Cleared Hot - Powered By BRCC - Cleared Hot Episode 78 - Knights of the roundtable, and the court Jester

Episode Date: April 8, 2019

In this episode I was joined by three SBG (Straight Blast Gym) black belts, Travis Davison, Rick Davison, and Michael Ransom, aka the Knights. I am obviously the Jester.  In previous episodes surrounding BJJ we have discussed the methodology, philosophy, origin, and training styles.  This is not that type of episode.  Accidentally going to the bathroom, who would win in a fight, religion, cancer, guns, responsibility and accountability, and much more.  Enjoy!

It's going on, everybody. Let's get right into it. Episode number 78 is brought to you by survival. What is survival? Well, I'll tell you what. It is a pretty damn awesome podcast. It's a newer podcast. And if you go on to iTunes or wherever you find your podcasts, type in survival. And what you're going to find currently are three episodes. One episode is an intro to the survival podcast. The other two episodes are the first story of survival about a gentleman who escaped from a North Korean internment camp, which is half of that puzzle. Then you have to escape from North Korea. So those are the first two episodes, content episodes. And if you're into stories like this, which I am,

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I listened to the North Korean internment portion. Damn. That's all I can really say. So go explore it for yourself. Today's episode is also brought to you by Roley White. These are my favorite people. They're just salt of the earth, awesome people. And Rowley White is the number one toy hauler dealer in Arizona.

He has got, or his team, has a dealership in Mesa and two in Phoenix and one in Flagstaff. I was incredibly fortunate to be able to get one of these. I turned it into, or I shouldn't say, I didn't turn it into anything. It showed up as the do awesome shitmobile with a custom wrap, cleared hot on the side. I got a Trager mounted on a swing arm on the back of this thing. And I don't have a toy to go inside of the toy holder. And I'm actually glad that I don't. Because instead of having a set floor plan that you have to maneuver around,

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This was a meeting of the minds in the, well, it wasn't even necessarily in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu world, even though all three of these individuals are black belts from the SBG or straight blast gym world. and I find it fascinating people's journey through martial arts or through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and how they all have a different style. They all have a different approach. They all have a different reason for starting.

So first, I would say, and he mentioned this actually in the beginning, probably the number two repeat guests on the podcast, Travis Davison, the owner of SBG Montana, the Calispell Gym, the Whitefish Gym, the VP of SBGI, Straight Plus Gym International. and his brother was here, Rick Davison. They started on the exact same day. So, of course, I asked him who's going to win in a fight. I'll let the answer speak for itself. And then Michael Ransom.

Michael, as in M-I-C-H-A-E-L. That's how I think it's supposed to be spelled. The words may out a little bit when I see people spell it differently. So Michael Ransom, also known as spicy shorts, because I guess the only way to put this is he wears shorts that are like ridiculously too short. They're unacceptably short, and they have chili peppers on them.

So you can't help but look, but you don't want to look, and then you can't look away, and then you can't forget. So it just can't be unseen. So the three of us sat down, and I tell you what, we covered a lot. I've had people on the podcast,

specifically in the SBG world, where we've talked about the theory, the inception of the program, kind of the belt system and all of that, and this was more of, let's just sit down and talk about cool stuff. I wanted to hear about goofy stuff. I want to hear about people shitting their pants on the mat.

I want to hear about the ways that students can reward their coach. And then the overlay and the application of kind of the struggle. And this is me speaking, I won't speak for them, the struggle and how challenging yourself to do something difficult and failing and coming back the next day and continuing to participate, how that can apply in the outside world. We talked about a bunch of stuff, obviously jiu-jitsu a little bit. But a lot of things outside of that,

from a little bit about religion, a little bit on cancer. We talked about guns a little bit, and then we tied it all back together. So it was my pleasure to have all three of them on there. I had a fantastic time. You guys are catching me a little bit under the weather, so I was coughing. I was trying to hide it from the microphone. I apologize if it blows your ears out. I tried to turn my mic on and off when I was coughing, but it is what it is,

to the best I could. Episode 78, the nights at the roundtable, and the court jester coming at you. smoke. Okay, copy. Whist of the smoke. I'm looking at danger close now. Okay, wait a minute. Can't be clear not. So what are we going to call this one?

I was thinking nights of the roundtable, but there's a problem. I like that. Only three of the four know what the hell you're doing. And so I would be like the Squire, so that sucks. So I can't, I guess we can do that. So it'd be three

nights out of the round table and the court jester. What can we call? And I thought I was the fucking court jester on this one. You go out. I was like, okay. All right. Never mind.

Well, then introduce yourself, court jester. We're going to go around this way. My name is Michael Ransom. I'm an SBG Blackbow. I've been studying martial arts for 26 years. And for the last 12 years, I've been studying Brazilian jiu-jitsu. And why did you start? Jiu-jitsu or martial arts.

What martial art did you start with? So I started in karate when I was 10 years old. my dad would always bring martial arts movies home. You know, I watched karate kid when I was really young. You know, Ninja turtles, all that kind of stuff.

I wanted to be a ninja. And then, like, when I grew up and I started watching the UFC, my dad would bring those movies home too. And, like, I would always cheer for the strikers and stuff. But then later on, I found out that, you know, all that kind of stuff,

karate, kung fu, it's all garbage. It doesn't work in a real fight. And then just from seeing Brazilian jiu-jitsu, then later on when I was about 24, 25, I found a school like 40 minutes away from my house and would just go train because I knew it would be good for me. And my job, I was a security guard at the time.

I was going to Treasure Valley Community College and thought, man, if I hit somebody or kick somebody, you know, I'd probably get sued. So, you know, let me give jiu-suita tribe where I could just hold somebody down or, you know, choke them out, you know, not really hurt them too much, you know. So I thought that would be a better route, you know, something that was actually functional. I like it.

Ricky? Rick Davison, Black Belt, Straight Blast Jam under Matt Thornton. Been doing this for, what, 20 years, probably? Same at Straight Blast. Yep. That's the only place I train. And then? Travis Davidson, your most frequent guests, short of Dudley.

But I'm coming for him. And now my brother and I started jujitsu on the very same night. We rode to the gym together. And that was in 1999, so 20 years ago. And yeah, I mean, now I'm here in Montana and, you know, brought Michael in to work in Whitefish, with us and then my brother's in town this weekend because we're cornering opposite each other tomorrow night oh i didn't know that part um whose who's who's fighter is coming from rocus okay and it's a woman correct no it's a man it's he he kind of yeah listen i'm not trying to insult

the guy obviously is that why my brother brought me here you were right you were right you were right that was an unintentional ill-informed joke that and erin why are you hiding in the corner you can just low crawl underneath so the video doesn't see it And then of course there's me, but people who listen to the podcast know me. I'm not a black belt, but I do have a black section on my belt. It's very small. It's getting smaller. The more stripes you put on there, the more white it gets.

But if you just take those stripes off, it's a black belt. That's true. You get to rotate it slightly forward. People, it's not a big deal. You know, it's fine. Yeah, so there's a lot of experience in this room. Let's dig right into the most important question. You guys both started on the same day.

if you get in the octagon tonight, who's winning? I would crush, I would crush him tonight. Even with an injury coming back from an injury, I can't even go a hundred percent. We went bowling last night, and he had to bowl left-handed. I was going to ask if that's where the injury came from. So, I mean, yeah, I mean, I would crush him. Hold on.

I've never bowled left-handed in my life. And we're not talking about bowling now. Now we're talking about the octagon again. Okay. You guys going to the octagon. You're healthy. Oh, it started the same day. You own you?

I mean, you got to bet on yourself. It would be a knockdown dragout. It always is. We've had some hour-long battles. On the mat? Oh, yeah. That seems like that seems excessively long. One trip, he came up to Montana for camp, I think, like, what was that,

four or five years ago? Yeah. Maybe more. Yeah, he's one of the few people. why I've actually like popped joints on because he just refuses to tap. And I admire that about him because I wouldn't tap to him either. I think there's a point where that might become counterproductive. Yeah, I was going to say after this last surgery.

