Explore our complete collection of conversations on mastery, resilience, and the warrior mindset.
April 11, 2026
On April 20, 2026, I stood beside my coach Rigan Machado as he received his red belt in Brazilian Jiu jitsu from his cousin Rorion Gracie. This was held at Erik Paulson's CSW Training center. Also on this day, Rick Williams, Rick Minter, Chris Posnik, Casey Olsen, and Erik Paulson (all Rigan black belts) received their Coral Belts (I got mine in January, 2026).
April 2, 2026
Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup and The Startup Way, joins Dave Meyer to discuss building companies that promote human flourishing and prosperity with purpose. They explore how business can be a force for good, the importance of long-term thinking, and how martial arts principles of continuous improvement apply to entrepreneurship and life.
March 25, 2026
Justin Flores joins Dave Meyer for a deep dive into the connections between Judo, Wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. They discuss how cross-training in multiple grappling arts creates a more complete martial artist, the importance of systems over individual moves, and how understanding the principles behind techniques leads to better performance on the mat.
March 24, 2026
Erik Paulson, one of MMA's true pioneers, joins Dave Meyer to share his incredible martial arts journey. From hockey to Bruce Lee, discovering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the Gracies, Shooto and catch wrestling, fighting in Japan, coaching the Ruotolo Brothers, a near-death experience and spiritual awakening, and his philosophy on creativity and innovation in martial arts.
March 18, 2026
In this episode, we sit down with Lachlan Giles — ADCC veteran, leg lock specialist, physiotherapist, and head coach at Absolute MMA St Kilda in Melbourne, Australia. With decades in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a PhD in physiotherapy, Lachlan brings a uniquely thoughtful approach to both competition and coaching. Lachlan opens up about his legendary 2019 ADCC open weight run, where he submitted multiple larger opponents using leg locks — earning him the nickname "Giant Killer." He breaks down why leg locks have fundamentally changed the landscape of modern BJJ, how heel hooks and straight foot locks work differently depending on body type, and when competitors should prioritize leg entries versus guard passing. Beyond technique, we discuss coaching, injury prevention strategies for grapplers of all ages, his thoughts on professional grappling events like CJI, and how the meta of jiu-jitsu continues to evolve. Instagram lachlan_giles Absolute MMA St. Kilda https://absolutemma.com.au/locations/absolute-st-kilda/ SUBMETA https://submeta.io/ Some clips used for commentary. Original sources linked below https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aMcXLkX9L8 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LVgNAGGu__U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH7Q1OUNkrU John Will https://www.redcatacademy.com.au/john_will.html Hangar 4 https://www.industrialstrengthandfitness.com.au/ Rick Williams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyI57BwiQGY Egan Inoue https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egan_Inoue Gordon Ryan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Ryan Eoghan Oflanagan https://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-fighters/eoghan-oflanagan Gene LeBell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_LeBell ADCC https://adcc-official.com/ Marcelo Garcia https://marcelogarciajj.com/mgjj/marcelogarcia/ Eddie Bravo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Bravo Craig Jones https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Jones_(grappler) IBJJF https://ibjjf.com/ UFC BJJ https://www.ufc.com/ufcbjj Bob Bass https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100048928735141 Kade Ruotolo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kade_Ruotolo The Ruotolo Brothers https://ruotolobrothersjiujitsu.com/ Rico Rodriguez https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricco_Rodriguez The Machado Brothers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machado_family Black Sheep BJJ https://www.blacksheepjiujitsu.com/ Livia Giles https://www.instagram.com/livia_giles/ Melissa Will https://www.instagram.com/melissawillbjj/?hl=en David Mitchell and Lauren Sacks https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaxnka9MSgQzO8tCIQmeLMgcauDp3qHxN Kit Dale https://kitdaletraining.com/ Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A
March 5, 2026
