BJJ Charleston Podcast
The BJJ Charleston Podcast explores the people, stories, and experiences that shape the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community in Charleston, South Carolina and beyond.
Hosted by David McWilliams, each episode features conversations with athletes, coaches, academy owners, competitors, and everyday practitioners from across the Carolinas and around the world. While Jiu-Jitsu is the common thread, the discussions go far beyond the mats.
Guests share stories of success, failure, adversity, resilience, entrepreneurship, family, recovery, personal growth, and the lessons they've learned along the way. Whether you're a lifelong grappler, a casual fan, or simply interested in hearing compelling human stories, you'll find something here.
Real people. Real conversations. Real stories.
New episodes released regularly.
Follow us on Instagram at @bjjcharleston. Email bjjchspod@gmail.com to submit your suggestion for our next guest.
Episodes
43 episodes
Podcast 43: Sean McSwain | Church 242, Hanahan Jiu-Jitsu, & Water Mission
Sean McSwain is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, founder & senior pastor of Church 242 in Hanahan, SC, and owner & head instructor at Hanahan Jiu-Jitsu. He's a former Naval officer and member of Water Mission; a North Charleston–based ...
Podcast 42: Pepe Lacerda | Gold Star Family, Unorthodox Promotions, & Anderson Silva
Pedro "Pepe" Lacerda is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt, competitor, and coach at Gracie Barra Charleston & Gracie Barra West Ashley. He frequently cross-trains at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Charleston and is a fixture in the competition scene, incl...
Podcast 41: Miyo Strong | The Elizabeth Smart Foundation, Sexual Violence, & Engaged Fathers
Miyo Strong is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and the Program Director of Smart Defense for the Elizabeth Smart Foundation. She helps lead a trauma-informed self-defense program designed to give woman and girls practical tools to recognize da...
Podcast 40: Jeff Robertson | Folly Jiu Jitsu, The Crack Den, & The Domestic Dispute Call
Jeff Robertson is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, head instructor at Folly Jiu Jitsu, and a retired Charleston Police Department law enforcement officer. A life long martial artist, he served 26 years and retired as a Sergeant and the lead de...
Podcast 39: Henrique Carepa | IBJJF, Teaching Children, & Moving To Charleston
Henrique Carepa is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and the owner, operator, & instructor at Gracie Barra Charleston & Gracie Barra West Ashley. He is also a former director of IBJJF & AJP USA. Originally from Brazil, Henrique has b...
Podcast 38: Raf Esparza | The Grappling Hour, The Boston Crab, & A Confident Horse
Raf Esparza is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt, the creator and host of The Grappling Hour; the only weekly grappling variety show, a commentator for Subversiv BJJ, and the former host of The Verbal Tap Podcast. Through years of interviews, l...
Podcast 37: Michael Tew | Charleston Men's Clinic | Testosterone, ED, & Women's Health
Charleston Men's Clinic is a local men's health and wellness practice focused on helping men improve their health, confidence, and quality of life. Through personalized care and treatment options, Charleston Men's Clinic addresses issues rangin...
Podcast 36: Chris "Bones" Burns | Rickson, Hot Takes, & A "Midget Nazi"
*** WARNING: NOT FOR CHILDREN ***Chris " Bones" Burns is a 3rd Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, the Owner & Head Instructor of Zero Point Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Sydney, Australia, and an instructor for The BJJ Project; an online i...
Podcast 35: Robert Drysdale | Emptiness, Success, Being Tough On Kids
Robert Drysdale is a Brazilian-American Jiu-Jitsu black belt, ADCC Absolute Champion, IBJJF World Champion, coach, author, and historian of the sport. Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished American grapplers of his generation, Drysdal...
Podcast 34: Andrew Wooten | Gracie Barra Summerville, UFC, & Kids Competitions
Andrew Wooten is a third-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Joshua Miller and has been training and competing for over 14 years. Originally from Columbia, South Carolina, Andrew started his BJJ journey in Augusta, Georgia in 2009. Over...
