In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan, Stephan Kesting, and Jeff Shaw explain why the idea of “keeping politics out” is no longer tenable, especially in Jiu-Jitsu and martial arts communities. Against the backdrop of escalating political violence, institutional breakdowns, and global instability, they explore the civic responsibility of gym owners, coaches, and athletes, and why silence increasingly amounts to complicity.

🔗 Links Mentioned:
• Fighting Matters Linktree — https://linktree.com/fightingmatters
• Fighting Matters Substack — https://fightingmatters.substack.com
• This Is Why We Fight (Jeff Shaw course) — https://bjjmentalmodels.com/fight

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👥 Featuring:
Steve Kwan — https://bjjmentalmodels.com
Stephan Kesting — https://www.grapplearts.com
Jeff Shaw — https://bellinghambjj.com

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🧠 Topics Discussed:
• Why “keep politics out of Jiu-Jitsu” is a thought-terminating cliché
• Political violence, accountability, and the role of video evidence
• Fascism, despair, and overreaction as a martial arts analogy
• Civic responsibility for gym owners and community leaders
• Why neutrality increasingly favors the status quo

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📖 Chapters:
00:00 — Welcome & January 2026 reality check
04:40 — Political violence and media narratives
13:30 — Why apolitical stances are collapsing
24:00 — Global consequences and U.S. credibility
31:00 — “Keep politics out of Jiu-Jitsu” examined
45:10 — Martial arts, pressure, and overreaction
54:40 — What regular people can actually do
57:20 — Final thoughts and calls to action

Mother, poet, and US citizen Renée Good was shot by ICE on January 7, closely followed by the shooting of ICU Nurse and US citizen Alex Pretti on January 24th, apparently by members of the Border Patrol. Both Renée and Alex were immediately denounced as "domestic terrorists" by the US administration and an army of bots has been circulating a deluge of easily debunkable falsehood about the two victims.

In this episode of Fighting Matters BJJ black belt Stephan Kesting is joined Tyson Larone, the Warrior Philosopher, to explore why this is all happening, who benefits from this, where is it likely to go, and how does it potentially end. We turn over every rock from the Epstein Files to suppressing the midterm elections to World War III.

Follow Tyson on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@thewarriorphilosopher and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thewarriorphilosopherig

And please share this episode with someone it would help.

Racism, extremism, and exclusion aren’t abstract problems in martial arts. They show up in real gyms, affect real people, and shape who feels safe on the mats. In this episode of Fighting Matters, hosts Mike Mahaffey and Jesse Walker are joined by Deon Thompson and Stephen Hall for a candid, deeply personal conversation about how racism and hate groups intersect with Jiu-Jitsu culture, why “staying neutral” is not an option, and what responsibility coaches carry when they teach people how to fight.

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🔗 Links Mentioned:
• Fighting Matters Linktree — https://linktr.ee/fightingmatters
• Ohio Brasa Jiu-Jitsu (Deon Thompson) — https://ohiobrasajiujitsu.com
• Bioniq Brass Band (Stephan Hall) — https://www.instagram.com/bioniqbrassband

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👥 Featuring:
• Mike Mahaffey — @oldbastardbjj
• Jesse Walker — @roughhandsbjj
• Deon Thompson — @thompsonjiujitsu
• Stephen Hall — @bioniqbrassband

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🧠 Topics Discussed:
• Racism and extremism in Jiu-Jitsu gyms
• Why this isn’t “just politics”
• Gym culture and accountability
• Belt promotions as endorsements of character
• Representation, safety, and who feels welcome
• Why silence enables harm
• The ethical responsibility of coaches

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📖 Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction
02:10 – Why racism in Jiu-Jitsu can’t be ignored
08:30 – Extremist groups and combat sports
16:45 – Gym culture and leadership responsibility
25:10 – Promotions, character, and accountability
34:40 – Representation and who feels safe on the mats
45:20 – Why neutrality enables harm
57:30 – What coaches must be willing to confront
1:08:00 – Final thoughts and closing remarks

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Stephan Kesting unpack the political chaos of early 2026 and its real-world consequences for martial artists. From international instability and economic shocks to propaganda, media capture, and rising authoritarianism, they discuss why “keeping politics out of jiu-jitsu” is no longer possible... and what individuals can actually do in moments like this.

