In this episode of the Mat Return podcast, Dr. Tim Smith, a pediatric dentist and former Division 1 wrestler, shares his journey from wrestling to Jiu Jitsu. Tim discusses how he got into wrestling at a young age and eventually transitioned to Jiu Jitsu. He talks about his experiences in high school and college wrestling and how he found his passion in Jiu Jitsu after college.

Tim shares his insights on the importance of mouth guards in sports, especially for preventing dental injuries and concussions. He emphasizes the benefits of custom-made mouth guards from a dental office and the impact they can have on performance and safety.

The conversation delves into the similarities and differences between wrestling and Jiu Jitsu, highlighting the challenges and rewards of competing in both sports. Tim shares valuable advice for wrestlers transitioning to Jiu Jitsu, focusing on embracing the different aspects of the sport and the importance of humility and consistency in training.

The episode concludes with a discussion on the holistic benefits of Jiu Jitsu, including physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and even spiritual aspects. Tim emphasizes the camaraderie and sense of community that Jiu Jitsu offers, creating a safe space for personal growth and development.

Join us for this insightful conversation with Dr. Tim Smith as he shares his wisdom and experiences in the world of wrestling and Jiu Jitsu.

Sometimes the hardest part of Jiu-Jitsu isn’t walking in for the first time, it’s coming back for the second.

This episode of The Mat Return is a story about what happens when one parent takes that step.

Normally, this is the kind of thing we’d schedule an interview for, but I owed our listeners an episode, and the nice thing about being the tech guy is that I can schedule myself anytime I need to.

It’s about fear, patience, family, and what Jiu-Jitsu quietly builds when you keep showing up.

Inside this episode:

00:00 Intro — No interview, just a story

00:38 The first class and the long driveway

05:10 The Sunday ritual and the “gi burn”

07:00 Why slow learners thrive here

09:00 The white gi rule and first camp

10:30 Austria family camp & the quiet prediction

13:20 My wife’s month-six shift

15:00 How Jiu-Jitsu unlocked languages

17:40 When life punched, I stayed standing

18:30 Teaching, parenting, and the next generation

If you’ve ever started because of your kids, come back after a break, or found new confidence through Jiu-Jitsu, this one’s for you.

Filmed at White Mountain Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Hosted by Tony (and usually Frank)

More stories & behind-the-scenes: https://thematreturn.com

Welcome to the first episode of The Mat Return podcast, hosted by Frank and Anthony from White Mountain BJJ in Ashland, New Hampshire.

We started this podcast to strengthen our community, share stories from the mats, and help each other stay consistent in training. In this episode we talk about:

• Why we launched The Mat Return
• What “mat return” really means
• The 6 a.m. Silverbacks class and the importance of accountability
• How progress in jiu-jitsu often sneaks up on you
• Growing kids classes (and teaching parents too)
• The role of patience, ego, and consistency in long-term growth
• How we hope this podcast can keep our community connected on and off the mats

Whether you are new to jiu-jitsu, a returning grappler, or a seasoned teammate, this show is for you.

Have a question, a story, or someone you want us to interview? Drop it in the comments or reach out on our site.

Thanks for listening and being part of White Mountain BJJ. We will see you on the mats.