Dirty White Belt Radio

Projitsu 5 is on the horizon, July 23. We speak with two of the athletes, Amber Sehnke of Swamp Fox Jiu-Jitsu and Becky Lee Austin of Combat Club. Plus, we repeat a classic interview with Michelle Nicolini in honor of the legend's final Mundials.

Royce Gracie black belt Jake Whitfield joins us to talk about jiujitsu, MMA & vale tudo history (you'll *definitely* learn something from this), who the most underrated people in North Carolina jiujitsu are, how to make kids like training. Jake is available for seminars: email graciegoldsboro@gmail.com

Have you ever wondered what attending the BJJ World Championship is like? Here's an attempt to explain it, featuring an interview with the greatest of all time, Rickson Gracie. We also interview North Carolina competitors, including medalists Kim Rice, Chela Tu and Ryan Galvan -- and black belt Caitlin Huggins, who competed against the gold medalist in her division. We also talk with international competitor and bronze medalist Tammi Musumeci.

Packed show! Charlotte fighter Jordan Rinaldi makes his UFC debut Sunday, and we interview him; we talk with Next Level Fight Club matchmaker Chris Connor about last weekend's card, matchmaking horror stories and more; and Trevor tells a harrowing story about nearly getting stabbed early Monday morning -- but using jiu-jitsu to disarm the guy. Plus, a special surprise at the end of the show.

Jeff & Trevor recap Triangle Kickboxing Promotions' "Lightning Strikes" event and preview this weekend's Next Level Fight Club MMA card. We visit with formerly local fighter Michael "Bolo" Santos, now living and training in Denver, who has a huge Muay Thai fight May 27 on the Lion Fights #29 card at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. And we re-play an interview with Sam Faulhaber, BJJ Black Belt and owner of Move Well Philly Mobility and Thai Bodywork.

Caitlin Huggins is a black belt training out of Devine Jiu Jitsu, an active competitor and instructor, and victor of the first-ever women's black belt match in North Carolina. We talk to her about training, teaching, why women-only spaces are important in BJJ, her career as both a horror movie reviewer and a welder, goals for the future and more!

Jake Whitfield is one of NC's most successful MMA fighters, and he returns to the cage in Raleigh this month. In this interview, the Royce Gracie black belt reveals who his toughest MMA opponent was, what the hardest day of training in his barn looked like, what a judo pin has to do with stabbing someone in the neck and what the most common training mistakes are. Plus, hear which of his students he calls sissies.

Indy Week Bryan C. Reed comes on the show to give us all the juicy tidbits that didn't make it into his cover piece on the local martial arts scene. Samantha Faulhaber, one of the main eventers for the ConcussionCast Carnival (and participant in the first ever women's black belt match in NC) talks about BJJ and movement science.

Tim Hufford from Chapel Hill Gracie Jiujitsu tells stories about a fighter's mom taking a swing at him at his teammates' fights in Vermont last night (among other craziness). We recap the CHGJJ fights with time. Then Vernon Kirk & The Good Fight's Jimmy Fortunato join us to preview their July 9 Jiujitsu Theater event.

Roy Marsh, Royce Gracie black belt, joins us to answer listener questions about how to pick a martial arts gym & whether to train gi or nogi. Then, Jeff and Roy break down every match on the ConcussionCast Carnival card May 1. Come watch 20 athletes from 16 different schools, including 6 black belts, compete at Durham Central Park on May 1 at noon.

Mary Holmes of Chapel Hill Gracie Jiu-Jitsu just won double gold at the largest BJJ tournament, the IBJJF Pans. She also teaches CHGJJ's monthly women's class and takes on Laurie Porsch of BETA Academy at the May 1 ConcussionCast Carnival. Hear Mary talk about why she loves animals (except raccoons), about balancing training with a demanding, important career and much more. She also accidentally gives Jeff two amazing t-shirt ideas.

Projitsu 4 in Wilmington featured 13 grappling matches will big names competing alongside local competitors. Jeff and Trevor recap the event, talk to the competitors, and conduct featured interviews with UFC contender and Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann as well as world-class jiujitsu black belt Guybson Sa.

Jiujitsu world champion and UFC veteran Robert Drysdale joins us to discuss competition, coaching, Zenith BJJ, why he admires Cicero Costa team, his thoughts on Gracie University and more. James Quigg calls in to recap his Team ROC teammate Da'Mon Blackshear's win by traingle choke in his pro MMA debut. Trevor reviews the IKF kickboxing wins by Jason Jordan and Evan Daniel, with Trevor in their corner.

Martial arts movie month continues with a show dedicated to Bloodsport. Jeff & Trevor talk with an author and former academic who taught a college class at an elite university ... about Bloodsport. Then, Jeff talks to Jenny Wu, who is featured in the women-only kumite re-boot of Bloodsport, "Lady Bloodfight." She tells us what it's like to work with Jackie Chan, train 6 hours a day to get ready for your own fighting stunts, and what it's like to get hit for the first time by a Muay Thai champion.

The first three rounds of March Martial Arts Movie Madness are in the books! Hear the results, voicemails from the judges, and everyone hating on Jeff for the matchups. Matches are announced for the ConcussionCast Carnival May 1. And we hear from Ali Heydary (son of Mazi Heydary from Chapel Hill Gracie Jiujitsu) about a relief project he's involved with that's worth supporting.

Jason Farrell from Level Up Gym talks about his martial arts journey through the striking arts -- and his coaching career. John "Bagels" Telford calls in to talk about local performance at the Abu Dhabi Pro Trials, including his own bronze medal and Kim Rice's double gold win. Plus, we talk about Roger Carroll's fight in Bellator and the UFC upsets by Nate Diaz and Miesha Tate.

What's the best martial arts movie ever? We've organized 32 of the best into a March Madness-style bracket, and we invite you to vote (for free!) and win some cool stuff. Check out our list of awesome films and learn why Trevor wants to punch Jeff in the face (more than usual). Link to bracket: http://bit.ly/CCCmovies

Steve Hall, 2nd degree jiujitsu black belt under Royce Gracie, joins Jeff to talk about old school jiujitsu and MMA, the martial arts community in North Carolina and more. Intern Chris joins Jeff to recap the Next Level Fight Club MMA show. Tim McNamara calls in to talk about his armbar win at the Extreme Submission Challenge in Elizabeth City last night. Plus, we announce March Martial Arts Movie Madness, our bracket challenge about martial arts movies which will allow you, the listener, to win righteous prizes.

Tony Casarez of Lucas Lepri BJJ Raleigh talks to us about self defense, IBJJF tournaments, Texas football and pie, while Trevor tells a story about punching a possum (sorry, opossum) in the face last night. Welp.

This Sunday, Feb. 21, Elevate MMA's grand opening features a charity open mat benefiting the Hip Hop Chess Federation. Hear Cody Maltais and D'Juan Owens talk about the event, how D'Juan is going to "slay" the RZA at chess, hopes for the local MMA scene, and some exclusive news. Plus, hear Jeff talk as if he knows something about striking.