What was that? I'm trying to think in my head, what was the theme to camp a few weekends ago? Oh, longevity. Yeah. Yeah, well, that doesn't, that's not when you fight your brother who's less than two years different in age, you know. I think we're like 18, 19 months apart or something. So, and you grow up beating up your brother and getting beat up by your brother and then, you know, do something like Jiu-Jitsu.

When we started, I think we both got our blue belt at the same time. And then he got his purple belt before me. Then he got his brown belt before me. And then I got my black belt before him. So I win. There's a reason for that. I win because he can never catch up now. what's the reason for that

he did get his black belt three months before me that's true something like that but it was only because I had been training because I was fighting MMA at the time so I wasn't wearing the ghee

if I'd been wearing the ghee I probably would have got it three months before him at least maybe six sounds reasonable well there is some truth in what he said All right. I mean, that's fair. He was fighting MMA at the time, which, you know, Jiu-Jitsu is like one piece of the puzzle.

But if you're training for MMA, your focus is definitely a little bit more spread out. There's other things you have to think about and other things you're working on. So it definitely does take away from just the pure Jiu-Jitsu skill set. So I will grant him that that might possibly some of that might be true. It's fair enough. Like I was talking about before we started, it was cool having the most recent person on

was Matt just to talk about the philosophy of SBG before that with Paul, who you want to talk about an interesting and diverse background of real world experiences, kind of unbelievable. He's a renaissance man, which I'm not exactly positive what that means, but I think he is a renaissance man for sure. and before that, Frankl, the nutty professor, who watching him roll at camp, like I was saying, when we were talking about Matt, I literally sat there and was like, oh, okay, I need to change a few things up in how I approach this. But it's been cool to hear all of those things because I think we dove into a different area of Jiu-Jitsu every time. So now I think is the best time for the best stories you guys have about Jiu-Jitsu on and off the mat.

because I have buddies who hit me up, they keep asking about, hey, have you ever seen anybody shit themselves on the mat yet? What are you? Why would that happen? That I have not seen. I've seen somebody shit themselves in MMA, not from any particular thing other than just, you know, strain and oops, you know. What's the move after that?

Do you say, pardon me, we need a few moments to take care of this, or is it over? I think you just pretend it didn't happen. I mean, just keep going. Yeah. Show must go on. That's a nasty show beyond that point, though. Yeah, it's not good.

You never want to trust the fart, especially when you're rolling. No. Never trust the fart. Well, usually they're not on purpose. Sometimes they get pushed out. Yeah, you get squished by a heavy dude on top. There's nothing you can do, neon belly. That's where I heard the shitting stories from.

It was an association with neon belly. Yeah. Which I think is, what scared me away from Gus because he's, I mean, hard to describe other than he's a freaking condor of a human being with gorilla mitts and the strength that's a little bit beguiling for his body. Like, where is this coming from? Well, and he doesn't lift weights or work out. All he does is jujitsu. Yeah, but even when he started, he had that crazy grip. Okay, so I'm going to go back to, I think you were talking to him at camp. And I think

somebody who will remain nameless, but we'll just call him Nelson for the purpose of this conversation. We were talking at camp. It's a made-up name as far as we're concerned. We don't even know anyone with that name. We don't. But I think we were talking about how you guys can see somebody come into the gym and you're like, okay, that person's going to be here. And Gus asked you, what did you think of me when I came in? I thought you were a psychopath, like that's a true story.

like, I mean, I've told that a thousand times. I mean, now it'll be, you know, 1,000. Recorded and, you know. Disseminated widely? No, I mean, Gus walked into the gym, our first location, tall, dangly. He had two mohawks.

I think they call it like a, I don't know. It was a reverse mohawk. Whatever, Michael. It was because you're focused more on the negative space. Yeah. It's not really a mohawk, a reverse mohawk. Yeah. So, before.

poor Michael so rudely interrupted me. Let me go get your beer. I'll go get your. I'll take one. No, he had like pink mohawks, piercings in his face, in his nipples, like just, you know,

and I looked at him, and he was kind of like, I don't know, just disheveled looking. So this is the instantaneous snapshot judgment as the bell goes off as the door opens. And truth be, like, told he was like Googling yoga.

He was just bored and wanted to do something. He came in for yoga and spur of the moment decided, I'm going to do Jiu-Jitsu. And so he bought a ghee and he said, I'll see you tomorrow. And he walked out the door and I looked at the few guys that are on the mat. I'm like, that dude's not coming back. That dude's not coming back. And lo and behold, he showed up the next day and literally showed up every single day from then on out. Like that guy never missed class.

He was the most consistent student I've ever had still to this day. And he got good super fast. I guess he was just talented, you know, didn't have anything to do with the fact that he was the most consistent student that I ever had and that it came to every single class. But I think he got his black belt in like six years. Which Matt was talking about that on the last podcast too, how 12, 13, whatever the normal number of people associate with, doesn't have to be like that.

Yeah. Well, and people, I mean, let's be honest, people are just stupid. So. And slash inconsistent. Yeah. And maybe just not very thoughtful because jiu-jitsu is not unique. Like, you feel piano or whatever. It's never about the number of days or the number of weeks or months or years.

it only ever is about the hours. And so if it's 10,000 hours and you go eight hours a day, seven days a week, and I go one hour a week, you're going to get there first in terms of weeks and days and years. But ultimately what it boils down to is the number of hours. And some people get their hours quicker. And he did because he showed up more than anyone else did. Yeah, I was hesitant to roll with him due to the tales of, losing control of one's bowels associated with neon belly because the stories of his neon belly

pressure are legendary. So then we started rolling and it was awesome. It was like he couldn't have been more helpful. He would sweep me and go, what happened? I'm like, I don't know. He's like, go back. Let's do it again and sweep me and what happened. Like, same answer as the first time. Then he would show me, I'd say, okay. But I mean, he was the best. Like very totally controlled the entire time. And then so of course at the end, I'm like, I need you to demonstrate your old neon belly pressure because I've heard about it. He's like, okay. I'm like, oh, God. Yeah.

It's funny because Gus is one of the nicest, most considerate people that you'll meet. And yet he's also the type of guy who would take pleasure in and go out of his way to submit you with knee on the belly. Not like go there as a transition or a position, but he would take pride in the fact that he could submit you with his knee on the belly. which is not unlike what a lot of the coaches are talking about now with like Kasikatami and you know tapping people with pressure he was just doing it before they were yeah that's a crappy position to be on the inside of Rick what's your favorite thing about jujitsu um besides rolling with dudes yeah rolling with dudes number one for sure

sweaty of course favorite thing about jujitsu I would say the uh the challenge. I would say the challenge. My game's pretty basic, I would say, but it's, but there's always something that I'm learning.

So I think, I think always learning something new is what I like the most. I mean, no matter how much I do it all, I'm not a big YouTube, I don't watch a lot of videos, to be honest with you. But when I do-

Which seems to be the recommendation, actually pretty, widely and broadly. And I'm not saying not to. I'm just saying for me personally, because the way my game is, I don't retain information like that. But when I do watch them,

it has to be something really basic. Rafael Levato Jr., something like that, where it's just like, dude, do it, smash pass, or this, that, whatever. And when I watch those videos, and usually it's of guys who do similar things that I do, whether it's Marcello Garcia,

which I'm not putting myself on that level, but with Butterfly Guard or something like that, and I watch it, I'm like, that's the little detail that I'm missing to perfect what I'm trying to do. And then I do it in the gym, like, that's what I was missing. So I think just constantly being able to learn something

every time you're on the mat is what, I mean, I don't know if that's what keeps everyone else from going back, but that's what keeps me interested, or my favorite thing at least about, jiu-s-jitsu is that you can always learn something new no matter it doesn't matter how long you've been doing it michael my favorite part of jih-tzu would probably be that like the efficiency of it all like you can smash somebody who doesn't know jiu-jitsu without using a whole lot of muscle like i've had like way bigger guys like white belts underneath me and like they can't do anything

like they just struggle and it's that's that's kind of an awesome feeling to know that like Tell me more. I'm not familiar with this. Like, you know, if I get on top of somebody, you know, it's just little movements that can just turn someone's good day into a real bad day. Like a little guy can make a big guy just suffer, you know, without hardly doing anything. And that's, to me, that's awesome to watch from the top. You're looking down and they're struggling to get out. That's, that's, that's true.

