On episode 146, Marco, Tim and JB talk about some of the UFC fights and why a fighter with a 5-1 record should get a shot at Israel Adesanya next. We discuss the downfall of Marlon Moraes and whether the problem is physical or mental. We talk about Gary Tonons loss in ONE championship and what went wrong. We ask if heel hooks are a valid option in an mma fight. We reveal what the adult equivalent of finding out santa isn’t real has been for us and we answer questions about Putins Judo skills, would we rather have to lose an arm or a leg, gi or nogi, and we tackle the question everyone has been asking, are there more doors or wheels in the world.
On episode 145, Marco, tells JB and Tim about throwing out a person from his sunday open mat. We recap UFC 272 and the stand out performances by Colby covington, Rafael Dos Anjos, and Kevin Holland. We talk about Cain Velasquez arrest for attempting to murder the man who molested his daughter and what the future holds for him in or out of prison. We answer questions about last meals, music selection during training, and heel hooks for whitebelts and Marco and Tim face off in a showdown of serial killer trading cards.
On episode 144, Marco, Tim and JB discuss Marcos trip to various libraries and book stores in the philadelphia area and we discuss why a library would need armed police officers patrolling the aisles. We recap a couple fights and attempt to envision the perfect fighter to defeat Islam Makhachev. We talk about war in Ukraine and how Vladimir Putins acts of aggression will effect his standing in the martial arts world. We talk about getting in street fights, dealing with nerves before a fight and serial killers.
On episode 143, Tim returns to rescue the podcast from its downward spiral over the last few weeks of episodes without him. JB repeatedly ask Marco and Tim about the UFC fight night event they didn’t watch. We talk about a potential grappling match between GSP and Khabib and who would win and why. We discuss preferred pronouns, adjectives, and titles and we talk about blood slaves and the human organ trade and the market for the blood of children. Marco and Tim engage in another trading card face off, this time with Serial killer trading cards.
On ep. 142 Marco and JB are able to get the podcast back on track. Our 2 hosts discuss varied martial arts topics in a succinct and nuanced manner. Marco recaps the latest UFC. JB takes us on a deep dive into the world of the karateka (karate practitioner). JB and Marco try to figure out if Joe Rogan is cancellable. And we receive a two-part question that on its face is pretty basic. The second part of the question upends our answer
Listen and find out why this is our best episode yet.
A special thank you to all our listeners and supporters as we break the fifty thousand download mark.
Ep. 141 of the Ninja Rob podcast. We talk to Jiu-Jitsu Blue Belt and hardcore music scene legend Joe “Hardcore” Mckay. Our conversation takes us from his early days of city violence to his current passion for the gentle art. Find out about how a blue belt can love jiu-jitsu as much or more than most black belts. We all have a path. Joe’s took him through some rough times. But on the other end of it all, he found jiu-jitsu. His passion for hardcore music and BJJ are evident in every second of this episode.
On ep. 140 Marco takes a deep dive with Jay Regalbuto. They nerd out on talking Jiu-Jitsu and we learn how Jay approaches his relationships with athletes. Jay discusses Nicky Rod, coaching vs teaching, and commentating. We dive into Jay’s obsession with Jiu-Jitsu and studying film. Take a listen to an interesting conversation with one of Jiu-Jitsu’s good guys.
On episode 139, Marco, JB, and Tim talk about their pics for UFC 270 and recap the fights between Nganou and Gane as well as Moreno and Figueredo. They talk about Dana White not putting the belt around Fracis’ waist and what the future holds for Francis in or out of the UFC. We discuss another sex worker to UFC story, Craig jones and Nicky Rod losing at WNO and the post DDS success of the former members and we answer questions about the necessity of BJJ for mma, how to be more competitive at a hobbyist school and the deaths of Meatloaf, Louie Anderson, and some other guy.
In today’s episode (ep. 138), we take a break from our normal format and present to you an interview. Marco interviews Rick Migliarese. Rick is the co-owner of Balance Studios. Philadelphia’s oldest and most successful Brazilian jiu-jitsu schools.
Talking to Rick you realize how important his father was and continues to be to him. Even eight years after his father’s death Rick still uses life lessons taught by his father. We talk about how every moment good or bad has made Rick who he is today, and he would not change any of it.
We discuss chess, how the game’s decision process has helped Rick learn from failure, and how he applies that to training. Rick also advises you to not be the smartest or the toughest person in the room, this way you can always be learning.
On episode 137, Marco, JB, and Tim talk about their trip to try out a new banya and review of the experience. Marco skips a meal for once and talks about his journey into fasting. We discuss Jake Pauls ability to make people talk about him and we talk about Lex Fridmans latest podcast about Covid. We discuss the potential of Francis Ngannou boxing Tyson Fury. JBs brain cant handle the hypothetical situation so we answer some questions from listeners about the first fights we saw, is MMA the final frontier for martial arts, training journals, and the dumbest lies we believed as kids. Marco and JB discuss another unfortunate dining experience and Tim wins the UFC card war.
On episode 136, Marco, JB, and Tim talk about the new year and what they are looking forward to. We talk about the Fury grappling show, who impressed us, mma jiu jitsu vs pure jiu jitsu Sean Brady vs Craig jones, Grapplers moving to mma and mma fighters moving into grappling. We talk about Jake Paul vs Dana White and how Jake paul is a world class troll. We also talk about how far someone should be willing to go in order to achieve their dreams.
On episode 135, Marco, JB, and Tim talk about their Christmas 2021 experiences. There were no big fights to discuss so we talk about food and gifts before getting into talking about the role of the “heel” in mma and who are some of the best heels in the game. We discuss the disqualification of Nicholas Meragali from the Absolute final of the world championships and we take a deep dive into a debate on who is the superior director between Martin Scorcese and Quentin Tarantino.
On episode 134, Marco, JB, and Tim talk about Marco and JBs terrible dining experience and we review the big fights from the weekend at the UFC between Lewis and Daukus as well as Belal Muhamad and Steven Thompson. We also discuss Jake Pauls spectacular knockout of Tyron Woodley. We unpack cliched motivational quotes and discuss the shortcomings of our martial arts training. We answer questions about leg locks in mma, how to make new friends, how to handle beef between students in a school, Jiu Jitsu in the olympics, and cinnamon toast crunch.
On episode 133, Marco, JB, and Tim talk about Marcos new focus on self care and they recap the big fights from 269 between Cruz and Munoz, Nunes and Pena, and the lightweight title fight between Oliviera and Poirier. We talk about Dana white beating covid, how to prepare for your first competition, ibjjf worlds, the fall of Gabi Garcia, what makes the difference between a bjj world champion in mma and an mma world champions bjj, and we talk about what martial art is best for self defense between bjj, judo, and wrestling.
On episode 132, Marco, JB, and Tim take a deep dive into breakfast cereals. We recap the UFC fight night card including Rafael Fizzivs spectacular knockout of Brad Riddel, and Jose Aldos tremendous performance in his win over Rob Font. We discuss internet sensation Dale and his DUST program, Ryron and Rener working with the cops, Dana White getting Covid, Warm ups for jiu jitsu class, how General Patton would execute a plan, Bone Thugs vs Three six Mafia and Marcos genetic ancestry.
On episode 131 Tim returns to save the show from spiraling out of control without him. He tells the harrowing tale of why he was absent last week and offers an apology to the listeners. This week, we discuss the recent Triad combat/Metallica concert from Triller. We talk about the good and bad of the event and what the future holds for this hybrid of MMA and Boxing. We also discuss the upset in boxing of Kambosos over Lopez and Tom Deblass’ new book. We answer questions from listeners about “The Gracie Conspiracy” as told by Superfoot Wallace. Best and worst presidents of all time, what martial art we would like to train in, PED use in fighting, and personal development through training jiu jitsu.
Tim takes the day off due to some car issues. JB and Marco power through and make the most of Tim’s misfortune. We recap the latest UFC fight night. The Ninja Rob crew of two discuss Sean Brady, the undefeated Philly UFC welterweight. The podcast goes into promotions, gi, no-gi, traditional, and virtual. And lastly, JB and Marco read a letter from broken-hearted purple belt. The purple belt’s letter about quitting jiu-jitsu has 10 major points. We debate his assertions point by point.
On episode 129 Marco, Tim, tell JB about their day coaching at grappling industries and the big wins and losses from the event. They discuss dick moves at ADCC and our experiences with ringworm as well as harrowing self defense encounters. JB takes heat from a listener about his stance on aikido and we recap the Holloway vs Rodriguez fight from UFC Fight Night. We answer questions about who we enjoy rolling with, bad parenting, Tims long hair, and the best submissions in MMA history. We do all this and still have time to pat ourselves on the back for reaching the 45k downloads milestone.
