The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset

Damien Blotzke on Martial Arts as a Life Pivot, Competition, and Self-Mastery

Host Pete Deeley opens by promoting the Momentum Martial Arts competition team, joking about "submission coffee" as a performance enhancer, and announcing the ad-free My Jiu-Jitsu Journey app with a small monthly fee. He then interviews fighter Damien Blotzke, who says martial arts shaped his identity and gave him tools for learning, problem-solving, listening, and self-control. Blotzke describes being adopted by his brother Darian and moving to Nevada on short notice as a pivotal fork in the road that placed him in a strong learning environment and allowed him to pursue fighting. He cites Miyamoto Musashi's Book of Five Rings and discusses competition as mental, spiritual, and physical, emphasizing breathwork to quiet his inner critic and fight camp as preparation. He recounts memorable bouts, including his first amateur loss at 16, later success, and a five-round fight where he dominated. Deeley shares his own early competition experience and they discuss Momentum's supportive culture. Blotzke suggests the superhero name "Spike Elbow" and shares social links: dthekidmma and Momentum Martial Arts.

00:00 Welcome and Sponsors

01:24 Meet Damien Blotzke

02:18 Adoption and New Start

07:34 When Martial Arts Clicked

10:49 Musashi and Life Lessons

13:08 Competition and Inner Voice

16:56 Most Memorable Fights

20:17 Host Competition Story

24:21 Momentum Community Impact

27:43 Spike Elbow Superhero

28:52 Where to Follow Damien

29:26 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

Host Pete Deeley welcomes Professor Mo Gobena to The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset, mentions sponsorship of Momentum Martial Arts Competition Team, Subscription Coffee, and the My Jiu-Jitsu Journey app. Mo shares how martial arts evolved for him from overcoming fear as a kid in dangerous 1990s Las Vegas after his family migrated from Africa, to athletics, and now community at age 40. He describes a formative lesson from hearing the John Diggins "circus bear jiu-jitsu" story about experimenting without fear of losing, and how that mindset shaped his approach beyond wrestling and boxing. Mo argues most practitioners should compete at least once or twice for stress inoculation and self-defense readiness, and recounts memorable MMA fights, including taking a last-minute heavier opponent and winning by TKO. He explains how competing helps coaches empathize with students, and highlights watching Damien, Coach Darian's brother, fall in love with jiu-jitsu. Mo also shares his nickname "Mighty Mocifer," his stand-up comedy hobby, and upcoming shows including the Savage Henry Comedy Festival.

00:00 Welcome and Sponsors

01:25 Meet Professor Mo

02:14 Martial Arts and Fear

05:00 Growing Up in Vegas

07:37 Learning to Experiment

11:39 Journey Over Belts

14:55 Why Compete

18:45 First MMA Fight Story

24:37 Coaching Through Competition

27:24 Student Success Damien

32:13 Mocifer Nickname

35:08 Comedy and Closing

Cassidy Roblero ("La Cazadora") on Martial Arts as an Outlet, Competition Mindset, and Building Confidence

On this episode of The Jiu Jitsu Mindset, the host shares updates on the My Jiu Jitsu Journey app (a zero-advertising, subscription-based jujitsu-only platform) and Submission Coffee sponsoring the Momentum Martial Arts Competition Team, then interviews Momentum athlete and coach Cassidy Roblero. Cassidy describes starting boxing at 14 and MMA/jujitsu/Muay Thai at 15 during a personal crisis, crediting martial arts with providing a healthy outlet, structure, community, and inner calm. She discusses mentorship from Coach Darian and how martial arts principles apply to life, reflects on women's growing opportunities in combat sports, and explains how competition tests skills and mindset under pressure. Cassidy recounts pivotal experiences from her first jujitsu competition and first MMA fight, emphasizing self-belief, resilience, honesty, and adapting technique for safety, and highlights the confidence gains she sees in kids who train. She shares her fight name, La Cazadora ("The Huntress"), where to follow her (Cass on the Mats), and notes she's rehabbing a neck/shoulder with hopes to fight in September or October.

00:00 Welcome and Updates

01:46 Meet Cassidy Roblero

02:40 Martial Arts Saved Me

04:09 Crisis to Calm

07:08 Coaches and Life Lessons

09:24 Women in Combat Sports

13:27 Why Compete

18:07 First MMA Fight Mindset

22:05 Confidence and Resilience

27:53 Kids Program Transformations

33:21 The Huntress Identity

34:11 Follow and Next Fight

Professor Carlos Reyes (Splendid Savage) on Jiu-Jitsu, Humility, Self-Defense, and Life Change

Host Pete Deeley welcomes Professor Carlos Reyes ("Splendid Savage") to The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset, promotes the My Jiu-Jitsu Journey social app and Submission coffee, and discusses how jiu-jitsu redirected Reyes' life away from trouble associated with his band years, alongside faith. Reyes describes being drawn in through punishing early experiences, including being repeatedly submitted by a much smaller blue belt, which taught humility and openness to learning. He recounts a DUI and time in jail that prompted a commitment to jiu-jitsu, and how competition can inoculate practitioners against stress, though it should not be forced. Reyes contrasts sport-focused training with self-defense principles, emphasizing "DNA" concepts like base, connection, leverage, and weight distribution. He shares a student's transformation—losing 70 pounds and gaining confidence—illustrating jiu-jitsu's off-mat impact, and closes with where to find him online.

00:00 Welcome and Announcements

01:42 Life Without Jiu Jitsu

04:31 First Roll Reality Check

06:58 Humility and Honest Growth

12:13 Jail Wake Up Call

15:37 Habits and Incremental Change

17:30 Why Compete at All

20:27 Competition as Stress Training

26:16 Most Memorable Rolls

29:10 Self Defense Awakening

30:40 Sport Gym Shark Tank

31:53 Choosing the Right Gym

37:36 Principles Over Moves

39:48 Embracing Failure and Time

43:47 Student Transformation Story

49:26 Virtuous Cycles and Lifestyle

51:21 Splendid Savage Identity

52:44 Wrap Up and Where to Find

Host Pete Deeley welcomes listeners back to The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset, promotes subscription coffee and announces the new app "My Jiu-Jitsu Journey," then interviews Sensei George Rego about his lifelong martial arts path. Rego describes walking into an old, gritty dojo as a child and feeling instantly "at home," drawn to the combination of real physical capability and character, honor, and discipline—echoing Miyamoto Musashi's "twofold way" of sword and pen. He discusses the unique trust of training, the deep teacher-student bond, and the grief of losing his sensei. Rego shares lessons on discipline becoming self-discipline, navigating students who disappear, and his motivation for writing "The Founding of Jujutsu and Judo in America," including Teddy Roosevelt's ju jitsu connections. He concludes that a strong martial artist should be difficult to harm but easy to respect.

00:00 Welcome and Updates

01:05 Meet Sensei George Rego

02:01 Why Martial Arts

03:25 First Dojo Awakening

05:54 Quiet Strength Ideal

09:14 Twofold Way Mindset

13:21 Loss of a Sensei

15:02 Teacher Student Bond

19:08 Trust and Time on Mat

22:18 Students Who Disappear

23:44 Refocus on Students

25:07 Sensei Beyond Fighting

27:13 Systems and Discipline

29:14 Gravitas of a Master

31:05 Why Write the Book

33:53 Research and Roosevelt Dojo

35:05 Preserving Hidden Lineages

36:22 Where to Find the Book

36:57 Audiobook and Bestseller Run

38:33 Hard to Harm Easy Respect