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Raf's Recollection | Coming soon, more about our installment of Over/Under Kevin for UFC 177 with Todd Levin (seen here during happier times with his mohawk)!
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Raf's Recollection | 
Karl Penn is our kind of idiot.
Well, jiu-jidiot to be precise.
In a short amount of time, Karl has made a name for himself as the guy behind some of the funniest jiu-jitsu memes hitting the net.
We've had the pleasure of getting name checked in a couple of his memes as of recently (including the one to the right-hand side here, pronouncing his appearance on this week's show), so we wanted to return the favor by having him on the show.
If you haven't seen some of his work, allow us to share a few of our favorites:
And my current favorite...
On this week's episode, we find a little bit about Karl's jiu-jitsu evolution, what he did before BJJ, and even get him to explain a few of his most recent status updates.
We love supporting folks like Karl who help put a smile on our face in this crazy world of BJJ. For a sport that can sometimes take itself a little too seriously, we love having an ally like Karl Penn who gets that a simple meme can help us make sense of the more ridiculous aspects of BJJ.
Be sure to follow Karl and his facebook page, Jiu Jidiots, and tell 'em your friends at Verbal Tap sent ya.
Where'd I Train This Week?
I made a stop over to train with the guys over at The Warrior's Club this week.
As some of you may recall, our pal Jim Lawson publicly put me on blast on last week's podcast and told me a beating was in in the foreseeable future.
He was certainly right.
A beating did happen, just not at my expense. As the picture on the right demonstrates, Jim may have pushed this white belt a little too far.
That aside, Jim teaches a really cool class, helping me lay a strong foundation for my footlock game (don't worry, I can't do any of it remotely well, so you're all safe for the time being).
What I appreciate was that as I struggled to grasp the proper grips and technique, Jim really made an effort to make sure I understood the concepts (even going as far as to blame himself for me not getting the techniques right). I assured him it's my general stupidity (or jiu-jitsu dyslexia I've diagnosed myself with that renders me incapable of even the simplest of BJJ moves), but I sincerely appreciated his efforts to go above and beyond helping me better understand the techniques of the day.
Those are the kinds of instructors you want in your corner, the people who make it their mission to make you better (and feel like they're letting you down if you don't quite get it). I can assure Jim that his help is greatly appreciated and will one day pay off.
Great rolls and fun times. I look forward to giving Jim his well-deserved rematch any time he likes, but let this be a lesson to all: it's not polite to call out your podcast host.
They might get angry.
You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.
... or hungry. Now that I think about it, that's probably worse: hangry.
Nonetheless, my thanks to all the good people at The Warrior's Club and I look forward to getting beat up by you all again sometime soon.
Oh and BTW
If you haven't watched it yet, please go check out the first technique video from your pals here at Verbal Tap. That's right. Our pal Travis Conley identifies a problem in my current game. Please feel free to like and share, and let us know if you want to see more of these in the future!
Let us know what you thought about this week's episode on our social media:
Facebook: /VerbalTapCast
Twitter: @VerbalTapCast
Instagram: @VerbalTapCast
Vine: @VerbalTapCast
Until next time, folks!
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Raf's Recollection | Following in the lead of our most popular episode ever (our Metamoris 3 recap, Episode 66), we enlisted the services of a host of guests who know far more about the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu than we do to help us review all things Metamoris 4.
That's right, we cover it all: the shocks, the surprises, the missing championship belts, the streaks that came to a halting end, the "secret match" that was hardly a secret to anyone, the fashion, the beards, the Nevada Athletic Commission, the drum circles critiques. It's ALL here!
Also, how have we not discussed the official promo poster to the right here looking like the worst direct-to-Redbox movie cover to ever hit the scene (are they athletes or aliens)?
