The Fighters Drinking Coffee Podcast

The Gym Goers Guide to Building a BJJ Community (Episode 69)

Hosts Scott Dance and Michael Sutherland (combined 40 years of grappling experience) break down how to build and maintain a healthy jiu-jitsu community. They cover the owner’s role in seeding culture, vetting new members, and choosing coaches who extend core values.
The episode explores practical systems such as onboarding/induction, coach selection, student ambassadors, and handling difficult personnel decisions; plus, why transparency, safety, and clear values matter for retention and growth.
Listeners also get tips for injured students, pricing/value perspective, and a light-hearted Combat Confessions segment with funny anecdotes (from toddler-wrangling to clavicle injuries). Expect actionable takeaways for gym owners, coaches, and committed students.
Please remember to follow, rate and review!or Support the show on our PatreonWant more from Fighters Drinking Coffee:Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXksGet some MADE IN THE USA gear:  https://cruzcmbt.com/GETSUDSY

The Fighters Drinking Coffee Podcast: Streamline your Jiu-Jitsu Training from Our Experiences (Episode 0)

Welcome to Fighters Drinking Coffee with hosts Scott Dance and Michael Sutherland — two grapplers with roughly 40 years of combined experience who share the hard-earned lessons they wish they’d known earlier. In this episode they lay out the podcast’s mission: to compress mistakes (bad training, brutal conditioning, awful weight cuts, and training through injuries) into practical, safer, faster ways to improve your jiu-jitsu.
They preview topics you can expect on the show: technique simplification, smarter training plans, competition prep, injury avoidance and recovery, along with guest interviews, fun segments, and listener-driven features like Combat Confessions and Q&A.
Want to get involved? Send questions, confessions, or voicemails at www.fdcpodcast.com and follow on Instagram @fightersdrinkingcoffee.
Please remember to follow, rate and review!or Support the show on our PatreonWant more from Fighters Drinking Coffee:Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXksGet some MADE IN THE USA gear:  https://cruzcmbt.com/GETSUDSY

Playtime to Go Time: Flipping the Competition Switch (Episode 68)

Join hosts Scott Dance and Michael Sutherland of Fighters Drinking Coffee, two mat veterans with 40 years of combined grappling experience, as they break down how to flip the mental and physical switch from casual training to competition mode. This episode covers planning, programming, and the small but critical changes that get you competition-ready.
They discuss training structure and intensity (how to shift from exploratory mat time to purpose-driven sessions), balancing coaching duties with personal prep, and practical class formats and situational drills to sharpen performance. The hosts share tips on scheduling, programming, and how to make short, effective ramps before events.
Nutrition and weight management are explored in plain terms: cooking vs. DoorDash, managing water and food retention, realistic timelines (10–12 days vs. shorter tapers), and how to set expectations for new competitors. Anecdotes (from strategic egg reserves to bacon-free realities) illustrate how small habits matter.
They wrap with advice for first-time competitors, when to skip cutting, and how to choose the stress you’ll accept. Plus a Combat Confession segment featuring a Reddit purple belt story that sparks a discussion about perception, strength, and mat respect. For more show notes, blog posts, or to leave a voicemail, visit www.fdcpodcast.com.
Please remember to follow, rate and review!or Support the show on our PatreonWant more from Fighters Drinking Coffee:Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXksGet some MADE IN THE USA gear:  https://cruzcmbt.com/GETSUDSY

Renew Your Vows to Jiu-Jitsu: Friction, Burnout, and the Comeback (Episode 67)

Hosts Scott Dance and Michael Sutherland explore why people fall out of love with jiu-jitsu. Covering stress, anxiety, boredom, injuries, finances, relationship pressures, and toxic gym cultures. They discuss practical fixes like reframing your "why," changing scenery, downshifting frequency, setting timelines for breaks, cross-training, and teaching to regain motivation.
The episode also shifts to the coach’s perspective on retention, novelty in class design, and balancing long-term commitment with delayed gratification. Scott and Michael offer tangible advice for students and gym owners on communication, boundaries, and finding the right training home.
Plus: a humorous Combat Confessions segment with wild open-mat stories (including a snubbed brown belt and a notorious nipple-bite tale)
Please remember to follow, rate and review!or Support the show on our PatreonWant more from Fighters Drinking Coffee:Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXksGet some MADE IN THE USA gear:  https://cruzcmbt.com/GETSUDSY

Check Your Ego: Learn from Everyone on the Mat + A New Segment Debut (Episode 66)

Hosts Scott Dance and Michael Sutherland discuss how hierarchy and ego affect learning in jiu-jitsu, and why training with everyone (even lower belts) can expand your game. They introduce practical ideas like the 50/50 split between execution and exploration, intentional rolling, and competing as an outlet for ego expression.
 