So if I get this right, if I get this right, so your favorite part about you just, to the smashing white belt. Not smashing white belts. I don't know if it's that. But no, listen. I think it might be looking down at them. Looking down. It's probably eye contact.

No, no, no, no, not all that. I'm picking up on some psychological stuff here. I don't know. Could be sexual in nature. Just to know, like, if, you know. No, I completely understand what you're saying in all seriousness. If I ever had to fight a big guy, you know, I'd be able to handle myself. If you ever had to fight a big guy,

Yeah. And I say this, a picture came up in my Facebook timeline. I started the last day of July. I'm like, oh, okay, now I know how long I've been doing this, which is not long, right? Everybody at this table can agree. But what has baffled me is the lack of knowledge you have to have in comparison to somebody else to make it a little bit ridiculous. like it's i mean i was rolling with a buddy in salt lake and he's awesome and he wants to learn jiu jitsu but he can't learn jiu jitsu he's a large guy it didn't go well for him

right but that's i mean that's what's so cool about like today today in class i think i said something um what was oh we were talking about like the taekwondo school down the street and the ikedo school down the street and i was saying how you yeah, you could be a black belt at that school and walk out of that school feeling like you were a badass and that you had a certain expectation of what you couldn't, couldn't do. Or you could do jiu-jitsu and get a blue belt and be a real badass, right? Like that's, I mean, that's in essence what you're saying. Like, you don't have to be a black belt in jiu-jitsu to just be able to tool people. Like, if you're a blue belt and they're not doing jiu-jitsu, you're got.

It's going to be a problem for sure. You're going to be like Michael's, but just bullying people all the time. Beating up white belts. Just enslaving people. It's not even about that. I actually think the linchpin of your comment was the eye contact because you had like an emotional response in your eyes. There's bully proof jiu-jitsu and there's bully jiu-jitsu. We call that Filipino jiu-jitsu.

I'm going to open up my own school called Dirty Mikes. Dirty Mikes Jiu-Jitsu. Is it eye contact? All times. Only white belts are allowed. He kicks you out as soon as you learn it. Once you get a blue belt, you're done. Oil checks.

That's not good. It's not good. It's not good. It's great. Oh, boy. Have you guys found, actually I think that Davidson brothers might have a different answer to this. Have you guys found the more that you, you guys have known a lot of the stuff for a really long time?

Do you find that I have seen, at least in my own life, the people who are not, they've never been tested are the ones who seem to want to jump into that arena to test themselves so they're looking. They're like, oh yeah, that guy's talking shit, right? They want to go and pursue. Whereas I have seen

the people who I know who know or have the most experienced, they're like, nope, I'm out. I don't want any part of this because they understand like, hey, let's just go buy the guy of beer. That's my favorite move when people are becoming assholes and bars. Hey man, you want to outside?

I'm like, no. How about I buy you and your friends? each a beer. And like 20 minutes later, we're boys. Right. It's the best tool ever. Like, hey, man, you're obviously hammered. Let me get you more hammered. But it shuts it down because I mean, and I'm not saying I have any of that experience, but I just am not interested in pursuing violence unless forced to do so. But have you guys noticed the more that you understand and learn about, the less likely you are to engage in that particular activity outside of a gym environment? Yeah, I agree 100%.

For me, and I think most people, I think if you took most MMA fighters, I bet 80 to 90% of them outside of the octagon. You probably couldn't force them to fight. No, they would probably do the same thing. Of course, there's dicks everywhere in every, you know, business. Michael's here. Yeah. But I would say 100%.

And for me personally, well, when we first started out, it was just like, dude, we probably shouldn't get any more fights anymore, because what if we run into one of those dudes, right? But as you get better, have been doing it longer, if you spar in the gym, or if Mike comes down, which he doesn't come down pretty, you know, anymore.

He doesn't have to anymore. He's training with the best training. Well, he was trained. Well, second best. But so, but it's like we're in there doing this all day long. So it's like, you're getting a bar. You're having to get, not even bar, just whatever.

In that atmosphere. More than likely it's going to be a bar. Yeah, mostly it's going to be a bar. It's going to beat around the bush. Like for guys, 90% of the, time it's going to be alcohol involved, likely in a bar or restaurant. I mean, straight. I think you miss that by 10%.

It's possible. And when something like that does go down, unless it's a self-defense thing or it's just unavoidable, I think it is like, dude, I've been doing this for 20 years, you know, as often as I can, the last thing I want to do is when I'm out hanging out with my friends is to do what I do all the time anyways, and I know I've wasted you anyways, most likely. Yeah, it's just, there's just, if the only reason you would do it is if you were a bully like Mike. Yeah, at 30 mics. At dirty mics.

But no, what my brother's saying is spot on. And look, we're not saints or, you know, it would be dishonest to not. We've had laps of judgments. Yeah, I mean, we've, we've been in fights together. we've been in fights individually. So we've been in that situation, but it, I'm trying to think if I've had to,

I, it just don't get in fights anymore. Like there's just, it's, it's, it's different. I think a lot of the, what happens when you get a bunch of men in a room together like that and then people are drinking and stuff like that, it, it's, it's fear. And, um,

that fear kind of goes away. Once you have the tools to actually deal with the situation, it gives you the level-headedness to do the buy-a-beard trick. Because, look, if you're a scared man and stuff gets heated, you're not thinking because you're afraid. Well, you're starting off in a corner. You've got nowhere else to be pushed. But when you're cool and relaxed and chill and confident and you're not,

like when you go out in public, you're not worried about getting beat up, then when the situation arises where a fight, could happen, you can use common sense to be like, you know what, not worth it, you know? I've seen parallels in the, in the gun world, actually. People who make a decision, they want to go and pursue getting a concealed carry permit. And so they go and they buy a gun and hopefully they get some training. And the most common thing that I hear from people who start carrying a gun for the first time is,

I don't want to mess with anybody because I don't know how many other people out there have a gun, which was what they weren't thinking about before they went into it. But it completely pops their balloon. Instead of thinking, oh, I'm freaking Clint Eastwood with the six-year. They're like, hmm, I'm not messing with anybody. I'm going to be yes, sir, no, sir, yes, ma'am, no ma'am. It's interesting. It makes sense to me, though.

I mean, it does. And the idea of, you know, carrying concealed weapons or having access to firearms makes sense as far as there's some mean. on Facebook about people were more civil when you could ax them in the head, you know, that sort of thing, where the threat of being a jerk resulted in me taking that tactical tomahawk and just splitting your skull. Like you were less likely to be a jerk in public. That was pretty social media times because the digital tomahawk doesn't seem to work for people,

so they kind of disconnect between their whatever, fill in the blank comment in somebody meeting them in an elevator and having one of those tomahawks. Right. Yeah. I think, I think, too, hopefully this isn't getting way off topic, but... Get in the rabbit hole. I feel like, because I did, I went to go get my concealed-to-carry permit. Yep.

Like, I think it was last summer. And I was in there with a room of people, and I was like, these mothers. I already know where you're going, yeah. This guy could actually be carrying a gun. Like, it was boom. And he was done with that. the class, he paid his money.

I mean, kudos for him to come into the class at least, because you can do it in an line too in Oregon. But I was like, I'm looking at these people. I'm like, this is scary as shit. So what you just described is the black belt at the Taekwondo School.

They go out because I've been to those courses and I've watched them and I've watched people who have never shot a gun. They show up with their usually a Glock 17. Glock 19. It's in their box. They do not know

how it works at all, and they go to a two-hour class. They shoot maybe 15 rounds, and pating, depending on their state, here's your certificate of graduation, go down to the whoever, probably I think it's the sheriff that manages it, and then the next year they're carrying concealed.

And the only people that are in danger, if they ever clear leather on their holster, is everybody but who they're aiming at. The safest place to be is directly in front of them and just holding still because they can't hit like but what's crazy is they think because they have a gun that they're going to be safe and it is uh it's it's an incredibly dangerous headspace to be in and for like the last two weeks i've been doing almost nothing other

than being on the internet um making fun of people slash potentially bullying you've been doing a really good job of actually um crazy shit i see online about firearms instruction that is some of the most dangerous and wacky off-the-wall stuff I've ever seen. But people have no filter. They're just like, oh, this guy is an official school. He has an Instagram account, so therefore I'm going to do what he says, and they're going to die. Right.

