Chokeholds and Chill Podcast

Rest Easy Babe: Remembering Shirley's Strength, Story, & Legacy

Today, we remember and honor our dear friend Shirley.
We’re re-releasing her episode so her voice, her laugh, and her wisdom can be heard again. Shirley, you touched our lives more than words can say. Thank you for every moment. You will be missed, but never forgotten.
 
🕊️ Rest Easy, Babe.
 
In this powerful and deeply human episode, Mallory and Jenn sit down with Shirley—a white belt from San Diego with a black belt in resilience.
 
Shirley’s story isn’t just about Jiu Jitsu. It’s about surviving cancer, overcoming a brain tumor, navigating neurodivergence, and choosing sobriety every single day for over five years. Alongside her husband Dustin—her middle school sweetheart and co-owner of Studio 33 Jiu Jitsu—Shirley has built a life filled with strength, service, and second chances.
 
From the mats to motherhood to managing properties by day and health battles by night, Shirley’s journey is a testament to grit, grace, and the power of community. Even when Jiu Jitsu had to take a backseat, she never stopped finding her way back to it.
 
This one’s for anyone who’s ever wondered if they could keep going. Shirley shows us exactly how it’s done.

“You Signed the Waiver: Why We Want You to Try Jiu-Jitsu”

You’ve seen the memes. You’ve heard the invites. But why do jiu-jitsu people always want you to train? In this episode of Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn and Mal read a heartfelt post by Tara Thornton (@tara_thornton_)—a love letter to the sport—and break down why we keep coming back to the mats.
 
This isn’t about recruiting bodies. It’s about sharing something life-changing.
 
We get into:
🥋 Why you don’t need to be “tough” to start
🧠 How this sport reshapes your body and your brain
💬 The role of coaches and upper belts in your growth
💥 What real progress actually looks like
 
Whether you’re deep in the game or standing at the door wondering if you belong—you do. Hit play. Then hit the mats.

Back to the Gym (and the Mats) After Breast Implants, Nutrition Struggles & 90s Country Vibes — with Eli Coffey

When Jenn first signed up for Eli Coffey’s nutrition and training program, she wasn’t prepared for how much it would challenge her—or change her. From learning to fuel her body with intention to navigating insecurities and mindset shifts, it wasn’t just about macros and muscle—it was about trust, growth, and coming back stronger after setbacks (including surgery).
 
In this episode, Jenn sits down with Eli to talk about it all:
➡️ The hard parts of starting a structured nutrition plan
➡️ Under-eating vs. overeating in athletes
➡️ Coming back from breast implant surgery
➡️ What makes training different for Jiu Jitsu athletes vs. physique athletes
➡️ The mental side of transformation
➡️ Eli’s long martial arts background and love for 90s country music 🎶
 
If you’re an athlete returning from surgery, struggling with food, or just want to feel stronger on and off the mats—this conversation is for you.
 
Follow & Support:
🎧 @chokeholdsandchillpod
📩 chokeholdsandchillpod@gmail.com
 
Guest & Mentions:
👊 @elicoffey_
🏋️‍♂️ @teambionic
🏋️‍♂️ @mid_city_gym
🎙️ @bedsonandcoffeyunfiltered
🥼 @clinical_labs – Use code ELI10
🧪 @somachems – Use code ELI20
🥋 @chewjitsu

Faith on the Mats: Jiu Jitsu, Belief & Finding Balance with Victoria

In this weeks episode of Chokeholds & Chill, we sit down with our friend and teammate, Victoria—a white belt who brings quiet strength, open-hearted energy, and unwavering dedication to the mats and beyond.
 
Victoria began training jiu-jitsu in January, and in just a short time, she’s become a powerful presence in our gym community. But her story stretches far beyond the mats.
 
Raised in a homeschooling household and deeply rooted in her Christian faith, Victoria shares how her upbringing, mission work, and current role as a youth pastor have shaped her perspective on life, purpose, and discipline. Fresh off a six-week service trip to Honduras, she reflects on building homes, mentoring kids, and what it means to live out her values through action.
 
This conversation touches on everything from faith and identity to the humility jiu-jitsu demands—and how she navigates all of it with grace, curiosity, and kindness. Whether you connect through belief, service, or simply the love of the grind, this episode is a reminder of the many ways we show up with purpose on and off the mats.
 
Let’s roll.
Thank you for listening to, liking, sharing, and subscribing to our content! You can reach us on Instagram and email.
@chokeholdsandchillpod
chokeholdsandchillpod@gmail.com
 

Building BJJ Community with Dante of BJJ Wiki and Off The Mats Podcast

What does it mean to be part of the Jiu Jitsu community—even when you’re not on the mat every day? In this episode of Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn and Mallory sit down with Dante, the voice behind @bjj.wiki and the host of the heartfelt and hilarious @offthematspodcast.
 
Dante is a blue belt who’s been training on and off for over a decade. His journey isn’t defined by medals or mats, but by the power of perspective—and the ability to build community through conversation. We talk about longevity in Jiu Jitsu, finding humor in the grind, and showing up authentically, even when life doesn’t follow the playbook.
 
He also opens up about living with a colostomy bag—something he’s had since birth—and how that’s shaped his approach to training and to life. With a deep understanding of both physical and mental resilience, Dante shares how he’s used storytelling and connection to keep himself (and others) close to the sport he loves.
 
