Mental Jiujitsu

Hello everyone and welcome to the Mental Jiujitsu Podcast. I'm your host, Jonathan (but you can call me Mirth), and I hope you enjoy your stay while you're here. In this episode, I am joined by one of my favorite musicians on the planet, Braxton Cook. Listening to Braxton share the context of the origins of his music-making process, makes it that much more rich and engaging. Music is an art, a craft that is embedded in every culture, and among many other things, is a healing force. Whether...

In this episode, I am joined by my friend and the psychonaut himself, Tom Mountjoy. Tom has a rich experience of life, and in this conversation, he shares his stories and experiences in the Solomon Islands, his reflections on a life exploring, seeking not external answers, but internal experiences, and at the very heart of it all, simply being open. Tom Mountjoy also runs the PrimalMovers & Emptiness Project, and to learn more about Tom and his work, you can follow him on Instagram...

In this episode, I'm joined by my friend, Adam McArthur, who is a martial artist, actor, and entrepreneur. He's the voice of Marco Diaz on Star vs. the Forces of Evil on Disney, and has been in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Adventures of Puss in Boots, Final Fantasy, Far Cry, and S.A.L.E.M, and he's even the announcer voice on Disney XD. What strikes me in this conversation is the sense of perserverance, grit, and deliberate simplicity with which Adam approaches the industry; how he was...

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Locatelli Rao - more colloquially known and referred to as Dr. Loc - about the in's and out's of his practice as a physical therapist, horror stories in the clinic, his mindset now as compared to before, the matrix, and among other things, what specific issues in the human body that he sees are becoming more and more common. The first hour of our conversation covers the 'behind the scenes' of physical therapy like how and in what ways insurance companies...

I first met this week's guest in person before a workshop in Costa Mesa. It was a cloudy morning that day - a bit hazy, a bit foggy, but not the least bit dreadful or gloomy. He'd flown in the night before from the east coast, and I thought to myself that a bit of hospitality is in order, so I offered to take him out to this place called Rooster's Cafe - a little cozy diner that always had a line out the door. He agreed, and before the sun could peak behind the clouds, we got two breakfast...

Space cowboys, cosmic girls, astral bodies, welcome to the Mental Jiujitsu Podcast, and thank you for listening. Today's episode is pulled from my archive vault from nearly 2 1/2 years ago in 2017. A lot has changed since then - as nature would have it - but one thing that I am glad hasn't changed for myself has been recording interviews and conversations with people who I genuinely enjoy getting to know and hearing their story from their perspective. Re-listening to this conversation...

On this episode, I'm joined by my great friend and 4x International World Jiujitsu Champion, Margot Ciccarelli, more colloquially known as Mars. Beyond her achievements in the game, her way of thinking, living, and breathing the art have blended into a distinct approach that I hope you have a good time listening to. In this conversation, we cover the artist and the athlete, dance and the martial arts, linear and non-linear approaches to development, the abstract and the pragmatic, challenges...

In this episode, I speak with the former FBI Lead Hostage and Kidnapping Negotiator and Head of the Black Swan Group (which, one an important note) is a badass group, Chris Voss. As the author of the negotiation bestseller, "Never Split the Difference" and with over 150 high-stakes negotiations under his belt ranging from bank robberies all the way to international terrorism, it's safe to say that he knows more than a thing or two about the nature of negotiation and more specifically, what...

In this episode, I speak with the infamous David Weck, creator of the Bosu Ball and the Weck Method. No stranger to controversy, David's mission is to make every step stronger and does what he deems necessary to fulfill this task. We (or I should say, he, as I only speak about 5-10% of the time) cover why he does what he does, the basis of Weck Methodology, the WMQ Certification, his time as an actor, who he calls out in the industry, the mission & plan to undergirdle the entire world, and...

In this Mental Jiujitsu episode, I speak with my good friend, Bjarte Hiley. Bjarte has invested many years in training the martial arts and studying Taoism and has since gone on to develop Daomove (daomove.com)as a teacher and coach. What I endear about Bjarte is his commitment to living as honestly as he can. There is not one false bone in his body. In this episode, he shares his ordeal with despair and the darkness of the soul, his brief foray into pickup artistry (I was very surprised, as...