Yeah. Well, I just, you know, it's funny. We're getting off this, you know, rabbit hole, whatever. But I'm thinking about that, like, listen to that. And it's like, that's such a important piece of what we try to do at SBG as far as, you know, we do our free women's self-defense all the time. And I think the thing that I preach more than anything else is, look, if you don't train it, you don't own it. And I use the example of guns because so many people go to bed at night thinking they're bulletproof because, well, I'm good, I've got a gun.

Or their answer to everything is, oh, yeah, but I just shoot you. And it's like, sure you would, buddy. And there's so many things, asinine about that knee-jerk response, but not the least of which is. so I touch your wife's butt you're going to murder me like that's justifiable homicide I'm walking down the street with your TV

and your only way of stopping me is to put a bullet to me like well hold on is it like an LED TV I knew you I know or does it have a tube still it has a tube dude

is it a big old box one are we talking perhaps curved I mean. No, it's insane. I get into a car wreck with you, a fender bender, which our insurance is going to be fine. We're going to throw out $500 on a deductible. I was reading about a road rate incident.

Road rage incident today. The guy shot at the person in the car, missed hit the 10-year-old kid. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, that's, but that's my point, right? Like, isn't it, it seems to be dishonest to me to sell, people, this sense of security in a gun if they're not going to actually learn how to use it. But they're winning participants in that fraud, I think in the gun world.

If you think that the possession of an item is going to equate to safety, then you're not actually paying it. Like, it'd be the same as saying, oh, I'm 16, I'm just going to go buy a car because I can. And since I'm old enough and I possess this car, I know how to drive. You don't. You're completely irresponsible. to get behind the wheel. The gun world, I don't know why people have such a sense of safety just because they possess a gun.

It's the exact opposite of that if you don't know what you're doing. Well, and it's not easy to hit stuff with a pistol. Like it's... Yeah. And that's for most people in a lit environment with no stress on a linear range. I mean, I was at Northwest Shooter the other day. I love that place, by the way. But I was just happened.

I was on the rifle range. I was sitting there shooting with a guy whose name was. we won't use. We'll just use the name Nelson. He should have been here. He should have been here. Every time I go to the gun ranges, all I like to do is look at the ceiling. Go to Northwestern Shooter and take a look at the ceiling. There's bullet holes all along, and each one of them has an amazing story of a fucking idiot with an item that is designed to take life, and they are just not taking it. seriously.

So I'm saying, like, there's the gun people who kind of portray it, but I truly believe that those people who just buy into that, they're a winning participant in that fraud as well. And I almost think that the Taekwondo people, I don't have enough experience, but I'd almost think that they might be a winning participant in their disconnected delusion of their ability level. They'd have to be, right? you know I think I've thought about this a lot of times

and I don't mean to pick on the taekwondo people only like I'll pick on Hopkido and Aikido and we should do Aikido whatever we should do whatever Stephen Seagal does let's pick on that well I think Rokas who's fighting one of my guys was an Aikido guy

but he cut his ponytail off which is cool when he gave up Aikido but in all seriousness the I think what happens and this is just a guess you know martial arts is is not free it shouldn't be free so people pay for it and then they earn rank and just like in any system the military police the corporate world where there's a rank involved

it's like well yeah i'm i'm this rank now and you're that rank and then you keep moving up these ranks and you start to be invested in whatever it is that that that you've earned rank in and you've spent money on. Now you see people all the time invest money and it's a bad investment, but they get to the point where they're so deep in that they don't want to get out. And so they don't want to realize the loss. And I can't remember the term for that. But the reality is this. I think that you put 10, 15 years into a martial art. And at some point, you discover it's not real. Most people are going to continue. to pretend because they want to believe it's real at that point.

That's a tough spot to be. Yeah, but I mean, am I right? I just think that's how people operate. It's with all their beliefs, right? Where most people have a very hard time letting go of a position that they've defended and believed in. Invested in. Because you have to be humble and you have to, you know, you also have to basically admit that you were wrong. And I think a lot of people have a hard time, even when given the evidence that, hey, you fucked up, they don't want to own it.

Especially if they're down the road. I think it gets harder every foot you go down the road. 100%. And so they're emotionally invested in it. They are ranked in it. They've spent money on it. And now all of a sudden they've got to say, oh, yeah, the last 15 years, worthless. I think we should talk about Stephen's call a lot for the next 90 minutes.

I don't want to say, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I'm going to reverse us back out of the rabbit hole for a second. Okay. Does it end in the Stephen Seagull. No. You don't bring a gun to the concealed to carry permit tests, you know? Like, um, and I saw people in there. I don't know, do you? I don't know. never took it. No. What kind of gun do you know? Montana's a shell issue state for a military veteran. Here's what, here.

What did you qualify on you? Finger guns? Rubber band. No, it's like, hey, that was a 10. X. 10. Here's what I, here's the point I was going to make.

Kick it to the point. Just in the same way when you look around a room and you're like, this dude's got a gun, that's scary. Or this chick's got a gun, that's even scarier. But, um,

I think the other reason, why when I go to a bar, whether there's fighters there, whoever it is, the other thing I think of is, this motherfucker, somebody gave him a black belt? Like, who would give that guy a black belt? He's a dick. And he just is a bad person. So I think that's the other reason why I'm like,

is it important enough for me to like go into a bar even though I know I can probably beat up the majority of people? Most likely. Les Michael was there. Or are there two guys in there or a guy in there who maybe gets a lucky hit, whatever, and maybe he's trained too, but he's just a bad dude. So I think for me personally, that's probably the other reason, because there's guys out there who shouldn't carry a gun, and there's guys out there who shouldn't be trained in martial arts. Yeah, it's kind of in the hands of the beholder. I mean, it's an amazing tool. You could force people to look into your eye from a bottom position or you could teach people to be bully proof, right?

You can be the bully proof or you can teach people to be bully proof. It is just like a gun, right? I never thought about it in that sense. But yeah, I mean, because a gun can be such a necessary tool and can be used for a lot of good. But it can also, you know, in the wrong hands can do a lot of damage too.

I've got a good story, sort of. Tell me more. I won't say any names. Nelson. No, you know the story, too. So I would say probably, God, we were purple belts at the time. And we were training in Portland. And a guy came in the gym.

He was a black belt. And he was Narling. And he was narly. And he came in, matter of fact. And my brother was like, dude, I don't even know if I'm purple. I called Matt. The guy was that good. Matt was in Canada.

I called Matt. I just got my purple belt. So this random dude just rolled in. This random dude. Like, he. rolls in on a 10-speed. Ten-speed. And I'm running like an open mat in Portland.

Dude rolls in on 10-speed. Looks kind of homeless. And he's like, hey, can I roll, you know? And I was like, yeah, sure, man. He's like, okay, I'm going to go get my ghee. Comes back. It was another of those guest stores. I'm like, this dude's not going to come back.

He comes back. He goes into the back and he changes and he comes out and he's got a black belt on. And I'm like, what the hell? Right? Like some homeless dude on at 10-speed? Now he walks out of the back with a black belt on. and so I rolled with him and he just murdered me. And at the time, I felt, I felt like I was pretty good because a good purple belt.

Like, I mean, you're, you're getting there. They're pretty spicy from my experience. And, and so I got on the phone. I called Matt up. He was at our gym in Kingston, Canada, with Mike Sweeney and Rebecca. And I was like, dude, I'm like, I don't even think I'm a purple belt. I'm like, I think you shouldn't have given me my belt because I had just gotten it and stuff. And anyways, I let my brother finish the story because he ended up spending more time with that individual.

But it turned out the dude was world class. So I heard the story about him telling Matt he didn't think he was a pro ball. So I was like, there's no way I'm going to roll with this guy because I'm not getting on my arm. Engage Matt dodging. So, yeah, so we trained with this guy and both same experience. I'm like, this dude's good. And I'm like, okay, he's a black belt and I'm a purple belt. But still, I should be able to hold my own a little bit.

