VERBAL TAP (Episode 122) with Jorge Oliveira and Mike Hofer

Raf's Recollection | Been a bit of a whirlwind past few weeks, but happy to report that we're back up and operational for all of you good folks.  This week we welcome our new friend Jorge Oliveira (from North South clothing) and our good friend Mike Hofer from Jiu-Jitsu in the Park returns. But first, let's take a moment to chat Kimbo vs. Shamrock, shall we. There are a good number of you out there who wondered if that fight was a work (or in professional wrestling terms, "staged.")  We discuss that on this week's podcast in depth, but I thought I'd treat you all to my favorite take on the fight right here.

  STREET FIGHTER   A video posted by 💥 (@azxd) on Jun 22, 2015 at 4:57am PDT

  Absolutely one of the funniest things I've seen about it. But some of that pales in comparison to some of the comments you sent in for us to read on the show.  Listen in, because we might have read some of your comments (just as the video below seems to indicate).

Last week we asked our listeners to describe #KimboVsShamrock in just 3 words. Here were some of the responses. Listen to our full analysis of #KenShamrock vs. #KimboSlice on last week's podcast using the link right here: http://goo.gl/M0M0VI A video posted by Verbal Tap Cast (@verbaltapcast) on Jun 29, 2015 at 8:09pm PDT

After we chat about that, we welcome Jorge to talk to us about his awesome clothing line, his MMA career, and what he feels about the current state of jiu-jitsu.

To close out the show, we find out what's coming up for our favorite jiu-jitsu in the park guys, as The Hof tells us a little but about what we might come to expect on  out here at Griffith Park.

VERBAL TAP (Episode 117) with Albert Morales and Joe Gilpin

[buzzsprout episode='273958' player='true'] Kevin has the keys to the write up.....(apologies to all). Here's the thing, Raf got married, Raf got a job, and Raf needs at least 24 hours to mourn Letterman ending.  But Kevin? Kevin has literally nothing going on. So.....

Kev's Recollection: Albert Morales is too skinny to do jiujitsu or fighting, but no one told him that. He stops by just in time for me to announce him winning a different fight.  Albert laughs off my moronic behavior because well....he's met me. Then he explains how he put John Yoo down with punches to win at Bellator 137.  Humble in victory he also gives us some seriously funny exclusives about his post fight interactions with the doctor.  Albert is also a gluten for punishment, and is preparing for the IBJJF World's competition.  What a warrior right? Wrong, because he believes when you wear gi pants and a rash guard you SHOULDN'T grab the pants (when Raf reads this he is going to be pissed).  Albert was great, and look how attractive he is in this photo I might have added correctly:

Its going okay on this whole episode write-up thing (at least I think so).  Next up is Comedian and Jiujtisu Purple Belt Joe Gilpin.  I'm going to be honest with you guys, its possible Raf might replace me with Joe. I'm going to be more honest, I get that.  Joe joins us for Over / Under Kevin for UFC 187 featuring Rumble vs. DC!  Lets all take a second with the original poster to remember why its important not to use drugs while driving:

Joe is awesome, this podcast is awesome, you all should listen to it because that would make you all... really cool.   Here is a fun photo of Joe I got from his Facebook post so you can imagine the many visual jokes that were made:

Feels like writing this will ensure Raf never lets me do this again.  Cheers Verbal Tap Cast community, you all are the best (no seriously, fans of this show are unlike any other!)

-Kevin T Phillips

VERBAL TAP (Episode 114) with Joe Schilling

[buzzsprout episode='268472' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | We'll get to Jon Jones in a second.  But first, let's talk about what you can expect on this jam-packed episode of the podcast.

Our good friend—and certified killer— Joe Schilling (16:30) drops back into the podcast to talk a little bit about the following.

• Bellator 136
• Phil Baroni
• Shilling for Spike TV (see what I did there?)
• Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather (even taking the time to thoroughly address some of your craziest fan-submitted scenarios for the fight)
• Talking about when we can expect to see him fight next (and maybe even a clue as to what organization will be lucky enough to get him to fight next)

Let's take a moment to address that Phil Baroni thing.  The background on this one is as follows.  Joe Schilling goes to fight at Bellator 136.  Joe Schilling gets mad after he loses a close fight at Bellator 136.  Shortly after Bellator 136, Phil Baroni takes a jab at Schilling with the following tweet.

