The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting

What is it that allows some people to push themselves beyond their limitations? Why can some people survive situations others do not? On this podcast we try to find out the answers. Stephan Kesting, is a lifelong martial artist, BJJ black belt, career firefighter, and outdoorsman. Join us as he talks to fighters, adventurers, competitors, coaches, firefighters, trainers and other people living the strenuous life. Stephan also runs Grapplearts.com, where he has published many hundreds of martial arts videos, articles and tutorials. His free guide to learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, A Roadmap for BJJ, has been downloaded more than 10,000 times and has become a foundational text for the art.

438 - Crafting Your Ideal Jiu-Jitsu Journey, with Tom Wortman 11/18/2025

437 - Adam Shoalts, Vanished Beyond the Map 11/04/2025

436 - How Training Your Submissions as Positions Takes Your Game to the Next Level, with Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models 10/28/2025

435 - Roy Dean and the Origins of BJJ in North America 10/21/2025

434 - High-Percentage BJJ Competition Strategies with Beatrice 'Berimbozo' Jin 10/07/2025

433 - How Jiu-Jitsu Builds an Unshakeable Self Confidence, with Alicia Reitz 09/23/2025

432 - Hybrid Training 4: Optimal Conditioning for Winning BJJ Tournaments, with James Deirmendjian 09/09/2025

431 - Hybrid Training 3: Mixing Ultramarathon and Strength Training with James Pieratt 09/01/2025

430 - Hybrid Training 2: The Science of Strength, Power and Endurance with Chris Duffin 08/18/2025

429 - Hybrid Training 1: Peaking for Power, Endurance, and Mental Strength with Mike McCastle 08/04/2025

428 - Tom Callos, A Black Belt and Gentleman 07/23/2025

427 - Overcoming Doubt and Anxiety in Competition, with Sports Psychologist Haley Perlis 07/08/2025

426 - What Needs to Change to Do Jiu-Jitsu after Age 35 06/24/2025

425 - Optimal BJJ Competition Mindset, with Rob Biernacki 06/09/2025

424 - Writing the Ultimate BJJ Book, with Meerkatsu and Graham Barlow 05/29/2025

423 - BJJ, Science, and D&D with Bryan Rumble 05/06/2025

422 - How to Condition Yourself to Deal with Adrenaline in Stressful Situations 04/24/2025

421 - BJJ Training and Conditioning Myths, with James Deirmendjian from Fit Fight Training 04/04/2025

420 - Braving Polar Bears, Facing Off Against the Columbian Military, and Team Dynamics with Frank Wolf 03/20/2025

419 - Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic (Audiobook Format) 03/04/2025

418 - Spartans, Samurai and Ninja with BJJ Black Belt Jeff Nelson 02/24/2025

417 - Can You Get Your BJJ Black Belt Without Affiliating with a Specific School? 02/11/2025

416 - How to Climb Everest, with Extreme Alpinist Jost Kobusch 01/27/2025

415 - BJJ and Self Defense, with Tyson 'The Warrior Philosopher' Larone 01/16/2025

414 - Optimized BJJ Training for Non-Athletic Grapplers, with Jesse Walker 01/01/2025

413 - Strongman Training Secrets, with Kalle Beck 11/25/2024

412 - Eco-Adjacent Training and How to Do It Correctly, with Rob Biernacki 11/13/2024

411 - Smashing the Mental Barriers Holding Back Your Jiu-Jitsu 10/22/2024

410: How B Team Prepared for ADCC and CJI, with Chris Wojcik 09/23/2024

409 - Denis Kang, From Underground Bareknuckle Fights to the Biggest MMA Stage in the World 09/09/2024