But I digress, let's carry on:
Allow me to introduce you to our all-star panel for this episode:
Amechi Akpom - Our brotha from the mighty BJJ Training Journal ap (now available for droid users!) kicks things off for us with his review of the high caliber match between Garry Lee Tonon and Kit Dale. Not only was Amechi there to see the event live, but he also got the chance to run into Kit and Garry later that evening post-match (because that's the kind of in-depth reporting Amechi brings to this podcast). Amechi tells us a little bit about the behind-the-scenes action and breaks down how he saw this fast paced match.
Jim Lawson - Now I hear you asking, "Hey Raf, why would you put a rival BJJ podcast host on your show?" And I'd tell you the answer is simple: he threatened me. Yep, literally called me out to come train with him and I've yet to do so (I've been busy, lay off). Nonetheless, Jim from the amazing The Warrior's Club podcast brings a true black belt perspective in helping us break down the match between Saulo Ribeiro and Rodrigo "Comprido" Medeiros. And although he's a "rival" podcaster in this crazy saturated world of BJJ chat shows, we here couldn't be happier The Warrior's Club is back on air.
Brandon Mccaghren - Since the day we stumbled upon the guy behind the hilarious "I Dominated Eddie (The Gracie Filter)" show, Brandon has become a beloved staple here at the podcast. His giant goofball nature has fit in perfectly with us and we were stoked when he agreed to talk about the epic encounter between Keenan Cornelius and Vinny Magalhaes. But that's not all, Brandon pulled double duty for the podcast this week when he premiered the very first song written about our show (that's right, we have a song written about us!). Not since the days of Eagle Eye Cherry have I heard lyrics and guitar work that poignant. Thank you, Brandon. Thank. You.
Eric Medina - Eric made his Verbal Tap debut on our last Metamoris recap show and gave us some great insight into Eddie Bravo's training regimen. This time he ups the ante as he gives us a play-by-play account of how he figured out the highly guarded Metamoris 4 "secret match (well, most of it)," then talks about the crazy exhibition put on by Baret Yoshida and Jeff Glover. We are also stoked to hear that Eric will be participating at the next Eddie Bravo Invitational and look forward to seeing him do his thing on that stage again.
Brent Burniston - 
If you've been listening to the podcast lately, you've likely heard me speak about the excellent experiences I've had training with Brent and his crew over at SubconsciousBJJ. With the historic result of the match between Josh Barnett and Dean Lister, we needed the kind of expertise and analysis that only a Jean Jacques Machado black belt can provide. Brent not only does a great job breaking down the match, but also gives us some much-needed perspective on what's next for bothBarnett and Lister. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Brent's instruction is top notch. There's a reason why everyone at my viewing party turned to him to help make sense of this match. Lucky for us, he was happy to give that same analysis and insight for the podcast.
John Evans - It's not a true Metamoris review show without John Evans. There's a reason why John Evans is one of the most popular guests on our podcast. His love of jiu-jitsu is infectious. One only needs to watch a few minutes of his detailed insight on his BJJ Breakdown youtube page to really see how much jiu-jitsu and the practice of teaching the art are in his soul. Which is why we asked John to help us break down the final match between Andre Galvao and Chael Sonnen. We talk about what surprised him in the match, the drama leading up to it all, and even break down the hilarious promo that left many of us cheering for Chael (even if we didn't really understand what the hell any of it actually meant).
Metamoris cards always bring the best out of us here on the podcast and that is due in great part to our panel. I want to thank these guys for taking their time to walk us through a great event and can't wait to hear what you all think about it.
Hit us up folks. You know the places to give us feedback.
Facebook: /VerbalTapCast
Twitter: @VerbalTapCast
Instagram: @VerbalTapCast
Vine: @VerbalTapCast
And stay on the lookout for a new installment of our Around the Mat YouTube series. Word has it, we've got a Metamoris 4 Review show that's worth your time. Look for it over on our YouTube page right here in the next few days.
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Raf's Recollection | More about our conversation with our pal Mike Jasper coming soon!
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Raf's Recollection | Coming soon, more about our podcast with Tim Means and our review of UFC on FOX 12.