[embed]https://twitter.com/philbaroni/status/586951391177940992[/embed]

What takes place afterward is a glorious conversation for the MMA twitter ages, as Joe went on to respond to Baroni's tweets in glorious fashion, ultimately ending with this:

. @GLORY_WS confirms @PhilBaroni turned down fight vs. @Joeschilling187http://t.co/ZXHuYlTwZKpic.twitter.com/8DcSR6Wviv

— Michael Stets (@Michael_Stets) April 15, 2015

Leading us to this following meme.

Our thanks to Joe and to all of you who submitted scenarios for what was gonna happen at Mayweather vs. Pacquiao.  It made for quite a lively discussion.

UFC 186 Recap

You may remember this from last week, when Dan Hubler came on the show to take on Kevin's UFC 186 predictions.

You know, the episode where Kevin and Dan outlined a set of fights that only a handful of you ended up watching.

[embed]https://instagram.com/p/16mc2KD6mw/[/embed]

On this episode we not only find out the results, but sort out some of the aftermath.

About that Jon Jones thing...

So naturally, right after we finish recording this episode, the UFC decided to take action on the Jon Jones situation.  We start off this weeks episode talking about how we both came to find out about it and the potential implications for the (now) former light heavyweight champ.

Listen in and let us know what you thinks, folks!

Social Media Plug

Follow us and stuff.

Facebook: /VerbalTapCast

Twitter: @VerbalTapCast

Instagram: @VerbalTapCast

Vine: @VerbalTapCast

VERBAL TAP (Episode 100) with Karyn Bryant and Bruce Buffer

[buzzsprout episode='227935' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | Coming soon!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 95) goes to the 2014 World Jiu-Jitsu Expo

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Raf's Recollection | Considering all of the videos and writing I have to get done this week, I'll keep this short.  We had a huge week on the podcast, previewing this weekend's UFC 179 with our pal Marcus Kowal and discussing all things World Jiu-JItsu Expo.

Marcus (pictured here in a new headshot compliments of our good friend Blanca Marisa Garcia) joins us this week to take on Kevin on our latest installment of Over/Under Kevin.

Some of you know Marcus as our pal from Systems Training Center down in Hawthorne, while others of you may somewhat recognize this guy as the host of his own podcast the MMA Roundtable.

Yep, since we last left Marcus, he has now grown up and started a podcast of his own.  So we decided to give him some well deserved shit to start the show and then get into our picks for this weekends fights.

I Went to the World Jiu-JItsu Expo!

Let's just say this weekend was another mad capped weekend of insane jiu-jitsu coverage.

Accompanied by my two awesome photogs (Alex Perez and Octavio Villanueva), we hit up the World Jiu-JItsu Expo for a second year of crazy coverage.

On the podcast, Kevin spends the first twenty minutes asking me all about it and I talk a little bit about some of our favorite experiences and observations from an event that is something akin to what we call "Jiu-Jitsu Christmas."

I got to talk with this guy.

And this guy.

And even catch up with this guy.

I'm working to get out a video per day, but right now, here are two of the first videos we've edited from this weekend.

Keep an eye out on our YouTube page as we'll be posting as many videos as we can from this weekend's World Jiu-Jitsu Expo.

Hope you enjoy it, folks!

Social Media Plug

Follow us and stuff.

Facebook: /VerbalTapCast

Twitter: @VerbalTapCast

Instagram: @VerbalTapCast

Vine: @VerbalTapCast

VERBAL TAP (Episode 93) with White Belt BJJ

[buzzsprout episode='210565' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | BJJ friends, we really come through for you on this one.  This episode not only features the awesome guys from  White Belt BJJ (Todd Shaffer and Tony Peranio), but we also do some of the best investigative journalism we've ever done on this episode of the podcast.

When I saw the headline "Wrestler Challenges Jiu Jitsu Instructor at 10th Planet Decatur AL- Security Cam Footage," it didn't take long for me to realize it would likely somehow involve our pal Brandon McCaghren.

Yes.  This goofball.

Yeah, the same guy behind this abomination of a song (and also this one that's pretty ok).

