Shawn Hammonds — Humble Roots, Jiu Jitsu & Writing the Next Hit in Nashville

Chris Vasquez: @burro_bjj, Creating Content & Keeping Jiu Jitsu Real

This week on Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn and Mal sit down with Chris Vasquez — better known online as @burro_bjj on Instagram, training out of Goodyear 10th Planet in Arizona Chris represents a side of jiu jitsu a lot of people connect with right now: authentic, community-driven, technical, funny as hell, and not overly polished for the internet. In this episode, we get into: * The story behind “Burro BJJ” * Social media, gym culture, and the weird side of internet jiu jitsu * Building community in a sport that can sometimes take itself way too seriously * The difference between “content jiu jitsu” and real training room culture * Competition, pressure, and why people actually stay in the sport long-term This conversation feels like hanging around after open mat with people who genuinely love training — equal parts funny, thoughtful, and brutally honest about the current state of jiu jitsu. If you’ve ever wondered whether jiu jitsu is becoming too polished online while still being beautifully chaotic in real life… this episode is for you. Thank You to Our Sponsors 🥋 2026 Roll Model Women’s Only Grappling Camp Indy Base Camp | July 10–12, 2026 | Indianapolis, IN www.rollmodelswanted.com Use code CHOKE50 for $50 off registration 🌿 MilUsos Skincare Skincare made for athletes who live on the mats Instagram: @milusos_skincare Shop: https://milusosskincare.com 🩹 Limitless Tape High-quality tape designed for grapplers who train hard Instagram: @limitless_tape Use code CHOKEHOLD Shop: https://limitlesstape.square.site/s/shop

US Coast Guard, Wrestling Roots & Discipline Through Jiu Jitsu with Kauhane Harding

This week on Chokeholds & Chill, we sit down with Kauhane Harding — Native Hawaiian, United States Coast Guard law enforcement officer, wrestler, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu purple belt training out of Ewa Beach, Hawaii Kauhane grew up in a strict household where discipline wasn’t optional. Between wrestling, family expectations, and eventually finding his way back to jiu jitsu, his path was built on structure, accountability, and learning how to handle pressure early. In this episode, we get into: * Growing up in Hawai‘i with a strict father and traditional values * How wrestling shaped his mindset long before jiu jitsu * Working law enforcement in the U.S. Coast Guard * The crossover between combat sports, discipline, and service * What training means to him mentally and physically * The realities of balancing duty, family, and life on the mats Kauhane brings a no-excuses mentality and a grounded perspective that comes from both the mats and real-world responsibility. This episode is about discipline, identity, pressure, and the work it takes to carry all of it well. Thank You to Our Sponsors 🥋 2026 Roll Model Women’s Only Grappling Camp Indy Base Camp | July 10–12, 2026 | Indianapolis, IN www.rollmodelswanted.com Use code CHOKE50 for $50 off registration 🌿 MilUsos Skincare Skincare made for athletes who live on the mats Instagram: @milusos_skincare Shop: https://milusosskincare.com 🩹 Limitless Tape High-quality tape designed for grapplers who train hard Instagram: @limitless_tape Use code CHOKEHOLD Shop: https://limitlesstape.square.site/s/shop

Adam Benayoun: Black Cat Jiu Jitsu, Discipline, and Building Community with Intention

This week on Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn sits down with Adam Benayoun — competitor, coach, dad, and the man behind Black Cat Jiu Jitsu.   Jenn and Adam first connected out in Costa Rica at Hero Academy BJJ, and this conversation picks up right where that energy left off — grounded, honest, and full of laughs.   In this episode, they talk about:   • Adam’s recent competition and what he’s focusing on for the 2026 season • His upcoming summer camp at Hero Academy and why that experience hits different • The release of his brand new Skool program and what he hopes it brings to the community • Building Black Cat Jiu Jitsu and creating a culture that people earn their way into   Jenn also dives into a more personal side of Adam, talking about fatherhood and what he hopes his daughter takes from watching him train. This episode is equal parts thoughtful, funny, and real — a look at someone building something meaningful both on and off the mats. Host: @jennholmberg Guest: @adambenayoun @blackcatjiujitsu ⸻   Thank You to Our Sponsors   🥋 2026 Roll Model Women’s Only Grappling Camp @rollmodelgrappling Indy Base Camp | July 10–12, 2026 | Indianapolis, IN www.rollmodelswanted.com Use code CHOKE50 for $50 off registration   🌿 MilUsos Skincare Skincare made for athletes who live on the mats Instagram: @milusos_skincare Shop: https://milusosskincare.com   🩹 Limitless Tape High-quality tape designed for grapplers who train hard Instagram: @limitless_tape Use code CHOKEHOLD Shop: https://limitlesstape.square.site/s/shop

Lucy Berman — Combat Candy, MMA Debut, and Dealing With Internet Trolls

This week on Chokeholds & Chill, we sit down with Lucy Berman — MMA fighter, content creator, and the force behind Combat Candy @combatcandies and Combat Crap @combatcrap supplements.   Lucy brings a mix of grit, humor, and honesty that’s hard to ignore. From stepping into the cage to building brands in the combat sports space, she’s doing it all — and doing it her way.   In this episode, we get into:   • Her journey into MMA and what keeps her fighting • Building businesses while actively training and competing • The reality of being a woman in combat sports • Dealing with trolls, inappropriate comments, and online nonsense • And how she stays grounded through it all   We also talk about Combat Candy — and yeah, we’ll say it now: Combat Candy is bomb af. Built for fighters who actually train, it’s one of those products that just makes sense when you’re in this life.    This conversation is real, unfiltered, and full of the kind of perspective that only comes from someone living it every day.   ⸻   Thank You to Our Sponsors   🥋 2026 Roll Model Women’s Only Grappling Camp @rollmodelgrappling Indy Base Camp | July 10–12, 2026 | Indianapolis, IN www.rollmodelswanted.com Use code CHOKE50 for $50 off registration   🌿 MilUsos Skincare Skincare made for athletes who live on the mats Instagram: @milusos_skincare Shop: https://milusosskincare.com   🩹 Limitless Tape High-quality tape designed for grapplers who train hard Instagram: @limitless_tape Use code CHOKEHOLD Shop: https://limitlesstape.square.site/s/shop

Broken Arm to Gold Medal: Rehab & Resilience with Jenna Mattera

This week we’re joined by Jenna Mattera, a physical therapist, high-level competitor, and brown belt who knows what it means to fight through adversity. Jenna shares her journey from becoming one of the top-ranked rooster weights in IBJJF competition to suffering a shocking arm fracture at World Masters while entering as the #1 seed. We talk about the heartbreak of having a title run cut short, what it was like going from treating patients to becoming one herself, and how she attacked rehab with the same intensity she brings to competition. Just a few months later, Jenna returned to the mats and captured gold at a major tournament. We also dive into treating grapplers and combat athletes, common injury mistakes in jiu-jitsu, building Mattera PT, and her mission to help athletes stay healthy through her Mat Ready Method. This episode is about resilience, discipline, identity, and proving that setbacks don’t have to be the end of the story.   Sponsors: MilUsos Skincare Created for grapplers, by grapplers. Keep your skin healthy on and off the mats. Instagram: @miluso_skincare Shop: www.milusoskincare.com   Limitless Tape High-quality finger tape and custom gear trusted by athletes and academies. Instagram: @limitless_tape Shop: www.limitlesstape.com   2026 Roll Model Women’s Only Grappling Camp Indy Base Camp | July 10–12, 2026 Indianapolis Website: www.rollmodelswanted.com Use Code CHOKE50 for $50 off