On episode 128, Marco, Tim, and JB recap UFC 268 and review fights between Usman and Covington, Zhang and Namajunas, Gaethje and Chandler, and more. We also discuss the ADCC trials and talk about the standout competitors and results. We talk about what’s right and what’s wrong with the adcc trials. We unpack motivational sayings, talk about the usefulness of submissions in MMA/Bjj and JBs tinder journey.
On episode 127, Marco, Tim, and JB discuss breakfast, lunch, and dinner and they recap the fights from UFC 267 including Texiera vs Blachowicz and Yan vs Sandhagen. We give our predictions for UFC 268 fights between Covington and Usman as well as Zhiang vs Namajunas. We answer questions about when you should call someone you like, getting wrecked by everyone at open mat, how to cross train, the new Mikey Lock, american jiu jitsu, our first time competing, and UFC legend Steve Jennum.
On episode 126 Jb, Marco, and Tim sit down at NJMA studios and discuss the UFC fight between Marvin Vettori and Paulo Costa and Fedor Emelianenkos knockout of Timothy Johnson. We answer some questions about how to stay motivated and not give up, do nogi guys need belt promotions, what kind of injury would we be willing to risk in the finals of a world championship competition, And we discuss how to choose between Kyokushin and Muay Thai training taking into account the risk of head trauma. We Unpack one of Bruce Lees silly philosophical quotes and we talk about our favorite live music performances we have seen and what we are having for dinner.
On episode 125 JB, Marco, and Tim attempt to elect fighters to the mount rushmore of MMA. Tim contests the election and secedes from the union. We discuss what makes the greatest fighters so great and we also include some honorable mentions. We review some of the weekends fights and we answer questions about how far is too far to go for “love”, What we wish we knew when we started, what behaviors escalate a training session to death mode, and what fighters we would choose to have on our side during a royal rumble.
On episode 124 Marco, Tim, and JB talk about the amazing heavyweight boxing match between Tyson Fury and Deonte Wilder. They break down the fight and talk about each fighters journey leading up to and through one of the great trilogy fights in Boxing history. We talk about if a fight like that can resurrect some boxing excitement and the relationship between boxing and MMA. We answer some questions about how to study competition footage, how to properly cross train at different schools, how to get better at arguing with your spouse and whats for dinner.
On episode 123 Marco, Tim, and JB meet at NJMA studios to talk about national pizza month and where the best pizza in philly is. They discuss the UFC fight between Thiago Santos and Johnny Walker and the controversy in the Kyle Daukus vs Kevin Holland fight. We talk about the headbutt, the replay, should replay be used more, what are the implications of using replay in the future? We also answer questions about aging grapplers, making the transition from traditional martial arts to bjj/mma, and working 75 hours per week.
On episode 122 Marco, Tim, and JB meet at NJMA to talk about the UFC fights between Volkanovski and Ortega, Shevchenko and Murphy, and the return of Nick Diaz against Robbie Lawler. They recap the fights and talk about where Nick Diaz stands in the MMA world. They also discuss some of the big upset matches at the Flograppling WNO event including Gabi Garcia losing to Amanda Leve and Mikey Musemeci getting submitted by Gabriel Sousa. They answer some questions about Slamming out of submissions, The WNO matches, and would we take on an old washed up fighter knowing he will incur a lot of damage.
On episode 121 Marco, Tim, and JB discuss the fight results from the UFC between Anthony Smith and Ryan Spann and the Bellator main event between Phil Davis and Yoel Romero. They discuss where Romero stands in the world of MMA after several consecutive losses and they talk about the upcoming fight between Nick Diaz and Robbie Lawler. They answer questions about how to relax in training and not freak out and how to handle a significant other with a questionable history of sharing nudes. We give our predictions on the next ADCC superfight between Gordon Ryan and Andre Galvao and we talk about Reddit
On episode 120 Marco, Tim, JB, and Devin wish Marco a happy birthday. They discuss the big fights from Saturday night, namely Anderson Silva’s brutal KO of Tito Ortiz and big win of MMA over Boxing in Vitor Belfort’s spectacular finish of arguably the best heavy weight boxer of all time Evander Holyfield. We talk about what is next for Anderson and Vitor and if they can beat Jake Paul. We answer some questions about forgiveness, the UFC hall of fame, our favorite martial arts movies, our favorite strikes, and should the oblique kick be illegal in MMA.
On episode 119 Marco, Tim, JB, and Devin recap the Jake Paul vs Tyron Woodley boxing match. We discuss the fight, is Jake Paul a real fighter, and who he should fight next. We talk about Tyron Woodley losing the fight, his legacy, and his manhood by begging for a rematch and getting another mans name tattooed on him. We give advice for when your friend admits murdering someone to you and we answer questions about the efficacy of shark tank drills, will covid cancel grappling tournaments this year, pineapple on pizza, famous bjj personalities in person being cool or not, and what are the vaccination statuses of the podcast members
On episode 118 We were unable to get to the studio to record the podcast so Marco does a deep dive interview into Tims background, his school, his philosophy, where hes been and where he’s going.
On episode 117, Marco, Tim, JB, and Devin are back in the studio. We discuss some UFC fights and what is the best base martial art between wrestling, BJJ, Muay Thai, and karate according to UFC championship history. We discuss whether it is better to be well rounded or to be “one dimensional” to reach the top and Devin hopes for a race war. We answer some questions about whether to procreate or not, Peanut butter and jelly, does using size limit your technique, what gym would be better to train at between renzo gracie academy and a gracie self defense school, what are our top 3 favorite bjj moves, what questions to ask before joining a gym, how to stay on the mats as you get older, will bjj schools adhere to another shut down, and more accusations of sexual misconduct in the bjj community.
On episode 116, Marco, JB, and Tim recap their UFC predictions and talk about Cyril Gane vs Derek Lewis and how Gane matches up with Ngannou. Marco and Tim share their experiences coaching at the grappling industries tournament. They talk about the highlights and lowlights, dealing with wins and losses, and injuries. We answer some questions from the listeners about our favorite mob movies, Flograppling personas, Fightsports controversy around sexual assault and we answer some questions we were not asked from reddit about how to stay safe from covid if you cant get the vax, the cliched advice of just going to class to get better, and how to deal with getting wrecked by someone of a lower rank.
On episode 115 Marco, Tim, JB, and Devin are back in the studio to talk give predictions on the interim UFC Heavyweight title fight between Derrick Lewis and Cyril Gane. We also talk about Devins trip to puerto rico and the toilet situation outside of the US. Devin discusses his experiences with sleep paralysis and we answer some questions about how to sweep someone with a strong base, how to defeat negative thoughts about yourself, and whether Gordon Ryan or Mikey Musemeci is the greatest BJJ competitor.
On episode 114 Marco, Tim, and JB get together in Tims home podcast studio and discuss the recent DDS team split. They talk about various theories on why the team split, where the former members will go next, who will benefit and who will suffer from the break up. We also discuss where Jiu Jitsu is headed in the mainstream. Will Jiu Jitsu ever make it to the olympics and we talk about Simone Biles quitting in the middle of the olympics. We answer some questions about how to get chicks, what are our favorite olympic sports to watch, and what kind of music we like to train to.
On episode 113 Marco, JB, and Tim pay tribute to good friend, loyal listener, frequent question submitter, and life long martial artist Bob Herman. We answer questions we weren’t asked about when to let go of a submission if your partner isn’t tapping, how to get students to focus on fundamentals vs fancy techniques they saw on instagram, When and how to start TRT, and how to balance lifting weights and training jiu jitsu to stay healthy, get better, and avoid injuries. We also discuss what would get someone kicked out of our school and what kind of person we would avoid rolling with.
On episode 112, Marco, Tim, JB, and Devin pay respects to Biz Markie and Connor Mcgregors mma career. We discuss the fights from the UFC including Dustin Poiriers win over Connor Mcgregor, Tuivasa’s Ko of Greg Hardy, Sean o malleys stellar performance against a less than stellar opponent, and Ryan Halls odd choice of strategy. We answer questions nobody asked us and some we were asked about the differences between modern bjj and old school bjj, acceptable age to start TRT, and some of our favorite old school matches we saw in person.
