When You Realize You Didn't Know How To Fight

"That's when I realized, I didn't know how to fight." Professor Joey Alvarado has dedicated a lifetime to martial arts. He is a former MMA fighter and Cage of Fire lightweight champion. He holds a black belt in Hapkido, Taekwondo, and a 3rd degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt as well as a brown belt in Kuk Sool. He teaches Brazilian jiu-jitsu (gi and no-gi) and kettlejitsu classes at Legacy Burbank in Burbank, California. He came to BJJ the long way: years of Korean martial arts, one night that exposed what they did not cover, and a search for the ground that ran through VHS tapes before it reached the Machados in Los Angeles. He fought professional MMA for seven years, when California fighters still crossed into Mexico to compete, and explains how fighting without a coach shaped the way he coaches. On class structure, etiquette, and ecological training, his position is that the old format still works. On nogi: why wrestling is now required, what the no-points format costs spectators, and whether shorter matches could make the gi watchable. And the origin of Kettle Jitsu, the kettlebell system he built at his first gym. Recorded at Legacy Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Headquarters in Burbank California. Guest: Professor Joey Alvarado Academy: Legacy BJJ, Burbank, California Website: www.legacybjj.com ⁨@kettlejitsu71⁩ ABOUT GRAPPLING MONTHLY Grappling Monthly is an independent editorial media brand covering the culture, people, and business of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the grappling arts. Based in Los Angeles, the brand produces in-depth conversations with the coaches, gym owners, competitors, and practitioners shaping the sport. The Grappling Monthly Podcast is the flagship property. A weekly long-form interview series hosted by Sébastien Maniatopoulos, a BJJ black belt establishing roots in the Southern California grappling community. The brand's editorial focus is on the human stories behind the art: how academies are built, how practitioners evolve, how the culture of jiu-jitsu intersects with identity, business, and community. Grappling Monthly publishes across YouTube, Instagram, Substack, and major podcast platforms. Subscribe and turn on notifications. IG and TikTok: @grapplingmonthly For sponsorships and collaborations: grapplingmonthly@gmail.com #jiujitsu #martialarts #blackbelt #bjj #kettlejitsu