THE GUEST

Today’s guest is Stephan Kesting, a father, fire-fighter, podcaster, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) legend.
 
 Stephan operates Grapplearts.com and Beginning BJJ.com. Through his online instructionals, videos, DVDs, articles, and newsletters, he has helped tens of thousands of grapplers all over the world improve their Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling skills. I in particular owe him for his ones on sweeps and subs, I learned more of these apps, not just technique pointers but key concepts and movement fixes than I had in some classes to that point. He is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and has been training martial arts for over 30 years where he has achieved belts in and is certified training in a number of other martial arts. In my opinion, he has been a legend in the BJJ coaching scene and his instructionals and articles are a must read for anyone serious about improving their BJJ. 

In this interview, we discuss multiple areas such as his views on BJJ as a martial art, his amazing 1000 Miles by Canoe trip in the Arctic, alone, his kidney transplant, and the importance of working towards your goals. I seriously consider him one of the most interesting people in BJJ and someone you need to follow to take your BJJ to the next level!
 

*For Transparency, this was recorded in late 2019 but due to some scheduling, travel, lockdown, and work matters, it is only being published now. 

LISTEN HERE

WHAT IS DISCUSSED

In this interview, we discuss gems like:

  • Who they are
  •  Competitors vs coaching and the role he is leaning towards more
  • Learning concepts vs techniques – which gives the most benefit to the student
  • Why he chose to focus on BJJ rather than many other arts he studied
  • How BJJ is arguably the most effective self-defense martial art
  • Modern day rituals to manhood
  • His kidney condition and transplant
  • The importance of Organ Donation
  • His trip – 1000 Miles by Canoe in the Arctic, alone – a little appetizer to his mammoth journey and stunning achievement
  • The importance of having a large goal in your life
  • How training is vital and skill development hacks
  • Why you need to find a challenge in your life
  • What he wants you to remember
  • How you can connect with them

KEY POINTS TO REFLECT ON & LINKS MENTIONED

In this interview, a lot of jewels of self-improvement are discussed. Some of these and their associated thoughts include:

  • Putting yourself into the experience that you feel fear of is a quick way of losing the fear you hold for it. Scared of competing, sign up for a comp. Scared of learning a new skill, sign up today and pay for a year so you have no chance to back out. Fear is a good thing, it stops you hurting yourself but don’t let it hold you back from getting what you want out of life.
  • Cross training allowed Stephan to see similarities and key concepts in the martial arts. How could trying different styles of your sport help you learn and develop your skills and learn new techniques that your current training would never allow you to be exposed to.
  •  Martial arts provide a way to express your masculinity and provide a challenge and ‘fight’ in a man’s life, that we no longer have in today’s society. It is one of the few opportunities for men to activate the primal feelings of danger, failure and challenge, that today’s ‘easier’ society removes the chance for.
  • There are many side-effects of martial arts that are not seen but can help you in ways unforseen. Stephan’s training assisted his strength and fight while he was going through his condition. Training in martial arts helps builds your mental toughness and resilience as much as your physical upgrades.
  • Your words and experience of an event may be horrible, but they can help others – talking helps you and others, who are going through similar events.
  • Please consider being an organ donor. Your death will be a terrible loss to the world, but it can change someone’s world and give them the gift of life … or at least some more time and that is a truly selfless act.
  • Try and make small incremental improvements each day. Work on becoming better in some part of your life by 1% each and every day.
  • If you have the opportunity to do something, do it. Don’t get bogged down in doubt or over analysis. Life is short, you never know what may happen, chase your dreams while you can, help others and support them, make the world a better place for you being in it.
  • You can do more than you ever thought possible. Stop underestimating yourself. You won’t change the world in a day or month, but you can do it by working day after day, and working on accomplishing the small parts of the bigger goal. Set the major goals, figure out the mini goals you need to achieve, and chip away at them until you achieve your goals.

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

You will want to follow this guest in the future. 

To do so, click on the main relevant links below:

Their social media handles are linked below, click on the name to visit their page:

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO AFTER LISTENING

These are some key actions that you should undertake after listening to this interview:

Buy Stephan’s amazing book below

Non Stop Jiu-Jitsu: Use a World Champion’s Aggressive and Efficient Style of Jiu-Jitsu to Win Matches and Tap More People Out! Paperback – 12 July 2020

Brandon ‘Wolverine’ Mullins is a BJJ black belt world champion, and Stephan Kesting is a renowned BJJ black belt educator with 40 years in the martial arts. In Non Stop Jiu-Jitsu you’ll get their ultimate resource for breaking down high level jiu-jitsu into simple steps so you can add it to your game as fast as possible.

This book is laid out in gorgeous full colour and multi-page spreads where you’ll learn plug and play gameplans for exactly how to control and submit your opponent on the ground. These techniques and combinations have been developed and tested over decades of competition so you know you can rely on them when the chips are down.

You’ll also get advanced details, training tips and conceptual breakdowns that will make your jiu-jitsu more powerful than ever before.

AND

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There is a wide range of companies showcased on the page. Companies that will make you a better athlete, a better lover, a better man, better in all areas of your life. You can access the page by going to www.nextlevelguy.com/affiliates or by clicking on ‘Affiliate Deals’ in the blue ribbon at the top of the website homepage.

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About the Author
I’m a podcaster who interviews great examples of people to discuss and highlight the methods, hacks, tips and procedures you can use in your own life to help you develop and better your life. I would definitely not consider myself an expert, so to improve, I ask them and action it in my own life! My personal journey has been marked by awkwardness and awesomeness, OCD and ‘OMG’. I have suffered with depression, shyness, unhappiness and lack of focus and motivation so I know what’s it like to feel lost and hopeless. Back then, I wished I had a podcast to listen to and find actual fixes and concrete action steps and not just unobtainable suggestions and promotion of their products but couldn’t find it … so I made my own!

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