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John Kavanagh received his BJJ black belt in March 2007 from Matt Thornton. He now runs the Straight Blast Gym(SBG) in Ireland. SBG Ireland is home to fighters Gunnar Nelson, Conor McGregor, Aisling Daly, and many more.

Highlights from the interview:

“I think when people are enjoying themselves, they are going to stick with something longer rather than just embracing the grind.”

“I understand what people mean when they say someone is talented, but it is a lazy word. It is kind of like describing a chemical reaction as being magic.”

“If I see someone who is not enjoying it (training) I don’t want them part of the team, because it can be detrimental to the mindset of everybody else. So I will advise them to take some time off and do a different sport or activity for awhile and try to come back with a fresh mindset.”

Do your MMA athletes train in a gi? ” Yes, they do….. physically the main benefit is that it tightens up the escape game, you can’t escape an armbar by just by ripping your arm out… On the flip side training nogi tightens up your attacking side of the game.”

“Training with a gi also is a huge benefit to keeping your mind awake and alert.”

“You are all going to finish fighting (MMA) at some stage, why not have earned your black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu during that period. Maybe you could open your own school. You want to be 50 or 60 (years old) and still on the mat, you are not going to be doing MMA at that stage but you and me could be two old farts in the corner of the room rolling around in a gi”

About taking some time off- “I would go as far as to say that I have never seen somebody come back that was not actually better than when they went away….. A guy takes 4-6 weeks off because of an injury or something and he always comes back better…..I have a theory. Time away from physically doing it (training) allows techniques to sink a little bit deeper in. When you are training all the time whatever you have done latest is in your head, but when you take a couple of weeks off, what you have been doing over the last couple of months can sink in deeper into your consciousness… going between time on and time off the mat is very important… people come back sharper”

About new students- “I found the most efficient way of weeding out the weak, I made strong people stronger…. That’s the exact opposite of what I am supposed to have been doing as a martial arts coach…. I was bullied as a kid, I went to martial arts to help protect myself. The approach I was taking was not going to be of much use to somebody that was not already athletic. We changed around everything that we are doing”

“I really think sport should be a positive experience. Even if you lose it should be positive because of when you went through in order to be able to compete.”

In this episode we talk about:

The SBG upcoming fights in the UFC

Why he does not like the idea of a training camp

The two things you need to get good at MMA (enjoy it, and patience)

How he changes a class to keep it fun

His views of calling fighters talented

The mindset of training

Training MMA and still using the gi

Taking time off from training

His program for dealing with new students

His four tier program for beginners

Teaching new people how to train safely

Advice for a new student

His goal he has for his new students

He wants BJJ to be a lifestyle for you

How amateur MMA in Ireland has several steps, and why it is a good system

Advice for MMA athletes

Why you shouldn’t focus on what your opponent does

Quote of the week: “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” Henry Ford

Article of the week: Background checks required by IBJJF

Want a better Guillotine Choke? Check out this seminar by our friend Roy Marsh!

Thanks for listening, we will catch you next week!

Other episodes of The BjjBrick Podcast featuring members of Straight Blast Gym