Chances are, you've likely seen the video we're talking about here.  If you haven't, take the following five minutes of your time to laugh your ass off as you watch Brandon make short work of a guy who interrupted his jiu-jitsu class and challenged him to a match (mid-way through said class, mind you).

In the time span of a week, the video has gone viral (right now hovering around the neighborhood of 500k views) and attracted the attention of just about every major BJJ publication and Facebook page (and even a few non-BJJ sites), making Brandon a bit of an overnight BJJ celebrity.

So to get to the bottom of this whole ordeal, we decided to reach out to our pal and get him to tell his side of the story.  In our EXCLUSIVE interview, Brandon walks us through the match and all of the events that lead up to the challenge.

As usual, Brandon brings his brand of whimsy to the show and we couldn't be happier to see him get so many compliments on his jiu-jitsu skills (I've rolled with the guy, the dude's BJJ is nothing short of awesome).  Give it a listen and let Brandon know what you thought on the Twitter at @Brandon_mc.

Here's hoping even more people head to his classes as participants, not mid-class challengers.

White Belt BJJ

Man, are these guys funny.

I can't tell you how many times I've scrolled through my Instagram feed and laughed out loud at the work the very funny guys from White Belt BJJ do.

Instead of talking about it, I'll just let a few of these speak for themselves.

    And that's just a small sample of their work.  Spend a few minutes going through their memes and you're bound to crack up more than just a few times.

What makes so many of the memes they do work so well is the ability to combine a crazy subversive sense of humor with a series of observations that are grounded in many of the frustrations so many BJJ practitioners experience in their training sessions.

I've been a real fan of the fantastic work ethic these guys have and they were a blast to talk with on the podcast.  On our show, they talk about how White Belt BJJ came into existence, what it's felt like to watch so many new BJJ meme artists come out of the woodwork, and we even find out how much Tony and Todd really know about one another.

Give it a view and go support them on all of their channels.

WhiteBeltBrazilianJiuJitsu.com

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

But Wait, There's More

Oh and while you're checking out social media pages, be sure to add us and check out while you're at it.

Facebook: /VerbalTapCast

Twitter: @VerbalTapCast

Instagram: @VerbalTapCast

Vine: @VerbalTapCast

And then also check out the latest installment of our BJJ talk show panel, Around the Mat.  In our latest episode, we break down the match between Saulo Ribeiro and Rodrigo "Comprido" Medeiros.  Let us know what you think about it with the hashtag #AroundTheMat!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 89) with Rafael Lovato Jr.

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Raf's Recollection | We always seem to catch Rafael Lovato Jr. [28:06] at incredible junctures in his career.

Our first conversation with Lovato took place a little over a year ago (Episode 24; yeesh, time really flies), just shortly after he became the first non-Brazilian to win the Absolute division at the Brasileiro.  Since then, we've had the good fortune of running into him several times around the jiu-jitsu circuit and were even granted the opportunity to cover one of his awesome seminars out in Vegas a couple of months ago.

Always polite, willing to give us a few moments of his time, and extremely supportive of our crazy dog and pony show we call a podcast, Lovato has been one of the biggest champions of our show (and a good friend to us both on-and-off air).

Which is why when we heard a rumor that our pal would be making his way into the world of Mixed Martial Arts, we knew we needed to hear directly from the source about this new major milestone in his fighting career.

On September 26th, we get the opportunity to see Rafael compete in the Legacy FC cage (alongside his supremely talented BJJ phenom, Justin Rader, who will also be fighting at the Hard Rock Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma that night).  For some, this is a chance to see how a storied BJJ competitor, known for his aggression and exciting finishes, fares in the world of MMA.

But for Rafael this fight isn't just the culmination of a six week training camp.  It's the chance to test a lifetime's worth of work as a martial artist in an entirely different way.

Just because Rafael is best known for his incredible work as a BJJ competitor, doesn't mean he's ignored other fighting disciplines all these years.  Unlike other BJJ practitioners who make the transition to MMA, the integration of other disciplines is something that was instilled into him at an early age (and has been maintained in-between BJJ sessions at his own gym for some time).  Now Lovato has an avenue to show us another dimension or two of his MMA game.

And it's a challenge that is reinvigorating him.

