Sonny Brown

The Mythology of Play With Michael Phillip

Sonny Brown — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:08:35 +0000

I talk to Michael Phillip, host of the long-running philosophy and esoterica podcast Third Eye Drops, where he conducts what he calls “mind melds” with authors, musicians, thinkers, and mystics on topics ranging from Jungian psychology and mythology to consciousness, technology, and the nature of reality. Michael also brings a personal martial arts background, which […]

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Why I Don’t Teach Rubber Guard Anymore & Attribute Based Jiu-Jitsu

Sonny Brown — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:12:30 +0000

I am still the only person in Australia to win an MMA fight and a championship title via a gogoplata submission set up from rubber guard. Eddie Bravo gave me a shoutout, the sequence was featured on his “Mastering the System” series, and for a while, it felt like rubber guard was going to be […]

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Why Everyone Loves the Padman (And What That Tells Us About How We Train)

Sonny Brown — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

I’ve spent years arguing that padwork is overrated. So naturally, I found myself in Tokyo, paying top dollar for a private session with the most expensive padman I could find. It’s December 2025, and I was trying to fit in as much training as possible before the gyms started shutting down over the Christmas and […]

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Top 20 Myths about Mitsuyo Maeda

Sonny Brown — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 02:40:15 +0000

The following article, The 20 Myths of Mitsuyo Maeda, was originally published on Roberto Pedreira’s Global Training Report, a vital resource for anyone interested in the true history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As that website is no longer active, I’ve chosen to host a backup here to preserve its valuable insights. In my interview with Robert […]

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Beginners Guide to Uniform Policies in Jiu-Jitsu

Sonny Brown — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 04:08:04 +0000

From strict dress codes to freedom of choice, uniforms touch on issues of tradition, control, accessibility, and identity. Some see uniform policies as essential for preserving tradition and creating community. In contrast, others view them as financial barriers, tools of control, or even cult-like practices that limit personal expression. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Schools must balance practical […]

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Systematic Coaching & Team Building with Luke Martin

Sonny Brown — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 03:30:28 +0000

I talk to Luke Martin from Sydney West Martial Arts, Luke has been on the podcast several times before, and this marks ten years since he began his journey of bringing the world-class Danaher grappling system to his gym in Penrith. We discuss his team’s recent participation in the ADCC World Championships, how his coaching […]

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The Ecological Approach vs Embodied Grappling With Greg Souders & School of Grappling

Sonny Brown — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 09:41:59 +0000

I talk to Andy from School of Grappling and Greg Souders from Standard Jiu-Jitsu about the ecological approach to teaching grappling. We explore the theory and practice of this method, discussing experience, perception, and consciousness. Andy focuses on phenomenology and subjective experience, while Greg emphasises ecological dynamics. We also cover self-directed learning, instruction methods, and […]

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Embodied Grappling Philosophy & Practice With Andy From School of Grappling

Sonny Brown — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 06:15:12 +0000

I talk to Andy from School of Grappling about the rising trend of the ecological approach in BJJ coaching and its implications in comparisons to his ideas of embodied grappling. We explore the interplay between culture, coaching methods, and individual motivation in training. Andy shares insights on the limitations of singular approaches and the need […]

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Ecological Approach to MMA Striking with Scott Sievewright

Sonny Brown — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 06:47:49 +0000

I talk to Scott Sievewright, who discusses his ecological approach to coaching martial arts. He emphasises the importance of live, unscripted sparring from day one to build skills, arguing that traditional techniques taught in isolation don’t effectively transfer to real-life fighting. Sievewright believes his method produces better, more skilled fighters by developing movement repertoire and […]

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Mastering the Art of Flow Rolling for Grapplers

Sonny Brown — Sun, 10 Sep 2023 12:57:32 +0000

Flow rolling is an essential training technique for grapplers that focuses on fluid transitions and technique chaining. It’s not about winning but improving movement, reactions, and awareness.

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Ecological Approach vs Progressive Resistance with Greg Souders & Priit Mihkelson

Sonny Brown — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 04:27:03 +0000

I talk to Greg Souders and Priit Mihkelson, two innovative jiu-jitsu coaches of our time, delving into their training philosophies and approaches to practice. Greg champions an ecological approach, centered on constraints and fundamental functions, while Priit’s foundation lies in using progressive resistance. We engage in a comprehensive chat about motor learning, and skill development, […]

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The Martial Artist’s Journey & Growth Through Adversity

Sonny Brown — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 14:57:00 +0000

The Martial Artist’s Journey provides a path to self-improvement by challenging the mind and body. Their origins lie in philosophies of honour, self-mastery, and service to others. Though combat stands at the core, martial arts refine character, foster wisdom, and build community. Like all deep pursuits, excellence demands perseverance. Progress stalls, setbacks occur, but a […]

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An Inside Look at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mental Health

Sonny Brown — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 11:53:55 +0000

After over 15 years of training, I have found that Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) can positively and negatively influence mental health. The positive side of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mental health I will discuss is how training BJJ can help get you out of isolation, build confidence, promote healthy lifestyles, and provide access to mental health resources. […]

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Kabir Bath On Jiu-Jitsu Games For Teaching Kids & Adults

Sonny Brown — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 07:25:00 +0000

I talk to Kabir Bath, A Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Rafael Lovato Jnr, who runs Kaboom Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He runs an excellent kid’s program using only constraints-based learning games where he exclusively uses jiu-jitsu games for teaching kids & adults. We discuss how he structures his class and programs for kids, how he does the […]

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Greg Souders On Teaching Jiu-Jitsu Without Teaching Techniques

Sonny Brown — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 01:52:25 +0000

I talk to Greg Souders, a Jiu-Jitsu black belt and academy owner who has found success through the ecological approach to skill development – a method backed by research confirming its efficacy in motor learning. Rather than relying on memorized techniques alone, Greg uses this innovative technique to empower his students’ growth within their practice. […]

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Chris Paines On BJJ Training Progress, Evolution & Control Points

Sonny Brown — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 05:01:58 +0000

I talk to Chris Paines, a BJJ Black Belt under Priit Mihkelson, who recently released an instructional titled “How to Defend Against Everyone”. We discuss his thoughts on teaching and learning Jiu-Jitsu through the use of heuristics focusing on control points and how that can emphasise defensive principles as well as optimising offence. We also […]

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Luke Martin On ADCC Training At New Wave Jiu-Jitsu

Sonny Brown — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 10:50:10 +0000

I talk to Luke Martin, a Jiu-Jitsu coach currently preparing his athletes for the ADCC world championships out of the New Wave Jiu-Jitsu camp in Texas with John Danaher, Gordon Ryan, Gary Tonon, Nicholas Meregali and the rest of the New Wave ADCC competitors. In a special emergency broadcast edition of the Sonny Brown Breakdown […]

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Mittmaster Matt Chapman On TLC For Training & MMA Padwork

Sonny Brown — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 01:54:28 +0000

I talk to Mittmaster Matt Chapman, a martial artist for 35 years who has a wealth of experience instructing Jeet Kune Do, Kickboxing, Muay Thai and MMA. He provides valuable insights on how nurturing and caring for new martial arts students helps them stick with and become proficient at their desired art. We also discuss […]

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