Sports Episodes

Join hosts Scott Dance and Michael Sutherland (with a combined 40 years of grappling experience) as they break down the value of internal competition in jiu-jitsu gyms: your battle buddies, accountability partners, and the scrimmages that sharpen both technique and tactical thinking. They discuss how friendly rivalries push consistency, force you to diversify setups and timing, and develop the mental agility required to execute under pressure. Expect practical coaching points on practicing tact...

Hosts Scott Dance and Michael Sutherland (combined 40 years of grappling experience) break down how to build and maintain a healthy jiu-jitsu community. They cover the owner’s role in seeding culture, vetting new members, and choosing coaches who extend core values. The episode explores practical systems such as onboarding/induction, coach selection, student ambassadors, and handling difficult personnel decisions; plus, why transparency, safety, and clear values matter for retention and growth....

Join hosts Scott Dance and Michael Sutherland of Fighters Drinking Coffee, two mat veterans with 40 years of combined grappling experience, as they break down how to flip the mental and physical switch from casual training to competition mode. This episode covers planning, programming, and the small but critical changes that get you competition-ready. They discuss training structure and intensity (how to shift from exploratory mat time to purpose-driven sessions), balancing coaching duties with...

Hosts Scott Dance and Michael Sutherland explore why people fall out of love with jiu-jitsu. Covering stress, anxiety, boredom, injuries, finances, relationship pressures, and toxic gym cultures. They discuss practical fixes like reframing your "why," changing scenery, downshifting frequency, setting timelines for breaks, cross-training, and teaching to regain motivation. The episode also shifts to the coach’s perspective on retention, novelty in class design, and balancing long-term commitment...

In this episode Scott and Mike dive into the psychology of training; why we started jiu‑jitsu, why we keep going, and how to find motivation when it fades. They share origin stories, talk about competition as a tool for learning, and explain how purpose can direct your day‑to‑day training. Topics include the difference between your long‑term “why” and short‑term motivation, using competition to test and measure progress, coaching and business perspectives, and practical habits to stay consisten...

In this episode of Fighters Drinking Coffee the hosts return from a long road trip and dive into the thin line between productive control and unhealthy obsession around training, competition, and habits. They discuss weight cutting strategies, meal timing, and building systems that reduce last-minute panic. Scott and Mike (with mentions of Kate, Andrea, and Leo) as they break down tape study: what to watch, how much is useful, and how to avoid overthinking match sequences, plus tips for managin...

On this episode of Fighters Drinking Coffee the hosts dig into recent sexual misconduct and abuse allegations rocking the BJJ community — including high-profile cases tied to Atos/Andre Galvão, Melqui Galvão, and reports from 10th Planet and CheckMat. They discuss institutional mishandling, power dynamics, and the ripple effects these revelations have had across affiliations and athletes. The conversation covers why jiu-jitsu’s close-contact, hierarchical culture creates unique risks, the compl...

On this episode of Fighters Drinking Coffee, hosts and guests Kate, Andrea, Scott and Leo recap the Chicago Open weekend: match results, immediate rematches, and what went right (and what didn’t) on the mats. We dig into match-by-match breakdowns and key takeaways — including tactical adjustments, live coaching captured with mic’d coaches for post-match film review, and lessons learned from running it back. Plus the food stories: our pre-fight steak-and-potatoes ritual, post-fight feasts, and d...

On today's episode we are joined by a few fellow competitors as we were on the road to Chicago. We focused on the topic of managing your weight cut during travel. Using our plan for the ten hour drive we were on. We also get into discussions about the types of food we bring for travel, adhering to the Fighters Drinking Coffee Rules of the Road and Systematically Maintaining the Weight Cut. Hope you enjoy the show and our road rants! Please remember to follow, rate and review! or Support the sh...

In this episode of Fighters Drinking Coffee the hosts discuss how gyms can welcome newcomers and help them become long-term jiu-jitsu students, and how new members—whether white belts or experienced visitors—can fit into a new community. Topics include reading the room, expectations for experienced visitors, how existing members can include and mentor newcomers, preventing injury and burnout, and practical tips to build lasting training relationships. Please remember to follow, rate and review...

On this episode David Bergida joins the show to discuss his transition from Division I wrestling to MMA, his training and fight-week rituals, and how he balances competition with family life. They also dig into health and optimization — David’s experience with a pituitary condition, sleep strategies he uses (including the creation of his Hibernation Honey supplement), diet approaches, travel routines, and the launch of his Farm to Fuel/Hibernation Honey product. Find Hibernation Honey at www.fa...

On today’s episode of Fighters Drinking Coffee we wrap up our Dallas trip, share the "rules of the road" for competing and traveling for jiu-jitsu, and trade practical tips on weight management, pre- and post-competition meals, venue logistics, and in-event rituals. We also announce upcoming stops like Chicago and Nationals, and reflect on travel mishaps, Delilah’s supper club, Terry Black’s barbecue, and lessons learned from competition on the road. Please remember to follow, rate and review!...