On this week's podcast, Rafael speaks candidly about his training regimen, his expectations, and the difficulty of putting away the gi to concentrate on his stand up game.  We hear more about the impressive array of talent coming to help him get ready for his fight and even get to hear Rafael's thoughts about the most recent Metamoris card.

Two weeks out from fight night, there are certainly more questions than there are certainties on how it will all go down (how will Lovato transition to the cage?  what kind of game will he bring to the table on fight night?  what if the fight never goes to the ground?).  And yet, despite the uncertainty, there is one thing you can take to the bank:

Win or lose, we got his back.

With far and few athletes really carrying the banner of jiu-jitsu in the world of MMA, we root for a guy who has consistently given his all on the mats.  Who has inspired others to play an aggressive game and make history every time they go out to compete.  And, perhaps most importantly, we root for the guy who has a conviction to represent the jiu-jitsu community when he enters that cage.

For all those reasons (and so much more), we are eagerly anticipating this fight.

Check his appearance out on the podcast and hit us up on our social media to let us know what you think!

Facebook: /VerbalTapCast

Twitter: @VerbalTapCast

Instagram: @VerbalTapCast

Vine: @VerbalTapCast

But Wait, There's More!

Oh yeah, in case you haven't been keeping up with us on the YouTube, check out our latest installment of our BJJ panel talk show, Around the Mat.  On our latest episode we breakdown the match between Kit Dale and Garry Tonon (complete with exclusive footage from the event).  Let us know what you think!

----------------------------------------------------------------

Also, if for some reason you don't see our Buzzsprout player embedded up above, you can also listen to this week's episode of our podcast right here on Stitcher.

VERBAL TAP (Episode 87) with Todd Levin

[buzzsprout episode='199951' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | Coming soon, more about our installment of Over/Under Kevin for UFC 177 with Todd Levin (seen here during happier times with his mohawk)!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 86) with Karl Penn

[buzzsprout episode='198059' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | Karl Penn is our kind of idiot.

Well, jiu-jidiot to be precise.

In a short amount of time, Karl has made a name for himself as the guy behind some of the funniest jiu-jitsu memes hitting the net.

We've had the pleasure of getting name checked in a couple of his memes as of recently (including the one to the right-hand side here, pronouncing his appearance on this week's show), so we wanted to return the favor by having him on the show.

If you haven't seen some of his work, allow us to share a few of our favorites:

And my current favorite...

On this week's episode, we find a little bit about Karl's jiu-jitsu evolution, what he did before BJJ, and even get him to explain a few of his most recent status updates.

We love supporting folks like Karl who help put a smile on our face in this crazy world of BJJ.  For a sport that can sometimes take itself a little too seriously, we love having an ally like Karl Penn who gets that a simple meme can help us make sense of the more ridiculous aspects of BJJ.

Be sure to follow Karl and his facebook page, Jiu Jidiots, and tell 'em your friends at Verbal Tap sent ya.

Where'd I Train This Week?

I made a stop over to train with the guys over at The Warrior's Club this week.

As some of you may recall, our pal Jim Lawson publicly put me on blast on last week's podcast and told me a beating was in in the foreseeable future.

He was certainly right.

A beating did happen, just not at my expense.  As the picture on the right demonstrates, Jim may have pushed this white belt a little too far.

That aside, Jim teaches a really cool class, helping me lay a strong foundation for my footlock game (don't worry, I can't do any of it remotely well, so you're all safe for the time being).

What I appreciate was that as I struggled to grasp the proper grips and technique, Jim really made an effort to make sure I understood the concepts (even going as far as to blame himself for me not getting the techniques right).  I assured him it's my general stupidity (or jiu-jitsu dyslexia I've diagnosed myself with that renders me incapable of even the simplest of BJJ moves), but I sincerely appreciated his efforts to go above and beyond helping me better understand the techniques of the day.

Those are the kinds of instructors you want in your corner, the people who make it their mission to make you better (and feel like they're letting you down if you don't quite get it).  I can assure Jim that his help is greatly appreciated and will one day pay off.

Great rolls and fun times.  I look forward to giving Jim his well-deserved rematch any time he likes, but let this be a lesson to all: it's not polite to call out your podcast host.

They might get angry.

You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.

... or hungry.  Now that I think about it, that's probably worse: hangry.

