No Natural Talent Ep. 58 - Gorilla Squad

No Natural Talent Ep. 58 - Gorilla Squad

The Gorilla Squad isn't just a nickname... it's a necessity. Being one of the biggest people in the gym comes with challenges most people never think about. Finding training partners your size, learning to use your strength without relying on it, and balancing intensity with control. That's where the Gorilla Squad comes in. They are a group of heavyweights who can push each other, train at full speed, and make each other better. In this episode, we talk about the unique challenges of being a big guy in jiu-jitsu, why they need each other, and why the biggest people on the mats are often some of the friendliest. This is Chris, Bryndan, Rusty and Rick.

No Natural Talent Ep. 57 Rest Round - "Jeremy and Jacen"

Jeremy and Jacen are back! In this Rest Round, we dive into the differences between competitors and hobbyists, whether coaches should train students differently based on their goals or talent, why belt systems exist (and whether they should), how the words we use shape the culture of jiu-jitsu, keeping an open mind to different approaches, checking your ego, and what winning and losing really teach us. This is Jeremy and Jacen.

No Natural Talent Ep. 56 Rest Round "Ascension Tattoo Crew-Chris, Brandon, Wade, Vesper"

Adult language. Adult conversations. Childish behavior. Rest Round with the folks who train jiujitsu at Ascension Tattoo and it's exactly as chaotic as you'd expect. We talk about jiu-jitsu. We talk about a lot of things that aren't jiu-jitsu. There are interruptions, side quests, rabbit trails, tattoo machines, overlapping conversations, and several moments where nobody is steering the ship. If you've ever hung around a tattoo shop after hours and somehow ended up in a conversation about life, training, and complete nonsense, you'll feel right at home. This is the Jiujitsu/Tattoo Ascension Crew.

No Natural Talent Ep. 55 What's Going On Here?! with Kristin

We're back with What's Going On Here?! For those who haven't met her yet, she's our resident physical therapist, body mechanic, movement detective, and physiology deep-diver extraordinaire. Every time she comes on the podcast, I learn something new about why our bodies do the strange things they do—and more importantly, what we can do about it. In today's episode, we're talking all things back pain related, why it happens, what might be contributing to it, and some practical things you can do to help your body move and feel better. Whether you're training jiu-jitsu, working at a desk, chasing kids, or just wondering why your back decided to file a complaint with management, this one's for you. This is "What's going on here?!" with Kristin.

No Natural Talent Ep. 54 "Rick"

A blue belt in law enforcement who understands the value of training both on and off the mats. Having faced deeply challenging situations on the job, Jiujitsu became more than a hobby — it became a lifeline for healing, community, support, and camaraderie. Thoughtful, steady, and resilient, he kept showing up even through a knee replacement, spending time on the sidelines when he couldn't train. And when getting there became difficult, his Jiujitsu family made sure he was still part of the group — a reminder that none of us are meant to do this alone. This is Rick.