In this episode, I break down what toughness really means—the ability to not give up or give in to something difficult while continuing to function effectively. I explore the different types of toughness: physical, mental, and psychological, and why developing toughness expands what's possible in your life. I discuss when being too tough becomes a problem—the difference between pain and injury, and why you need to "discipline your discipline." Use toughness when continuing moves you forward, but use restraint when it makes things worse. I then provide practical methods to develop both physical and mental toughness: hard training, challenging workouts, cold plunges, multi-day fasts, and putting yourself in psychologically difficult situations. I break these into three levels—daily discomfort, controlled adversity, and real stakes—because toughness isn't something you have, it's something you practice. Life will test you, and being tough means you'll be ready. "Mental Toughness and Individual Differences in Learning, ...A Systematic Review" (2017) in Frontiers for Psychology https://tinyurl.com/vmpwp2xv Adopt-a-Pet.com https://www.adoptapet.com/ Dave Kovar https://www.kovarsystems.com/articles-and-resources/who-is-dave-kovar Freakonomics "Upside of Quitting" https://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-upside-of-quitting-3/ David Mitchell Find Dave Mitchell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dmitch442/?hl=en Royce Gracie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royce_Gracie Rickson Gracie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickson_Gracie Douglas Wong https://www.whitelotuskungfu.com/about-masterwong.html Rigan Machado https://www.theacademybeverlyhills.com/instructors/rigan-machado/ Jack Seki https://budoshin.com/about-bjj/budoshin-lineage/jack-seki/ Swiss Cadet Study "Systematic review- Mental toughness across domains" https://tinyurl.com/y9trs93v Iron Man Triathlon https://www.ironman.com/ Tabata App https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tabata-pro-hiit-interval-timer/id346432063 Juice Fast https://a.co/d/0hdvWoPm Seishiro "Henry" Okazaki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seishiro_Okazaki Danzan Ryu Ju Jitsu https://www.danzan.com/ Sig Kufferath https://www.danzan.com/HTML/PEOPLE/kufferath.html Bernice Jay https://www.danzan.com/HTML/PEOPLE/bernicejay.html Toastmasters https://www.toastmasters.org/ 00:00 - Intro: What is Toughness? 01:50 - Why Toughness Matters 05:29 - Types of Toughness: Physical, Mental & Psychological 08:49 - Benefits of Being Tough 13:11 - When Being Too Tough Becomes a Problem 14:51 - Discipline Your Discipline: Pain vs Injury 17:00 - How to Develop Physical Toughness 21:30 - Martial Arts Training for Toughness 24:30 - Mental Toughness Training Methods 27:11 - Cold Showers & Daily Toughness Builders 30:50 - Backpacking & Multi-Day Fasts 33:05 - Deep Tissue Massage as Toughness Training 35:26 - Non-Physical Ways to Build Psychological Toughness 37:13 - Three Levels of Toughness Training 38:09 - Final Thoughts: Toughness as Practice Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A
March 3, 2026
In this episode, I sit down with Rikki Rockett, founding member and drummer of the band Poison, which has sold over 50 million albums worldwide since their 1986 debut album Look What the Cat Dragged In. Rikki is also a fourth-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Renato Magno, training at Street Sports BJJ in Santa Monica, California, with roots at the Machado Brothers academy under Jean Jacques Machado. We discuss Rikki's origin story—from childhood inspiration by Bruce Lee through various martial arts systems, to a violent confrontation in an LA warehouse that reignited his commitment to self-defense. Rikki shares how training at the Machado academy transformed his understanding of grappling, why he stayed at purple belt for seven years, and how Renato Magno's open-minded approach exposed him to boxing, kickboxing, and other fighting styles that enriched his jiu-jitsu game. We explore the deep parallels between drumming and BJJ—both require balancing mental strategy with physical execution, adapting to limitations, and developing technique rather than relying on strength alone. We dive into Rikki's philosophy of resilience and "sticking with it," why he believes the best jiu-jitsu comes from doing the most with what you have, the critical importance of protecting your body and joints as you age, and why technique matters more than athleticism for longevity in the art. Rikki reflects on overcoming two separate cancer diagnoses through experimental immunotherapy and targeted medication, how martial arts taught him to push through physical challenges, and why he cautions against rushing to judgment in today's narrative-driven culture. Social Media Links: Instagram ► www.instagram.com/RikkiRockett Facebook ► www.facebook.com/TheRealRikkirockett Facebook Fan Page ► www.facebook.com/Rikkirockett TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@therealrikkirockett X► https://x.com/RikkiRockett Threads► https://www.threads.net/@rikkirockett Poison https://www.poisonofficial.com/ Rockett Mafia https://rockettmafia.com/ Devil City Angels http://devilcityangelsmusic.com/ Ageless Warrior Lab episode mentioned “Real Street Defense" https://youtu.be/s5JhPkHtutk Mark Dacascos https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001092/ Cass Magda/ Magda Institute https://mijkd.com/school/who-is-cass-magda/ Dan Inosanto https://inosanto.com/ Royce Gracie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royce_Gracie John Machado https://johnmachadobjj.com/ Jean Jacques Machado https://www.jjmachado.com/ Rigan Machado https://www.theacademybeverlyhills.com/instructors/rigan-machado/ Machado Brothers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machado_family Eddie Bravo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Bravo Renato Magno/ Street Sports https://www.streetsportsbjj.com/renato-magno Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Mancini Bob Bass https://www.facebook.com/robert.bass.520562 