Gracie Jiu Jitsu Rocks! podcast

Todd Fox, Security & Expert and 3rd BJJ Black Belt, is a former Marine, law enforcement officer, BJJ black belt, and Author. After his military service, he began his career in EP (Executive Protection) and has spent the past two decades providing executive protection and safety services to high level clients including some of the most recognizable names in music and movies including Guy Ritchie, Madonna, Motley Crue, nine inch nails, Janet Jackson, and Tool, to name a few.

He holds three black belts in uniquely different arts. He is a former NHB/MMA fighter, as well as a black belt U.S. National Champion, U.S. Open Champion and Pan American Medalist in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He continues to actively train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai.

In this interview we cover a wealth of topics including his current situation and what protective/security services has been like for him, the importance of building relations, working with Matt Damon on the Bourne Identity set, waking Madonna up on 9-11, most rewarding and most challenging aspects to his work, why he joined the Marine Corps and what it taught him, fighting bare knuckle and NHB back in the day, his martial arts journey including training with Rodrigo Vaghi, his time with Rickson Gracie, living with and training with Henry Akins, sharing the mat with Sean Patrick Flanery, and how Renzo Gracie impacted him and his Jiu Jitsu, advice to new Jiu Jitsu practitioners, Security safety advice for the general public..in the areas of driving/road rage, airport/airplane, walking in a city (the 3 Cs), and firearms. We discuss his approach to learning languages, and the books he’s written including his soon to be released book for Jiu Jitsu instructors wanting to teach law enforcement officers ( and the multitude of things they need to know), and much more.

Matt Wahlstrom is a Tom DeBlass Black Belt, Entrepreneur, small biz owner, licensed realtor, Crazy off road racer, inventor, and creator of the lifestyle clothing brand, Epic Roll Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In this interview Matt discusses the Importance of balance in life, his BJJ journey, what fighting MMA taught him, training with Eric Silver and mario Yamasaki, landing at Team Renzo Gracie-team Tom Deblass (Silverbacks), how Jiu Jitsu has evolved, his thoughts on Tom Deblass, the challenges and what he learned from working in the corporate fitness world, how his young son helped him make a major career decision, living and running a business in Nashville, working in real estate and what it takes to be successful, starting the lifestyle clothing brand Epic Roll, his fitness and baby bottle product and the intricacies of the patent process, important lessons he’s learned from Jiu Jitsu, goals and what it takes to achieve them, his crazy off road racing adventures, and more!

Rickson discusses writing his book, how his philosophy about fighting has changed through the years, learning to fight without emotion, Representing the Gracie legacy, His early fights in Japan, the spirit of the samurai, being treated like a God in Japan, cold exposure, meditation and his fire ceremony during his fight prep, the incredible power of breathing/ breathwork, the importance of visualization, achieving “empty mind”, If he ever felt like he failed at anything, what he feels is his greatest accomplishment, cooperative versus aggressive environments for teaching/learning jujitsu, technology’s impact on people, The people that really need Jiu Jitsu, Ichi wan Ichi go - savoring the moment being present with no regrets, thoughts on modern BJJ, what’s next for him and what is mission is now, etc

Marty shares his journey and experience of becoming a certified Wim Hof Method instructor