Plus, I talk a little bit about what it was like to interview Rickson Gracie earlier this week and we chat about training at Subconscious BJJ with Brent Burniston again!
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Raf's Recollection | Joey Diaz is a real motherfucker.
There's an old adage that says "never meet your heroes." The saying implies that you'll only set yourself up for disappointment when you finally meet the person you admire.
In entertainment, that saying consistently true. But not with Joey Coco Diaz.
I've always been a fan of his style of comedy and over the past year I've had the pleasure of getting to know Joey as both a stand up comic and a BJJ training partner.
On stage or on his podcast (The Church of What's Happening Now), Joey is ferocious, uncensored. A beast. He has this great old school energy that is severely lacking in this PC sensitive world.
Off stage, Joey is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. The dude's selfless and has gone out of his way to do nice things for his friends on numerous occasions. He's offered to do my talk show, he did this podcast, and he even offered to help me out with a new project that I'll be sharing with you all very soon.
On the podcast this week, we ask Joey about his training in BJJ, why MMA audiences gravitate toward his sense of humor, and get some fun stories about his time working with Robert DeNiro in the movie Grudge Match.
It's a great conversation that is truly an extension of the great vibe that Joey brings to my gym, Valley Martial Arts Center. And I can honestly say that our gym is all the better having him there. Our thanks to Joey D. for one of our favorite conversations.
Subconscious Jiu-Jitsu
Last week, I had the chance to train over at Subconscious Jiu-Jitsu over in North Hollywood. Friend of the podcast Brent Burniston teaches a hell of a class.
At the end of the podcast, I talk a little bit about what it was like to watch an instructor teach the counter to one of your go-to's (and love every second of it).
I was stoked to finally get to train there and I look forward to visiting Brent's academy sometime soon again!
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Raf's Recollection |"If anybody else would have called me and asked me to do an interview tonight I woulda told them to go fuck themselves."
Kind words from our pal Cody Bollinger who returns to guest on the podcast this week.
You don't get much better than that folks.
It's been a crazy past couple of weeks here at the podcast: We've had over a dozen of the people who have dropped in as guests fight on cards all throughout the world of MMA. We're happy to say a number of our friends walked away with major victories.
One of those victories happened to come from Cody Bollinger who won with a truly sick rear naked choke a couple weekends ago at the World Series of Fighting 11.
Naturally we wanted to hear all about the technique, the drama building up to the fight, the aftermath. All that good stuff.
We also wanted to hear straight from the horses' mouth why he missed weight and if the rumors of him going up to fight at 145 were true (he answers plainly and honestly).
But what we didn't expect was to hear is what he's been up to in his spare time.
No seriously, it's amazing. And we're stoked Cody chose our podcast to share it with.
Be sure to listen in to his segment of the podcast and follow him over on his Twitter and his Instagram. Let him know what you think of his appearance on our show!
I've Been Everywhere
Last week was a busy one. I hit up three different gyms and was stoked I finally got to train with some of our friends here at the podcast (including our buddies Jaime Gonzalves from BJJ Rants and Brandon Mccaghren).
I talk about what it was like to visit at Higher Ground Jiu-JItsu in Rowland Heights, 10th Planet Headquarters (TapOut Gym, LA) under Eddie Bravo, and Cobrinha's in Hollywood.
I've been pretty fortunate the past few weeks to get to train with a series of folks who have given me some great tips. All of these gyms have been really kind and friendly, and it's been a blast to even chat with some of the folks at these gyms who are fans of our show (it's insane)!
As the summer winds down to a close, I'm open to the suggestions any of you might have for me to drop in here in Southern California.
Thank of it as a free way to beat me up.
So have at, suggest away folks.
But for now, please enjoy this funny (/silly) video I shot with our pals over at Higher Ground Jiu Jitsu.
Later on for now, folks.
Raf's Recollection | When it comes to birthdays, I'm really just a simple guy. All I need are some good friends, some great company, and a fantastic seminar hosted by one of the most decorated BJJ practitioners in the greater United States.