On episode 111 Marco, JB, Tim, and Devin sit down to talk about the trilogy fight between Conman Mcgregor and Dustin Soyier. We give our predictions and we talk about what we have given to the martial arts and what the martial arts has given to us. We answer questions we were not asked from reddit and then we answer questions we were asked about how to manage recurring injuries and still being able to maintain performance and debate what someone who competes in jiu jitsu should identify as.
On episode 110, Marco, Tim, Jb, and Devin discuss the recent Fury Grappling event. Marco relays his experience as a coach and what his student could have done better. We discuss how to deal with wins and losses when students compete and we also discuss some recent controversy from the Olympics regarding weed and performance enhancement. We answer questions that we were not asked from the internet and we talk about crazy things you see on the boardwalk. We also answer some questions we were asked by listeners about how to start bjj for an experienced muay thai fighter and what super powers we would have if we could.
On episode 109 JB is absent so Tim, Marco, and Devin discuss why boxing sucks and why MMA is so much better. Despite how terrible we think boxing is, we manage to spend most of the show talking about boxing matches between Anderson silva and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Lomanchenko vs ??? and Gervonta Davis vs ???. We also talk about what a beginner should be focused on, how to remember what you learned in class, guys that want to be pro fighters, our favorite olympic sports, Kayla harrison, the most under utilized martial art in MMA, and whether or not JB will ever get back on the mats.
On episode 108, JB, Marco, Tim, and Devin talk about UFC 263 and the results of Leon Edwards vs Nate Diaz and Adesanya vs Vetorri. We talk about meeting martial arts grandmasters like Helio, Royce, and Relson Gracie. We reminisce about the first martial arts books we read and talk about mma fighters competing in boxing with news of Vitor Belfort fighting Oscar De La Hoya. We debate whether or not you should try to tap your instructor and admit to things we are suckers for.
On episode 107 Marco, Tim, and JB discuss the Logan Paul-Mayweather exhibition match and talk about who won the fight and who came out looking better afterwards as well as what the future holds for both men. We give our predictions on UFC 263 fights between Leon Edwards vs Nate Diaz and Israel Adesanya vs Marvin Vettori. We talk about things you only see in the city, terrible fights we’ve seen and what products we are suckers for.
On episode 106 we are cut short by technical difficulties, but before that we discuss the difference between homeless and bums and the defecation habits of both. We talk about the Paul vs Mayweather fight and give our predictions and we also discuss Naomi Osaka and the responsibilities and stresses of athletes dealing with media and social media. And Marco deals with mystery poop on his stoop.
On episode 105 Marco and JB body shame Tim. Marco and Tim discuss what they are working on in class and argue about Jiu Jitsu nomenclature. We talk about our irrational fears and white guys that think they can fight. We talk about the WNO event and what rule changes could be made to avoid painfully boring matches like the Rocha vs Hinger snoozefest. We also talk about the skill difference between brown belt and black belt, who was most impressive at the WNO event, and unwritten rules of bjj
On episode 104, Marco is back from the brink of death to give us an account of his experience with Covid. We talk about his stay in the hospital and catch up on fights results and predictions. We talk about fighters sacrificing their long term legacy for short term money and we answer a couple of questions about changing weight classes and living in a simulation
Tim talks Strelka, and his ties to Russian oligarchs are exposed.
On episode 102x Marco is away to corner one of his fighters leaving JB, Tim, and Devin to run the show. We talk about what we like most about watching fights live as well as what we hate about going to live events. We run down the wild results of UFC 261 and discuss the fights between Crute-Smith, Hall-Weidman, Schevchenko-Andrade, Zhang-Namajunes, and the rematch between Masvida-Usman.
Episode summary
On episode 102x JB, Tim, and Devin run a Marco free podcast and review all the action from UFC 261 and we talk about the differences good and bad between seeing fights live and watching on Tv.
On episode 101 JB, Marco, Tim, and Devin discuss the things they hate, the things they love, and the things they want to say F%$# You to. Marco becomes a coffee snob, Devin becomes a “podcasting snob, JB hates the Apple store, and Tim hates small talk at starbucks. We also discuss Prince Philip and Dookie.
On episode 100, we celebrate the 100th episode by letting JB take over the show. The guys pay tribute to the lives of recently deceased royalty DMX and Prince Philip. JB asks Marco, Devin and Tim about mentors they have had both good and bad in and out of the martial arts world. We discuss fast food and we answer some questions about how to get good at takedowns for bjj and come from behind victories. As usual, we discuss things we hate including shitty training partners and masks.
On episode 99 Marco wrestle the reigns of the show back from Tims hands. He goes deep into the beef between MC Hammer and MC Search. We talk about the mma fighter that lost his finger in his fight and wanted to continue and worst injuries we’ve had or seen in person. We compare and contrast the character of 2 younger students from NJMA, and we answer a question about what its like being the new youngest guy in class and Marco compares Tim to Jeremy Lin for some reason.
On episode 98, Marco called out, so Tim, JB, and Devin come to the rescue to give predictions on the UFC fights between O’malley and Almeida, Woodley vs Lucque and Stipe vs Ngannou. They discuss Sean O’malleys toughness, Woodleys losing streak, and If Francis Ngannou has improved since his loss to Stipe in 2018 and what happens to the heavy weight division if Francis wins. We also discuss things we hate and we answer some questions from listeners about the craziest moments that we’ve had in the gyms, how to train for longevity in jiu jitsu, and the No-gi ezekiel choke
On episode 97 Marco, Tim, JB, and Devin list a few more things that they hate on sight in the world of bjj. They pay tribute to Marvin Hagler and talk about the “meanest” fighters they have ever seen in MMA and Boxing as well as what makes a fighter “mean”. We talk about many UFC fights and the problems with eye poking in MMA and what can be done about it. We give predictions on some upcoming UFC fights as well as the Intergender Grappling match between Gabi Garcia and Craig Jones. We also answer some questions from the listeners about Muay Thai, MMA call outs, and what would irresponsible purchases we would make if we won the lottery.
On episode 96 Tim rubs the accuracy of his UFC fight predictions in the faces of Marco, JB, and Devin. They recap the big fights between Nunes-Anderson and which if any of us could defeat Amanda Nunes in a fist fight, Yan-Sterling, and Adesanya-Blachowicz. We discuss illegal knees, sterling winning the belt via DQ, Izzy attempting to move up in weight, and Gordon Ryan taking on Grappling Vet Vagner Rocha at WNO and if age can be an advantage. We also answer listener questions about interesting fight match ups, What is the largest animal we could kill with our bare hands, Cavemen vs Astronauts in a fight, Askren vs Jake Paul, and how grappling stacks up against major ball sports in popularity.
On episode 95 Marco rants about the Philadelphia parking authority and asks Jb, Tim, and Devin about the things they hate. We give our predictions on UFC 259 and we break down the fights between Adesanya and Jachowicz, Yan and Sterling, and Nunes and Anderson. We discuss the Andre Galvao vs Gordon Ryan incident and Galvaos apology/explanation/sales pitch on instagram and what is the most important thing to focus on as a beginner.
*Marco has a slight technical issue with his microphone during the first 60 seconds
On episode 94, Marco, Tim, and JB get together in Tims fortress of solitude to record the podcast. On this episode, Marco relays a harrowing tale of a chipotle date night gone wrong before getting into a recap of the Hellfish Kumite Invitational Dual Meet. We discuss the best matches and moments and what went well and what went wrong at the 1st ever event of its kind. We discuss what changes will be made to the rules and format going forward and Marco protests the outcome of the event. We also discuss what Gordon Ryans five fingers said to Andre Galvao’s face in the slap heard around the BJJ world and if Galvao ruined his legacy as one of the greatest combat athletes of all time.
On episode 93 Tim, Devin and Jason talk about the Usman vs Burns championship fight while Marco sits in the corner and pouts. Devin describes why he thinks Usman is the next big star. We answer some questions from listeners. At least some of us do. Marco avoids answering while Tim, JB, and Devin weigh on things like dumb purchases, should Dustin Poirier be declared the UFC champ, can you base your jiu jitsu game around Guard retention, what we thing about resistance bands, is there an ideal grappling body type, are good grapplers born or made through hard work, and how to watch the Hellfish Kumite invitational Dual Meet
On episode 92, Marco and Tim are back in the studio with JB and Devin. First we talk about the UFC and give our predictions on the Usman vs Burns and Rodolfo Viera vs Hernandez fights. This show is dedicated towards answering the listeners questions and we cover a lot of ground. We answer questions about what makes Gordon Ryan so good, testosterone replacement therapy, adding kickboxing matches in the ufc, how to handle rough training partners, who are our favorite UFC personalities and Tim stands up for the rights of trans women while the rest of the Cisgendered males on the show put trans lives at risks with vile hate speech
On episode 91 Marco and Tim work through some technical difficulties to bring you another great episode. Marco has braved the elements to meet at Tims house to record the podcast and attempt to stream it live for the first time. We discuss a recent mass shooting over shoveling snow and how to avoid getting killed, Marco rants about south philly parking in the snow, and we talk about what seems to be the end of legendary mma fighters overeem and Frankie Edgars carreers after both suffered brutal KO losses in the UFC. We also discuss Nicky Ryan vs Roberto Jimenez and who is the real phenom between the two. We also answer some questions from listeners about how to deal with predatory behavior and how to get a Ninja Rob shirt.
