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Tapped In: A JiuJitsu Podcast

Tapped In: A JiuJitsu Podcast

By: David Figueroa-Martinez
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I am a dedicated practitioner and coach on a mission to help you navigate the complex, rewarding world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Whether you are a White Belt trying to survive your first stripe or a seasoned grappler looking for a competitive edge, I created this show to be your technical and mental mat-side companion. In every episode of Tapped In, I break down the nuances of submission grappling. I dive deep into the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle, discussing how to overcome mat burnout, manage BJJ injuries, and develop the "black belt mindset" both on and off the mats. Why Listen to Me? Beyond my fifteen years on the mats, I’ve had the honor of sharing my philosophy as a recurring guest on BJJ Mental Models and Fighting Matters. I believe in a structured tactical approach and I bring that same level of high-level conceptual analysis to every episode of this show. The Training Schedule: I know your time is valuable. That’s why I release three new episodes every week, each designed to fit perfectly into your daily routine. With a runtime of 14–24 minutes, these episodes are built to give you tactical clarity in the time it takes to drive to the academy or finish a warm-up. If you live for the grind, the flow, and the constant pursuit of the tap, this podcast is for you. Subscribe and let's level up your game, one episode at a time.David Figueroa-Martinez | DFM Coaching Bjj Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • E185 | Pressure, Dilemmas, and the Art of the "Cook" in BJJ

    E185 | Pressure, Dilemmas, and the Art of the "Cook" in BJJ
    Jun 30 2026
    About This EpisodeIn this episode of Tapped In, host David Figuero-Martinez from DFM Coaching dives deep into the strategic shift from bottom submissions to a dominant top-game approach. At 45 years old, David reflects on how his mindset evolved to prioritize efficiency, structural control, and heavy pressure over chasing quick submissions from the guard. He breaks down his tactical "kill zone" philosophy, explaining how to use weight, body pressure, and dual-threat dilemmas to exhaust your opponent before ever attacking a submission. Whether you are a newer blue belt or an advanced coach, this breakdown offers a blueprint for systematic dominance.Key TakeawaysPrioritize Position Over Submission: Establish complete positional control and settle every segment of your weight before initiating an attack. Chasing submissions from the bottom can be inefficient and risks losing your position.The Art of the "Cook": Use heavy top pressure (especially from Mount and S-Mount) to systematically exhaust your opponent's gas tank and wear them down mentally before executing the finish.Create Unsolvable Dilemmas: Much like a fork in chess, chain your submissions together (e.g., Americana to Armbar) to force your opponent into a defensive trap where every escape route leads to another attack.Chapters0:00 – Introduction to Clinical Submission Hunting0:33 – The Mindset Shift: Why I Stopped Submitting From Bottom1:46 – Position Over Submission & The Power of Top Pressure2:30 – Mastering the Mount and Cooking Your Opponent3:57 – Leveling Up Your Game: Cooking the Defensive Grip4:42 – The Dilemma Game: Funneling Opponents into the Alley6:07 – Chess Analogy: Applying the "Fork" to Jiu-Jitsu7:04 – Double Unders from Mount & Direct Attacks8:15 – The Psychological Edge of the Slow Submission9:16 – Outro & DFM Coaching Community ResourcesAre You You New To The Podcast? Start Here!👉DFM Coaching Patreon PageEverything here is pulled from real mats, real classes, and real conversations about what actually works. Choose the tier that fits where you are right now.👉DFM Coaching In Person and Remote CoachingDFM Coaching works with recreational grapplers who want to get better and actually feel it. Remote coaching and in person seminars available.👉 DFM Coaching | BjjDFM Coaching Skool CommunityJoin the free DFM Coaching Skool Community, the space where the conversation continues after the episode ends. Mindset tools, mat culture, and a community of grapplers who take the mental side seriously.👉 DFM Coaching | Bjj Skool Community.Stay Connected🌐 www.DFMCoachingBjj.com📸 Instagram @DFMCoaching.Bjj▶️ YouTube @DFM2099DFM Coaching | Bjj Blog:Long-form storytelling, deep strategy, and the philosophy behind the fight:🌐 DFM Coaching Substack BlogAffiliate PartnerBJJ Mental Models has one of the deepest conceptual Jiu-Jitsu libraries out there. I use it. I recommend it.👉 Join BJJ Mental Models+(Code: FIGUEROAMARTINEZ)Help the Show GrowIf this episode gave you something, pass it on. Share it with a training partner, drop a review, or repost it to your story. That is how we keep the signal strong.Stay tapped in,David Figueroa-MartinezFounder, DFM Coaching BjjMentioned in this episode:Patreon Ad
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    15 mins
  • E184 | Escape the Novelty Trap: Building a Sustainable BJJ Game