Tom Skeeter/ Sound City https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_City_Studios Felicia Oh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felicia_Oh John Will https://www.redcatacademy.com.au/john_will.html Dog Brothers https://dogbrothers.com/ Clark Gracie https://www.clarkgracie.com/ Steve Jordan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jordan_(drummer) Charlie Watts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Watts John Bonham https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bonham Jason Bonham https://www.jasonbonham.net/ Moores Cancer Center https://moorescancercenter.ucsd.edu/ Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:59 - Interview Introduction 02:43 - How Rikki Got Into Martial Arts 04:30 - Warehouse Knife Attack Story 06:42 - Training with Mark Desco 07:35 - Finding Cass Magda & JKD 10:18 - First Day at Machado Brothers 12:04 - Meeting Eddie Bravo 13:46 - Switching to Street Sports with Heto 17:57 - David's Music Career in LA 24:31 - Resilience & "Ship Coming In" Philosophy 27:43 - Reference to Reality Fighting Episode 39:26 - Learning with Different Instructors 52:10 - Performance Nerves & Stage Presence 55:48 - Ghost Notes Book & Best Seat in the House 1:00:04 - Health Challenges - Cancer Journey 1:06:06 - Controversy & False Accusations 1:09:38 - Current Projects - Rocket Mafia Tour 1:11:07 - Outro Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A
February 27, 2026
Could a closed mindset be stopping you from progressing in your practice? In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, achieving a fluid mental state is crucial for gaining the upper hand. If you’re physically rigid, you become an easy opponent. If your mentally rigid, it limits your ability to adapt or change your thinking. Join us in Episode 22 of the #AgelessWarriorLab podcast to hear more on enhancing your mindset. Give this video a share with your training buddy and let us know in comments how embracing an open mindset might benefit your training. #Shorts #OpenMindset #GrowthMindset
February 24, 2026
In this episode, I sit down with Burton Richardson, a Black Belt Hall of Fame martial artist with over four decades of training spanning the globe. Burton is an instructor under Dan Inosanto in Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Kali, and Muay Thai, and one of only a handful of Americans to train in Zulu stick fighting with tribes in South Africa. He's an original member of the Dog Brothers full-contact stick fighting team, has coached top MMA fighters including Egan Inosanto and Chris Leben, and created the "BJJ for the Street" and "Clinch for the Street" training programs. We discuss Burton's origin story—a childhood trauma that ignited his lifelong commitment to never feeling helpless again and helping others develop real fighting skills. Burton shares how training at Dan Inosanto's academy exposed him to a "martial arts university" offering multiple disciplines, allowing students to discover what worked for their own bodies and goals. We explore his pivotal shift from teaching dozens of techniques without discernment to focusing exclusively on pressure-tested methods that work against fully resisting opponents. We dive into Burton's philosophy of training for reality versus sport, why he has his students carry training weapons at all times during grappling to build constant awareness, the critical importance of sparring with self-defense rules (groin strikes, eye gouges, weapons), and why MMA provides the template but needs tactical additions for ideal street application. Burton reflects on how martial arts taught him to overcome obstacles with a positive mindset—lessons that carried him through years of severe illness—and why he defines martial arts as "the art of overcoming obstacles" that applies to every aspect of life. Whether you're a martial artist seeking practical self-defense training that actually works under pressure, interested in pressure testing techniques across multiple fighting ranges, or looking for wisdom on resilience, gratitude, and prevailing rather than just surviving, this conversation delivers insights from a true martial arts lifer who's dedicated his life to research, development, and helping others. Ageless Warrior Lab Episodes we mentioned: Real Street Self Defense | What Many Martial Arts Don't Prepare You For | Ep.30 https://youtu.be/s5JhPkHtutk?si=uDfM1sBxJNgLTP68 Transforming Pain Into Power: The Alchemy of Outcomes. | Ep. 03 https://youtu.be/jt0wIIr3VrA?si=VaX8xLUQTOOHqo6- The Ego Trap: What 35 Years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Taught Me About Success | Ep. 23 https://youtu.be/V22XrC3xmsE?si=mcqPw4CZH4KmPl0q Contact Burton Richardson: Website: www.jkdunlimited.