Nonetheless, my thanks to all the good people at The Warrior's Club and I look forward to getting beat up by you all again sometime soon.

Oh and BTW

If you haven't watched it yet, please go check out the first technique video from your pals here at Verbal Tap.  That's right.  Our pal Travis Conley identifies a problem in my current game.  Please feel free to like and share, and let us know if you want to see more of these in the future!

Let us know what you thought about this week's episode on our social media:

Facebook: /VerbalTapCast

Twitter: @VerbalTapCast

Instagram: @VerbalTapCast

Vine: @VerbalTapCast

Until next time, folks!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 84) with Mike Jasper

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Raf's Recollection | More about our conversation with our pal Mike Jasper coming soon!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 83) with Tim Means

[buzzsprout episode='192492' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | Coming soon, more about our podcast with Tim Means and our review of UFC on FOX 12.

Plus, I talk a little bit about what it was like to interview Rickson Gracie earlier this week and we chat about training at Subconscious BJJ with Brent Burniston again!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 82) with Joey Diaz

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Raf's Recollection | Joey Diaz is a real motherfucker.

There's an old adage that says "never meet your heroes." The saying implies that you'll only set yourself up for disappointment when you finally meet the person you admire.

In entertainment, that saying consistently true.  But not with Joey Coco Diaz.

I've always been a fan of his style of comedy and over the past year I've had the pleasure of getting to know Joey as both a stand up comic and a BJJ training partner.

On stage or on his podcast (The Church of What's Happening Now), Joey is ferocious, uncensored.  A beast.  He has this great old school energy that is severely lacking in this PC sensitive world.

Off stage, Joey is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet.  The dude's selfless and has gone out of his way to do nice things for his friends on numerous occasions.  He's offered to do my talk show, he did this podcast, and he even offered to help me out with a new project that I'll be sharing with you all very soon.

On the podcast this week, we ask Joey about his training in BJJ, why MMA audiences gravitate toward his sense of humor, and get some fun stories about his time working with Robert DeNiro in the movie Grudge Match.

It's a great conversation that is truly an extension of the great vibe that Joey brings to my gym, Valley Martial Arts Center.  And I can honestly say that our gym is all the better having him there.  Our thanks to Joey D. for one of our favorite conversations.

Subconscious Jiu-Jitsu

Last week, I had the chance to train over at Subconscious Jiu-Jitsu over in North Hollywood.  Friend of the podcast Brent Burniston teaches a hell of a class.

At the end of the podcast, I talk a little bit about what it was like to watch an instructor teach the counter to one of your go-to's (and love every second of it).

I was stoked to finally get to train there and I look forward to visiting Brent's academy sometime soon again!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 61) with Frankie Lester

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FrankieLesterBubbaMcDaniel

Raf's Recollection | More to come about your insane podcast with the gentlemen of "Casa de la Smash," TUF 9 vet Frankie Lester and TUF 17 vet Bubba McDaniel.

VERBAL TAP (Episode 42) with Tim Kennedy

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Raf's Recollection | Tim Kennedy wants to die fighting a set of bionic sharks underwater.

Yes, you read that correctly.

That’s really all you need to know about the guy to understand the man (the myth, the legend) that is Tim Kennedy.

Few people truly embrace their inner-crazy the way that Tim Kennedy does. He knows he’s crazy and doesn’t care. In fact, he wants you to embrace the crazy. Should you need further proof, please see Exhibit A below:

Or Exhibit B:

Or Exhibit C:

That last one proves he’s crazy (who re-does a scene from Anchorman? What brave soul would dare do that!?). But recently we’ve seen a different side of Tim Kennedy in that of a UFC roaster.

For those not in the know: Kennedy was originally supposed to fight Lyoto Machida at next month’s UFC Fight for the Troops 3. Then Michael Bisping had to go and ruin everything by “injuring his eye” (likely story Cyborg Bisping)—forcing the UFC to give Mark Munoz a new opponent for UFC Fight Night 30. That’s when the UFC said, “hey, why don’t we give Machida to Munoz instead?”

So when the Munoz straight up stole Machida, Tim Kennedy did what any unreasonably crazy guy would do: he took to Twitter and called out practically everyone in his division (and even Alistair Overeem for shits and giggles).