Is that too much to ask?
Fortunately this year, one of my best presents came in the gift of a fantastic seminar hosted by our pal, Rafael Lovato Jr. (ya know, that other Rafael who happens to do jiu-jitsu).
When I discovered that Rafael would be in Las Vegas the same weekend I would be in town, I couldn't think of any better way to mark the birthday than learning some new pressure passing techniques.
While I've been fortunate enough to get to see Rafael compete, I've never had the opportunity to watch how he teaches the art. We've heard so many great things from his students and fellow BJJ practitioners over the years, it was truly a pleasure to watch him break down the subtlest intricacies of his strong ground game.
On Saturday, June 28th, I headed on over to Cobra Kai (http://www.ckjj.com/) to absorb as much as I could from Professor Lovato. I've long been a fan of his game and have been eager to try and implement some of the techniques I've seen him post on his website (lovatojr.com), his matches or even the cool things I've seen him teach on some of his online seminars.
The only problem being: I roll nothing like him.
Whereas Lovato is one to push the action, my game is a lot more reactionary. While he's known for his offense, my greatest skill (at present) is my defense. And while he is tall and lanky, I roll at an average height and weight. Knowing these differences up front, I walked into the seminar hoping to make some slight adjustments to my arsenal and hear him discuss the finer parts of his technique.
I was not disappointed.
What you find instantly at a Rafael Lovato Jr. seminar is the scope and breadth of the techniques. There were four concentrated areas that were detailed, drilled, and demonstrated at the seminar (that can chain together quite nicely).
And while I can tell you that the seminar included tips for side control, half-guard passing, and finishes from the mount, it would fail to properly describe the impressive array of instruction and options presented for each of those areas.
It's the small things, the details that make so many of the techniques that Rafael does so unique. With Rafael, there's a strong love for the basics with an appreciation and acknowledgement of the modern game.
After the seminar I got the chance to witness Rafael roll with some of Cobra Kai's upper belts and watch as he practiced the very jiu-jitsu he preached during the seminar. It was a refreshing supplement to the instruction that showed what can happen with a mastery of each minute correction (you can check out footage from that roll on the video up top).
Post-roll, I got the chance to catch up with Rafael (video embedded up top) and ask him about his plans for MMA, the rationale and impact of his Save Jiu-Jitsu podcast (listen to it obviously after you listen to the latest episodes of Verbal Tap), and even got him to play a 2 Minute Drill lightning round game with us.
I also got the chance to speak with Cobra Kai owner, Sim Go, about the seminar, the origin of his gym's bad ass name, and about what killers we need to be on the lookout from Cobra Kai.
Overall, Rafael teaches a mean seminar and the nice folks over at Cobra Kai are a great set of people to roll with. A week removed and I'm still working to implement the exact notes Rafael gave all of us into my game. I'm a slow learner (even slower implementer), but I like having a better understanding of the concepts behind the moves, as well as an appreciation for a game that—while I can't exactly emulate right now—can potentially be implemented into my arsenal with the proper practice and patience.
My thanks to all for a great seminar and experience, and the best way I could have possibly spent a birthday.
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Raf's Recollection | Coming soon, more about our STACKED episode with Dhiego Lima, Eric Jackman, and LC Davis.
And also I explain why a series of wasps outside of my place ruined a day of BJJ.
Yep, you'll want to come back for all that and more folks.
Until then, give the podcast above a listen!
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Raf's Recollection | I want everyone to look at the photo of Eric Jackman over on the right hand side of this page.
What look do you see?
Do you see the look of a stone cold killer, here to bring an end to the one win streak of Kevin's Over/Under Kevin miracle win? Or do you see a deer-in-the-headlights realizing he's in way over his head?
Aside from being a phenomenal rorschach test, our pal Eric provides a true challenge to Kevin. As the main prediction guy over at the MMA Hour, the guy knows a thing or two about being accountable when it comes to picking who will win or lose a fight.
Which is why it only made sense to bring him on our podcast to basically crush Kevin's dreams.
