Professor Yamasaki joins the show to discuss cross training, why BJJ won’t be in the Olympics, Women’s Jiu-Jitsu, take downs and building a kids program. He also tells the story of removing a drug dealer from a favela with the Brazilian Federal Police! Click “read more” for show notes! SHOW NOTES:

• His diverse experience in grappling
• Growing up in Sao Paulo, Brazil
• The relationship between Judo and Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil
• Being labeled a traitor in the 90’s
• Why BJJ will probably never be an Olympic sport
• How he crossed over from Judo to BJJ
• Marcelo Behring
• The types of people who did Jiu-Jitsu in the 80’s and 90’s
• Sexism and machismo that existed in BJJ previously
• Women’s Jiu-Jitsu today
• A comparison of Judo’s newaza and Jiu-Jitsu
• The evolution of Judo’s rules over time
• His intro to Wrestling and adapting to new grappling styles
• The benefits of cross training
• Take downs in BJJ
• Seeking take down skills if your school doesn’t offer it
• The Pummel
• Marcelo Behring’s brutal bamboo stick motivation
• Being demoted to Brown Belt
• Changes in Jiu-Jitsu once it got to the US
• Enjoying the journey
• Focusing on your own journey
• Losing his instructor Marcelo Behring
• Staying focused on the journey while mourning
• The value of lineage
• Working with the Brazilian Federal Police
• His favela special operation police story
• Bodyguarding for Brittany Spears
• The early days of being in the US
• The value of building a strong kids program
• How he approaches his son’s training
• The level of kids Jiu-Jitsu today
• Jiu-Jitsu’s future
• His goals