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-sighted politics, costing the U.S. what could have been a century-long head start in martial arts.

This conversation explores what Roosevelt’s story tells us about inclusion, politics, and what Jiu-Jitsu might have become if America had embraced its potential.

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👥 Featuring:

Steve Kwan @BJJMentalModels
Jeff Shaw @BellinghamBJJ

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• How Roosevelt’s training popularized Jiu-Jitsu in early 1900s America
• Why his support nearly created a U.S. black belt generation a century early
• The role of xenophobia in driving Yamashita out of the country
• How women like Fude Yamashita and Misawa Soga shaped early Jiu-Jitsu
• Why the art was more inclusive in 1905 than it often is today
• What the media got right (and wrong) about Jiu-Jitsu at the time
• The forgotten roots of Jiu-Jitsu as a progressive political tool
• What Roosevelt’s vision can teach today’s Jiu-Jitsu leaders
• How exclusion and short-term thinking still threaten the sport’s future
• The myth of “keeping politics out” of martial arts

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Jiu-Jitsu History
02:47 The Role of Media in Jiu-Jitsu's Evolution
06:06 The Impact of Theodore Roosevelt on Jiu-Jitsu
08:51 The Confusion Between Judo and Jiu-Jitsu
11:50 The Arrival of Judo in America
15:04 Yamashita's Influence and the Military Connection
17:59 The Political Landscape and Jiu-Jitsu's Growth
20:54 The Consequences of Racism and Nativism
23:55 The Hypothetical Impact of a Strong Jiu-Jitsu Presence
26:43 Politics and Jiu-Jitsu's Historical Context
30:58 The Politics of Jiu Jitsu
34:15 Challenging Gender Norms in Jiu Jitsu
36:34 Historical Contributions of Women in Jiu Jitsu
46:16 The Evolution of Jiu Jitsu Training
58:27 Lessons from History for the Future of Jiu Jitsu

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 will be substantial: rising medical costs, gym closures, reduced access to training, and increased barriers to international movement and competition.

This conversation explores how the bill will reshape the landscape of martial arts and what practitioners, gym owners, and supporters can do in response.

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👥 Featuring:

Steve Kwan @BJJMentalModels
Jeff Shaw @BellinghamBJJ

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• Why rising healthcare costs endanger Jiu-Jitsu practitioners
• The economic pressures forcing students to leave the mats
• How this bill isolates American Jiu-Jitsu from the global community
• The collapse of public services and what it means for gym owners
• The dramatic expansion of ICE and its impact on international athletes
• How political instability is already affecting travel and tourism
• The risk of long-term damage to Jiu-Jitsu infrastructure
• What community leaders can do to prepare and respond

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: The Bill and Its Implications
04:10 Understanding the Scope of the Legislation
08:30 Healthcare Losses and Medical Debt in Jiu-Jitsu
12:55 Wealth Transfers and the Erosion of Social Support
18:20 Disposable Income and the Future of Gym Memberships
23:47 Impacts on Jiu-Jitsu Schools and Their Students
28:15 ICE Funding and Deportation Risks
33:05 Border Restrictions and Athlete Movement
38:10 The Broader Economic Downturn
41:00 Comparing U.S. and Canadian Healthcare Access
45:50 First-Hand Experiences with Medical Systems
48:30 Civil Liberties, Surveillance, and Detention Centers
52:15 “Alligator Alcatraz” and Escalating Immigration Policy
57:00 Practical Advice for the Jiu-Jitsu Community
01:03:00 Final Thoughts on Civic Responsibility and Solidarity

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 men bring to the Jiu-Jitsu mat.

From PowerSlap to Jordan Peterson to NoFap, we explore how pseudoscience and insecurity get weaponized—and how grappling can offer men a healthier, evidence-based path forward.

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👥 Featuring:

Dr. David Ley – Clinical Psychologist, Author, BJJ Black Belt
Jeff Shaw @BellinghamBJJ
Stephan Kesting @StephanKesting

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• The real psychology of “alpha males”
• How hostile masculinity leads to loneliness and harm
• Why BJJ helps men form healthy, platonic bonds
• The gender equality paradox: more freedom, more difference
• Is toughness always a virtue—or just a blunt force fantasy?
• Why touch, teamwork, and problem solving matter more
• How pseudoscience fuels fascist masculinity movements
• What “white knighting” critics get completely wrong
• The role of Jiu-Jitsu in reshaping modern masculinity

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Defining Masculinity
06:09 Cultural Constructs of Masculinity
12:05 Toxic Masculinity vs. Healthy Masculinity
18:43 The Role of Jiu-Jitsu in Masculinity
25:32 Problem Solving and Masculinity
28:03 Healthy Masculinity in Sports
30:06 Protecting the Vulnerable: A Discussion on Masculinity
32:19 The Role of Empathy and Pretending
34:02 Masculinity and Femininity as a Spectrum
35:55 The Alt-Right and Masculinity Influencers
38:20 Cuckolding and Masculinity
41:23 Toxic Femininity: A Counter Perspective
44:50 Guidance for Healthy Masculinity