On episode 90, Marco, Tim, JB, and Devin sit down to discuss Marco’s overtipping at Starbucks and Tim’s lack of tipping at Starbucks. They also discuss the upcoming Hellfish Invitational Dual Meet tournament and Marco’s issues with the rules and regulations and possible corruption within the tournament. We talk about some promotions at NJMA and their shiny new black belts. One of Marco’s students testing positive for Covid. We also talk about how to handle a new student who is a referral from a friend and if they should be treated any better than anyone else. Other topics include how to make a wrestler good at jiu-jitsu, what martial art covers sports, fighting, self-defense, and Art, and what are our favorite grappling/bjj tournaments.
On episode 89 Marco and Tim sit down to discuss the UFC fights from the weekend. They breakdown the Chandler vs Hooker fight and the main event between Conor Mcgregor and Dustin Poirier that saw Conor lose by tko. We discuss the keys to Poiriers win and what Conor has to do to get back to the title. We talk about the upcoming Hellfish Invitational Jiu Jitsu Dual Meet and what rules will be used. We answer some questions from listeners about the Mt. Rushmore of Pride FC, rule changes to the UFC to make it better, meditation and visualization and Muay Thai.
On episode 88 Marco, Tim, Devin, and Jb revisit the Coach, Professor, Sensei debate and then talk about some differences in coaching philosophy and what Ben Askren has to say about legendary wrestling coach Dan Gable. We answer questions from some listeners about how hard it would be to rip off someones face with your bare hands, what celebrity would we want to roll or spar with, Tourette’s syndrome, Jordan Burroughs teaching wrestling for mma, how to get past plateaus, and successful BJJ athletes from other sports
On episode 87, Marco, Tim, Devin, and JB sit down for a question heavy episode of the podcast. We answer some deep questions from the listeners with many overlapping themes. We talk about finding the school that suits you best, quitting a gym because you don’t enjoy the culture, how to address a blackbelt instructor in and out of the school, why we don’t see 10th planet dominating in the high levels of competition, should promotions be based on specific metrics or individual progress, are belt promotions appropriate for students that only train nogi, and are there techniques that only work for some body types and not others?
On episode 86, Tim has graciously relinquished control of the podcast back to Marco. Marco pays homage to Hip Hop legend MF DOOM who has recently passed and talks about what led him to discovering the underground hip hop icons music and also how he found the then underground martial art of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. We talk about when we first realized our obsession with Jiu Jitsu and we answer some questions from listeners about what style of Jiu Jitsu is best for MMA, our thoughts on American Jiu Jitsu as opposed to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, what is our favorite guard pass, who are our favorite old school gi competitors, and how to approach adding a new submission into your arsenal.
On episode 85 Tim, Devin, and Marco get together on Boxing Day to talk about the sweet science. We discuss our favorite boxers of all time, who is the greatest of all time, and the recent trend of internet celebrities boxing. We talk about YouTube star Logan Paul fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr, and what Logan needs to do to win. We also discuss his brother Jake Pauls potential match up against Ben Askren. We also answer questions from the listeners about pressure passing, Muay thai, our favorite BJJ Scout videos, and what our favorite accomplishments are as coaches and competitors.
On episode 84 Tim has wrestled the reigns of the show from Marcos greasy fingers and takes the opportunity to talk with Devin, Jb, and Marco about the recent dismantling of Tony Ferguson at the hands of Charles Oliveira. Through analysis of the fight, we talk about various aspects of fighting, competition and coaching as well as the difference between trick techniques that rely on the hope that an opponent makes a mistake and high percentage techniques that can be reliably used in competition. We also answer listener questions on topics like womens only bjj classes, lower back pain and how we deal with it, what does it mean to be a blackbelt other than where you stand in line before class, and what are the differences between BJJ and traditional Jiu Jitsu.
If you want to see the diagram from Dan’s question check it out on IG @ninjarobpodcast or follow this link https://www.instagram.com/ninjarobpodcast/
On episode 83 Marco, Tim, and Devin sit down and talk about the world of martial arts after they tell each other their favorite qualities possessed by their wives and Girlfriends. They talk about the recent WNO event featuring Kaynan Duarte vs Rodolfo Viera and how Tim once again failed to make an accurate prediction. They talk about some of the strange consequences of head trauma, the difference between Judo submissions and BJJ submissions and how they compliment each other. We also discuss a viral police video in which a cop man handles an woman at walmart and uses a juji Gatame to handcuff her and they discuss a recent controversy around MMA coach Firas zahabis refusal to roll with women. We talk about some important general concepts in grappling that can make significant improvements in short time and answer questions from the listeners.
Some links for the video, techniques and matches we discussed in today’s episode.
Israel Adesanya getting Purple Belt from Andre Galvao
Demian maia vs Chael Sonnen Full fight.
Takedown to triangle sequence at 4:05.
Firas Zahabi won’t train with women article
On episode 82 Marco and Tim are back in the studio with JB and Devin. ¾ of the show gives their firsthand account of what covid was like for them. After that we discuss everything from a gnarly crash in formula 1 racing, how to win a BJJ match in a car, one legged Bjj competitor Duwane Hall, Keenan Cornelius’ innovative techniques, and Garry Tonons most recent MMA win at ONE FC. We also get into a discussion about the DDS move to PR and what impact if any it will have on the BJJ community.
Some links for the video, techniques and matches we discussed in today’s episode.
Duwane Hall one Legged Grappling HL
On episode 81, Marco and Tim sit down to talk about the recent big fights in the combat sports world. They discuss the boxing matches between youtuber Jake Paul and NBA star Nate Robinson, Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones and give their thoughts on the event as a whole. Next, they discuss the UFC and Tims first blackbelt Bill algeos unanimous decision win over Spike Carlyle and what Bill did both right and wrong in the fight. They also answer some questions from the listeners about Keenan Cornelius, what are their favorite grappling events to watch, Drilling or rolling for skill development, Gordon Ryan, John Danaher, and the DDS moving to Puerto Rico, and what overall concepts in BJJ have had the biggest impact on them
A big thank you to all the listeners and supporters. We made it to thirty thousand downloads. Listen to our very first episode.
Our debut episode, we talk about MVP getting starched, world class striking in mma, BJ Penn, Keenan Cornelius and toxic environments, competing and its responsibility, the future of Ninja Rob Podcast and some of the not so fun things of owning a martial arts school.
On episode 79 Marco and Tim record another zoom podcast from their respective living rooms. Marco ask Tim about his experience with Covid and what its like to lose the sense of taste and smell. Marco and Tim talk about how the covid experience will effect how they run their gyms during the pandemic and if there is anything that could be done better. They also talk about the fight between RDA and Paul Felder and what we would do to make Felder a more dangerous contender.
On episode 78 Marco and Tim record the podcast on Zoom because Tim has tested positive from covid and is stuck in isolation. Tim talks about his experience with covid, and how he got it. Marco talks about his experience coaching at the subversive team grappling competition and gives his opinion on some of the matches and competitors. Marco weighs in on some questions he missed on the previous episode about Kron Gracie, Heel Hooks, and his favorite modern BJJ competitors.
On episode 77, Tim takes Marcos place as primary co-host because Marco was busy coaching at a team grappling event in philly. Tim is joined my JB and Devin to discuss Khabibs performance and retirement in his UFC title fight against Justin Gaethje and whether or not he is the P4P mma GOAT. We answer questions from listeners about Kron Gracies future in the UFC, Heel hooks in IBJJF, and which president in US history was the best fighter.
On episode 76, Marco, JB, and Tim talk about the Khabib vs Gaethje Light weight world championship match up. Marco and Tim disagree about whether or not Khabib is in contention for pound for pound GOAT and how we would construct the best fighter of all time. Tim talks about his recent experience at Fight 2 Win and the subjectivity of the decision making process at submission only events. Tim contemplates competing in a team grappling competition by identifying as a woman and we answer questions from listeners about why students quit, what we would change about each others schools, who out there in the grappling world will defeat Gordon Ryan, and what our favorite techniques in grappling are.
