Embrace the Grind | A Conversation with Coach Dave Guerrero, Tilly Kakuk and Christopher Tran of UCLA Wrestling

Embrace the Grind | A Conversation with Coach Dave Guerrero, Tilly Kakuk and Christopher Tran of UCLA Wrestling

How does a major university wrestling program thrive as a club program rather than varsity? Coach Dave Guerrero has an answer that has nothing to do with money. In this episode of The Grappling Monthly Podcast, we sit down with UCLA Wrestling and Judo head coach Dave Guerrero, club president Christopher Tran, and social media lead Tilly Kakuk to look at collegiate wrestling from the inside: a club-level program built and rebuilt, run today under the NCWA (National Collegiate Wrestling Association), fully self-funded, and stacked with students from PhD candidates to state champions. We cover how a ten-week training block is actually built, why the UCLA room only meets twice a week and what happens in those two days, the real math behind who makes it from high school wrestling to college wrestling, why "the room" matters more than any single tournament result, and what it looks like when a jiu jitsu guard puller walks into a wrestling room for the first time. Coach Dave Guerrero runs a highly competitive co-ed club wrestling program that competes in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) and against local junior colleges. Christopher and Tilly compete and organize with UCLA Wrestling. Follow the program at www.instagram.com/@uclawrestling [http://www.instagram.com/@uclawrestling] or visit https://uclaclubsports.com/sports/wrestling [https://uclaclubsports.com/sports/wrestling] for more information About Grappling Monthly Grappling Monthly is an independent editorial media brand covering the culture, people, and business of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the grappling arts. Based in Los Angeles, the brand produces in-depth conversations with the coaches, gym owners, competitors, and practitioners shaping the sport. The Grappling Monthly Podcast is the flagship property. A weekly long-form interview series hosted by Sébastien Maniatopoulos, a BJJ black belt establishing roots in the Southern California grappling community. The brand's editorial focus is on the human stories behind the art: how academies are built, how practitioners evolve, how the culture of jiu-jitsu intersects with identity, business, and community. Grappling Monthly publishes across YouTube, Instagram, Substack, and major podcast platforms. Subscribe and turn on notifications. IG and TikTok: @grapplingmonthly For sponsorships and collaborations: grapplingmonthly@gmail.com

Consistency Over Intensity | Professor Hector Beltran of Academy Jiu-Jitsu

In this episode of The Grappling Monthly Podcast, I sit down with Professor Hector Beltran at Academy Jiu-Jitsu for a conversation about competition, longevity, coaching, pressure, and the deeper lessons that come from staying on the mats. Hector shares how he first found jiu-jitsu through kickboxing and early amateur MMA, why competition became such a major part of his journey, and how his approach to training has evolved over nearly two decades in the sport. We talk about the difference between learning jiu-jitsu and learning how to compete, the mental demands of tournament environments, the role of pressure passing, why speed can be dangerous if misunderstood, and how injuries can force your game to evolve in unexpected ways. The conversation also gets into one of the most important questions in modern jiu-jitsu: should everyone compete? Hector offers a thoughtful perspective on why competition can be valuable, but should never be treated as the only valid path. For some students, slow and steady is the path that keeps them training. For others, competition becomes the arena where they learn how to manage fear, pressure, and self-doubt. At the center of the episode is a simple idea: jiu-jitsu should make your life better. It should not hijack your family, your work, your health, or your sense of self.   Topics include: * Professor Hector Beltran’s start in martial arts * The role of competition in jiu-jitsu * Why training and competing are different skills * Pressure passing, speed, and longevity * How injuries can change your game * Coaching students without projecting your own goals onto them * Why consistency matters more than intensity * The difference between external validation and love for the art * Academy Jiu-Jitsu in Downey and Yorba Linda Follow Academy Jiu-Jitsu: Instagram: @academyjjkb Grappling Monthly is an independent editorial media brand covering the culture, people, and business of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the grappling arts. Based in Los Angeles, the brand produces in-depth conversations with the coaches, gym owners, competitors, and practitioners shaping the sport. The Grappling Monthly Podcast is the flagship property. A weekly long-form interview series hosted by Sébastien Maniatopoulos, a BJJ black belt establishing roots in the Southern California grappling community. The brand's editorial focus is on the human stories behind the art: how academies are built, how practitioners evolve, how the culture of jiu-jitsu intersects with identity, business, and community. Grappling Monthly publishes across YouTube, Instagram, Substack, and major podcast platforms. Subscribe and turn on notifications. IG and TikTok: @grapplingmonthly For sponsorships and collaborations: grapplingmonthly@gmail.com