But unlike you, me or the thousands of people who take to Twitter to harass their favorite MMA Fighters, Tim Kennedy can actually back up his threats. And while it’s fairly difficult to take a threat from a Green Beret lightly, Kennedy sent out challenges that were filled with irony and self-deprecation.

@TimKennedyMMA how dare you talk about my hair!!! That's crossing the line bro! I'm always available — Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) September 28, 2013

You need to know Mr. @wandfc that one of my secret agents poised your food yesterday. You have to fight me if you want the antidote. #life — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013

All @ufc fighters, This is the dude that you are all too scared to fight. pic.twitter.com/iIYwqcY09D — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013

And, for a while, the internet was truly being used to its full potential. Finally, the UFC relented and handed Kennedy a fighter worthy of his time: Rafael Natal, a fighter who may or may not understand the hilarious design behind Kennedy’s Twitter attacks.

On the podcast, we get to know the real Tim Kennedy: he figures out how to solve the government shutdown, talks faulty Wikipedia page entries, and even discusses the music he wishes he could walk out to in a fight.

But that’s not all. Turns out, Tim isn’t done attacking prominent figures in the world of Mixed Martial Arts. He continues his roasting of some of the more well-known personalities (no one is safe from this man’s relentless hilarity. No one!). So download the podcast above to listen in for all the fun.

Live from New York...

Also on the podcast, I give you all the full scoop behind my trip to New York for NBC Late Night Writer’s Workshop and even tell you how great it was to train at Vitor Shaloin’s (let’s just say I have a lot of work to do with my BJJ game, friends).

Give us a listen and let us know what you think, folks!

BTW

If you're looking for a new gi (and who isn't?), you definitely want to give a look to our pals over at VeryHardToSubmit.com.

As someone who got to see a version of this up close, I absolutely love the look of it and actually got to talk with the guy who made it while training at Shaloin's.

I can't recommend it enough, folks.  Give the website a look and give some love to our friends at VHTS!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 37) with Artechoke Media

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Raf's Recollection | If you practice Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the meme over on the right hand side here pretty much says it all.

As much as we want to go around and spread to the gospel of BJJ to our friends and family, there are some who—despite our best efforts—will never care about the "gentle art."

I know it hurts to hear. I know that it's a lot to take in all at once.  But it's better that it comes from someone who cares.

The realization that some people will never care about a sport that you and I love so much is a fact of life that stings and sometimes causes us great emotional strife (stay with me here, it's going to get better.  Promise).

Our guests on Episode 37 of Verbal Tap know this struggle all-too-well.  Marshal D. Carper and Darryl Cozza are two BJJ practitioners who wrote an uproarious eBook entitled, Don't Wear Your Gi to the Bar, that teaches you how to survive everyday social settings while still preserving your inner BJJ nerd.

And in Verbal Tap first, I'm gonna go ahead and put this as the very first book to receive MUST READ status from our podcast (calm down, we're not starting a book club yet or anything).

Aside from an obvious love of sport, there's a real wit in this eBook that accurately describes the losing battle that is explaining the culture, beauty, and art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu to people who just can't get past why you like dressing up in pajamas and choking your friends.

Wanna know the most insane part?

These guys aren't even charging you a single dollar to read it?  Simply follow this link and download it from their website.  All for Free.99.

All the guys ask in return is that you share the book with your training partners and other BJJ enthusiasts (and maybe even drop a five star review on sites like Amazon if you dig it).  Also, for you non-cheapskates who like to promote authors on the independent circuit (like a real American), there's also an option to buy a version of their book.

While the book is a great display of subversive humor, there's more to Marshal and Darryl than well-written jokes and Game of Thrones/BJJ metaphors.

They're not just funny, their BJJ knowledge is legit.

As we discover in the podcast, the eBook is only the first in a long line of instructional BJJ videos and articles from the pair.  Recently, the duo have launched their own online venture entitled, ArtechokeMedia.com, a website that's designed to promote "the organic growth of jiu-jitsu thought, theory, and technique."  The guys were nice enough to send a preview of their next project to Kev and I during the podcast--and all we can say is that you all are in for a treat when they launch it in the coming months.

It's truly spectacular.