On episode 75, Marco, Tim, JB, and Devin give predictions on the Lomanchenko vs Lopez Boxing match and discuss professional athletes from sports like hockey, football, and basketball cross training in combat sports like bjj and muay thai. We talk about Matt Hughes literal train wreck and how it has effected his personality, Devins halloween costume, Karate instructors wearing their karate blackbelts while teaching Jiu Jitsu techniques. We answer questions from listeners about how a higher belt should train with lower belts, how to help a training partner during a roll, getting older as grappler and how to adapt, any regrets from using our martial arts in real life, the importance of competition for students, especially young men, and how a parent can best get them involved in competition.
On the 74th episode, Tim , Marco, Devin, and JB sit down and talk about the highlight reel knockout moments from the recent UFC Fight night. We talk about what it takes for a fighter to make the most flashy and innovative techniques work under the pressure of a UFC fight. We talk about Philly fighter Chris Daukus and his recent success in the UFC and how he can best handle being a full time police officer and chase the heavyweight title at the same time. We also cover the recent change to IBJJF rules that will allow heelhooks and knee reaping in competition and how that will change the competition scene in the short and long term. We discuss some recent viral street fight videos and share our excitement for an upcoming Christmas movie starring Mel Gibson as Santa Claus.
On the 73rd episode of the Ninja Rob podcast, Marco, Tim, and JB talk about how wrong their predictions were in the Adesanya vs Costa fight and Devin gloats about how right his prediction was. We discuss how good adesanya is and if there is anyone that can challenge him at 185 or 205 as well as who will win should he meet John Jones at some point. We talk about the presidential debate and Trumps recent Covid diagnosis and who would win in a fight between Trump and Biden. We recap the WNO event matches including Gordon Ryan vs Matheus Diniz and Nicky Ryan vs Tony Ramos and Craig Jones vs Roberto Jimenez. We discuss the ridiculous nature and excitement of Connor Mcgregor fighting Flloyd Mayweather and possibly Manny Pacquiao.
Marco, Tim, JB, and Devin are back with the 72nd episode. On this episode we give our predictions on the middleweight title fight between Adesanya and Costa and breakdown what each fighter brings to the cage and what they need to do to win. We also discuss some recent viral videos from the martial arts community and discuss challenge matches, street fights, and abusive instructors. We also answer some questions from listeners about what grappling arts would be good to supplement with BJJ, how to create a good vibe in a gym, how to get into shape for bjj/mma, and when we will get Kyle Cerminara back on the podcast.
Ep.71 Instant Classic Re-Release of Ep.16 A Jiu-Jitsu roundtable with Jared Weiner
On episode #16 Tim and Marco welcome their 1st guest and longtime friend Jared Weiner, owner of BJJ United and Commander in Chief of the TAC team association. This episode is a Jiu Jitsu roundtable discussion covering topics like BJ Penns recent street fights and his past altercations at Jiu Jitsu competitions. The roundtable also cover topics like the importance of understanding the various rulesets of different competitions and what set of rules each of the guys prefers, what is the “IT” factor when it comes to a competitor, the importance of a competitor believing in his coach, the pros and cons of social media and the martial arts, belt demotions instead of promotions and much much more.
On episode 70 Marco, Tim, JB, and Devin discuss how terrible Bellator MMA has become since Tim left. We spend a good portion of the show talking about how to deal with a new student that is coming from another school. We discuss different reasons someone might leave a gym, how they talk about their former gym, and how they handle new students coming on board and the effect it can have on promotions for the new student and how important the culture of the school is. Tim discriminates against people with tattoos. We also get into movies and shows based around combat sports and what makes the difference between the good and bad martial arts movie.
On the once in a lifetime 69th episode, we discuss the enigmatic titles of the Rambo films and the challenges of virtual school in the age of covid. This show is primarily dedicated to a discussion about the interesting people we meet and experiences we have had that would never have met or experienced if it was not for our involvement in the martial arts. From working the door at night clubs, training with navy seals, to running with the bulls and soiling your pants we take a trip down the memory lane provided by our lives dedicated to the martial arts
On episode 68, Marco, Tim, JB, and Devin discuss the death of the Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman and the chinese black market for organ transplants. We also talk about Tims first black belt fighting in the UFC on the anniversary of earning his blackbelt to fight on the main card and what he has to do in order to win. We talk about the unspoken rules of Jiu Jitsu like asking a higher belt to train and a few others from BJJ and traditional martial arts and we question the manhood of Suga Sean O’malley after being carried out on a stretcher from a sprained ankle. We talk about allowing students to train at other gyms and JB tells us a story about a recent situation that almost led to a fist fight.
On episode 67 Marco brags about his Icon status among a group of low level podcasters whilst blaming JB for his podcasts plummeting numbers. Marco institutes racial quotas for the podcast. We discuss the idea of self mastery and striving not to be better than others, but focusing on doing your best whether that be in podcasting, charity work, fighting, or making race cars, and how we can instill that idea in our gyms culture. We talk about the difference between saying Im sorry and a true apology. And we recap the rubber match of Cormier vs Miocic look back on Cormiers legendary career and we answer a few questions from a listener about how to manage distance in a fight.
Ep. 66 After 4.5 minutes of JB, Tim, Marco, and Devin trying to decide who should start the show. We dive into some questions from listeners. We talk about which legendary martial artist living or dead would we want to train and speak with the most including, Kimura, Mayweather, Stu Hart, and Sho Kosugi. We talk about why the Heavyweight champ is considered the best of the best. We also discuss Paige Van Zant transitioning to Bare Knuckle boxing and fighter pay. We talk about a hypothetical match up between Mike Tyson and Royce Gracie. We give our predictions on the Cormier and DC rubber match.
On episode 65 Marco, Tim, Devin and JB sit down and discuss the details of positional training including setting parameters, how specific the drill should be, who benefits most, and how to be a good partner. JB shares a story about his experiences working part time at a funeral home and cremating bodies, and we talk about some of the weekends fights including the Black Beast vs the Boa Constrictor and Chris Weidmans attempt to get back in the win column after one of the most dramatic declines in the history of the sport.
Episode 64 is the origin story of Ninja Rob. We are joined by dear friend of the show, the enigmatic man known only as JB. He gives us the history of podcasts namesake, the Camden NJ street ninja Rob. We get insight into the man behind the legend and the history of his martial arts training. We also talk some recent mma news and traditional martial arts as well as how Martial arts training differs between various neighborhoods.
Tim is back on episode 63. Marco and Tim answer some great questions from listeners. We talk about some differences between old school and new school jiu jitsu culture and jiu jitsu for self defense. We review some internet fight videos from Crimefaces and how jiu jitsu can help you in a street fight. We revisit the discussion around what constitutes a sport and a skill. We also answer a question from long time listener Mike Olonoscopi about training around injuries or uncomfortable medical procedures.
Episode 62 The squad revisits generalist v specialist, Marco and Zach’s early beef and first experiences training. We discuss street jesus getting the nod to take on Usman, Devin’s go to for street fights, Marco considers his transition to ice hockey and Interviews will continue for the long term co-host spot.
Episode 61. Marco learns about the death of rapper juice world who he previously never knew existed. Devin has an air fryer in the studio which creates a debate about microwaves vs air fryers. Marco relays a story about a recent incident at McDonald’s. We talk about Gilbert burns missing his world championship fight due to catching covid and who Usman should face next. We discuss poirer vs hooker, kimbo slice and who would win between Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather.
On episode 60 Marco, Tim, and Devin discuss their significant others taste in movies and entertainment and the differences between men and women. They talk about the corner controversy in the UFC involving Robert Drysdale and a fighter that wanted to quit and if a fighter can ever come back after quitting. They give their predictions on the upcoming UFC Fight Island Card in Dubai. We talk about the ridiculous nature of weight cutting in combat sports and what could be done about it. We take a question from listeners about the inclusivity of jiu jitsu and what is a gyms responsibility to vet prospective students for racism.
On episode 59 Marcos ego has been shattered by the success of the recent Timkashi 6ix9ine episode and he tries to wrestle the show back from Tim. Tim exposes Marcos deeply closeted white nationalism. New Jersey Martial Arts has been linked to racist hate groups by an instagram troll and Marco details his interaction with the troll. We discuss the dangers of internet rumors for businesses and individuals in today’s racially charged climate. We talk philly boxing legends like Hopkins, Frazier, Garcia, and Balboa. Marco gives more details on the south philly Columbus controversy.
