Welcome to Episode 21 of “Wash Your Gi,” the podcast that helps the hopeless progress in jiu-jitsu. Join coaches Grant and Jack as they sit down (in a slightly noisy coffee shop - apologies for slight background noise) with special guest, Professor Vanessa English.
Vanessa has earned multiple titles in both the European and World BJJ Championships and is also a passionate advocate for women’s participation in the sport.
In addition to her impressive competition record, she is a commentator for Polaris Grappling as well as Enyo Grappling and a long-time coach, giving her an extensive understanding of all aspects of jiu-jitsu (proven by the fact she holds the high score in the podcast quiz!).
In this episode, Vanessa shares her unique journey into Brazilian jiu-jitsu, beginning with her early experiences in traditional jiu-jitsu and capoeira. She discusses how she discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the competitive drive that fueled her, and her experiences in various competitions. Vanessa also talks about her transition from athlete to coach, offering insights into the challenges and rewards of teaching.
Listen in as Vanessa reflects on her favorite jiu-jitsu memories, the importance of mental health, and the growth of the sport in the UK.
Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned practitioner, there’s something for everyone in this episode. 
Follow Vanessa on Instagram here.
You can also check out Escapology BJJ here. 

Join us for an exciting episode (with coffee shop ASMR included free) as Wash Your Gi (minus Grant!) heads down for a weekend at the IBJJF London Fall Open, which some regard as the UK World Championships. In this episode, we each discuss our performances in our respective divisions and our very exciting results, including areas for improvement, the pros and cons, and the differences between competing at the IBJJF and local events, as well as the benefits of competition for jiu-jitsu practice.
Throughout the episode, we also explore the nuances of competing at different levels, the importance of having a layered training strategy, and the lessons learned from both victories and setbacks. We touch on the camaraderie among competitors, the emotional rollercoaster of competition day, rubbing shoulders with Roger Gracie and Adam Wardziński, and the mostly chicken-based post-event celebrations that follow.
Eddie picks up a new rival on the circuit, who was apparently half lion, has a near-cataclysmic wardrobe malfunction, but does finally manage to say "IBJJF" without twitching and smoke coming out of his ears.
Jack secures a significant result, and we also practice some newly learned Brazilian phrases. All this with a very special guest who also competed and joined us for the trip. Parou, parou, parou

Ever wondered how to improve your jiu jitsu game OFF the mat? This week, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Coach Dean Dyble of Hard Yard Training Systems from Implexus Gym in Leeds for a very insightful chat about motivation and mindset for BJJ, strength and conditioning for BJJ, and other great tips for those looking to improve their game off the mats.
Coach Dean has a wealth of experience coaching athletes from all disciplines and currently coaches our very own Purple Belt, Jack, with a view to improving his competitive ability and general fitness for BJJ.
You can check out Dean on his Instagram or website, and we look forward to getting your feedback on this one, as we all enjoyed recording it.
A massive thank you to Dean for joining us and reminding Eddie there are no shortcuts!
Check back next week for a competition episode ahead of Eddie’s and Jack’s trip to the London Fall IBJJF Open/Heavyweight World Championship.

We're here with first impressions! After the training session at 7 Jiu Jitsu and the introduction to ecological learning and the Constraints-Led Approach by Professor Gareth Murphy, we try to dissect the different learning approaches in jiu-jitsu and how they could impact someone learning the sport.
We look at some takeaways and potential ways to incorporate this learning style into regular jiu-jitsu training and also how to build on this approach for beginners. Listen out for the moments when you hear Eddie's brain crack at the concept.
Next week, we will be interviewing S&C coach Dean, so make sure you tune in!

Join us this week for an interesting and in depth discussion with Professor Gareth Murphy about his gym 7 Jiu Jitsu  based up in Middlesborough. 
We cover a range of topics, with a big focus on the 'Constraint Led Approach /CLA approach' to learning jiu jitsu. This includes a few key takehomes for all levels and also is food for thought when you're spending time rolling after your class. 
We end the interview on a few casual questions, including a great story of real life Jiu Jitsu from the professor.  
Following the podcast and interview we took the oppurtunity to attend an all levels no gi class, which went about as well as you'd expect for Eddie but saw Grant striding even deeper into his training. 
Thank you to Gaz and the rest of the team up at 7 for having us, it was a great experience and we've taken a lot from it. We will be back! 
Check them out: 
7 Jiu Jitsu Facebook
7 Jiu Jitsu Instagram 

In this fairly informal episode (due to last-minute changes in training plans), Eddie, Jack, and Grant talk about Gi vs. No-Gi training, plans for future competitions, and Grant's return to training after his surgery.
We also discuss what it means to 'Wrestle Up,' touch on kids buying drugs from SoundCloud, and make a startling discovery about the IBJJF Open in London.
Join us for another rambling episode of Wash Your Gi!.

It's Episode 15 time! 🎉 After a little summer break to recharge our batteries (and maybe our gis), we’re back with an episode that's packed with throws, thrills, and a few laughs. This time, we're joined by none other than the accomplished Judo...er? Judoist? Whatever you call it, he's the real deal—Coach Mikey! 🥋
In this episode, we take a deep dive into the fascinating history of judo, uncovering some surprising facts that might just blow your mind. We also discuss fungus for a short while!  (Seriously, Wash Your Gi and yourself, or maybe even burn it after every use?)
But that's not all! We tackle the age-old debate: judo or jiu-jitsu—which one reigns supreme? 🥇 And, for all you BJJ enthusiasts out there, Coach Mikey shares some killer tips on how to seamlessly incorporate judo into your jiu-jitsu game. Whether you're looking to perfect your throws or just avoid getting tossed, this episode has got you covered!

With us all heading off to our respective corners of the globe for a short period, Eddie and Jack wrap up what you might call 'Series 1' of Wash Your Gi—if you view this as a professional production anyway!
In this short episode, we talk about our plans for the next season, review how well Eddie's first year of Jiu-Jitsu has gone, and extract key lessons from this period.
Massive thank you to everyone who has made Eddie's jiu-jitsu journey something that has lasted a year and given us the stories, questions, and horrible lessons in sparring that we've spoken about. Also, shout out to Seth, as ever! And thank you to everyone who has listened, from Zimbabwe to Georgia. 
And here's to the next few years! (Or six months minimum/until no-gi leaves a bitter taste.)
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