchanges add up over time to huge advantages and inevitable submissions. If this podcast is helpful, don't forget we have an instagram at open.matpodcast where you can interact with us, ask questions, debate points and get sneak peaks i...

en-us

58:46

Episode 16: CJI | Better late than never - CJI 1...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2025/09/30

Adam and Tim give commentary on the first Craig Jones Invitational that is as definitive as it is late. They discuss the matches, evaluating some major matchups in both the context of the tournament and how BJJ has continued to evolve since. Tim has very strong words for the strong focus on takedowns shown and the degree to which they influenced the outcome and progress of the matches. The two discuss how CJI has influenced the sport as a whole, from the time of CJI one to the present. If you...

en-us

62:17

Episode 15: Competition | How to gameplan effectively...

Open Mat Podcast ·

2025/09/23

Tim and Adam have an in-depth conversation around competition, including its importance, how to gameplan effectively, and recounting some of their own competitive history. They discuss the specific advantages competition gives in the journey of jiu jitsu progress, as well as how to create and implement gameplans that actually make a measurable difference in performance. If you enjoy this podcast, make sure to follow us on Instagram @open.matpodcast! We are happy to respond to comments or mess...

en-us

34 results

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