On episode 58 Marco figures out that puppies could fix all race relations with puppies. Devin throws a wrench in his theory by expressing his speciesist hatred of dogs. We talk about UFC and Fight Island and if now that fights are on an island could we finally see intergender fights and if so could Amanda Nunes beat a top 10 in the ufc. We discuss russian slap competitions and Ronnie Coleman and various accents and Jeffrey Epstein and the Franklin Coverup. Marco talks about the Columbus statue conflict in south philly between neighborhood residents and social justice activists.
On episode 57 Marco, Tim, and Devin discuss their middle names and Tim learns that he was the victim of racial profiling last week at Devins Studio and Marco shares a story about a student accusing him of being racist. We talk a lot about the criminal justice system. Tim shares his experiences of twice being wrongfully arrested for aggravated assault and murder as well as his refusal to snitch to the cops but his willingness to snitch on Marcos daughter for cursing. Devin talks more about cop and community relations in camden and we also discuss the recent UFC event and how the added pressure of a death of a loved one can both help and hurt a competitor on the night of the fight.
On episode 56 we talk about the current state of the world. Riots, police brutality and race relations in the US. Devin give us some insight into his experiences growing up with police in Camden. We talk a little about martial arts and how it can help law enforcement.
On episode 55 while the world burns down around us Marco and Tim reminisce about the old days of Philadelphia BJJ at maxercise.
On episodes 54, Marco is given the key to the city of maple shade for saving a students life. Tim saves Marcos life with the gift of an official Hellfish covid mask but gets nothing. They discuss some of the best gifts they’ve received from students and Tim reveals when Hellfish will reopen from the lockdown. Marco reveals some details about where he is moving his gym and when. They also discuss the recent ufc championship fight between Justin Gathje and Tony Ferguson. We also take some questions and comments from the listeners
Recorded on May 9th 2020
Marco, Tim, and Devin sit down for a rambling podcast to discuss topics ranging from sushi, coronavirus lockdown, and blacksploitation films. They give their predictions on the 1st ufc card since the pandemic. They discuss the cruz vs cejudo, Gathje vs Ferguson, Nganu vs Rosenstriuk and talk about what the fighters must do to win. We also get a letter from a Doctor friend of the show regarding our ignorance of infectious disease and public health
Recorded on 05/2/2020
The 52nd episode of the podcast marks the one year anniversary of the show. On this episode, we are deep into the coronavirus lockdown. With the Martial Arts world on lockdown our time has been spent learning new things, we talk about the Unabomber, technology and uploading our consciousness into a computer and then downloading it into other people, we reminisce about our appearance on the reality show Comic Book Men. We also talk about what jiu jitsu schools will look in a post Covid world. We discuss the deadly ramifications of punching someone on the street and we discuss Mike Tysons potential comeback.
Recorded on 04/25/2020
On the 51st episode, Marco shares his shameful fall from the wagon of clean eating. Marco, Tim, and Devin discuss what led to Marco breaking his diet and they dive deep into some junk food talk about which brand of gummy worms and what pizza toppings are best. Tim tries to talk Marco and Devin into joining his resistance movement with limited success. We also talk the upcoming UFC with Cejudo vs Cruz as the main event and figure out how to fix the virus lockdown.
Recorded on 04/18/2020
On the historic 50th episode of the podcast, Marco, Tim, and Devin discuss life in the time of Coronavirus. We take a deep dive into the differences between Walmart and Target. We discuss the differences in quality of merchandise, customer service, employees, and customers between our two favorite essential businesses. Not much has gone on in the martial art world recently, so Tim continues to unravel while Marco and Devin continue to play video games.
Recorded on 04/11/2020
Episode 49 takes place during one of the countless weeks of the corona virus quarantine. We talk about how the lock down has ruined our sense of time and date and whether or not the 5g from Tims Iphone is the actual cause of the pandemic. We try and talk at least some martial arts and we discuss the cancellation of UFC 249. We discuss the difference between sport and skilled activities and try to figure out what makes a sport a sport and what sports are not sports. We discuss the state of the world under the tyranny of the corona virus and questioning authority and getting a second opinion.
Episode 48 04/04/2020
Episode 48 was recorded on the 4th day of the 4th month of 2020 in the 3rd week of the coronapocalypse. Tim’s hopeful prediction of a quick recovery have been shattered and he has lost track of days, times and purpose in life. His only reason for getting out of bed in the afternoon anymore is to record the podcast with Marco and Devin who have found their life’s purpose in video games. Marco has also found a new passion in formula one car racing. We also debate whether or not Formula one racing is a sport and answer some questions from the listeners and give some recommendations on quarantine entertainment.
On episode 47 Marco finally takes a crack at writing the description (Tim normally writes them). Devin, Tim and Marco try to figure out plurals and how faking your death could go over in middle school. We launch the “super awesome jiu-jitsu” movement within kids Jiu-Jitsu. We discuss the possible outcomes of Khabib vs Ferguson fight. And last but not least Ninja Rob takes a shallow dive into the history of Dagestan and its wrestlers. A note to all fans this episode was recorded on March 28th.
Episode 46 is part 2 of 2 featuring Marco, Tim, Devin and the podcasts resident doctor, training partner and friend Dr. NJ Campbell to discuss the Coronavirus and the impact it is having on the martial arts world.
In this episode we talk about societal collapse supply chain economics and we give our coronapocalypse predictions.
Dr. NJ Campbell is invited back to discuss the implications of the current covid crisis with Dev, Tim, and Marco while they give a myriad of opinions on how society at large may be impacted.
It’s the coronapocalypse and Tim and Marco break quarantine for the podcast. They sit down to talk about the Coronavirus and how it is affecting the martial arts world. The virus has not only impacted the martial arts on a local level by forcing schools to close their doors but also canceling fights and grappling tournaments. Tim, excited for the end of the world as we know it gives some insight into his plan to survive the apocalypse if and when it happens and Marco gets excited about Devins new podcast recording device.
On episode 43 Marco and Tim talk about the benefits of private lessons and what kind of student would benefit the most from them. They also get into a discussion about the differences between the bjj/mma world and the traditional martial arts world and why someone would choose Kung fu over Bjj and how to become certified in almost anything through Tim’s new business. They recap the big fights from the ufc and give their take on the controversial decisions in the championship fights.
On episode 42 Tim, Marco , and Devin talk about martial arts feuds between opposing styles and when to pick your battles. They discuss the Brazil trip, passport issues and concerns about the corona virus. They recap some recent ufc fights and what makes for a bad referee stoppage. We also talk about mixed style grappling matches and the early days of Philly Jiu jitsu.
On episode 41 Tim and Marco talk the sweet science of boxing and recap the beat down of Deontay Wilder at the hands of Tyson Fury. They also talk about how to spot good and bad trainers and the recent controversy over Diego Sanchez and his weird new trainer/coach/physical therapist/manager/life coach.
On the 40th episode, Marco and Tim are joined by good friend of the show and loyal listeners Kyle Cerminara and Kaitlyn Chookagian. Kyle is one of the best wrestling coaches in MMA and grappling and Kaitlyn is the #1 ufc female contender in her weight class. They talk about pet peeves, training, fighting, sous vide cooking, growing from an ugly duckling into a swan, and Kyles new wrestling instructional for bjj fanatics.
On episode 39, Marco gets a recap of UFC 247 from Tim and Devin. They breakdown the Jones vs Reyes main event and discuss the wild judging that night and the unpredictable nature of mma in general. Marco talks about his recent foray into cross country skiing and we talk some recent bjj news.
On this special episode, we are releasing an episode of the Ando Cast with Ninjarob podcast friend, listener, sometimes co host, training partner, and resident Psychiatrist Dr. NJ Campbell to discuss BJJ and mental health.
On episode 38 Tim and Marco are joined by our great friend, loyal listener and master striking coach Kru Eric Karner. We talk about the #hetoo movement in the bjj world, the dangers of unwanted sensual touching in grappling, and cross training in Muay Thai and Bjj. We also discuss the crazy world of thai boxing and training in Thailand
On episode 37 Marco and Tim talk about some sad news in the sports world with the recent death of Kobe Bryant and the recent arrest of Relson Gracie in Brazil. After we get the negative news out of the way, we talk about the ibjjf European championship and answer some emails about hard work vs talent, how to visit other schools, our favorite combat sports rematches, our 5 man quintet listener only fantasy team, and which athletes got paid the most at the recent Modolfo camp.