But the question is: does Eric go straight for the kill or does he let Kevin think he actually has a chance?
Only time will tell.
We outline the prospects for not only this weekend's huge UFC 175 card, but we also take a look at this weekend's mercy-killing finale to the "season of boring" Ultimate Fighter.
Speaking of, we've got not just one, but TWO "1 Minute Reviews" of the past two episodes of The Ultimate Fighter to bring you up to speed on a show you probably haven't been watching.
So quick, come get your fix of my BJ Penn impression before Dana White likely makes him try to retire this Sunday night!
Until then fight fans!
[buzzsprout episode='184662' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | Coming soon!
[buzzsprout episode='182765' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | Kevin, bless his heart, has no idea how the World Cup even remotely works. And for whatever reason, he thought it'd be a great idea to open up this episode of Verbal Tap by asking what MMA fighters would make for a great World Cup team.
Even worse, he gave me this prompt seconds before we started recording.
You can't do that to a lifelong soccer fan. It's just outright cruel.
Nonetheless, that's not the entire episode. We catch you up on (most) of the events from UFC 174 and find out who won this week's installment of "Over/Under Kevin."
Give a listen here and let us know what you think of it, folks!
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Raf's Recollection | On the podcast this week: Amechi Akpom and Dream Jiu-Jitsu’s Baddest Brown winner Brian Carlsen.
But first, let me just start by saying, I’ve ingested a lot of jiu-jitsu this week. And by a lot, I mean, even more than the ridiculous average I normally ingest in a given week.
My weekend started with a fantastic seminar conducted by my pal (and former Verbal Tap guest) Travis Conley last Saturday afternoon. Kev has spoken so highly of his friend Travis for so long that any time I’ve asked what it’s like to train with him, Kev merely lets out an exhausted sigh and mutters “…rough.”
At his own BJJ home base in Virginia (BJJ and MMA Academy), Kev is surrounded by a set of friendly, but competitive killers. And as someone who is no averse to an aggressive style of sparring, his recommendations are highly respected.
So there was little doubt in my mind Travis would bring a certain kind of game to a seminar.
And the man did not disappoint.
Travis’ style is heavy. It’s pressure filled, it’s intense, and controlled all at the same time (kind of the exact opposite of my own style I bring to the table)—which is all the more reason I wanted to see him at work. I like learning from people who challenge me to venture outside of my comfort zone.
But there’s more than just the element of smash that Travis brings to his seminar instruction, it’s an impressive ability to adapt to the needs of his individual students.
We had a wonderful spectrum of folks at the seminar whose skill levels were varied (ranging from experienced BJJ practitioners to my buddy, Ross Ellis, who was there to try out jiu-jitsu for the very first time) and Travis did an excellent job of making sure each student walked out with more than just a choke or a guard pass, but that every person in attendance left with something to improve their individual game.
That’s a tough thing to do.
We want to send a very sincere thank you to Travis for taking the time to stop by The World Famous Gracie Barra Encino to conduct a truly one-of-a-kind seminar. We also want to send a big shout out to the homie, Marcus Kowal, for playing host and being so welcoming with his establishment.
And our biggest thanks go out to the great people who came to join us. Many of the folks in attendance are friends of the podcast and their support was a wonderful reminder of the excellent company we keep here at the podcast. And to our new friends: I look forward to training with you beasts again sometime soon!
Superbad
The day after the seminar I got the chance to work Media for Dream Jiu-Jitsu’s Baddest Brown tournament.
For those not in the know, Dream Jiu-Jitsu is leading the charge of alternatives for BJJ junkies who are seeking more just out-advanting-ing or point-ing their opponents. This California-based organization has quickly made a name for itself by providing athletes with a series of tournaments that feature creative and innovative stipulations.
The main attraction of last Saturday’s tournament: a 32 man, brown belt invitational that’s no time-limit and submission-only. The catch? Competitors flip a coin before each round to determine if they will compete in either gi or no gi competition.