    E184 | Escape the Novelty Trap: Building a Sustainable BJJ Game
    Jun 28 2026
    About the EpisodeIn this episode, we dive into the psychological concept of the "locus of control" and explore how it directly impacts your BJJ journey, especially during difficult rounds. Developed by Julian Rotter in 1966, this concept examines whether you believe your life outcomes are driven by internal actions or external forces. We break down why standard student questions are heavily centered on what the opponent is doing rather than personal mechanics. By taking extreme ownership of your mistakes—and changing the way you frame your questions—you can move away from outward blame, face plateaus with resilience, and develop a much sharper, more technical game.3 Key TakeawaysThe "Opponent-Centric" Trap: Most white and blue belts formulate their technical questions around what an opponent is doing to them, effectively giving away their ownership of the problem.Shift to Extreme Ownership: Shifting to an internal locus of control means asking how your specific positioning, timing, or lack of secondary threats allowed the opponent to succeed.Wrestle Back the Initiative: Aggressive rollers, such as wrestlers and military personnel, often impose their own internal game plans without worrying about what you are throwing at them—forcing you to either respond or get put on your back foot.Chapters & Timestamps00:00 - Introduction to the Locus of Control | Discovering the psychological roots of Rotter's 1966 concept.00:46 - Formulating the Problem in Jiu-Jitsu | Why most rolling questions inherently place blame on the opponent.01:31 - Reframing Your Questions | Analyzing the crucial structural differences between external and internal questions.02:44 - Corporate Analogy: Accountability vs. Blame | How missing a deadline at work reflects the way we handle mistakes on the mat.04:12 - Breaking Down the Details of an Escape | Moving past vague questions and looking closely at multi-layered decision trees.05:14 - The Natural Shift Over Time | How your mindset transitions from entirely outward to highly internal as you spend years in the sport.06:17 - Rolling with Ultra-Aggressive Partners | Learning from wrestlers and military rollers who stay 100% committed to their actions.Are You You New To The Podcast? Start Here!👉DFM Coaching Patreon PageEverything here is pulled from real mats, real classes, and real conversations about what actually works. Choose the tier that fits where you are right now.👉DFM Coaching In Person and Remote CoachingDFM Coaching works with recreational grapplers who want to get better and actually feel it. Remote coaching and in person seminars available.👉 DFM Coaching | BjjDFM Coaching Skool CommunityJoin the free DFM Coaching Skool Community, the space where the conversation continues after the episode ends. Mindset tools, mat culture, and a community of grapplers who take the mental side seriously.👉 DFM Coaching | Bjj Skool Community.Stay Connected🌐 www.DFMCoachingBjj.com📸 Instagram @DFMCoaching.Bjj▶️ YouTube @DFM2099DFM Coaching | Bjj Blog:Long-form storytelling, deep strategy, and the philosophy behind the fight:🌐 DFM Coaching Substack BlogAffiliate PartnerBJJ Mental Models has one of the deepest conceptual Jiu-Jitsu libraries out there. I use it. I recommend it.👉 Join BJJ Mental Models+(Code: FIGUEROAMARTINEZ)Help the Show GrowIf this episode gave you something, pass it on. Share it with a training partner, drop a review, or repost it to your story. That is how we keep the signal strong.Stay tapped in,David Figueroa-MartinezFounder, DFM Coaching BjjMentioned in this episode:Patreon Ad
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    20 mins
  • E183 | Locus of Control in BJJ: Shifting Your Mindset for Success

    E183 | Locus of Control in BJJ: Shifting Your Mindset for Success
    Jun 25 2026
    Are You You New To The Podcast? Start Here!About the EpisodeIn this episode, we dive into the psychological concept of the "locus of control" and explore how it directly impacts your BJJ journey, especially during difficult rounds. Developed by Julian Rotter in 1966, this concept examines whether you believe your life outcomes are driven by internal actions or external forces. We break down why standard student questions are heavily centered on what the opponent is doing rather than personal mechanics. By taking extreme ownership of your mistakes—and changing the way you frame your questions—you can move away from outward blame, face plateaus with resilience, and develop a much sharper, more technical game.3 Key TakeawaysThe "Opponent-Centric" Trap: Most white and blue belts formulate their technical questions around what an opponent is doing to them, effectively giving away their ownership of the problem.Shift to Extreme Ownership: Shifting to an internal locus of control means asking how your specific positioning, timing, or lack of secondary threats allowed the opponent to succeed.Wrestle Back the Initiative: Aggressive rollers, such as wrestlers and military personnel, often impose their own internal game plans without worrying about what you are throwing at them—forcing you to either respond or get put on your back foot.Chapters & Timestamps00:00 - Introduction to the Locus of Control | Discovering the psychological roots of Rotter's 1966 concept.00:46 - Formulating the Problem in Jiu-Jitsu | Why most rolling questions inherently place blame on the opponent.01:31 - Reframing Your Questions | Analyzing the crucial structural differences between external and internal questions.02:44 - Corporate Analogy: Accountability vs. Blame | How missing a deadline at work reflects the way we handle mistakes on the mat.04:12 - Breaking Down the Details of an Escape | Moving past vague questions and looking closely at multi-layered decision trees.05:14 - The Natural Shift Over Time | How your mindset transitions from entirely outward to highly internal as you spend years in the sport.06:17 - Rolling with Ultra-Aggressive Partners | Learning from wrestlers and military rollers who stay 100% committed to their actions.👉DFM Coaching Patreon PageEverything here is pulled from real mats, real classes, and real conversations about what actually works. Choose the tier that fits where you are right now.👉DFM Coaching In Person and Remote CoachingDFM Coaching works with recreational grapplers who want to get better and actually feel it. Remote coaching and in person seminars available.👉 DFM Coaching | BjjDFM Coaching Skool CommunityJoin the free DFM Coaching Skool Community, the space where the conversation continues after the episode ends. Mindset tools, mat culture, and a community of grapplers who take the mental side seriously.👉 DFM Coaching | Bjj Skool Community.Stay Connected🌐 www.DFMCoachingBjj.com📸 Instagram @DFMCoaching.Bjj▶️ YouTube @DFM2099DFM Coaching | Bjj Blog:Long-form storytelling, deep strategy, and the philosophy behind the fight:🌐 DFM Coaching Substack BlogAffiliate PartnerBJJ Mental Models has one of the deepest conceptual Jiu-Jitsu libraries out there. I use it. I recommend it.👉 Join BJJ Mental Models+(Code: FIGUEROAMARTINEZ)Help the Show GrowIf this episode gave you something, pass it on. Share it with a training partner, drop a review, or repost it to your story. That is how we keep the signal strong.Stay tapped in,David Figueroa-MartinezFounder, DFM Coaching BjjMentioned in this episode:Patreon Ad
    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
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