From meme curation to honest conversations with grapplers of all stripes, Dante’s presence in the BJJ world is a reminder that you don’t have to be the loudest person in the room—or the highest ranked on the mats—to make an impact.
 
Whether you’re rolling every day or sitting out a season, this episode is for you.
FOLLOW DANTE @offthematspodcast and @bjjwiki
FOLLOW US @chokeholdsandchillpod
EMAIL US at chokeholdsandchillpod@gmail.com

Season Two Recap: Lessons, Laughs, and Life on the Mats

Season Two of Chokeholds & Chill pulled no punches—emotionally or otherwise.
 
In this recap, Jenn and Mallory reflect on a season that wasn’t afraid to get real. We dove into stories of personal transformation, healing from the inside out, and what it actually means to find your way back to the mats—over and over again.
 
We covered topics that don’t usually make it to open mat: mental health, recovery, sobriety, injury, burnout, boundaries, and the often messy middle between quitting and keeping the gi on. There were tears, laughs, breakthroughs, and some hard but honest conversations.
 
This season reminded us that jiu jitsu is so much more than technique or tournament prep—it’s a mirror. And when you’re willing to look in it, there’s so much power in what you’ll see.
 
Season Three is coming—and we’re ready to keep the conversation rolling.
Follow us @chokeholdsandchillpod 
Email us at chokeholdsandchillpod@gmail.com

From White to Brown Belt: 7 Years of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs with Jenn

In this special main episode, Mallory sits down with Jenn to unravel the rollercoaster journey from white belt to brown. From fumbling through early rolls to finding her footing as a higher belt, Jenn reflects on the lessons, losses, and laughs along the way.
But purple belt? That one hit different.
Physically and emotionally, it was the hardest season of her Jiu Jitsu life—and it just so happened to coincide with major life changes off the mat.
In this conversation, Jenn opens up about discovering her autism diagnosis and how it completely reframed her understanding of herself, her learning style, and how she trains. It’s honest, vulnerable, funny, and full of “ohhh, that makes sense now” moments.
Because sometimes, growth in Jiu Jitsu has nothing to do with submissions—and everything to do with self-awareness.
 
Follow us @chokeholdsandchillpod
Email us at chokeholdsandchillpod@gmail.com
 

From IBJJF to ADCC: The Meteoric Rise of Maria Ruffatto

In this episode of Chokeholds & Chill, we sit down with Maria Ruffatto, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Gustavo Bessa and Ighor Horta. Maria has taken the BJJ world by storm, securing multiple IBJJF titles and dominating the South American ADCC Trials in 2024. We’ll delve into her journey from Brazil to the United States, her rapid ascent through the ranks, and her experiences training in Oregon.
 
But that’s not all—Maria isn’t just a force on the mats, she’s also navigating life as a newlywed! We’ll talk about how she and her husband, also a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, balance life, love, and training.
 
Join us for an engaging conversation with one of the sport’s most promising athletes.
Follow Maria @ruffattogilpinbjj
Follow us @chokeholdsandchillpod
Email us chokeholdsandchill@gmail.com

Dr. Megan Jimenez aka Doctor Jiu Jitsu

In this episode of Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn and Mallory sit down with Dr. Meagan Jimenez—orthopedic surgeon, U.S. Army Major, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt. Known as “Doctor Jiu Jitsu,” Dr. Jimenez brings a unique blend of medical expertise and martial arts mastery to the conversation.
 
From her early days balancing orthopedic surgery residency with Jiu Jitsu training, to her first deployment with the US Army coming this June, Dr. Jimenez shares her journey of resilience and dedication.  As the first Latina and osteopathic-trained orthopedic surgeon to join the Women Orthopedist Global Outreach (WOGO) team, she discusses her commitment to empowering women globally through physical and intellectual means.
 
In this episode, we delve into:
• The intersection of orthopedic surgery and Jiu Jitsu
• Strategies for injury prevention and recovery tailored for grapplers
• The importance of mental strength and resilience in both medicine and martial arts
• Her upcoming book, Dr. Jiu Jitsu: A Combat Athlete’s Guide to Mental Strength and Physical Resilience, set to release in 2026 
 
Whether you’re a seasoned athlete, a medical professional, or someone navigating the challenges of balancing multiple passions, Dr. Jimenez offers invaluable insights into achieving peak performance and living a fulfilled life.
Follow Dr. Jimenez at @drmeganjimenez Sign up for her newsletter at www.doctorjiujisu.com
Check out her newly launched podcast at www.meganjimenez.com/podcast
Follow us @chokeholdandchillpod 
Email us chokeholdsandchillpod@gmail.com

Mat Time with Michael Karam: A Black Belt Built on Work Ethic, Discipline & Community

In this episode, Mal sat down with Michael Karam, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and owner of MK Martial Arts in Marcy, NY. Michael shares his journey through martial arts — from doing in TKD as a kid, to wrestling in high school, to finding jiu-jitsu in his twenties and earning his black belt ten years later.
We talk about what it takes to build a gym, the influence of his Lebanese immigrant father, and the importance of discipline, work ethic, and community in life on and off the mats.
💥 Bonus: MK Martial Arts is hosting a wrestling seminar with UFC veteran Matt “The Hammer” Hamill on June 21st at 9647 River Rd, Marcy, NY. Check it out!!
Follow @mk_martialarts on Instagram 
Follow us @chokeholdsandchillpod
Email us chokeholdsandchillpod@gmail.com