On episode 36 Marco and Tim talk about guns, prostitution, drugs, kung fu and how becoming addicted to training in martial arts beats becoming addicted to heroin. We talk about two of the extreme ends of the Jiu Jitsu spectrum in the Gracie Academy and 10th planet and which style we prefer. We also recap the fights from this weekend and talk about Conor Mcgregors comeback fight against Cowboy and what we think Conors next fight will be.
On episode 35 Tim and Marco tackle some recent #metoo style controversy in the Philly Muay Thai community and discuss the dangers of relationships developing between students as well as students and instructors. They also discuss the classic match between Marc laimon and Ryron Gracie as an example of how to win under any ruleset. We also take questions about the difference between fundamentals and basics in bjj, sparring between men and women, last meals and our preferred method of execution when the time comes.
On episode 34 Marco and Tim discuss some of the lesser known aspects of the martial arts lifestyle, namely using the sous vide method of cooking steaks and researching true crime and serial killers through various books, podcasts and YouTube videos. We also talk some pure Jiu Jitsu and give some tips on etiquette for rolling and critiquing others, and how to study film for bjj.
It’s the Last episode of the year. We discuss our plans for the new year and/or lack there of, Gordon Ryan’s recent retirement, and Marco, Tim, and Devin give their respective metaphorical Mt Rushmore’s of both Jiu jitsu and Hip Hop
It’s the Christmas episode. As a gift to the listeners, we kept this one short. We talk about the holidays, the Americana arm lock, who would win in an fight between Mike Tyson and a high school wrestler, how to find your style, and we reveal a few more vague details about the upcoming ninja rob trip to Brazil.
On Episode 31 Marco and Tim sit down and talk about Marcos recent hospital visits. A student has a heart attack on the mats and we talk about handling medical emergencies in our schools. Devin joins us to review the recent UFC fights. We talk about the recent Gordon Ryan Bo Nickal match and give our opinions on gun, knife, and multiple attacker self defense training, and Devin shares some first hand experience with us.
On Episode 30 Marco and Tim discuss the upcoming trip to Florianopolis Brazil and the grand opening of the new NJMA affiliate school Team Wolf BJJ and when it is the right time for a student to open their own gym and become an instructor. We also talk about the Bo Nickal vs Gordon Ryan mixed rules match and Ruiz vs Joshua rematch in boxing. We get to answer some emails from listeners that we had missed on the previous episode and re-visit the age old debates of Muay Thai vs Jiu Jitsu and Cats vs Dogs.
On Episode 29 Marco and Tim grapple with emails from listeners. We discuss some interesting ideas about rule sets for the potential ninja rob universal grappling championship, Gordon Ryan in the gi, whether or not an instructor has a responsibility to continue to learn and stay up to date with current trends and techniques in jiu jitsu, is there an advantage to being a Brazilian in a IBJJF tournament.
On Episode 28 Marco and Tim do a quick recap of the Spyder Korea $100k Tournament and discuss the possibility of a Ninja Rob Universal Grappling Invitational Tournament in the future and what ruleset the competition will follow along with how to come up with the prize money and who will be invited to compete. We also discuss promotions in BJJ and the recent upgrades in rank for the Hellfish Jiu Jitsu students. The mysterious Alpha and Omega is back with another question about how to effectively train takedowns in a BJJ class and attempts to clarify his attempt to chastise the hosts for the way they refer to Devin on the show.
On Episode 27 Marco and Tim discuss the 1st Ninja Rob Seminar that recently took place and share some of their favorite moments from the event. Marco is flattered and confused to be invited to brunch by a strange man. A loyal listener tries to defend Devin from a possible racist attack, and we discuss one of the most fancy techniques in grappling and how to practice it safely.
On Episode 26 Marco and Tim spend the majority of the show answering a lone Listeners question. They talk about the life of being a professional martial artist and business owner, and if there is anything they do outside of martial arts to make money, how to become an expert in your field in general and martial arts in particular, and finally how we decide on what and how to teach an advanced/Mixed level group of students.
On Episode 25 listen to Marco and Tim give their post fight predictions of Masvidal vs Diaz UFC card along with Producer Devins take on the fights. We talk weight cutting controversies like Kelvin Gastelum and Daniel Cormiers tricks for cheating the scale and since we are part of the BJJ community we respond to an open letter from a transgender person to the BJJ community and give our takes on the idea of an open gender division in sports and the social implications. We also discuss frauds and scams in martial arts and how to avoid them before answering questions from listeners about how to best prepare young people for real life street combat, Keenan Cornelius’ American Jiu Jitsu, the Nicky Rod phenomenon, and our experiences with pet ownership.
On this special Halloween episode, Tim shows up in costume on his way to a Halloween party to talk to Marco about the Maia vs Askren fight result and the upcoming BMF title fight between Diaz and Masvidal and predict the winner. We talk about the recent USADA controversy with Nate Diaz and the problem with having USADA involved in the sport. We take questions from listeners and discuss how to break through plateaus in training, switching to a plant based diet, local MMA prospects, and the difference between cat owners and dog owners in the BJJ/fighting community.
On episode 23 Marco and Tim breakdown some of the matches from Fight 2 Win in philly including the main event between Nicky Rod and Kaynan Duarte, Tim Williams, and Tims match against an opponent that refused to engage. Marco lays a guilt trip on Tim for not listening to his appearance on the Andocast and then they discuss the recent UFC fights including inhaler gate and Greg Hardy, and Chris Weidmans rapid decline in MMA and what it means for his legacy. In other podcast talk we talk about listening to each others recommendations and get deep into multilevel marketing and the mayhem and murder of Carl Panzram. We also answer questions from listeners about wawa donuts, favorite sports teams outside of combat sports, and training through injury and illness.
On episode 22 Marco and Tim talk about Marcos recent guest appearance on the Andocast and Kron Gracies loss to Cub Swanson and what a Jiu Jitsu fighter needs to do in training in order to compete in the ufc. Tim and Marco discuss the upcoming Ninja Rob Super Seminar as well as the direction of the podcast and what podcasts we like to listen to when we are not listening to ourselves.
On episode 21 Marco and Tim discuss the results of ADCC last weekend and some of the most talked about matches. Tim gives a review of the new joker movie and Marco reveals what he will be teaching at the upcoming Ninja Rob Seminar in November. After answering questions from the listeners they talk a little bit about some of the benefits of owning a Martial Arts school.
On episode #20 Marco and Tim discuss Marcos most recent beef with fellow/rival podcast the Andocast. Marco is incensed that the Andocast recently featured Tim as a guest rather than himself. The podcast this week features some live play by play of ADCC along with some predictions and discussion of Keenan Cornelius and Marcos experience with Pink eye. Speaking of pink, the podcast discusses Team Balance promoting their 1st Female black belt. The challenges faced by women and men in BJJ, a fellow Martial Arts School recently burning down and how we can all help, and they also answer some questions about women in bjj, and who are the best instructors we have ever trained with.
On episode #19 Marco and Tim discuss Marcos recent experience at the IBJJF nogi pans and the differences between competition and training, the difference in pace, intensity and the gap between techniques that work in training and techniques that work in competition as well as the importance of sticking with your most high percentage moves rather than trying something new in the heat of battle. The podcast also goes deep into the difference between “old school” and “modern” bjj techniques and which is better, who is the better cook between the 2 co hosts, and what tournaments are best for the average practitioner to get started. As a bonus topic the podcast also gets into some updates on producer Devins uncomfortable issues that are preventing him from training.
On episode #18 Tim and Marco welcome the Strongest man in the US on to the show to discuss strength and conditioning for the martial arts and martial arts for the conditioned and strong. US Strongman National Champion Joe Szatmary is the owner of The Lions Den Elite Training Center and also a student under Tim at Hellfish MMA in Chalfont. He brings a wealth of knowledge about training for strength and conditioning for various sports including BJJ and Muay Thai. Joe recently competed in his first BJJ competition and he shares his experience as an elite athlete crossing over into a new sport. The guys also answer questions about, who is the best pound for pound, what guests will be coming on in the future, what is the best cheesesteak in philly, and whose responsible for safety during training.
On episode #17 Tim and Marco show up unprepared to do the podcast, but end up giving listeners a glimpse of what a beginner should expect to experience at each of their schools. They go over the process of someone trying out the classes and then joining the gym. They also discuss some upcoming plans for the podcast including a special seminar for Ninja Rob listeners. Producer and owner of SFX studios also shares some of his experiences as someone brand new to Jiu Jitsu.