🔗 Links Mentioned:
• Fighting Matters Linktree — https://linktr.ee/fightingmatters
• BJJ Mental Models — https://bjjmentalmodels.com
• Grapplearts — https://grapplearts.com

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👥 Featuring:
• Steve Kwan — @bjjmentalmodels
• Stephan Kesting — @stephankesting

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🧠 Topics Discussed:
• Why global politics now directly affect martial arts
• Authoritarianism, distraction, and media manipulation
• Economic collapse, inflation, and gym sustainability
• Voting with your dollars and leaving toxic gyms
• Building unlikely coalitions in existential moments
• Why silence and “staying apolitical” is no longer neutral

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📖 Chapters:
00:00 — Opening and Stephan’s rant
03:30 — Distraction politics and global instability
08:20 — Checks, balances, and institutional failure
15:00 — Elections, force, and fear
24:40 — Canada, China, and economic survival
39:00 — Why martial artists can’t ignore this
46:30 — What individuals can actually do
56:10 — Coalitions, Rogan, and strange bedfellows
01:04:40 — Voting with your dollars
01:07:15 — Final thoughts and calls to action

This episode of Fighting Matters closes out the year with a no-holds-barred look at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2025. The hosts break down the biggest wins, deepest disappointments, and most important moments that shaped the sport—on and off the mats. From cultural flashpoints to genuine bright spots, this is BJJ’s year in review, warts and all.

🔗 Links Mentioned:
• Fighting Matters Linktree — https://linktr.ee/fightingmatters
• Fighting Matters Substack — https://fightingmatters.substack.com

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👥 Featuring:
Steve Kwan — @bjjmentalmodels
Mike Mahaffey — @oldbastardbjj
Jesse Walker — @roughhandsbjj

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🧠 Topics Discussed:
• The biggest controversies in BJJ in 2025
• Sexual misconduct and accountability in the sport
• Extremism, grifters, and bad actors in Jiu-Jitsu
• Disappointments and missed opportunities
• The year’s most positive moments and standout contributors

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📖 Chapters:
00:00 — Intro & framing BJJ’s year in review
02:45 — The worst of BJJ in 2025
18:40 — Accountability, abuse, and culture problems
41:10 — Transition to the best of 2025
46:30 — Positive standouts and hopeful trends
58:40 — Final thoughts and looking ahead to 2026

In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, hosts Steve Kwan, Mike Mahaffey, and Jesse Walker confront the relentless bullying and scapegoating of transgender athletes, especially within combat sports. They unpack how bad-faith arguments, misinformation, and moral panic have turned a tiny minority into a political and cultural punching bag, and discuss what gym owners, coaches, and training partners can do to create safer, more inclusive spaces.

🔗 Links Mentioned:
• Fighting Matters Linktree — https://linktree.com/fightingmatters
• BJJ Mental Models (Steve Kwan) — https://bjjmentalmodels.com
• Old Bastard BJJ (Mike Mahaffey) — https://instagram.com/oldbastardbjj
• Rough Hands BJJ (Jesse Walker) — https://roughhandsbjj.com

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👥 Featuring (Hosts):
• Steve Kwan — @bjjmentalmodels
• Mike Mahaffey — @oldbastardbjj
• Jesse Walker — @roughhandsbjj

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🧠 Topics Discussed:
• How trans athletes became a political and cultural scapegoat
• Bullying vs. good-faith discussion around sports and fairness
• Why hate movements target small, vulnerable groups
• Misogyny, fear, and propaganda in combat sports culture
• What gym owners can do to make their spaces safer and inclusive

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📖 Chapters:
00:00 — Why trans athletes are being targeted
03:30 — Scapegoating and bad-faith arguments
07:45 — Why this problem must be addressed by gym culture
13:10 — Sports, fairness, and fabricated moral panics
21:00 — Propaganda, fear, and political exploitation
42:30 — What coaches and gyms can do differently
54:10 — Final thoughts on dignity, accountability, and inclusion

The Fighting Matters crew is joined by Shaun Benson from The Boys to talk about about the show and how it relates to the state of the world right now. Along the way we explore the blurring of lines between credible information and disinformation, the rise of Fascism, and the real bad guy responsible for evil in both The Boys and the real world.

Follow Shaun on Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@shaunybenso and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shaunmbenson/