So then he comes back. He actually did a couple classes, and then he actually came back and did MMA with us, and we did MMA. And I was like, oh, he's all right, whatever. And came back and actually taught a class. This was way back, I mean, a long time ago. And so then we kind of became, I would say, acquaintances, not friends. Because he was kind of shady. I never knew.

He's like, oh, you just drop me off right here. I just lived right down the street. I'm like, all right, cool. But I didn't think anything of it because it's like, okay. So then we went to a fight one night and I think it was. IFL. Yeah. And I him and two other guys from the gym and we go to the fight and I pick this dude's in my car like several times.

We've hung out and we get to the fight. We're hanging out and Hino Gracie walks out and he dips down in the seat. He's like this like, like what are you doing? He's like, I just don't want him to see me. He's like, we got bad blood. I'm like, okay, that's weird. It's like a white dude, right? It's not like a Brazilian guy.

Like, oh, maybe it's like some beef they got. But so the fight happens, whatever, and I dropped him off that night. That was the last time he'd rode in the car with me. It's like, just dropped me off right here. I'm like, all right, I just thought it was kind of weird. I was like, dude, I'll drop you off at your head. He's like, no, no, it's fine. Walks down an alley, leaves, goes.

And some other guys that we were, with were so intrigued by how good he was. They were YouTubers. It was Jonathan Lee and Will. Well, I wasn't going to say any names. You can say those names. I'm not saying the name of the guy who's in prison. Maybe those aren't real names.

So they're nerd now on videos and they goodness they were to be honest with you. Because I wasn't. I can give a shit about videos and who you are and that stuff. So they find out who this guy is and we Google him. And he's wanted for rape. He tapped Marcello Garcia twice. He's wanted for rape and like at knife point, like on several occasions. And this dude's been driving around.

Yeah, it was crazy. Jumped, jumped, jumped bail in California. It was on the lamb. Stole an ID in Oregon. But this is a guy who, I mean, was beating world champion. Phenomenal grappler. Could have been the best grappler in the world. He literally tapped Marcelo Garcia in competition.

We'll tell you his name after the podcast. But where's it now? Everyone who hears this is going to. He's in prison. He's in prison. So he's doing Yards Jets in Pelican Bay. But you get that, but you got guys like that who were just in Oregon who were in prison. It was a Half Gracie black belt.

Cameron Earl. But you've got the guy who was in, uh, who was the UFC fighter who was in recently up in Morgan. He was a black belt and he's in prison for, I mean, just it's, it's, it's, it's pretty, Oh, Hermes Fronka. So, yeah, I mean, here's the thing, like, let's not, let's not pretend. that being a black belt in jiu-jitsu makes you a black belt in life. Like, there are two separate things.

And I think that's where you're going with this. At least I hope it is, because if not, I'm just putting words in his mouth. But for me personally, and I've said this before, and my students will hear it until I'm dead, I'm not going to wrap a black belt around somebody unless they're a black belt in life, period. because too many people look up and put too much status on that belt. I'm not going to award it just simply based on performance. You can be a brown belt at my gym, and you could roll like a black belt,

but if you act like a white belt, you're going to be a brown belt forever. Have you ever encountered that, or does it comment? Yes. Really? Okay. Yes. I was wondering if the time and effort taken to get to that level would probably... For most people, it fixes them.

Yeah, fixes them or weeds them out, because I just don't. don't want to put the effort in. For most people. And that's why you don't hear about it that often. But when you do, it's disgusting. Do you address it directly? Or I mean, what's the approach you've taken when you have seen it? Well, you know, I've really only had to date one particular incident.

And it was out of my hands. And, you know, I didn't belt the person. And it turned out that, the person Didn't deserve it Didn't deserve it And now they're not a black belt anymore At SBG

I only have I've got kind of a sense For these kind of things When I meet people And I'm usually right And there's been one person That I've had a bad taste in my mouth about But he's not part of the organization anymore

I feel like your guy's mechanism would be substantial throttling every open mat until that person decided to go elsewhere. I know who's talking about. Well, I mean, even in my old job, people, they confuse integrity with occupation, and it's a very, very, very dangerous position to be in, especially if the occupation or the blackboard, it's something that's aspirational or inspirational to people look at. Your ability to manipulate and leverage people beyond what you should be able to do so, it's dangerous.

Well, and that's just it, right? Because here's the thing like, what, I know there's, we were going to just be goofing around and lighthearted and making fun of Michael and. Oh,

we're coming right back to that. But here, five more seconds. But this is the thing like, it's like, you know, the president getting a blow job from, from,

from an intern, right? Yes, on the surface, that seems harmless. Like a big deal, like, you know,

two consent. adults, but it is a big deal, and it's a big deal because you have somebody who's working for free, who's a college student, and then you have the most powerful man in the world. Yep. Like, you don't think that there could be a little bit of manipulation happening there. There's a reason why, like, college professors and priests and police and anybody who's in a position of authority, even if it's not a violent controlling authority, but just somebody who's looked up to, you know, it's important that we pick leaders and put people in those positions

who have integrity, who are trustworthy, because if not, it's just way too easy to manipulate the system. You see it all the time with politicians. Yeah. I mean, they're constantly like sweetening the pot for themselves. So, and I'm not saying black belts are presidents, but I am saying that there's a lot of responsibility that goes with being a, black belt and there's a lot of people looking up to and have their eyes on you and i think when my brother said about not getting in fights because you want you want to keep the way you act in public it starts to change i mean you have to you have to act differently sometimes because eyes are on you exactly yeah that's a burden associated with those jobs has ever been a president

that practices Jiu-Jit-T? Heck, yeah. Roosevelt, yeah. He said that he said that Jiu-Jitsu, I'm going to totally butcher this.

Anyone listening? Just Google the quote. Can Google it. But yeah, Roosevelt practiced Jiu-Jitsu. In fact, we're painting him on a mural on the side of the building with, with,

in Calispell? Yep, killer. And he basically said, in a nutshell, that jujitsu was worth more than all other athletic endeavors. Well, wasn't he the same one who said, speak softly and carry a big stick? He was a badass.

I mean, that was a... I like that guy. Are you okay, Michael? What's going on? Losing your shit over there. I told you. He's like, oh, powerful man, I'm hot. I told you that was going to happen.

I would say... I would say the other thing before we get lighthearted again is... And, I mean, this isn't dark or anything, but I don't know where it comes from but I think me and my brother we're as different as we are in a lot of areas I think we're in the same I would say 100% neither one of us has ever been um like in awe to the point of an athlete or somebody we train with to the point where if they're a dick if we're like oh we can we can overlook that because I want to train with I've got people that are like, oh, but he's, or, oh, and I'm just like, dude, if you, if, if that person's not a good

just a decent person, I just don't want to train with them. Not because I'm afraid, not because of this, that. I just don't want to associate with them. We get limited time and energy. Why would you want to do that? And not only that is that. I got that quote. If that's how you interrupt you. Were you close? I was right on the money. I'm, dude, I'm really smart. And, and I have a super good Memory. So tell me how... Shut it, Michael. You're fired. You're fired. You're going back to Boise. Who's going to do the deposits?

I make the money you deposit it. Okay. The art of Jiu-Jitsu is worth more in every way than all of our athletics combined. I think I pretty much nailed that. Do you guys have any idea where he got exposed to it? Man, I know the story. And he's actually, there's... You can still buy the book from his... trainer. It's pretty cool. It's illustrated and it's badass.

But yeah, Roosevelt. Sorry to, that's right. Back to what I was saying was pretty awesome, too. It was, I tell you, it reminds me, it reminds me, so I look back in my military career and the most rewarding job, I think, looking back, was actually when I was an instructor. And the curriculum is straightforward. It's a filter. And it does 90% of the work. And the other 10% is subjectivity in the most objective way possible of the students, do we trust you around the people that you're going to leave and go work with people you care

about? And 99% of the time it was cut and drives. Like, nope, I'm not going to do it. And I deviated from my personal standard one time. And I was like, you know what? I'm going to take it. I'm going to take the risk. And it bit me in the ass so hard.

Yeah. And you're pissed, right? Oh, I'm pissed now. Yeah. like it eats at me. Like I learned such a lesson from that. And, yeah, I talked myself into it and have regretted it ever since. It's almost like living a lie.