On episode #16 Tim and Marco welcome their 1st guest and longtime friend Jared Weiner, owner of BJJ United and Commander in Chief of the TAC team association. This episode is a Jiu Jitsu roundtable discussion covering topics like BJ Penns recent street fights and his past altercations at Jiu Jitsu competitions. The roundtable also cover topics like the importance of understanding the various rulesets of different competitions and what set of rules each of the guys prefers, what is the “IT” factor when it comes to a competitor, the importance of a competitor believing in his coach, the pros and cons of social media and the martial arts, belt demotions instead of promotions and much much more.
On episode #15 Marco is obsessed with beef. The episode kicks off with beef between Marco and Podcast contemporary Gillie the King on behalf of producer Devin based on some disparaging remarks Gillie made about Marco. Tim has some serious questions about the process and value of beefing. Marco and Tim have some beef of their own. Continuing the theme of beefing in the martial arts world, Marco and Tim discuss some recent incidents of both verbal and physical altercations between some big names in the BJJ community. There were a lot of questions this week covering topics like, Mcgregor vs Khabib 2, some of our favorite tournament experiences, should a white belt focus on position or submission, the steep learning curve of BJJ, whats up with Marcos finger, the BJJ specialist, and applying concepts of bjj to normal life.
On episode #14 Tim and Marco talk about the current state of the amateur fight game and what it takes to compete and fight. Tim gives Marco an education on a popular new class of PEDs called SARMS and Marco flirts with the idea of enhancing his performance. The guys discuss the importance of strength and conditioning for both competitors and recreational Martial artists as well as a weird story of an instructor giving students a personality test before rolling and pairing students up according to the results. Listeners ask and we answer questions about asking a higher belt to roll, how to escape when a man is sitting on your face, and will th PFL ever be successful in the fight game.
On episode #13 Marco and Tim continue to seek the truth about Bruce Lee and his fighting prowess after his controversial portrayal in the new Tarantino film. Marco reads an unfavorable review of a local martial arts school and takes a deep dive into what makes a martial arts school successful. Tim and Marco discuss what amenities are necessary at a martial arts school and Marco shares a story about saving a friend who had been held hostage in Pakistan from the comfort of his south philly home. Loyal listener Gabe Lackfella asks the guys what their favorite guard passes are and how they prefer to finish.
On episode #12 Tims groin is once again the focus of the show, as the guys discuss his recent groin injury and why he had to pull out of his Fight 2 Win match last week. Tim and Marco go back to a question from last week about the debate over the oxford comma. Tim has some strong opinions on the seated guard/butt scooting position in grappling and how it is bad for the sport. Questions this week cover topics like Donald Trump training bjj, who are your favorite BJJ/MMA competitors of all time, and how to make the decision to pull out of a competition.
On episode #11 Tim turns 39 and Marco discuss Tims upcoming fight to win match and dealing with a recent groin injury, and touch on the topic of weight cutting in both bjj and MMA. Marco comes to terms with his obsession with Tims sexual exploits and makes a commitment to letting it go. Other topics covered include the idea of “slow practice” in learning guitar and martial arts, the oxford comma debate, gym wars and whether or not they are necessary or beneficial. how to handle the criticism from untrained armchair warriors. After the tragic death of Maxim Dadachaev in a recent boxing match Marco and Tim talk about the responsibility of a corner/coach in the safety of a fighter and when to throw in the towel, whether it is better to be a specialist or a generalist in BJJ, and how to properly be selfish as a fighter/competitor without being an asshole.
On episode #10 Tim returns from his vacation in Hungary to rescue the podcast. Marco and Tim discuss the how to’s of training while traveling and talk about some of the benefits. Tim will be competing in Fight 2 Win soon and the guys talk preparation for competition. Tim and Marco figure out whats up with the term and concept of the “Creonte” and get into a heated debate on the “gaunlet” that is used at many bjj gyms as a right of passage. Tim and Marco talk about how Bloodsport is their favorite Martial Arts movie and Finally Tim discusses the extraordinary amount of transgender students that have recently trained at his gym and Marco attempts to get him to fully commit to allyship with the LGBTQIA+ community.
On episode #9, of The Ninja Rob Podcast Marco welcomes guest host NJ Campbell, MD (Psychiatrist) while Tim is off gallivanting across Europe. They discuss NJ’s ability to juggle jiu-jitsu, school, and work while in pursuit of his black belt. They discuss the myriad health benefits of practicing jiu-jitsu as a coping mechanism for everyday-life-stressors and to fend off mild cases of depression and anxiety. They go on to discuss the benefits of using a growth mind state vs. a fixed mind state to improve one’s jiu-jitsu and to help cope when life gets difficult. With Tim’s up and coming Fight to Win match they discuss techniques to help prepare for tournaments that include drilling, visualization, and picking the right training partners. After Marcelo Garcia made a statement against trash talk Marco and NJ debate the risks and benefits of “talking shit.” Finally,in response to a listener’s question they discuss what it takes to stay humble, friendly, and ego free while having fun on the mat.
On episode #8, of The Ninja Rob Podcast Marco and Tim answer questions from the listeners starting with a question from a brown belt about what should the focus be at that stage of the jiu-jitsu journey. A listener questions Tims knowledge of Bruce lee, and we go over some of the mandatory movies, fights, and matches that all martial artists should see. Other questions include, Are the Gracies part of the Illuminati? Is using the bottom of your foot to finish a choke a dirty move? Who would win a fight between Tim and Batman? Is training while high on Marijuana a good idea? What should a fighter need to hear from his corner and what should a corner be looking for from his fighter?
On episode #7, of The Ninja Rob Podcast Marco and Tim answer questions from the listeners starting with a great hypothetical about how much money it would take for each to give up all of their jiu-jitsu skills and experiences and start back over from a day one white belt. Other questions include does the “training mask” help you get in better shape? How to deal with a nuisance student or an overly opinionated parent of a child student? What is “black belt entitlement”? What is the meta game of BJJ? How do Tim and Marco break down a 1 hour Jiu-Jitsu Class? and more. We also discuss the profundity of some of Mike Tysons recent statements on his podcast.
On episode #6, Marco and Tim talk about promoting students in Jiu-Jitsu class. What are some of the metrics used to promote students and the dreaded curse of the blue belt. They also discuss a viral video of an instructor punishing a student and injuring him to demonstrate his personal disdain for a certain technique. As usual, they answer questions from the listeners covering topics like overcoming the urge to quit training, how to handle training while injured, flow rolling, combat Jiu-Jitsu, and training for longevity rather than trying to get “good” quickly.
On episode #5 of The Ninja Rob Podcast, Marco and Tim answer some great questions from the listeners. Some of the questions we answer include, Is Marco as racist against Asians as he seems? How a does a fighter get into one of the big time fighting organizations? Should warm ups be a part of a BJJ class? What is the difference between training too rough and too soft? Should BJJ be mandatory for law enforcement? Is the Wim Hof method useful for bjj? Tim and Marco get to the bottom of these questions and more along with a breakdown on the most effective submissions from the ADCC trials and the death of notorious MMA Fighter and sex offender Pat Smith.
On episode #4 Tim and Marco answer some fantastic questions from the listeners. We reveal how to become more “technical” at jiu jitsu, how to use the jiu jitsu belt ranking system in the wrestling world, what techniques are considered to be “dirty” or “meathead” moves in jiu jitsu, how to recover from hard training, and who would win in a fight between Helio Gracie and Bruce Lee. We also do a quick recap of the recent World Championships in Jiu Jitsu and Boxing.
On episode 3 of The Ninja Rob Podcast, Marco and Tim answer several questions from the listeners ranging from spirituality in the martial arts to dealing with the challenges of competing. The age old debate of Gi vs No-Gi comes up and is finally settled once and for all. Finally, Marco shares a harrowing tale of how he was able to use his Martial Arts training in everyday life.
On this week’s episode of the Ninja Rob Podcast with Marco Perazzo and Tim carpenter, we discuss some recent events in the mma/fighting world including Malinaggi spitting on Lobov with a friend of ours getting sprayed in the crossfire, Urijah Faber vs Nicky Ryan in Polaris, and if Nicky Ryan is a prodigy, if a prodigy even exists. We also touch on Sage Northcutts face getting smashed into pieces, the efficacy of leg locks in MMA or the lack thereof.
Our debut episode, we talk about MVP getting starched, world class striking in mma, BJ Penn, Keenan Cornelius and toxic environments, competing and its responsibility, the future of Ninja Rob Podcast and some of the not so fun things of owning a martial arts school.