Thomas Rozdzynski
500 episodes listed below
Jiu-jitsu stories from beyond the scoreboard.
The ROL Radio pairs long-form martial arts conversation with a steady focus on jiu-jitsu as practice, profession, and personal discipline. Recent episodes move from teaching methods and self-defense principles to mentorship, resilience, business ownership, and life on the mats.
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The ROL Radio is a long-running martial arts conversation show with jiu-jitsu at its center. Its recent episodes favor stories over quick takes. The format gives guests room to trace how training, competition, coaching, family, injury, discipline, and community shaped their lives. A conversation may begin with teaching energy in group and private lessons, then turn toward the mental pressure of competition and the influence of Marcelo Garcia. Another may start with childhood wrestling in a family garage and end with a coach reflecting on how to challenge students without losing the fun. The show is comfortable with both technical language and personal history. It talks about self-defense through distance control, not just memorized moves. It treats fundamentals as living material rather than beginner content. It also returns often to mentorship: how instructors handle kids, how instructors manage personalities, and how former competitors learn to prioritize other people's growth. The martial arts scope extends beyond jiu-jitsu when the guest's path calls for it, including Muay Thai, MMA, wrestling, and broader combat-sport culture. The emotional register is sincere. Gratitude, resilience, health, purpose, and discipline appear often, but usually through concrete training stories rather than abstract advice. The show can slow down for friendship and the long arc of a black belt journey. It can also stay practical, especially when guests discuss teaching, simplifying, building an academy, or adapting to a new environment. Listeners looking for match breakdowns only may find it more personal than tactical. Listeners who want to understand how martial artists become teachers, mentors, and leaders will find a consistent throughline. The ROL Radio's strength is its respect for the mat as a place where skill, character, and community keep testing one another.
Made for: For jiu-jitsu students, coaches, academy owners, competitors, and martial arts fans who like reflective interviews about training culture and personal growth. It especially fits listeners interested in teaching, mentorship, fundamentals, and the long life of the art.
What sets it apart: The show gives martial artists space to connect technique, coaching, competition, and life experience without rushing toward hot takes. Its conversations often turn practical mat wisdom into broader reflections on discipline, community, resilience, and purpose.
The RŌL Radio Show is hosted by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Thomas Rozdzynski of RŌL Academy. The podcast offers a compelling look into the untold stories from the worlds of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, and beyond, bringing listeners a thoughtful and authentic perspective on both martial arts and life.RŌL Radio goes far beyond techniques and competition results. It shines a spotlight on the personal journeys, challenges, and triumphs of individuals deeply connected to the art. Through meaningful and in-depth conversations, the show explores the human side of Jiu-Jitsu—revealing the lessons, struggles, and transformations that often...
Christmas Eve garage wrestling is how Thomas Rozdzynski gets you from mat lore to life choices.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A grounded wrestling-to-jiu-jitsu story with a real mat-room feel.
Kyle Kalchbrenner's path from wrestling into jiu-jitsu lands best when it stays close to the work of that shift. Christmas Eve wrestling with family, school bouts in gym class, a coach spotting a half Nelson, and the later move from wrestling to basketball give the piece its…
A reflective jiu-jitsu conversation about evolution, cycles, and why old ideas keep resurfacing.
Alberto Crespo reads as a seasoned jiu-jitsu voice, one that treats the art as something shaped by time rather than hype. The discussion works best when it stays on experience, change, and the way useful ideas can circle back when they still hold up.
A jiu-jitsu conversation that treats simplicity and distance control as the real edge.
Natty Boss keeps the focus on jiu-jitsu as a path into self-discovery, but the conversation never loses sight of the everyday work behind it: routine, presence, and simplicity.
Mat talk, jokes, and practical jiu-jitsu.
Discipline after the hype fades.
Old-school karate, pressure-tested for real life.
Jiu-jitsu stories from inside the academy.
Mat talk with mileage.
Blunt BJJ talk for getting less stuck.
Natasha Franks tells Thomas Rozdzynski how she began Brazilian jiu-jitsu at 51 after earning black belts in Taekwondo and Kumu-ye.
Nathan Fitch discusses his martial arts journey from Aikido to Judo and Muay Thai, including training in Thailand, the importance of mentorship, and embracing discomfort for growth.
This episode features an interview with Kanan Clark-Jones, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Marcelo Garcia, discussing teaching dynamics, competition mental aspects, and his personal jiu-jitsu journey.
Thomas Rozdzynski interviews Kyle Kalchbrenner, his first organic black belt at Roll Academy, who describes deliberately stopping all takedowns for close to a year to build a guard game from scratch after Thomas advised him to put wrestling aside.
Alberto Crane says he was "born to win," but only after years of losses, stress, and self-belief.
This episode features an interview with Andy Lazarit, a Muay Thai champion and mentor, discussing his journey from troubled youth to success and the transformative power of discipline and community.
Nattie Boss, a mom of two, first-degree six-blades black belt sports dietician, Body by Boss owner, and host of the Empowered Athlete podcast, ties her jiu-jitsu career to routine, recovery, and discipline.
Thomas Rozdzynski interviews Rafael Lange about his 32-year jiu-jitsu journey, emphasizing positivity, resilience, and community.
An interview with a jiu-jitsu black belt about his journey from adversity to becoming an instructor and founder of the 1% Club.
Thomas Rozdzynski interviews Jonathan Alves, a world champion and gym owner, about his journey from competitor to mentor in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Thomas Rozdzynski interviews Steve Maxwell, the first American-born black belt under Ralston Gracie, discussing his journey in martial arts, health, and wellness.
The episode features a re-release of an interview with Amal Easton, discussing his journey in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Thomas Rozdzynski interviews Roy Dean about the history and evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in America.
An interview with 8-time world champion Hobson Mora about his 40-year journey in jiu-jitsu and the life lessons learned.
Thomas Rozdzynski interviews Chris Crawford, an EBI semifinalist and Eddie Bravo black belt, about his jiu-jitsu journey, training experiences, and mental health in combat sports.
Thomas Rozdzynski interviews Gabe Tuttle about his jiu-jitsu journey, mental aspects, and the importance of community.
An interview with Jake McKenzie, a BJJ black belt and champion, discussing his journey and the therapeutic nature of jiu-jitsu.
Thomas Rozdzynski introduces a conversation with Josh Presley about his journey in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, covering the sport's evolution, challenges, and life lessons.
This episode features an interview with Cody Smith, founder of Virtuous Fitness and owner-instructor of Virtuous Grappling, discussing how positivity, purpose, brotherhood, and community contribute to personal growth and overcoming challenges.