When you compromise what you believe in or the kind of people you hang out with just because somebody's good at something or there. And you're like, oh, yeah, I'm going to go train with this guy just because he's super good. But he's a total dirt bag or whatever. And you're like, it doesn't make you feel good. That's for sure. And to be honest with you, so we did the Wimps to Wires program. You know, Travis was doing it kind of at the same time I was in Portland here.

And I had three guys drive up that are in the Wimst to Wires program this weekend just to watch Rokas fight because they've been trained with him. And it's like, I would much rather hang out with those guys than a world-class black belt who's a douchebag. Right. 100% any day of the week. And they've been training for five months. And they drove, you know, nine hours, almost 10 hours to support a guy, you know, that they doesn't even live in the country.

You know, he came here specifically to do Wimtta Warrior. Did he really? From Lithuania. Yeah, he's never been to America before. That's the first time. And his brother flew in today. People like that are so fascinating to me because I love the guy who's like, I'm in. But what he doesn't understand is what he's in for.

But whatever he's in for, he's so in. Here's the thing. This is what I told my wife. I probably shouldn't say this since he's going to be cornering across the cage for me tomorrow night. But I'm like, look, you don't come from communist Russia to Montana to fight a Montana boy in front of a Montana crowd. Like, Jed, you're dead McDonald's. I mean, he's going to live up to his tank tomorrow night. You know?

Yeah, 100. Back to back World War champions. And, like I was talking to, so, and I shouldn't say. this because he's sitting next me but this isn't coming out till one day so we're good perfect so i was talking to rokes his brother because he so his parents were here two weeks ago never been to the states came to portland just to visit you know see how he's doing they didn't want to go to the fight so then his brother flew out i'm a smart decision never been to america so he's going to watch the fight and so rocis was doing the thing tonight at the face off and so i took his brother up and i was

like hey let me buy you a beer whatever he's like all right so we get out of the up there and I'm like, so I can't tell because I've been training him for five and a half months and he seems the same that he's been while we're training. And I was like, do you think he's nervous? Does he look different? He's like, no, I think he's just excited. And I'm like, okay, because I can usually, I can usually, I can usually tell when a guy has never fought before, especially who's been training I keto and then he's getting his

ass kicked by all my MMA guys. And he's like excited and not nervous. And I can't even tell. And that's what, honestly, when you're looking at a fighter. But when you're looking at a fighter, I was going to say, yeah, we all know how that goes. I've had guys show up and I've got this guy Max at the gym and he's like, when he's, you can't tell.

Like you can't, he's like this. The stare off, he's like this backstage and he's like this in practice. And that's what Rokos is like. He's a nice, and he's like, oh, he's such a nice guy. But he's like that just 24-7. Be interested to see what happens when the old bell kicks off. What do you think, Michael? Rokis will be brocous.

On Saturday night, Rokis will be brokis. We don't call him Rokas the focus for nothing. We've been coaching Jed. You're dead McDonald. What, for how many months now? He's dead. He's dead. Six months.

Did I say Jed's dead. dead? I thought it's the beers. Okay. Jed, you're dead, McDonald, is going to break Rokas. I think the way that we've been training, we've been training real. We've been going hard. And

ever since I started coaching, like, I've seen a big improvement, and we wanted to go hard from the get-go. I wanted them to know what a real fight would be like. What is it going to be like when you get into the cage? You're going to get hit in the face. There is no, like,

special move where you're coming out, you know, of around unscathed, like, you're in a dog fight. That's what, you know, that's what real fights are about. So I think, you know, just the way we've been training is just going to set him apart. See, I'm the opposite. I'm like, dude, you're not in a dog fight because you know what you're doing. You're going to chill. You're going to relax. You've been there a thousand times before over the last five and a half months.

You're going to let him talk to you like that. It's not a dog fight. It's not a brawl. It is. If you want to go to the tough man contest, then yeah, it's a dog fight, dude. You stand there and whoever swings and connects with that good shot. But our guys. Do you smell that?

Yeah, I do. That's nerves and fear. That's fear. And a little bit of that poop or pee that we were talking about earlier. I'm trying to. That's just all coming out. Right now. Good.

Andy, I'm trying to think of the belts that we've had over. the last year at the gym. I'm thinking we got the 145 pound title. We got the 155 pound title. We've got the women's 145. I'm just thinking and I'm like, my goodness. You know, that's awesome. My goodness.

We're looking at the Wimsta Warriors belt. That's okay. But they've only had like six months of training. Like how good can they be? Not that good. It's going to be, it's going to boil down two things. This. If you're tough.

Brain and this. Yeah. If you got heart and you're tough and you just stick to the plan, we're going to win. So I feel like he's had a lot of hard rounds, so he knows what it's like to be in a fight. And I just think that's going to give him the confidence, you know. But has he been away from his wife for the last six months? This guy's hungry to get back.

What's his next step? Does he want to professionally fight in Lithuania? No, he wants to, I think he wants to, I don't know if he wants to move here, but he wants to come back here. So he's got to go back. But then he's like, I want to come back and do another. amateur fight like a So he wants

Does he potentially want to fight professionally Or what's his What's his long-term goal? I don't know if he'll fight professional I He's got a step away He's 28 so I wouldn't tell him to say Dude drop everything you're doing

And you should do this for a little He's got to step away from the Aikido He's got to step away from the Aikido He stepped away from the Aikido That's why he shaved his ponytail I wasn't teasing like he literally He had a ponytail Because all the videos that I've seen of him

belt in Aikido, Stephen Seagal said, everyone has to have a ponytail. I think that somewhere in their book, but I'm not totally sure. I know they wear a skirt because it's the most efficient fighting clothing that you could wear. A lot of room for your legs to move. I don't know. They wear skirts at the Highland Games. Those guys aren't.

Those are kiltz. Those guys are pretty strong. I do you feel that is a different category. I did my 23 and me, so if you're trying to make fun of me, you're also related to me. Anyways, he does, I don't, I wouldn't, I wouldn't tell him to become a professional fighter. I couldn't be Scottish. We'll see what happened. Like if he does a few fights, whatever he wants to do.

I'm a Mexican. Just to say, you know. But, yeah. Mike, there's zero chance you're Scottish. I'm half right. He is Irish. My biological father's name was McCand. He's Irish.

Research it. I have a 23-meat kid upstairs. You're doing it before you leave. Okay. Does it go in my anus? You wish. Is this what it always comes back to? Is this why he's called?

Where are you going to put it? There's a guy. He was the kid. He was the kid. He was the kid. He was like 25 years old and he's like, but mom, don't you want to take my temperature rectally still? You're not five anymore.

Is that in my mouth now? Oh, that's excellent. Good Lord. I'm sorry. That's okay. Oh, I like it. Let's get you another beer. All right.

You know how I know he's not Scottish? He can't. I mean, he just had two Guinness. Bullshit. I had five drinks. He's part Irish. I had three two years.

Like, when did we go out? Was that last Saturday? Was that Sunday? Hold on. Don't, first off, Mike, I'm going to help you right now. Don't remember. Don't try to bolster anything by saying you had five drinks unless it's in a fucking hour. And by half a 30 minutes.

Five drinks. He means beers. Yeah. I have five beers. And I didn't throw up. I didn't make a beer back Are you ordering

Like a coffee Coffee tini or something Bullshit like that Of chocolate tini Was like Travis probably calls the places We go to First

And then when we show up They pretend it's beer And it's probably just like You know those non-alcoholic Whatever he asked for Just give him a non-alcoholic He's half right He'll go crazy

I do call ahead Right Probably calls ahead And I say give him Juice and tell him It's like a cider Apple juice It's just apple juice.

Just don't try to bolster your... Fuck my life. For a year, you thought apple juice was whiskey. Somebody's like, oh, dude. This apple juice is really hard. It's really different than my stuff I had. It goes down a little... I grew up real religious.

So, that's why. Yeah. I didn't start drinking. You're like the Ricky Schroeder of the nights of the round table. Yeah, it was like Ricky Schroeder. How old are you? I'm 36. I'll be 37 in October.