All or Nothing Isn't the Only Way | A conversation with Prof. Rose Miller

In this episode of The Grappling Monthly Podcast, I sit down with Professor Rose Miller in San Diego for a conversation about jiu-jitsu, identity, competition, injuries, coaching, and the psychology of taking the sport seriously without losing yourself in it. Rose shares how she went from dance and boxing into jiu-jitsu, why the sport gave her a roadmap at a time when she was working hard without a clear direction, and what it was like to begin training in rooms filled with some of the best women in the world. We also talk about injuries, including her ACL tear and concussions, and how those experiences forced her to ask deeper questions about who she would be if jiu-jitsu was taken away. Rose has grown her following on social media platforms through the creation of dynamic and engaging content based on experience as a competitor, coach, practitioner and teacher. Her content connects with anyone who is interested in jiu-jitsu regardless of skill of level or goals. Thank you to prof. Rose Miller for sharing your insights for anyone who trains, teaches, competes, creates content, or is trying to figure out how jiu-jitsu fits into the larger shape of their life. For more info on Rose check her out on IG: www.instagram.com/@rosierollz [http://www.instagram.com/@rosierollz]   Grappling Monthly is an independent editorial media brand covering the culture, people, and business of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the grappling arts. Based in Los Angeles, the brand produces in-depth conversations with the coaches, gym owners, competitors, and practitioners shaping the sport. The Grappling Monthly Podcast is the flagship property. A weekly long-form interview series hosted by Sébastien Maniatopoulos, a BJJ black belt establishing roots in the Southern California grappling community. The brand's editorial focus is on the human stories behind the art: how academies are built, how practitioners evolve, how the culture of jiu-jitsu intersects with identity, business, and community. Grappling Monthly publishes across YouTube, Instagram, Substack, and major podcast platforms. Subscribe and turn on notifications. IG and TikTok: @grapplingmonthly For sponsorships and collaborations: grapplingmonthly@gmail.com [grapplingmonthly@gmail.com]

Ego, Suffering, and Starting Over with BJJ | Prof. Aleksandr Ustimenko of All In Academy Los Angeles

