On this episode of The Gi Pot, Kaz and Rach sit down with the enigmatic Dean Lister — ADCC champion, leg lock pioneer, and the guy who made your knee pop before it was cool.

From his turbulent upbringing in Panama to the gritty proving grounds of early MMA, Dean walks us through a life shaped by struggle, sharpened by pressure, and sealed with ankle-breaking submissions. We dig into the old-school days of BJJ before Instagram fame and YouTube instructionals, his impact on modern leg game philosophy (hint: Danaher was listening), and what it means to coach in a culture obsessed with winning but allergic to suffering.

Raw, real, and unfiltered — this isn’t just a catch-up. It’s a reckoning with the man who taught the world to “why ignore 50% of the human body?

On this episode of The Gi Spot Podcast, Kaz and Rach wrestle with one of those timeless martial arts paradoxes: “Never always, but always sometimes.” It’s the kind of cryptic wisdom from Rach’s coach that sounds like a riddle until you’ve rolled enough to realize it’s an unbreakable rule… until it isn’t.

They unpack how this idea shows up in training, competition, and life on and off the mats: why “rules” in Jiu Jitsu are often flexible, how exceptions keep the art alive, and why the only certainty is that nothing is absolute. With their usual mix of sharp wit, dark humor, and real insight, Kaz and Rach remind us that BJJ is less about black-and-white rules and more about rolling in the grey.

On this episode of The Gi Spot Podcast, Kaz and Rach roll into one of the most important — and most overlooked — aspects of Jiu Jitsu: training safety. From preventing injuries and managing intensity in the gym to setting boundaries with training partners, they cover the essentials of staying safe while pushing your limits.

The conversation dives into the culture of “toughing it out,” the hidden risks that come with ego-driven rolls, and the strategies that keep your body — and your BJJ journey — sustainable. Expect a mix of practical advice, raw honesty, and a few cautionary tales that prove safety isn’t just about protecting joints, it’s about protecting the passion for the sport itself.

Whether you’re a white belt just starting out or a seasoned competitor, this episode is about keeping you on the mats and off the sidelines.