Why did you decide to start drinking? Just because I'm not religious anymore. So I'm just like, Hold on, let's take a step back. What happened? Oh, God. Oh, this is a good story. Oh, no.

Yeah. These guys get me to tell this story. And then they make fun of me. I don't make fun of you. I love you, brother. I had fucking cancer once. Testicular cancer. It was like, so when I got, I got.

He's like no big deal. There's no big deal. The coolest thing about this story is I told him when he told it to me like totally sincere. He's going to tell it right now because he's being honest. Yeah. So most people find religion when they're almost dead, right? Like when you're almost, like when you're afraid of dying, it's like, oh, shit, what's next?

Now it's time to find the afterlife. This dude's been religious this whole life wearing like magical undergarments. For real? I didn't make that up. I didn't make that up. And check this up. And so he starts to die, literally, and he loses his religion. Do tell.

Yeah. So this is a kind of a weird thing. 2012 was a purple belt I just got my purple belt and I thought that I just had an injury during training and my right testicle swole up so a week goes by and I'm just like

oh this stinks and that thing's real bad it stinks a month goes by I'm like this is going to go away this is a Paul Sharve story here's a crazy thing fucking tough if five seconds goes by my ball still hurts I'm like calling that one one I'm just like I gotta get these test roads

so So, so I feel like I had an injury in training. Like I feel like I pulled someone into my guard and I took a knee right. That's more than an injury. If your ball stinks for a month, that's more than an injury. So hold on, Michael. I'm going to ask the question. I'm starting to swell up.

How big was it? Yes, that was the question. I don't know. It was about the size of a plump. So like a normal size for the rest of us. Like a size of a plum, maybe. What? What kind of plums are you eating?

Like a small plum. He just went like this, the size of a plum. Like a small plum. Like a small plum. Like a small plum. Maybe like an apricot. Okay. Let's take this.

More like a cum quad. That's big, dude. It's like a cumquot. An apricot, okay? Yeah. You're making the size of a golf ball with your hand, but like, go ahead. Golf ball. I wouldn't have an anxiety attack, panic attack.

I'm probably going to shock. I was freaking out. But I was trying to be tough about it. I wasn't. So you wrote this out for 30 days. Yeah. Even more than that. So, listen to this.

So I go, and then I see, like, a dock in the box. I go to, like, a primary health. And this guy's checking me out. And he's like, oh, yeah, you got, like, torsion. That's where the testicle, like, twists around. Yeah, twists around. He's like, oh, you see the torsion. Or maybe you got a bacterial infection.

And I'm just, like, a bacterial infection. It's like, it's not like I'm dragging my dick to the dirt or, like, sleeping around or, like, having prostitutes. I'm like, what the fuck? Like, this thing's dead. I don't stay holstered in my pen. Thank you. You wouldn't have known. Yeah, my dick stays in these magical underwears and I don't show them to anybody

except for my wife. And I'm like, how could I have a bacterial infection? You know? So the dude gives me antibiotics. Another month goes by. And actually, I had met Travis while my testicle in Vegas. Come on, dude. You went two months with an avocat and your sack.

Oh, yeah. Oh, I did. Oh, I did. Oh, I did. So I was like, oh, this antibiotic. Biotics have to start kicking in sometimes. They got to start kicking in, right? This is totally a Paul Sharp story. They don't.

They don't kick in. It's his balls. Yeah. So I'm walking around Vegas with one testicle, like, swollen, the size of a golf ball or a small apricot or plum. And I meet, and I meet Travis. And, like, Travis comes into this Irish bar that I'm in, and he's like, he's like, super plastered. And he's like, hey, you want to dance? And I'm like, no, thanks.

He came in with his wife. This is a funny story. And then shortly after that. Shortly after that, we joined the gym. Shortly after that, we joined the gym. So the gym that I was at, Combat Fitness is now Combat Fitness straight blast gym, Idaho. That's the gym that I'm from. Super, super great bunch of dudes, gnarly dudes, gnarly black belts.

Okay, stay on the ball. And you're like, and you're like, dude, dude, and you're like, dude, and you're like, dude, and you're like, come to the bathroom with me. I got to show you something. I was like, dude, you. I was like one of your balls is really small. And the other one's normal class.

You'll be fine as one of you. your ball's shrinking. No. So then I go see my actual doctor, my real doctor, and he's like, he's like, oh, yeah, drop your pants. And I'm like, okay. I'm kind of nervous, you know, pretty nervous. And he goes, dude. Just like that.

That's never a good sign. When a doctor says, dude. No, he's like, so he's kind of like a younger doctor, like trying to be like, hey, man. You're saying a guy about 10 years of medical school, saw that, and his response was dude. Well, he was an acupuncture. He's like, dude. I can't put needles in that. This is what he said.

Dude, that looks like cancer. And I'm like, ooh. Wait, what the fuck? No, you're like, really? And then you're like, dude, are you serious? Yeah, yeah, it was just like that. He's like, I'm like, you just, you're fucking with me, right? You got him fucking with you.

Yeah, because that's the appropriate situation to pull a joke off. Yeah, like, cancer. You just said the C word. Mm-hmm. And then right after that, like, I'm having an ultrasound. Then the next day, I'm having it removed. And then, and then, so they send it away, like, somewhere. Your ball?

Yeah, they send it. They send it somewhere, like, on the East Coast. Did you go with a nudical? A newtical? A fake one. A new ball. No. I was like, why?

That's an amateur move. Right. That is amateur. I was like, why? Unless I'm going to, like, show it off and, like, just be like, you know, check this out. Like a party. I always heard of you, like, at a party and be like, look, look at it.

He's like, check it out. Hit it with the hammer. Can you do this? Like, it's worthless. I was like, anybody want to play marbles? My doctor tried to sell that shit to me like several times. Hey, you know, you could put another one in there. I never heard about that.

The real thing, I'm like, no, man, I don't need that. No, because if you just leave one, I heard that it just gets bigger and takes over the space. No, it doesn't get bigger. That's not true. Somebody lied, doesn't lie. But they also said, like, oh, yeah. And I asked my doctor, like, well, so what about testosterone? Like, would I need, you know, like, is that going to go down?

He's like, no, that one just takes over. He's like, dude, you need testosterone before you. So I have my test score removed, and I'm like, they tell me that I have to have chemo. Chemotherapy. And I'm like, chemotherapy is derived from mustard gas, I think, from World War I. You know, dumb. I do not know. It could be.

I think when I was doing all the research about it, that's what I was reading. So, like, when the guys got mustard gas, like, it stopped everything. You know, stops your cell growth, everything. And so basically, they pretty much kill you, almost kill you, and then hope you come back and the cancer doesn't. And so I had, so then I see my, My, what is it? Like, what's the dick?

Oncologists. No, no, no, no. The dick doctor. There's a urologist. Oh, yeah. The urologist. I call it a dick doctor. So he's like,

he goes, this is how he goes. This is how he explains it to me. He's like, well, you got testicular cancer, and that's one of the best cancers to get. Like, you're telling me that there's a best cancer to get? Like, fuck you, dude.

It's not a plate of cookies. You're telling me, this is cancer. Like, people die from cancer, you know? Or you have to get, like, chemotherapy or radiation, you know? So I had 20 sessions of chemotherapy. I remember, like, after my first week, so I was rolling. I rolled throughout the whole time.

I loved Jiu-Jitsu that much, you know. I didn't want to stop. I continued teaching my kids' classes. I would roll, not all the time, but I would, I roll. As much as I could. As much as I could. And I just remember, like, my first, like, after my first week of having it, like, I'm taking a piss.

and then my buddy's in the next stall and I'm like, dude, I just took a piss and all of my pubes just fell right into the mural. It was so embarrassing. So you don't have to manscape anymore. It's so embarrassing. His penis just grew by like half an inch. Exactly.

So like I'm rolling and then all of a sudden we take a break and we go use the restroom and I'm like, those are all of my pubs. Just right in there. So everything, all of my hair fell out. during the chemotherapy, it sucked, man. So I would sit there. The manscaping thing, that's kind of a benefit.

That was kind of cool. Your butt hair too? I look good bald, dude. Yeah. I don't know if my butt hair fell out. It probably did. The only thing, though, that kind of held on were my eyebrows. These fuck go out.