Hello everyone, and welcome to the MJJ Podcast. For longtime listeners, welcome back, and if this is your first time listening, I welcome you to Mental Jiujitsu. My name is Jonathan aka Mirth, and I've been really eager to take Mental Jiujitsu to the next level by starting with a new episode featuring a conversation with two people who I lovingly call my oathbrothers. Brothers not by the blood that flows through our veins, but through the oath that we carry in our hearts. What's fascinating...

Today's guest, or more precisely, guests, are a power couple known as The Mindful Mover. It's the first time I've talked with more than one person at a time on the podcast, and although I was initially worried about the software being able to record the two at the same time, it worked out handsomely. Some of you have asked me whether or not I have a team on this podcast and the answer is a resounding no. I edit everything on my own, so please forgive me for any errors or spikes during your...

Today's guest is someone who I've admired for a very long time. He is one of the most elegant and graceful movers on the planet, but what I admire him most for is his ability to reveal himself unapologetically to the world. He is a fascinating thinker, and I had the pleasure of picking his brain for a bit. He's studied countless movement arts and practices and is, at his core, a wonderful human being. For people who aren't invested into a movement practice of some sort - first, please train...

Today's guest is none other than Daniel also known as DJ, Murakami. Most know him as one of the country's best 'personal trainers', but I had the pleasure of getting to understand the man known as one of the most organically strong people in the world. He's studied with some of the greats in the world of all things movement, and is extremely adept at 'knowledge transfer', or seeing the relationship between different domains through sets of principles. If you aren't a person with a movement...

In this brilliant episode of Mental Jiujitsu, I sit down with George Masao Yamazawa in his home here in LA. George aka 'G' was born in Durham, North Carolina, and is an 8 time National Poetry Slam Champion, emcee & music artist, and connoisseur of carne asada fries. His most recent stint was in Indonesia, where he served as a Next Level 3.0 Cultural Ambassador. (You can find more on that by searching 'G Yamazawa Next Level'.) He's been featured on Team Backpack, NBC News, and is currently on...

In today's episode of Mental Jiujitsu, my guest is a Youtube pioneer and many will recognize him immediately. He started his channel back when Youtube videos first became popular - when his video "I have to deal with stereotypes" was featured on Youtube, he quickly rose in the rankings to become the #1 most subscribed Youtube channel within an extremely short time frame. He's been featured in tv, movies, and film such as Revenge of the Green Dragons, Funemployed, Man Up, Online Nation and...

In this episode, I sit down and talk with one of my earliest inspirations within the dance and more specifically, breaking/hip-hop culture. (On an important side note, I also want to mention and say thank you to Daniel Choi, or Cho-one, for being my first mentor in this craft as well as introducing me to my guest early in my journey. I'm grateful for what you've taught me. Thank you.) He goes by the name of Zeshen Wu and is a current resident psychiatrist in training, a graffiti artist, and...

The inaugural episode of Mental Jiujitsu features a good friend of mine, Indigo Ross, a budding comedian to be. Funny story: there was a lot of echo in the room, so we decided to go under a big comforter blanket to block out the ambient noise. It's an interview that I'll never forget. She's been featured in several clubs in Scottsdale and is making her way up. In this conversation, she shares her methodology and struggles in writing comedic material, her desire to bomb on stage, and the Red...

Eddie Ng is a businessman who has a knack for giving good advice and letting himself be vulnerable. In this episode, Eddie opens up about his past insecurities, fights with his partner, and how to remain hopeful despite the odds. I first met Eddie when I was a university student (we went to the same uni.), and I knew that he would be a great addition to the podcast. You may disagree with him at some parts - I know I did - but that's all the more reason to listen. In essence, if you want to...

Dr. Phat Vu is a physics professor among many other things at Soka University of America. As one of the most influential professors I've ever had, I sit down with him to talk about social reality, why our emotions are so strong, the meaning of sacrifice, and a whole slew of other topics. His research has been featured in many different publications and journals, including Cornell University, Wellesley College, and other institutions. He's an incredible thought provoker and has a great story...