Alright, guys, we're back with another episode of the rolling conversation, and I've got the man, Chris Wojcik, with me today. Now, Chris has been on a tear lately, and I'm pumped to dive into his jiu-jitsu journey.

We're gonna talk about how this guy went from struggling to make ends meet in Chicago to becoming a rising star in the jiu-jitsu world. I mean, the dude's been crushing it - finishing top four at the ADCC trials, competing at the biggest shows, and now he's got seminars popping up all over the place.

But it ain't just about the competition, you know? Chris has also been putting in work on the writing side of things. He just dropped his first book, "A Grappler's Diary," and let me tell you, it's a must-read for any jiu-jitsu practitioner. The guy's got a knack for breaking down the mental game and sharing some real-deal life lessons through the lens of the sport.

We're gonna dive into Chris's mindset, how he's navigated the ups and downs, and what it takes to make it in this crazy world of jiu-jitsu. Plus, he's gonna give us the inside scoop on what it's like training at the B Team in Austin - that place is like a jiu-jitsu boot camp, man.

So buckle up, because this is gonna be a wild ride. You don't wanna miss out on the insights and inspiration that Chris is about to drop. Let's get it!

On this episode of Rolling Conversations, I'm sitting down with my good friend and rising jiu-jitsu star, Ryan Aitken. We're gonna take a deep dive into Ryan's wild ride at PGF Seven - that crazy tournament in Vegas with the chandeliers, coconut waters, and who's who of the jiu-jitsu world in attendance.

Ryan was the underdog going in, getting picked last in the draft, but he ended up dominating the competition and taking home the 205-pound title. We're talking about the intense rule set, the crazy injuries, and how Ryan was able to adapt his game to come out on top against that stacked field of killers.

But it's not just about the competition - Ryan's also been making major waves on the no-gi circuit, with big wins at ADCC Trials and UFC Fight Pass. The guy's a chameleon, able to excel in all different rule sets, and we're gonna unpack how he's developed that versatility.

Beyond the mats, Ryan's also got a really interesting personal story. He's found that balance between his competitive career and his growing family life. We'll get into his relationship, his role as a father figure, and how he's using his platform to inspire the next generation of Atlanta grapplers.

This dude's journey is just getting started, and I can't wait for you all to hear his story. So sit back, relax, and get ready for another Rolling Conversation.

In our 2nd episode (#2) Kenny Kim interviews one of the OG's of the UFC! We dive into what it was like growing up in a dangerous area and what drove him to become a world champion. Date: Recorded on Feb 8, 2023 Name of podcast: Mat Made Podcast Episode title and number: Season 1 Episode 2 About Din: Din "Yero" Thomas, a seasoned veteran in the world of mixed martial arts, first made his mark in the UFC by competing in the lightweight and welterweight divisions. With an impressive professional record, Thomas has earned notable victories over the likes of Matt Serra, Clay Guida, and Jens Pulver. One of his most memorable achievements was his 2003 submission win against Serra at UFC 41, which showcased his Jiu Jitsu background. After retiring from the UFC in 2013, Din Thomas has transitioned into a highly respected trainer, coach, mentor, and a UFC Commentator sharing his wealth of knowledge with the next generation of fighters. As a coach, he has been instrumental in developing the skills of various MMA talents, including former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. In his current role, Thomas continues to contribute significantly to the sport, shaping the careers of future champions and maintaining an influential presence within the MMA community. Time-Stamped Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 02:10 - The worst nickname in MMA "Yero" 04:10 - Welcome to the Studio - on the mats 05:50 - Training with Ryan Hall 09:14 - A Typical Day at Work 13:37 - Beginnings in MMA 20:52 - Are UFC fighters being paid enough?28:32 - Jiu Jitsu Roots32:57 - Gi vs No Gi 36:19 - Mat Made Stories51:02 - Find a Jiu-Jitsu Gym58:47 - Best Gym Environments1:06:09 - Chat GPT and Proudest Moment 1:11:12 - Chat GPT - Benefits of Jiu-Jitsu 1:13:48 - What is Next for Din? 1:15:55 - Sponsors Resources mentioned in the episode: - Din's Diaries - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvXzdKJEx7Y - Dana White Looking for a Fight - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VXsb3MPEnQ - Grace Point movie - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20447282/ - UFC 2 - Royce Gracie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5FkzO_Bms8- IBJJF - https://ibjjf.com/- NFL League Minimum - https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/nfl/nfl-league-minimum-salary-bm07/- Royce Gracie - https://www.instagram.com/realroyce/- Ralph Gracie - https://www.instagram.com/ralphgracie/- Marcelo Grosso - https://bjjcoach.com/about-marcello/bio- Ricardo Liborio - https://www.instagram.com/liboriobjj/?hl=en- Mat Made Stories - https://matmade.com/story- Matt Serra's Gym - https://serrabjjacademy.com/ - Chat GPT - https://chat.openai.com/ - Tyron Woodley vs Robby Lawler - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmHmpGhV0rY Contact Info: Go follow Din Thomas on IG - https://www.instagram.com/dinthomas/ Follow Mat Made on all of our social channels to see new cities and daily stories of Jiu Jitsu changing people's lives. ⁠https://www.instagram.com/matmade_show/⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/matmadeshow⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/matmadeshow⁠ Follow Kenny Kim on IG - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/kennykimbjj/⁠ Check out our Mat Made Merch ⁠https://store.matmade.com/⁠ Episode Transcript: https://rb.gy/c8jght Sponsors: Thank you a million times over to our incredible sponsors who make this show happen. Fuji Mats - the best Mats on the planet. These are the mats I have at my gym and they are absolutely the best. Fuji also sells Gi's, home mats to train at home - https://fujimats.com/ - use coupon code "MATMADE" for 10% off your order. Hoist - https://drinkhoist.com/ - Get your gym to start carrying Hoist. It is the absolute best recovery drink you can have after rolling on the mats. Go Follow HOIST on IG at - https://www.instagram.com/drinkhoist/ Share Your Story: Do you have a Mat Made story about how Jiu Jitsu has changed your life? Share it with the world here: ⁠https://matmade.com/story