The episode also launches a new segment, "Combat Confessions," featuring a wild Reddit open-mat story about a man who lets people choke him, plus instructions on how listeners can submit voicemails and stories via fdcpodcast.com. Practical tips for coaches, visiting other academies, asking questions, and using teaching to learn are highlighted.
Please remember to follow, rate and review!or Support the show on our PatreonWant more from Fighters Drinking Coffee:Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXksGet some MADE IN THE USA gear:  https://cruzcmbt.com/GETSUDSY

Why You Keep Training: Finding Your 'Why' in Jiu-Jitsu (Episode 65)

In this episode Scott and Mike dive into the psychology of training; why we started jiu‑jitsu, why we keep going, and how to find motivation when it fades. They share origin stories, talk about competition as a tool for learning, and explain how purpose can direct your day‑to‑day training.
Topics include the difference between your long‑term “why” and short‑term motivation, using competition to test and measure progress, coaching and business perspectives, and practical habits to stay consistent and improve. Expect concrete examples, situational drills, and advice on translating tournament lessons back into class.
Key takeaways: define your why, set measurable goals, use competition as feedback, and show up even on low‑motivation days. Tune in and visit www.fdcpodcast.com for more FDC content and ways to support the show.
Please remember to follow, rate and review!or Support the show on our PatreonWant more from Fighters Drinking Coffee:Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXksGet some MADE IN THE USA gear:  https://cruzcmbt.com/GETSUDSY

Reset, Reframe, Repeat: How to Overcome Jiu-Jitsu Plateaus and Train Smarter (Episode 64)

Welcome back to the Fighters Drinking Coffee podcast. In this episode we focus on how to restructure your training to get past sticking points in your jiu-jitsu progression. Hosts discuss practical steps like increasing frequency, changing training partners or class formats, setting measurable goals, and committing to focused, repeated practice. They cover troubleshooting techniques such as using workshops, privates, partner feedback, and situational drilling. Plus, the value of patience: accepting being bad at something until you improve.
Topics include tailoring practice to your rank and goals (hobbyist vs. competitor), how to manufacture practice scenarios, adjusting variables like nutrition, sleep, cross-training, and strength work, and the importance of measuring progress over several weeks. The hosts share examples and anecdotes about blue- and white-belt challenges, coaching advice, and mental frameworks (like treating practice as a repeat-until-you-succeed loop).
Resources and guests mentioned: the hosts, references to coaching and private lessons, and the workshop class format
Please remember to follow, rate and review!or Support the show on our PatreonWant more from Fighters Drinking Coffee:Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXksGet some MADE IN THE USA gear:  https://cruzcmbt.com/GETSUDSY

Discipline or Obsession: The Fine Line We Walk in Jiu Jitsu Training and Competition (Episode 63)

In this episode of Fighters Drinking Coffee the hosts return from a long road trip and dive into the thin line between productive control and unhealthy obsession around training, competition, and habits. They discuss weight cutting strategies, meal timing, and building systems that reduce last-minute panic.
 Scott and Mike (with mentions of Kate, Andrea, and Leo) as they break down tape study: what to watch, how much is useful, and how to avoid overthinking match sequences, plus tips for managing nerves and using them as fuel rather than fear.
Key takeaways: create disciplined routines, control what you can, be prepared for curveballs at tournaments (IBJJF and otherwise), learn from experience and coaching, and keep training goals aligned to avoid counterproductive obsession.
Please remember to follow, rate and review!or Support the show on our PatreonWant more from Fighters Drinking Coffee:Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXksGet some MADE IN THE USA gear:  https://cruzcmbt.com/GETSUDSY

BJJ’s Dark Moment: Abuse Allegations, Power & Accountability (Episode 62)

On this episode of Fighters Drinking Coffee the hosts dig into recent sexual misconduct and abuse allegations rocking the BJJ community — including high-profile cases tied to Atos/Andre Galvão, Melqui Galvão, and reports from 10th Planet and CheckMat. They discuss institutional mishandling, power dynamics, and the ripple effects these revelations have had across affiliations and athletes.
The conversation covers why jiu-jitsu’s close-contact, hierarchical culture creates unique risks, the complications of coach–student relationships, prevention strategies, and practical steps for gym owners: vetting, clear HR policies, prompt investigations, disaffiliations when needed, and how communities can act as an “immune system.” Parents and students will hear guidance on staying vigilant and involved.
The hosts also urge listeners to believe and support victims, report serious allegations to authorities, and work toward professionalism and safety in their gyms. Expect a serious, solution-focused discussion with concrete takeaways and resources for gym owners and parents.
Please remember to follow, rate and review!or Support the show on our PatreonWant more from Fighters Drinking Coffee:Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXksGet some MADE IN THE USA gear:  https://cruzcmbt.com/GETSUDSY

Welcoming Women on the Mats: Gym Culture, Safety, and How to be a Better Training Partner (Episode 61)

This episode is coming to you from the road, where we were still joined by Andrea and Kate, while enroute to the Chicago Open.
on this episode we discussed training with men vs. women, the value of bigger training partners for building physicality, but the unique benefit of female partners when you want a realistic look at your weight class. We also dive into the mindset of women who train by discussing the experiences of Kate and Andrea on the mats, looking at how men and other members of the gym can be better at creating a comfortable space for women in the gym.
We get into gym culture and leadership and why top-down behavior sets the tone, how leaders need to be open to feedback, and practical ways communities can police themselves so problematic behavior doesn’t fester. 
 
Please remember to follow, rate and review!or Support the show on our PatreonWant more from Fighters Drinking Coffee:Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXksGet some MADE IN THE USA gear:  https://cruzcmbt.com/GETSUDSY