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BurtonRichardson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BurtonRichardson Instagram: @jkd_unlimited Online Instructionals from Burton: BJJ for the Street https://bjjfanatics.com/products/bjj-for-the-street-by-burton-richardson Clinch For The Street https://bjjfanatics.com/products/clinch-for-the-street-by-burton-richardson Books by Burton: My Jeet Kune Do Unlimited Adventure https://a.co/d/085kJ2HB Silat for the Street https://a.co/d/032no1z3 Dan Inosanto https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Inosanto Bruce Lee https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Lee Inosanto Academy https://inosanto.com/ Egan Inoue https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egan_Inoue Enson Inoue https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enson_Inoue Chris Leben https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Leben Douglas Wong https://www.whitelotuskungfu.com/about-masterwong.html Carrie Ogawa Wong https://www.whitelotuskungfu.com/about-instructors.html Inside Kung Fu Magazine https://insidekung-fu.com/ Bernice Jay https://www.danzan.com/HTML/PEOPLE/bernicejay.html Wally Jay https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wally_Jay Mike Belzer https://www.danzan.com/HTML/PEOPLE/mbelzer.html Dog Brothers https://dogbrothers.com/ Augusto Barocco https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyjrABjV2wA Antonio "Tatang" Ilustrisimo https://mandirigma.org/?p=82 Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 03:00 - Burton's Origin Story 04:35 - Training with Dan Inosanto 16:00 - Sport vs Street Self-Defense 28:40 - Training Against Weapons 34:34 - Weapon Awareness in Training 47:48 - Women's Self-Defense 55:05 - Life Lessons from Martial Arts 61:40 - Advice to Younger Self 70:30 - Ego and Opening the Book of Knowledge 74:03 - Outro
February 20, 2026
In this episode, I sit down with Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and CEO of Roddenberry Entertainment. Rod is an executive producer on many current Star Trek iterations and founder of the Roddenberry Foundation, which supports causes advancing humanity. We discuss Rod's formative years training Jiujitsu under my good friend Sensei Steve Copping in Los Angeles during the 1980s, earning his black belt as a teenager. Rod shares how the dojo became a second family where respect, vulnerability, and strength coexisted—lessons that shaped his approach to leadership and life. We explore the philosophy of IDIC (Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations), a core Star Trek principle about appreciating different perspectives, and how it mirrors the martial arts values of learning from everyone regardless of rank. We dive into Rod's journey stepping out of his father's shadow to forge his own identity while honoring Gene's vision, the responsibility of being guardian to a cultural phenomenon that's more than entertainment, and why Star Trek's optimistic future—where humanity has solved scarcity and values ideas over possessions—remains relevant today. Rod reflects on the challenges of maintaining that hopeful vision across ten different Star Trek shows, why we need inspirational storytelling now more than ever, and how shows like The Orville and Ted Lasso carry forward that same spirit of humanity at its best. Whether you're a Star Trek fan interested in its philosophical foundations, a martial artist exploring how training shapes character beyond the mat, or someone seeking perspective on leadership, ethics, and building a better future in tumultuous times, this conversation delivers wisdom on finding your own path while honoring what came before. Facing Fear: Lessons from a Hurricane Rescue & Martial Arts Mastery | Ep. 8 - https://youtu.be/iyDnsOXCXA4 The Ego Trap: What 35 Years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Taught Me About Success | Ep. 23 - https://youtu.be/V22XrC3xmsE Weaponized Curiosity: Jeremy Corbell on UFOs, Martial Arts, and Life Lessons | Ep. 10 - https://youtu.be/9SdRpgaiw9k Roddenberry Entertainment https://www.roddenberry.com/ Rod Instagram: @eugeneroddenberry http://www.instagram.com/eugeneroddenberry Roddenberry Entertainment Instagram @roddenberryofficial https://www.instagram.com/roddenberryofficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roddenberry/ Roddenberry Foundation https://roddenberryfoundation.org/ Roddenberry Foundation’s IG @theroddenberryfoundation http://www.instagram.com/theroddenberryfoundation Trek Nation documentary https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1529666/ Steve Copping https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbq6Wpb1DVk George Kirby https://budoshin.com/about-bjj/budoshin-lineage/george-kirby/ Gene Roddenberry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Roddenberry Star Trek https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek Gracie Jiu Jitsu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_jiu-jitsu Paul O'Connor https://www.paulryanoconnor.com/about Air Protein https://www.airprotein.com/ The Orville https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5691552/ Ted Lasso https://tv.apple.com/us/show/ted-lasso/umc.cmc.vtoh0mn0xn7t3c643xqonfzy Jeremy Corbell https://www.weaponizedpodcast.com/ Rigan Machado https://www.theacademybeverlyhills.com/instructors/rigan-machado/ John Will https://www.redcatacademy.com.au/john_will.html Woolf Barnato https://www.blacksheepjiujitsu.com/#instructors Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Training Jiujitsu with Steve Copping 04:37 - Philosophy of Respect and the Dojo 10:02 - Inheriting the Star Trek Legacy 15:11 - Star Trek's Post-Scarcity Vision 19:51 - Can We Achieve This Future? 26:08 - AI and Technology's Impact 44:06 - The Evolution of Star Trek 48:41 - Leadership and Teamwork 54:17 - Finding the Right Instructor 60:00 - IDIC: Infinite Diversity 61:32 - Closing Thoughts