Crazy, right?
So it was no surprise when I found out that Travis was contacted to be a part of this group.
I was fortunate enough to interview all 32 participants in the competition and found myself immersed in their backstories (in the coming days, we’ll be posting some of the fun interviews we conducted at the tournament). Each of these killers seemed excited and motivated to be a part of tournament that wouldn’t be left in the hands of a ref or lost by a sweep in the last thirty seconds. And the thrill of shifting gears between gi and no gi proved to be a great catalyst for their excitement.
Among the interviews, I had the pleasure of meeting Brian Carlsen (from http://eastonbjj.com)—a mild mannered, self-described nerd who’s spent the better half of the past year competing at tournaments every other weekend. Carlsen’s upbeat attitude and easy-going attitude made him a breeze to interview (I mean, he shouted out his grandma and grandpa during my pre-interview with him, how can you hate the guy?).
And while I was not surprised to see him win the entire tournament—having had a front row seat to the grueling wars between highly skilled BJJ competitors that were all around—I was keenly aware of the degree of difficulty involved in each of those hard fought wins.
I was thrilled he agreed to come on the podcast to talk about his experience. On here, he talks about the tough mental stamina used to win the tournament, the caliber of his competition, and then Brian describes the hero’s welcome he received when he got back to his training partners back at Easton BJJ.
On a personal note, I was truly inspired by the dedication and resolve demonstrated by each of the guys in the 32 man invitational. In getting to know many of them and their backstories, you really got a sense for their love of sport. It’s my hope to be able to relay their narratives, as thanks from the wonderful technique, heart, and soul they left on those mats.
I learned so many things from them all and can’t wait to butcher all of their technique back at my gym.
But Wait There’s More…
Our pal, BJJ Training Journal’s (BJJTrainingJournal.com), Amechi Akpom, returns to the podcast to take on Kevin on another thrilling installment of Over/Under Kevin for UFC 174. Listen in to find out if Kevin will remain undefeated at losing, or if Amechi will be the first person to lose to my slow-witted co-host.
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Raf's Recollection | What do you do when your co-host is unavailable during a week when you have an interview with Stuart Cooper and need to review what took place at this year's Worlds?
Well, naturally you carry on without the guy and replace him.
J/Ks everyone.
Don't worry, Kev isn't going anywhere. He just was out of town for the week (and will be back with us next week).
In the meantime: We landed a whale of an interview with Stu (We've been truly anxious to hear about his legendary filmmaking process for some time now).
If for some reason you're unfamiliar with Stuart Cooper, you would be well served to check out the documentary about him below.
And if that's not enough to help you understand the the man behind the camera, why not take a look at a few samples of his work.
We've had the pleasure of being in contact with Stuart Cooper for some time now, but we've long been fans of his work.
His documentaries do a superb job of filling in the metaphorical and narrative ellipses for the avid BJJ enthusiast. The stories behind many of our favorite BJJ athletes often extend further than what we see on the mats during tournaments. When you watch a Stuart Cooper film, you get more than just why a match or a tournament is important. We get a rare insight into the philosophy, the psyche, and even the small nuances of the fighter's personal lives (try telling me any two Stuart Cooper documentaries are alike).
For me, his films aren't just comparable to quality found on the big budget, fight countdown shows (similar to the ones produced for the UFC and Bellator), the creativity exhibited in many of these vignettes stand up against a number of documentaries period. They strive for uniqueness in an industry where narratives are often uniform and bland.
On the podcast, we talk about his filmmaking process, some of the crazier experiences he's faced, and his new Indiegogo campaign he's mounted (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stuart-cooper-films) to help off-set the costs of making these films.
While the notion of traveling around the world, training BJJ, and making films sounds like a dream, the cost of making multiple, high quality videos on a regular basis basis is anything but glamorous. As a man who's portfolio has been a free and open book for the past several years (and who's films have often showcased the sport in an entirely different light), we highly implore you to donate to his Indiegogo.
Believe us, we know no one likes taking out their wallet when they don't have to. But the breakdown of his production costs is a mere fraction of what other places would charge for a comparable product-- and a loss of films like his would be a huge setback for a sport we all love.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stuart-cooper-films
Verbal Tap Goes to Worlds
This was my first time attending a Worlds competition. While I've been a number of tournaments over the past year and a half, I learned a lot from my experience down in Long Beach last week.
For example, Worlds is loud (http://instagram.com/p/oorT9Wj6rD/).
And there's a lot of matches that happen all at once.
(#TwoEyesTwelveMats was a personal favorite hashtag to use).
And it's a lot to take in all at once.
But it was a great experience and I got to see a ton of great matches and friends.
(I didn't get the chance to mention it on the podcast, but I really do believe this: Much in the same way they have warm up mats for the competitors, they should also have mats designated just for spectators who want to start drilling something they learned and thought was cool during the competition.
Hell, I should get some perk for my spectator fee, right?).
But, I did go at it alone. I had back up at the event to help me better understand all of the action taking place.
Yep, that's right. Our good pal, BJJ Breakdown's John Evans (seen in the accompanying picture looking more bad ass than ever thanks to me, #streetcred) was there to help explain all of the moves that blew my mind.
John not only covered the event with me, but he also shows up on this podcast to walk us through some of the highlights.
All this plus we get in a One Minute Review of The Ultimate Fighter (!!!).
What are you waiting for, listen in now!
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Raf's Recollection | More about our interview with Josh Clark and our review of "Over/Under Kevin" with Brandon McCaghren coming soon.
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Raf's Recollection | Coming soon: More on this awesome episode with TUF 19 cast member Dhiego Lima (who sits in for our "One Minute Review," our awesome conversation with MMA Roasted's Adam Hunter, and we play a game of Over/Under Kevin for UFC 173 with one of our favorite guests.
Until then, download the episode and let us know what you think!
[buzzsprout episode='173473' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | When we heard that Kit Dale was going to start a podcast, we wasted no time in bringing him on our show to ask him directly why he hates us so much.
Because, as someone who wins the BJJ internet on a regular basis, he has absolutely no reason to make the rest of us look so bad in podcast form as well (I know, dick move, right?).
Nonetheless, despite our plead for him to do otherwise, it looks like we will soon be privy to a podcast by the man the the undisputed best beard in jiu-jitsu.
On our show this week, Kit gives us a rough outline of what we can expect on his own show and assures us there is plenty of room for people who tell dumb jokes in the sport (we'll see about that).
We also chat a little bit about what exactly went down at Pans (ya know, that time where he was in the states to compete but "forgot to register"), we give him time explain what hell his thing is against drilling, and allow him the opportunity to address his internet beef with #HeSoHotRightNow, Keenan Cornelius (if you ask me, their internet beef takes me back to the days of the East Coast/West Coast rap wars... ya know, just minus the massive drive by shootings and whatnot).
Additionally, Kit Dale talks about his new school, how his silly videos come together, and he tries to convince us that he's trying to pave a new way for the lazy jiu-jitsu practitioner (again, not buying it, if you listen to him, you'll find he's not that lazy).
What I've always liked about Kit is this: When you're around comics or people who are funny on a regular basis, you find they don't tend to laugh at other comedians' jokes. Be it insecurity or competitiveness, there's often a game of one-up's-manship that prevents some funny people from laughing at other people's stuff. When you're around Kit, not only does he know how to tell a mean joke, but he's also the first to laugh at someone else's. You see it on the internet when he interacts with people on threads (or even when he heartily laughs at whatever photoshopped creations his fans have left at his virtual doorstep), the guy's got a great sense of humor and has contributed some much needed comic relief to the jiu-jitsu community.
And, as advertised, what you see is what you get: Kit's more than happy to talk nonsense, but he's also not afraid to get serious when it comes to talking about jiu-jitsu. Hearing a long-form explanation of his take on drilling and hearing what a class of his feels like sounds like a cool alternative. I, for one, would definitely be interested to take one of his classes just to see what it's like in action.