Well, that would be a lot of chemo to get those things off. These fuckers are like cockroaches. These are going to stay. That would be more like a blowtorch or like. Yeah. Yeah. It was awesome. But every time I had to go get chemo, it was like four pounds of like,

just shit in my bodies. It sucked, man. So I would be sick for most of the months. You totally skip the religion part of this ball. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. So back to that. So, yeah, the reason why I don't, I don't, I'm a lightweight is because I grew up

Mormon. Yeah. So I grew up Mormon. And then I just remember like everything was great, you know, thank God. Everything's good. Then my sister got sick. She, uh, she had like a brain tumor, like the size of it. the fist and she almost died. We took in her two youngest kids for a little while. And I'm like,

okay. And then once she got better, she was in a coma for a while, took care of the kids, sent the kids back home when she was better. And then right after that, I got sick, you know. And then, so I was like trying to, it's just like, this guy doesn't exist. God doesn't exist. He doesn't answer your prayers, you know, like, and then I would go to church and hear these like old ladies he's talking about how, well, God's going to, God's going to, you know, he helped me find my ring or my wedding ring, and I said a prayer, and within minutes, like, within minutes I found my ring. And I'm like, bitch, like, God cares so much about you that he answered your prayer to find, like, some material little thing. Like, that's your idea of God. Like, and, you know,

I'm suffering, and kids are suffering in Africa. And by the way, I would always, tell myself to you like when I had cancer I'd look in the mirror I'd be crying because it just sucked just being sick all the time right I would say to myself every day I'd look at myself in the face and go you know what someone else somewhere is having a worse day than me so like pack your shit up go get your chemo and go train and so but the the way that I felt was like like all these people are saying like God loves you so much or you have like the priesthood in your life, and therefore God's going to help you, but not help someone who doesn't have that religion in your life

or that part of that religion in your life. So to me, it's just all just a forest. Like, if you want to believe in that, if you, that's totally fine. If that gives you hope, that's fine, but to me it's all just a fairy tale. How has that been with you and your family? With my family, I don't think, you know, so like on my wife's side, So I've been married for 16 years now. On my wife's side, I'm sure they're disappointed, and they probably pray for me.

And to me, I feel like I'm better off without it. Like, why just sit there and wait for someone to answer your prayers when you can get the fuck up and do work? Right? Just get up and go. That's, you've got to do it. You can't wait around for someone else to help you. You've got to make it happen. So that, and to me, that's why, you know,

There's too many people out there who were like, oh, you're sick. I'm thinking about you. I'll send you some prayers. Right. You're 10 fucking minutes away. You're 10 fucking minutes away. You can't come visit me or you can't go help somebody. You can't take 10 minutes out of your day to go sit with somebody and be like, hey, man,

like, I love you. Let me help you clean your yard, you know? There's something like that, you know, instead of, although, you know, the LDS church was great about that. They did come fix my yard. They did help. They did try a lot and they did a lot of good things, but just overall, like, I'm sending you prayers. Like, that doesn't nothing for it.

It doesn't do anything for anybody, you know? It might give them hope, but you got to act upon it. You know what I mean? We're deep in the rabbit hole now. Deep in the rabbit hole. I like it, though. Michael kind of took over the show. Sorry, this is why I said, don't,

he brought us down on a holiday. This no striped black belt cancer having one ball lunatic. That's okay. I'm not a lunatic, and I'm not a bully. I love white belts and I love big people.

I worded that wrong. That's, yes. Michael, you did just word that wrong. I worded that wrong. I was a little bit nervous. Hey,

there's no do-over. Just because you're becoming sensitive now? I did do it over. I did do it over. I just took it back. I can do that. You need to get back on the TRT. I'm on the TRT, bro.

I'm on TRT too. I take tests off. Okay. Thanks. Thanks a lot. That's all right. I have one test school. I deserve to take it.

I deserve to feel like a man. I thought the doctor said you didn't need it. The doctor told me I didn't need it. Well, so... The doctor told me I didn't need it. But I felt like I needed it. So I don't know. Who's your doctor?

All right, man. My neurologist. I have no judgment. My urologist, not my neurologist. I might want to talk to him, too. Actually, I'm getting a little bit older. So I'll pull us out of the rabbit hole. You guys, ready?

Here's how we'll end it up. Same question to all three you. What's the most rewarding thing? You guys are all coaches. What's the most rewarding thing a student can do for you as a coach? Fucking listen. Listen and do what I say. Okay.

What's the most rewarding thing a student can do? Yeah, I would say listen to probably a universal. listen and but I would want up that by saying listen and then come back with a really, really good question. It shows you that they're processing the information

supposedly just blankly on board. That's why I'm approaching three stripes and he still has none probably. I was going to say that to you. And I, as the only man at the table with three stripes, I might have heard the question wrong based on these two's answer. So ask me the question one more time.

What's the most rewarding thing from your perspective as a coach that a student can do for you? Make their life better. And if they really want to be like a gold star student and be somebody that I will remember, make somebody else's life better. starts by listening. They can't do that without listening. They can't start. They can't do that without listening.

So are losers. Fucking Travis. I want that out of all my students after they've been coming to there for a while. But they've got to listen. Sour grapes. And have sour grapes. Yeah.

Suck it. They don't listen to this podcast. They're not going to change their life magically. They don't listen to you in class. They're like, oh, Travis is talking. That goes without saying. I guess you can hold them down.

down and look in their eyes, Michael, to make sure that they listen. Only, yes. Well, once they get a blue belt, all bets are off. He kicks them out. You're too good now. You might be. Yeah. Well, hell yeah.

Actually, yeah, be coachable. Yeah, I think people should listen to that. Yeah. Listen to your coaches. Do what they say. But, I mean, look, at the end of the day, like, we're not, you know, what was that game that all the kids play, Fortnite, right?

Like, we're not. God, don't even get me started on that. You guys aren't. And I say you guys, meaning you're my student. Yeah. You guys aren't like a video game character. Like I don't want that. Like I don't want to, you know, move the joystick for you, right?

I want you to be able to figure it out for yourself. You know, you don't need somebody with the joystick. And really honestly, like, to me, like MMA, Jiu-Jitsu, like, that's all just a vehicle for more important stuff. And really what I care about is the fact that my students come in, they create better habits, they make better friendships, they get healthier, more confident. And because of that, like when we become happier individuals, we tend to make the people around us happier too. And I mean, I don't want to sound like a hippie because I'm not the only who lives in Portland, but or Boise for that matter. I live in God's country in Montana. For hippies.

Yeah. For hipsters who wear fanny packs. That's not true. Totally true. It's mostly true. You are a walking, talking billboard. For hipsters? No.

Please. Really? Because I had to make you shave your mustache from you look here. But, no, I mean, if we could make everybody a little bit more self-assured, confident, happy, healthy, and I mean, man, life is short. Like what Michael was just talking about. Hell, yeah. That, that, that, I mean,

we can be around the corner for any of us. Yeah. And it is around the corner eventually for all of us. Like, I'll die long before that just due to my hobbies. No one's getting out of this world alive. Correct. Period. So, yeah, I mean, I think let's spend less time,

uh, trying to make each other miserable and more time building each other up, you know, applauding each other's successes. You know, let's, celebrate when we're on Facebook and we see that oh and he's in Hawaii or hey look at uh Michael just got a new Mercedes or hey here's my brother with this hot girlfriend instead of scrolling through our news feed and going yeah oh you're looking for the negative as opposed to leveraging the positive it's like you see other people happy and it makes you sad you go why that guy yeah exactly because he did more well how about just like that guy's doing something that you're envious of

right now. So be happy for him because he's enjoying what you also would like to enjoy. For sure. You know, and it's like, that's the best ending ever. Cheers, gentlemen. Another beer for Michael. Michael's done. That is it. Ladies and gentlemen, for this week. Thank you for the support. Thank you for taking the time to listen, providing feedback, going to iTunes and write and review, whether you think it's good, bad, ugly. Reach out if you have questions. Reach out if you have suggestions and I do the best I can to respond to everybody. And that's all I got. Get out there. Hope you have a good week. See you next Monday.