VERBAL TAP (Episode 55) with Amechi Akpom and Matt Kirtley

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Raf's Recollection | Although Kev and I have very little to offer the jiu-jitsu community, we are fortunate enough to have friends who are making really cool contributions to the sport.

On this BJJ-heavy installment of Verbal Tap, we talk with two people who are doing amazing things to improve and modernize the sport that we all love so much.

BJJ Training Journal

If you’re anything like me, you try as hard as you can to keep records of your BJJ training, but it doesn’t always work out right.  Sometimes you forget the techniques that you’ve used during training, you have a hard time trying to recall the exact steps your instructor showed or, even worse, you go days without updating your records.

Our pal Amechi Akpom is trying to eliminate those problems. On February 8th, he will launch a new app targeted at BJJ practitioners like you and me called BJJ Training Journal (available on all iPhones).

In a Verbal Tap EXCLUSIVE we get Amechi to take us through the app (and the accompanying website BJJTrainingJournal.com) on how you can keep records of your mat time, how many times you submit your training partners, and even how you can keep a digital log all of your notes and techniques that you utilize during training.

And even if you’re lame and don’t have the use of an iPhone (like me), you can still sign up and use the Beta-version of the website over at BJJTrainingJournal.com.

On the podcast, I mentioned to Amechi that I will be blogging about my experience using his website over the next month.  If you are vaguely interested in reading how bad I am, I highly encourage you to set up an account over at BJJTrainingJournal.com and then friend me here.

If you train with me, go ahead and sign up so you can keep a log on how many times you tap me out.  And if you even remotely like jiu-jitsu, you’re gonna want to sign up so you can really start improving your game.

Over the next month and a half, I'll try to make things fun and interesting!

Aseopian Media

As much as I would like to call Matt Kirtley a nerd, I happen to know the man can break my arm with relative ease (see the video above).  But Kirtley’s nerdiness comes in a form many of us can relate to: devotion to the world of jiu-jitsu.

Matt’s a black belt (under Eduardo de Lima) and gives us a lot of cool insight into his latest project with beloved Verbal Tap guest, Marshal Caper (of Artechoke Media).  These two awesome BJJ guys are now working on a sweet Reverse Omoplata from Crucifix Instructional.  The instructional is the first planned to be released in conjunction with Artechoke’s new ebook 3-D Jiu-Jitsu: An Introduction to Thinking Conceptually.

3D Jiu-JItsu is an online ebook (you can view it right here for Free.99) that utilizes multimedia platforms to demonstrate armbars, arm drags, and single leg take downs.  The book combines Marshal’s penchant for thorough description with animated GIFs on how to do the moves and Matt’s guidance and jiu-jitsu badassedry.

While 3D JIu-JItsu is currently up and running, the guys are looking for funding to complete their  Reverse Omoplata Instructional.  They’ve got a campaign up at IndieGogo and are offering some pretty cool perks to those who contribute.  Give it a look, and definitely help these guys out.  If this project does well, they’ve got even more in store for you all (as they outline in the video below).

In fact, there was one perk that Matt kindly extended to myself and Kev.

Some within the BJJ community know Matt as the guy who made a set of trading cards for elite level BJJ Practitioners.  Somehow, we were able to get him to make a couple cards of “Magic” (see what I did there, please don’t sue us Hasbro) for Kevin and yours truly.

Awesome, right?

(That’s not a statement, I’m actually asking you.  Are these good?  Accurate?  I'm clueless here)

I have no idea how that game is played, but I think I’m goblin?  Kevin, however, has never looked better and looks like an evil wizard from the Smurfs.  So kudos to our pal, Matt.  I can now tell my grandchildren one day that, yes, I once had a collectable trading card made about me—and, no, I still have no idea what any of it means.

Don’t forget.  3D Jiu-Jitsu is the shit and go contribute to their IndieGogo immediately.

But Wait, There’s More

As you may have guessed from the preview video above, I am not happy with my BJJ Podcast Nemesis, Paul Moran.  Upon hearing that the news that Matt Kirtley had been booked on both our show and Open Mat Radio in the same week, I might have gone on a small (but justified) rampage by podcast’s end.

Should you care to listen to my meltdown, you can find it around the 1:14:07 mark of the podcast.

And if for some reason you want to listen to whatever it is Paul is passing off as an “interview” with Kirtley, you can head on over to his website and let your ears burn in agony.  I challenge you all to let us know who really had the better interview (you hear that Paul!).