Recorded in the hotel lobby after day one of the IBJJF Dallas Open, Scott and Mike talk tournament rituals, pre- and post-competition meals, hotels, restaurants and the road life around jiu-jitsu events — including a deep dive on steakhouses. We also cover our visit to CRUZ CMBT, the Patreon launch, and travel stories from Dallas to New Orleans and Japan. Please remember to follow, rate and review! or Support the show on our Patreon Want more from Fighters Drinking Coffee: Follow us on inst...

On this episode of Fighters Drinking Coffee we unpack sandbagging — when someone hides their true skill to enter lower divisions or downplay experience in the gym. The hosts share real stories, why people do it, and how it affects training partners and local competitions. They also discuss how coaches and teammates should respond, contrast reverse sandbagging and humble elites, and end with clear advice: be honest, compete at your level, and protect the integrity of the mats. Please remember t...

Hosts Mike and Scott dive into how jiu-jitsu becomes an all-consuming passion in this episode of Fighters Drinking Coffee: Jiu-Jitsu Anonymous. They share personal confessions about quitting jobs, chasing competition highs, and how training can replace destructive habits while also risking burnout and relationship strain. The conversation covers the sport's mental and social benefits, warning signs when obsession turns harmful, and a plan to bring a psychologist on a future episode to explore t...

On this episode of Fighters Drinking Coffee, Nakapan Phungeforn from Beta Academy joins the hosts to discuss three decades in the D.C. martial arts scene, blending stories from jiu-jitsu, judo and kudo with candid takes on competition, gym culture, and memorable moments like a notorious "dojo storm." They cover training strategies, rule changes and preparing for the New York Open veterans judo division, plus real talk about recovery, sleep, supplementation, business mentorship, and how martial ...

Adam Forster joins Fighters Drinking Coffee to talk European competition experiences, creative brand building, and his unique, often viral submission style known as "Adam Forster Bullshit". He shares stories from the London Open and Euros, the grind of competing across the UK, coaching and content creation, and how his art background and freelance illustration feed into his jiu-jitsu persona. The episode mixes playful gym politics, Star Wars-themed rivalry theories, sponsor shout-outs, and plan...

Tim Dawson of High Noon BJJ joins Fighters Drinking Coffee to talk jiu-jitsu culture through Star Wars metaphors, rivalries like Gordon Ryan vs. Craig Jones, and wild conspiracies from Jar Jar Sith theories to MKUltra. They also cover Tim’s coaching win at trials, community and politics—discussing civil liberties, government power, and why real conversation beats online division. Find more of Tim on Instagram: @timdawsonbjj and @Highnoonbjj Please remember to follow, rate and review! or Supp...

In this episode we ask whether jiu-jitsu takes itself too seriously, exploring the two cultural camps: the hyper-serious, macho side, and the silly, meme-driven side; and how figureheads like Gordon Ryan and Craig Jones fuel that divide. We discuss the idea that promoters may be manufacturing controversy (WWE-style), or that the split has been masterminded by a hooded evil figurehead looking to control the entire sport. We also discuss the role of social media in growing jiu-jitsu’s pop culture...

On this episode of Fighters Drinking Coffee we walk through a practical year-in-review for the 2025 competition season: tracking matches, wins and losses, submission patterns, weight cuts, training timelines, and key turning points. We show how to turn those data points into actionable changes — adjusting training, mitigating injury and burnout, planning weight classes, and building targeted drills to reproduce strengths and fix weaknesses. Whether you compete or just want to measure your prog...

Hosts recap their trip to the 2025 IBJJF World No-Gi Championships in Las Vegas, sharing match breakdowns, surprising referee calls, upsets, and standout performances from friends and teammates. They discuss preparation, travel and weight-cut tips, lessons about avoiding leaving results to the referee, and takeaways for future competitions. Please remember to follow, rate and review! or Support the show on our Patreon Want more from Fighters Drinking Coffee: Follow us on instagram: @fighter...

Raf Esparza of the Grappling Hour joins Fighters Drinking Coffee to talk training, pro-wrestling influence, and how spectacle and fan experience can grow jiu-jitsu. He shares stories from Subversive and Survivor Series, media and performance coaching for athletes, and ideas for building entertaining grappling events. They also discuss creative segments like Roast Raf and tape study, the importance of personality and promotion in combat sports, and where to find his work. Support Grappling Hour...

On this episode of Fighters Drinking Coffee, Fury welterweight champion Sam Kilmer breaks down his wrestling and jiu-jitsu roots, training at Kaizen and Crazy 88, and his preparations for the December 14 title defense against Mancher Khera. Sam discusses strength and conditioning with coach Asim, sparring strategy, weight-class decisions, and his goal of earning a UFC call and high-profile matchups in the future. Check Sam out on Instagram @sam_kilmer Please remember to follow, rate and revie...

Hosts sit down with BJ and Alex from Capital MMA to discuss their journeys in jiu-jitsu, strength and conditioning, and even Highland Games, plus their coaching and teaching philosophies developed through years of competition and pandemic training adaptations. They also preview the Movember Super Fights — a team-based and individual tournament on November 22 at Capital MMA in Lorton — fundraising for men’s health. The episode covers event format, community involvement, livestream details, and h...