And, for me, that's what made this booking so great.  While we do our fair share of talking with pro fighters and MMA personalities, at our core Kev and I are major BJJ enthusiasts.  When you hear these two explain the rationale behind the website (they want to shine a light on the unsung heroes of BJJ such as coaches, instructors, and mentors who may not necessarily be on the covers of magazines, but who make significant contributions to the sport), it's hard not to do the same and give a voice to two individuals who, themselves, are doing exactly that through their humorous writing and insightful videos.

Maybe that's why we like the sport so much.  There's a camaraderie in jiu-jitsu that extends beyond the walls of a gym or a dojo, independent of affiliation and ranks, that consistently introduces us to people like this.  Even though we have never physically met Marshal or Darryl, our overall hope of growing and sharing the sport is one and the same and Kev and I would be down to roll with them when/if the opportunity presented itself.*

Of course, cool people like us already know the caliber of folks who train BJJ.  Even that smug, appropriately cast "Gatsby" Leo DiCaprio meme knows the deal.

So check 'em out on our podcast and while you wait for the episode to download, enjoy Marshal and Darryl at their finest.

*However, if when I actually meet them they're a couple of d-bags, I reserve the right to take all of this back

VERBAL TAP (Episode 32): UFC on FOX 8 Review

Raf's Recollection | I don't think Kev and I have laughed more than we did on this episode.  Our new friend, TRAVIS, from HowToFightNow.com, had us in stitches the entire episode.

For those unfamiliar, Travis is the guy behind this MMA/boxing viral sensation.

Yep.  That guy.  And he's awesome!  In our EXCLUSIVE interview, we find out what makes Travis tick.  He talks about how the video came together, if people continue to ask if they can punch him in the face, and talks a little bit about the types of fun (and FREE!) instructional videos that can be found on his website.

And while the video that introduced us all to the magic that is @FightSmartTrav is hilarious (and now stands at a cool 2.2 million views online), it doesn't even come close to capturing the essence of the MMA perfectionist who wants to find new and entertaining ways to educate folks about the essence of mixed martial arts and self defense.

There truly is more to Travis than meets the eye.  Sure he's animated, he's got some great MMA training stories, and exudes the perfect type of nonsense that we indulge here at Verbal Tap, but there's a method behind the madness that can be found at his HowToFightSmart.com and I'd highly encourage you all to check out the videos he's providing for Free.99.  So get on it, before he gets the good sense to charge you a-holes for the top notch instruction he's providing.

Additionally, Kev and I take some time to talk about this weekend's UFC on FOX 8 and explain where the hell we've been for the past three weeks.  And before you ask: no, we've missed you more, America.  So stop reading this and download/listen to the podcast already!

Peace!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 23) with Gilbert Jamal Smith

[buzzsprout episode='92250' player='true']

Raf's Recollection |  There are days when I feel that Kevin shouldn't be allowed on the internet.  Sometimes he just gets so excited to post things, he kinda neglects the whole concept of context.

Which is why I'm here to tell you that, yes, there is a reason this video of a 90's slow jam rapper, Shabba Ranks, is posted alongside our interview with one Mr. Gilbert Jamal Smith (no lie, it will completely make sense if you listen to the podcast).

However, would I describe the appearance of Shabba Ranks in the podcast as a "middle school moment" (what does that even mean?) and post it above the photo of the person we actually interviewed?  Probably not, but that's just semantics and layout design people.  Kev does the best that he can with all of the obvious limitations he faces.

But that's not why you're here. You're here to listen to MMA and likely to hear what our friend Jamal has to say.  In this exclusive interview, Mr. Smith holds nothing back as he candidly discusses how he felt about fighting Bubba McDaniel on The Ultimate Fighter Finale, if he felt he and Bubba actually deserved a spot on the main FX card, and how the fight between the two of them came together.

Not only that, but we learn a little more insight into the way Jamal made the transition from grappling to MMA, what affected him the most on his fight at the Ultimate Fighter Finale, and why he is known by Jamal to some and Gilbert to others.

Oh, and don't worry, we get to the bottom of the whole "why is he so against shirts" thing AND learn what's the deal behind that whole six-shooter dance he always does.

That's right, people, we're serious journalists.

So give this fun and very honest conversation about The Ultimate Fighter, the UFC, and Shabba Ranks (?) a listen.  You won't regret it.

#SHABBA!