As always, comments, likes, and shares are always appreciated.  Happy training, Verbal Tap fans.

VERBAL TAP (Episode 49) with Paul Moran, James Koh, and Davey Grant

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Raf's Recollection | This is a hell of a show.  We've got a little bit of everything on this one.

We begin with my BJJ podcast arch-nemesis, Paul Moran, from Open Mat Radio who helps us with our comprehensive  coverage of last weekend's FIVE GRAPPLING event out in Anaheim.

Paul describes how the event looked on the live stream and we contrast it to the observations I made while watching the event live.

Obviously, Paul does the best he can to match the superb BJJ analysis and commentary that I bring to the table.  But, along the way, we make some solid observations about the production, presentation, and spectacle that was FIVE GRAPPLING (if you haven't done so yet, check out my EXCLUSIVE interview with James Puopolo above)

Also, we get to know more about Paul and his whole life story blah, blah, blah.  Paul's so great, he's beloved in the jiu-jitsu community, go support his critically acclaimed podcast Open Mat Radio or something.  Boring.  Onto the next guest.

On a serious note, tho.  Check out all that FIVE GRAPPLING had to offer.  The entire event is up for view right here:

James Koh

I have such an appreciation for newscasters who bring a positive perspective to the sport of mixed martial arts.  If you aren't lucky enough to catch the kind of solid work James Koh does out here in LA with his show Cage Talk, you are truly missing out on the work of a sports journalist who shares a true passion for MMA.

Cage Talk is a panel sports talk show that airs immediately after every UFC on FOX telecast.  Not only is it fun and full of energy, but James finds great ways to get UFC Fighters to help break down fights.  It's unlike any other local programming put on by our Los Angeles, FOX 11 affiliate—and it's the perfect show for those who are looking for a lively discussion right after a major UFC card.

I was so glad we were able to get James on to talk about a variety of topics, including last week's Pacquiao fight, comparisons between the UFC and the NBA (don't get Kevin started), and even bring on the UFC Middleweight Champ, "GSP," to respond to criticism James makes about his fighting style.

For more of James Koh, give his work a look right here.

Davey Grant

And, of course, it wouldn't be a true installment of Verbal Tap without another spectacular "1 Minute Review" with yours truly.  This week, we brought in Davey Grant to help us make sense of what the hell went down the week of his semi-final match-up against Anthony Gutierrez.

We learn a little bit more about DJ Davey G and even get a chance to have him try to talk shit to "Chris Holdsworth" on our show.

Truth be told, now that we've had both cast members on the show, Kev and I are going Switzerland on this one and staying out of making any predictions.

We're just looking for a great match between our friends Holdsworth and Grant—and we have no doubt we're in for a great fight.  Truly, may the best man win.

Next Week on Verbal Tap

Don't forget, next week is our big 50th Podcast.  You're definitely gonna want to tune in for that one.  Tell a friend and get excited.

VERBAL TAP (Episode 47) goes to the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo

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Raf's Recollection | If there’s one thing you’ve come to know about me, it’s that I am a perfectionist.

I’ll spend hours revising and polishing drafts because I truly loathe turning in a sub-par product.  It’s part of my overall commitment to an audience and readers: these things may not always be pretty, but we always try to give you 110% here at Verbal Tap (that’s right, we go the extra 10%—even if it means stealing another 10% of energy from other podcasts).

Which is why it pains me to inform you that YES there is a slight audio glitch in the podcast around the 50 minute mark.

There’s a distorted vocal effect that makes us sound like we’re transformers (good news is: if you’re tripping on acid, we sound perfect).  For whatever reason, the podcast Gods overheard me and Kevin having a blast while recording the podcast in the same room (for the very first time) and thought it’d be a perfect time to mess with us.

Nonetheless, the glitch only runs for about a minute or two and I’d hate for that to deter any of you from listening to the awesome shout outs we have to close the show (who knows, one of them might even be YOU!).

Because this was a big weekend, folks.  Probably the biggest weekend in the history of the podcast.

Not only was it the first time Kev and I have been in the same room together in over four years, but it was the first time that we got to cover an event as a united Verbal Tap front.  And let me tell you, the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo was an absolutely amazing experience for us.

We make no secret of the fact that Kevin and I are two huge BJJ enthusiasts and nerds, but this… this was another level all together.  We got to connect with so many individuals who share our passion for our favorite sport and even discovered fans we didn’t know existed (when Keenen Cornelius tells you he likes your stuff, you’re doing ok in the jiu-jitsu community).

