BJJ Mental Models

In this mini-episode, we explain gamification: the practice of adding game-like elements to something in order to motivate a certain type of behavior. It's a concept from software design with elements of applied psychology and is used for everything from marketing to products to (of course) jiu-jitsu.

Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro

⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com

Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

Learn more mental models in our online database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

Follow us on social:
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

This week, we're joined by Barbara Ruiken and Giles Garcia! Barbara is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and the new head coach at Bergen Grappling in Norway, and she wrote her political science master's thesis on power and politics in jiu-jitsu organizations. Giles is the head coach and owner of Ronin Grappling in Rutherglen, just outside Glasgow, and a returning guest on the show. In this episode, Barbara and Giles explain why every gym has politics, whether the coach wants them or not. Topics include: informal power, accountability structures, setting your gym's culture on purpose, the jiu-jitsu cycle of abuse, and leadership burnout.

Read Barbara's master's thesis, Power and Politics in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Teams:
https://bit.ly/4iIUYH0

Follow Barbara on Instagram:
https://instagram.com/superbabs_bjj

Train with Barbara at Bergen Grappling:
https://www.bergengrappling.com

Train with Giles at Ronin Grappling:
https://roningrappling.com

Giles's jiu-jitsu portal, BJJ Codex:
https://www.bjjcodex.com

Mental models discussed in this episode:
Psychological Safety
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/psychological-safety

Respect People, Not Positions
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/respect-people-not-positions

Emotional Contagion
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/emotional-contagion

Paradox of Tolerance
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/paradox-of-tolerance

Extreme Ownership
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/extreme-ownership

⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com

Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

Learn more mental models in our online database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

Follow us on social:
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

Music by Enterprize:
https://enterprize.bandcamp.com

In this mini-episode, we explain constraints-led approach (CLA) in simple terms, and how it impacts your jiu-jitsu training.

Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro

⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com

Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

Learn more mental models in our online database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

Follow us on social:
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

This week, we're joined by Itamar Shatz! Itamar is a jiu-jitsu black belt and a Cambridge University researcher whose new book, Solving Procrastination, is published by Penguin Random House. In this episode, Itamar explains why we procrastinate, and walks through the strategies research shows will help. Topics include: the self-control fallacy, hard conversations with your coach, if-then rules for unsafe rolls, perfectionism, and burnout.

Get Solving Procrastination:
https://solvingprocrastination.com/book

Mental models discussed in this episode:
Second-Order Thinking
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/second-order-thinking

Silver Bullet Fallacy
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/silver-bullet-fallacy

Curse of Knowledge
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/curse-of-knowledge

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-behavioral-therapy

Acute Stress Response
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/acute-stress-response

Precommitments
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/precommitments

Escalation of Commitment
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/escalation-of-commitment

Analysis Paralysis
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/analysis-paralysis

Building Your Triggers
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/building-your-triggers

Growth from Discomfort
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/growth-from-discomfort

Incremental Learning
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/incremental-learning

Consistency
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/consistency

Stress and Recovery
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/stress-and-recovery

Prioritize Longevity
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/prioritize-longevity

⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com

Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

Learn more mental models in our online database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

Follow us on social:
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

Music by Enterprize:
https://enterprize.bandcamp.com

In this mini-episode, we explain ecological dynamics in simple terms, why it's misunderstood, and how it impacts your jiu-jitsu training.

Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro

⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com

Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

Learn more mental models in our online database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

Follow us on social:
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels