The Grappling Monthly Podcast

The Grappling Monthly Podcast travels to Pasadena as we sit with Professor Erik D. Cruz aka "Compella", owner and head instructor of 10th Planet Pasadena. 

Professor Compella is a third degree black belt under Eddie Bravo. He is an OG of the 10th planet system who has over two decades of experience on the mat training, competing and teaching jiu jitsu and MMA. A lifelong martial artist, in this episode we get to know professor Compella, how he was first exposed to jiu jitsu, what it is about the 10th planet system that attracted him.  We talk about the early days of submission-only tournaments such as the Eddie Bravo Invitational (EBI) and how the no gi grappling game has evolved, depending on the rulesets and the desire to deliver exciting displays of jiu jitsu, and much more! 

This episode was filmed on October 19, 2025 at 10th Planet Pasadena on 2333 Lake Ave, in Altadena CA. You can view the full episode with video on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@grapplingmonthly

For more information on the school, check out their website: https://www.10thplanetpasadena.com/ 

 

Grappling Monthly is a media platform dedicated to the people, culture, and business of the grappling arts. We produce original documentaries, podcasts, short- and long-form videos, and features that spotlight the global grappling community—from practitioners and coaches to creators, organizers, and entrepreneurs.

Driven by a passion for the arts, our goal is to engage everyone—from committed practitioners to curious fans—through stories that explore the realities, values, and voices shaping the grappling world today.

Our content reflects the spirit of the grappling arts through media that motivates growth, strengthens connection, and conveys the ingenuity, discipline, and shared commitment that define this community.

The Grappling Monthly Podcast stops by at Gracie Barra Montreal to visit 6th degree BJJ black belt and founder of GB Montreal, Professor Bruno Fernandes! Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, professor Bruno Fernandes is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Carlos Gracie Junior, a multiple time world champion and was the grappling coach of numerous jiu jitsu and mma fighters, including former UFC champion George Saint Pierre.

Professor Fernandes moved to Canada in 2005 to do a speciality course in ophthalmology and a PhD at the McGill University in Montreal, where he started coaching BJJ part time. He was ultimately invited to teach at the prestigious university and has called Canada his home since then.

In part 2 of this 2 part episode, we discuss:

• Getting older and staying healthy in Jiu Jitsu

• What is it about Gracie Barra?

• Building Gracie Barra Montreal and bridging two cultures

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to tune in to part 1 on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube www.youtube.com/@grapplingmonthly , subscribe so you never miss an episode and leave a comment! Let us know who you would like us to interview and visit next!

Grappling Monthly is dedicated to the people, culture, and business of the grappling arts. We produce original documentaries, podcasts, short- and long-form videos, and features that spotlight the global grappling community, from practitioners and coaches to creators, organizers, and entrepreneurs.

Our goal is to bring attention to the people of jiu jitsu and their stories and to explore the realities, values, and voices shaping the grappling world today.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:44 Getting to know Professor Bruno Fernandes

21:31 Rio de Janeiro, Jiu Jitsu & Surfing

32:00 How Jiu Jitsu can help tackle mental illness and suffering

51:17 Outro - Reminder to tune in to Part 2 on Oct.28

The Grappling Monthly Podcast stops by at Gracie Barra Montreal to visit 6th degree BJJ black belt and founder of GB Montreal, Professor Bruno Fernandes!

Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, professor Bruno Fernandes is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Carlos Gracie Junior, a multiple time world champion and was the grappling coach of numerous jiu jitsu and mma fighters, including former UFC champion George Saint Pierre.

Professor Fernandes moved to Canada in 2005 to do a speciality course in ophthalmology and a PhD at the McGill University in Montreal, where he started coaching BJJ part time. He was ultimately invited to teach at the prestigious university and has called Canada his home since then.

In part 1 of this 2 part episode, we discuss:

• Starting jiu jitsu at age 11 at the Gracie Academy on Rua Figueiredo Magalhães in Rio de Janeiro

• How Jiu-Jitsu evolved from self-defense to global sport

• Surfing, discipline, and longevity on and off the mats

• Building Gracie Barra Montreal and bridging two cultures

We hope you enjoy this episode! Stay tuned next week for Part 2!

Season 4 of The Grappling Monthly Podcast rolls on as we explore jiu jitsu in Las Vegas. On this episode we had the privilege of sitting with coach Casey Halstead of 10th Planet Las Vegas. 

Wisdom comes with experience. Thank you to @coachcasey10 of @10pvegas for sharing your knowledge and lessons learned with me for SE4 of The Grappling Monthly Podcast!

On this episode we get into:

🔥 Retiring from corporate America to pursue jiu jitsu
🔥 Building a school starting with culture 
🔥 Developing elite competitive talent
🔥 How to grow older in jiu jitsu 
 
And so much more.

Tune in on our YouTube channel for the full episode with video www.youtube.com/@grapplingmonthly

 

If you're new here, please subscribe to our channel, leave a comment! 

 

On August 26, 2025 I had the privilege of sitting with former ADCC absolute and IBJJF worlds champion professor Robert Drysdale in his home. Prof. Drysdale is an accomplished fighter, teacher, competitor, and historian who has dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence in jiu jitsu.

For prof. Drysdale, jitsu jitsu was a means to prove himself. An art he threw himself tirelessly into for decades. Now he also sees it as a responsibility to future generations to preserve the history of the art by documenting its inception, its evolution, and its proliferation to almost every corner of the globe. Robert has published 4 books on the history and modern state of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and continues to teach students and competitors in Las Vegas Nevada at his facility: Zenith Jiu Jitsu by Robert Drysdale.

In this episode of The Grappling Monthly Podcast, we discuss:

- what it was like coming up in the late 90s early 2000s

- jiu jitsu as a means to prove one's self

- taparia and other practices that have fallen by the wayside

- modern day competition and so much more!

If you like this content, please subscribe and leave a comment! Visit our YouTube channel for the video: www.youtube.com/@grapplingmonthly 

Many thanks to Professor Robert Drysdale for generously sharing his time and his experience with me on a busy afternoon during the IBJJF's jiu jitsu con.

Season 3 of The Grappling Monthly Podcast is all about diving deep into the jiu jitsu scene in the San Fernando Valley. In this episode, I sit with Professor Gabriel Goulart in their beautiful new facility in Arleta: Alliance San Fernando Valley. Born in the city of Uberlandia in Brazil, Professor Gabriel is an accomplished competitor in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu having won numerous IBJJF titles. He has travelled and competed around the world and has settled in Arleta, CA to teach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in one of Alliance Jiu Jitsu's newest facilities: Alliance San Fernando Valley. 

In this episode we discuss: 

- What it takes to succeed in jiu jitsu competition

- The experience gained by hosting foreigners who wanted to train and compete in Brazil

- Friendships, mentorships, and their impact throughout the journey

- Training with hobbyists and competitors alike

Thank you to Professor Gabriel Goulart and the Alliance Jiu Jitsu San Fernando Valley team for welcoming me into their academy and sharing their passion for jiu jitsu with me!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@grapplingmonthly , and IG www.instagram.com/grapplingmonthly for more videos and jiu jitsu content posted regularly!

Oss!

 

The Grappling Monthly Podcast Season 3 deep dive into jiu jitsu in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley continues with our guest on Episode 3: Professor Leonidas Tarca. 

In this episode, professor Tarca shares stories from his nearly 30 years of experience in the martial arts as well as training and teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In this episode we discuss: 
- How martial arts can help on and off the mat
- How the path to knowledge isn't always in a straight line
- Prof. Tarca's methodology for teaching BJJ to students
- Tips on how to stay active and involved in BJJ as we get older 

And so much more. 

This episode was filmed at Phenom BJJ in Mission Hills, CA. Professor Tarca received his black belt from Professor Alberto Crane. 

Let us know what you thought of this episode, and if you like the content we are putting out, please hit that subscribe button so you never miss an update!

Check out a special episode of The Grappling Monthly Podcast Tuesday Sept 16. We get to know coach Drew, his journey, and talk the future of jiu jitsu including the upcoming King of Subs Ventura Open submission only tournament in Camarillo, CA on Sunday October 12, 2025. 

Coach Drew is the owner and head instructor of 10th Planet Murrieta and one of the referees for PGF World. His passion for jiu jitsu and submission only grappling has led him to launching his own tournament (King of Subs), in an effort to give more grapplers the opportunity to compete under a submission only ruleset in the gi and no gi. 

The King of Subs tournament includes brackets for ages, weights, and belt levels. It also includes a couple super fights and an absolute division with cash prizes.