The Off the Mats Podcast is hosted by Jake Dante, a jiu jitsu practitioner in Maryland and all around regular guy. On the show, various topics are discussed ranging from training to dealing with injury and mental health as it relates to martial arts. We also talk about other topics outside of that realm that can go anywhere from comic books to films to pro wrestling and even just general family life.
Off the Mats Podcast #332- Growing the Sport, Taking Care of the Community
Where is Brazilian jiu-jitsu headed, and what does that mean for the people who actually train? In this solo episode of Off the Mats Podcast, Jake Dante shares his perspective on the current state of BJJ, from professional grappling and athlete opportunities to gym culture and the everyday hobbyist. Jake explores balancing training with family and work, building welcoming gyms, and how social media shapes our expectations around progress, belt promotions, and success. Whether you’re a competitor, a weekend grappler, or stepping onto the mats for the first time, this episode asks what we want jiu-jitsu to become and how we can help it get there.
12 Oct 2026
Off the Mats Podcast #331- Keep Showing Up feat. David Riedman
This week on Off the Mats Podcast, I welcome back David Riedman to celebrate his recent promotion to Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. David reflects on the moments that shaped his approach to BJJ, the challenges of staying consistent, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. We discuss personal growth through jiu-jitsu, his role in the gym, and what he’s looking forward to as he begins this next chapter.
A big shout out and thank you to Yamasaki Academy in Rockville, Maryland, and the coaches and training partners who help make these milestones possible.
Whether you’re starting out or have spent years on the mats, join us for a conversation about progress, perseverance, and what earning a black belt means.
5 Oct 2026
Off the Mats Podcast #330- Jiu-Jitsu, Technology, and Community feat. Drew Wills
On this episode of Off the Mats Podcast, I sit down with Drew Wills, creator of Tap In BJJ, to talk about the idea behind the app and what inspired him to build something specifically for the jiu-jitsu community.
We get into Drew’s own BJJ journey, his background in technology, and the frustrations that led to the creation of Tap In. Drew explains how the app helps grapplers track their training, find academies, discover open mats and events, connect with the community, and make it easier to train while traveling.
We also talk about the academy side of Tap In, including attendance, student retention, communication, and the challenges of building a platform that works for both grapplers and gym owners. Drew shares some of the lessons he’s learned while developing the app, what it takes to grow a BJJ-focused business, and where he hopes Tap In can go in the future.
If you train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, run an academy, travel and look for places to train, or just enjoy hearing how people within the community are trying to make BJJ better, this is a conversation worth checking out.
Search for Tap In BJJ on iOS and Android, and follow Off the Mats Podcast for more conversations from the jiu-jitsu community.
Who has been a guest on Off the Mats Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Sam Bracamonte
Phille Eriksson
Adisa Banjoko
Blu Mays
Eli Adams
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
13 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 67 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
81
Social presence
97
YouTube
0
Engagement
82
Contact Off the Mats Podcast
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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