Not only did we record a slew of interviews with some of your favorite jiu-jitsu fighters and personalities, but we also recorded a series of video shorts that we are going to be working overtime to try and get up for you guys.  As it stands, we have over 5 hours of content that need to be processed and edited—so I hope you’ll all understand if it takes a little while to sort through all of it.

In the podcast, we talk about our experience at the Expo (including run ins with Renzo Gracie, Big John McCarthy, Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu, MacKenzie Dern, and, hold your breath, Kevin’s man crush Carlos Condit.  We’ve got a Top 10 list of our favorite parts of the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo and we do our best to try and describe the overall experience to those who didn’t (or couldn’t) make it on out.

So please keep a watchful eye on the website.  There are gonna be some great videos from the WJJE (and some other really, really fun stuff as well).

Don’t Worry…

Next week on the podcast we will return with not one, but TWO One-Minute reviews of The Ultimate Fighter.  Plus, I’ll be reporting live from UFC 167 in Vegas this weekend.  So be sure to keep all eyes on VerbalTapCast.com and @VerbalTapCast on Twitter.

VERBAL TAP (Episode 46) with Cody Bollinger and Sarah Moras

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Raf's Recollection | One of my favorite things about watching people tweet during The Ultimate Fighter is the amount of vitriol that’s spewed at a fighters’ direction.  Certainly, we are no strangers to having fun at the expense of the cast members, but you won’t often find me or Kevin telling the fighters how much better we are than them.

Or how we, ourselves, would have acted so much better in a given situation.

For the record, these are my favorite kinds of tweets, #Humblebrags at the expense of a fighter’s success or misfortune.

Hindsight is a wonderful gift, and I’m sure only a handful cast members ever really know the pressure that comes with living in a house like that for six weeks.

Which is why when Cody Bollinger agreed to come on the podcast, I thought it might be a good idea to read some of the tweets the internet wrote about him (hope one of them was yours, you might have to listen in!)

If you haven’t seen the episode yet (and are patiently waiting for the “One Minute Review” to catch you up to speed), let’s just say things didn’t go well for Cody on last week’s episode.

In fact, they kind went “Dana Meeting” bad.

To his credit, Cody showed up, listened in on our “One Minute Review,” made some comments about the episode, Coach Miesha Tate, and, yes, even responded to some the interesting tweets written about him.

Right after our interview with Cody, Sarah Moras stops by.  Sarah’s been one of my favorites on the TUF because of her awesome talking head segments.

She has a very honest speaking style that never pulls any punches (even when talking about herself).

Sarah describes her history with some of the other TUF cast members, talks a little bit about her trademark arm bar, details where her fighting travels have taken her, the types of guys she trains with and even speaks a little bit about her interactions with the winner of TUF:18’s Best Cameo award, Tim Gorman.

And, in my favorite part of the podcast, Sarah tells us an extended (and much better version) of how she got into MMA and reveals how the very funny "Peggy Morgan is a 'giraffe'" comment happened.

If you get the chance, go support her and our friends over at FightForSomething.ca.  You can pick up one of her fighter t-shirts right here!

Gentleman’s Agreement

One thing that amazes me about the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the amount of respect displayed between teammates.  It’s one of the reasons I like the sport so much.  I’ve always been the type of person who thrives in team environments and I love that while gyms do a great job at refining an individual’s abilities, it's typically done through a strong team dynamic.

Having said that.  I’m still really confused about the part where you let a teammate win via gentleman’s agreement.

For those not in the know: There is a practice in competitive BJJ where two members of the same team will settle final matches in a jiu-jitsu tournament through a prearranged agreement (where the two fighters do not have to fight).

Yes, you can win a tournament this way.  Yes, it happened at worlds this weekend.

Granted, I recognize what a terrible human being I am.  And, believe me, I’m no authority when it comes to any matter competitive BJJ.  Additionally, I completely understand not wanting to create a rift between teammates—and I even kind of get that it’s the “right thing” to do—but it’s still kinda weird to me.

However, the gentleman’s agreement thing got me and Kev to wonder how a black belt finals match at Worlds between us would look like (I’ll pause for your laughter).  Aside from hilarious and highly improbable, I’d still love to hear what you all think about this BJJ practice.

But Wait, There's More!

We also play another installment of Over/Under Kevin about this week's UFC's Fight for the Troops 3.

Give a listen and let us know what you think of Kevin's picks!

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