In this episode of The Grappling Monthly Podcast, I sit down with Professor Aleksandr Ustimenko at All In Academy Los Angeles. Aleksandr's story starts in Russia, where he first found Brazilian jiu-jitsu after earning his black belt in karate. What began as a way to train hard and get in shape eventually became the center of his life. He went from training as a beginner, to working the front desk for free classes, to teaching kids, competing, building gyms, recovering from injuries, leaving Russia, arriving in the United States, and rebuilding his life through jiu-jitsu. This conversation covers a lot of ground: the early days of training in Russia, the impact of competition, the realities of coaching, what it feels like to referee major tournaments, why rules matter, and how the sport changes when you see it from the referee’s side. We also talk about the difference between jiu-jitsu as a sport, jiu-jitsu as a community, and jiu-jitsu as self-defense. Aleksandr shares how jiu-jitsu can help you stay calm, improve your physical ability, and give you a better chance in difficult situations, but that does not mean it is magic. The deeper theme of the episode is humility. Aleksandr talks about suffering, ego, gratitude, and why the people who beat you in training are often the people helping you improve the most. Jiu-jitsu, in his view, is not only about winning rounds or competitions. It is about learning how to process difficulty, take responsibility, and keep coming back. We also get into gi vs no-gi, favorite submissions, training culture, coaching kids, his dream of visiting Thailand, and why he believes jiu-jitsu is one of the best tools for keeping the mind clear in an anxious world. Train with Alex at All In Academy Los Angeles 5801 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019 https://www.allinacademyla.com [https://www.allinacademyla.com] Grappling Monthly is an independent editorial media brand covering the culture, people, and business of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the grappling arts. Based in Los Angeles, the brand produces in-depth conversations with the coaches, gym owners, competitors, and practitioners shaping the sport. The Grappling Monthly Podcast is the flagship property. A weekly long-form interview series hosted by Sébastien Maniatopoulos, a BJJ black belt establishing roots in the Southern California grappling community. The brand's editorial focus is on the human stories behind the art: how academies are built, how practitioners evolve, how the culture of jiu-jitsu intersects with identity, business, and community. Grappling Monthly publishes on its website: https://www.grapplingmonthly.com [https://www.grapplingmonthly.com] and across YouTube, Instagram, Substack, and major podcast platforms. Subscribe and turn on notifications. IG and TikTok: @grapplingmonthly For sponsorships and collaborations: grapplingmonthly@gmail.com [grapplingmonthly@gmail.com] #bjj #bjjlifestyle #ibjjf #adcc #losangeles #jiujitsu #martialarts #nogi #gi #competition #combatsports #bjjpodcast #grapplingmonthly

Fighting's True Purpose | Yego & Jeff of Powertrip Worldwide

In this episode of The Grappling Monthly Podcast, I sit down with Jeff and Yego from Powertrip Worldwide at Legacy Glendale for a conversation about jiu-jitsu, punk, skateboarding, DIY culture, design, zines, wrestling, and the creative side of martial arts. Powertrip Worldwide is "a creative publisher that celebrates global grappling cultures, built on the idea that fighting's true purpose isn't to destroy others but to bring us closer together" - www.powertrip.com/about [http://www.powertrip.com/about] Through zines, art books, gear, events, music, and community projects, they are exploring the culture around grappling and asking a different kind of question: what happens when we take the “art” in martial arts seriously? We talk about the punk and skate scenes that shaped them, the influence of DIY publishing, why zines still matter, and how creative communities are built through participation rather than permission. The conversation moves into the visual history of jiu-jitsu, the difference between respect and obedience, the role of gyms as community spaces, and why grappling culture should leave room for experimentation, disagreement, and self-expression. We also discuss Powertrip’s upcoming recovery issue, their interest in wrestling, judo, jiu-jitsu, and the larger question of how people keep themselves connected to a practice over time. Topics include: * Power Trip Worldwide * Jiu-jitsu as art and culture * Punk, skateboarding, and DIY publishing * Zines and fan clubs * Respect vs obedience * Creative adaptation in grappling * The visual culture of martial arts * Recovery, injury, and longevity * Community, third spaces, and training partners * Why fighting can bring people together Follow Power Trip Worldwide: Website: powertripworldwide.com Instagram: @powertrip.ww About Grappling Monthly Grappling Monthly is an independent editorial media brand covering the culture, people, and business of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the grappling arts. Based in Los Angeles, the brand produces in-depth conversations with the coaches, gym owners, competitors, and practitioners shaping the sport. The Grappling Monthly Podcast is the flagship property. A weekly long-form interview series hosted by Sébastien Maniatopoulos, a BJJ black belt establishing roots in the Southern California grappling community. The brand's editorial focus is on the human stories behind the art: how academies are built, how practitioners evolve, how the culture of jiu-jitsu intersects with identity, business, and community. Grappling Monthly publishes across YouTube, Instagram, Substack, and major podcast platforms. Subscribe and turn on notifications. IG and TikTok: @grapplingmonthly For sponsorships and collaborations: grapplingmonthly@gmail.com