So yeah, we'd love to get your feedback on this episode, gang. And be sure to let us know what you think of the enigma that is Kit Dale.
But Wait, There's More
On this episode, we've also got another installment of our One Minute Review of The Ultimate Fighter. AND we did something we've never done before.
As a means of celebrating our 200th Facebook like, we invited "Mr. 200" himself, our pal Zac Calhoun, to have 200 seconds of uninterrupted airtime.
That's right, thems the kinds of perks we offer to our major milestones, kids. And we think we might be doing it again.
So be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram (@VerbalTapCast, for all of them) for your chance to get some airtime on our show.
And what did Mr. Calhoun use his 200 seconds to speak about? Well, I don't want to give anything away, but the photo above might be a good hint.
All we got for now. Smoke 'em, if you got 'em, folks.
[buzzsprout episode='171680' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | ... is on hiatus this week. Been a busy week, but you definitely want to tune into this week's MMA Summer Preview Extravaganza, as we not only review all the major cards going down this summer, but also give you another thrilling installment of the 1 Minute Review.
Be back next week with a HUGE new guest folks :-)
[buzzsprout episode='170169' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | A day after appearing on our podcast and hearing the show, Brandon McCaghren, sent me a text saying, "don't ever try to sing my song ever again."
I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've laughed at that text this evening.
The song Brandon claims we butchered is new hit single, "I Dominated Eddie (The Gracie Filter)"--a gripping acoustic ode to the epic Metamoris 3 match between Royler Gracie and Eddie Bravo. It's a playful tribute to the epic match that took place at Metamoris, as well as some choice words said after the event. Most impressively, the breezy vocals and relaxed vibe could easily slip their way into a Jack Johnson discography.
Fans of our show, however, know from time to time Kev and I like to occasionally leave an Easter egg to close out the podcast. On this go round, we thought it might be fun to try and harmonize Brandon's single over Skype (which is surprisingly hard to do). It left such an impression, Brandon felt the need to channel his inner GSP and let us know he was not impressed with the caliber of our voices.
And he's right, there is no way we could ever do his song justice. I mean, just listen to it (and pay special close attention to the bridge).
The man has some serious pipes. Which is why we were stoked when he agreed to come on the podcast.
In addition to getting some great insight behind the song and the accompanying video that was produced for him, we talk a little bit with Brandon about his experience getting into jiu-jitsu, what Eddie Bravo thinks of the song, and talk about his great 10th Planet affiliate he has out in Decatur, AL.
Give his page a look and like and if you make it to the Alabama area, be sure to visit his gym.
Just don't sing the song to him as bad as we did :-)
Over/Under Kevin: UFC 172: Judgement Day
James D. Koh returns to the podcast to find out who last week's installment of Over/Under Kevin. And while I don't want to give anything away, the following photo might give you an idea of how the end result turned out.
Yep.
It was pretty rough.
But James sticks around to help us recap all the fights that took place at UFC 172 and then Kev and I discuss some of the #TakeAways from last Saturday night's #UFC card.
What's That? You miss the One Minute Review?
A new season of The Ultimate Fighter means it's time for the return of the 1 Minute Review. Yes, we hear you loud and clear folks. And boy do I have some impressions in store for you this season.
Let us know what you think of the review on Twitter (@VerbalTapCast) this week and immediately start following us on our new social media. That's right, bitches, we're on Instagram and Vine now. So feel free to follow along all of our hijinks.
Until next time, fight fans.
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Raf's Reflection | Coming soon more about our time with one of our favorite guests, James Koh.
Not only does take on Kevin in another thrilling installment of Over/Under Kevin: UFC 172 edition, but we also hear a little more about his new gig at the NFL Network.
So, come for the UFC analysis and stay for the repeated shots at Kev's ineptitude.
Also, be sure to follow James on his twitter over at @JamesDKoh