Podcast 33: Paige Ivette Clymer | ADCC, ONE Championship, Role Models, & Controlling Your Temper
Paige Ivette Clymer is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and elite - level competitor based in San Diego, California. A standout on the professional grappling scene, Paige has competed against some of the best women in the sport and recently sig...
Podcast 32: Steph Cruz | The Chaos Coordinator
Steph Cruz is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt, software engineer, tutor, cyber security analyst, and instructor at Park West BJJ. She is also the owner/operator of the new business, The Chaos Coordinator; a virtual-assistance and business - su...
Podcast 31: Drew Littlejohn | Trains, South Africa, Tick Tock BJJ, And Training Scientifically
Drew Littlejohn is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and instructor at Gracie Barra Charleston. He received his black belt from the late Jacob "Tick Tock" McClintock at Tick Tock BJJ and began teaching Jiu-Jitsu at blue belt. Drew brings a cereb...
Podcast 30: Josh Williams | Daniel Island Jiu Jitsu | Charleston BJJ Culture, Tradition, Respect, and Academy Identity
Josh Williams is a two-stripe Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with a foundation in wrestling and an instructor at Daniel Island Jiu-Jitsu. He started his journey on the mat as a high school wrestler, later transitioning into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ...
Podcast 29: Noah Oliver from Flowhold | Navy EOD Tech, Family, Fatherhood, Culture, & Creativity
Noah Oliver is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Jocko Willink and Dean Lister, a husband, father, surfer, and owner/operator of Flowhold; a Jiu-Jitsu & MMA supply company. After finishing a bachelor’s in History from Flori...
Podcast 28: Joseph Snyder from Scrap Superfights | Building the Business, Entrepreneurship, & the Future of Scrap
Joseph Snyder is a BJJ purple belt, kickboxing black belt, former youth MMA competitor, two time IBJJF Pan champion, and founder of Scrap Superfights. Joseph hosted the first Scrap event at the age of 18 years old with a vision to create a stag...
Podcast 27: Tom Sheehan From Daniel Island Jiu Jitsu | Former Secret Service Agent & Air Marshal on Jiu Jitsu, Women's Self Defense, & Protection
Tom Sheehan is a first-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Scott Devine. Together, Tom and Scott served as instructors for the United States Secret Service, where they developed the agency’s ground fighting program for agents and off...
Podcast 26: Dennis Iler from Heritage Jiu-Jitsu
Dennis Iler is the Director of Manufacturing at Origin USA, where he helps lead American-made production for one of the most respected brands in the grappling industry. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Dennis is also the owner and head instruc...
Podcast 25: Battle On The Bricks IV
Established in 2022 by members of the Charleston community, the Charleston Boxing Foundation (CBF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting organizations across the South Carolina Lowcountry through meaningful philanthropic partnerships...
Podcast 24: Anna Kelley from Ginger-Jitsu
Anna Kelley, along with her husband, Joshua & their son, Cooper, are the founders and operators of Ginger-Jitsu. Ginger-Jitsu campaigns against bullying by empowering children through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and their Student & Patch Progra...
Podcast 23: Chris Wojcik
Chris Wojcik is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt & ADCC, CJI, Polaris, WNO, PGF, & EBI veteran. He's the author of The Grappler's Diary newsletter as well as the books, A Grappler's Diary: 151 Notes On The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Experience...
Podcast 22: Chelsea Urse
Guest: Chelsea Urse is a recovering brain stem surgery patient, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blue belt, and Para Climbing competitor.Duration: 59m: 12secInstagram: @chelc_attax
Podcast 21: Jepha From Chick Jitsu
Guest: Jepha, Founder & Director of Chick JitsuDuration: 46m: 4shttps://chickjitsu.comInstagram: @chickjitsu/@jephamooi