In today's episode of The Strenuous Life Podcast, I share the story of dealing with storms, giant tides, and the ever-present threat of polar bears on the remote Hudson Bay coast at the mouth of the Thlewiaza River in Nunavut, Canada and what I learned about physical, mental, and emotional performance in extreme circumstances.

This is an excerpt from my book "Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic", the story of the trip in the podcast above and a damn good read, available at Amazon in phyiscal, Kindle and audibook formats: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

Also available at Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/perseverance-stephan-kesting/1145682384

Indigo in Canada: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/perseverance-life-and-death-in-the-subarctic/9781639368617.html

And in many independent bookstores all around the world (they can always order it in if they don't have it).

Thanks so much,
Stephan Kesting

P.S. If you enjoyed this episode check out the beginning of this journey in episode 419 of The Strenuous Life Podcast (links below). For everything in between that episode and this one you'll have to check out the book though...

Episode 419 on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/419-perseverance-life-and-death-in-the/id320705565?i=1000697659908

Episode 419 on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2eKjiJs9G3SVa6ERGXLhAo

How your journey through BJJ can intersect with and is helped by Stoicism, with Adisa Banjoko. It gets pretty personal as we go beyond the sound bites of Stoicism and dig into the actual practices you can use to develop the four virtues of Stoicism, namely wisdom, discipline, justice and courage.

Along the way, we also tackle the importance of character in jiu-jitsu, the recent spate of scandals in the sport, dealing with pain and loss, and the importance of your whys.

Check out Adisa on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bishopchronicles/ and subscribe to his Substack at https://adisabanjoko.substack.com/!

Check out my book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic. It has a lot of overlap with today's discussion, and is available everywhere including Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612

Thanks
Stephan Kesting

Telltale traits of toxic schools by Stephan Kesting, a BJJ black belt for 20 years. Did he miss any red flags?

RED FLAGS

01:24 No cross-training
01:41 Separating you from friends and family
02:30 No trial classes
03:35 No talking to current students
03:55 No watching classes
04:14 Instructor's name + SA = positive
05:19 "Master"
06:27 No sparring till blue belt
07:27 No questions in class
09:07 Poor hygiene and dirty mats
10:48 High-pressure sales tactics
12:53 No talking in class
14:27 Gravy Seal bootcamp
15:24 "Every other school sucks"
16:13 Instructor chronically dates students
17:18 Financial-medical-astronomical-astrological advice
17:27 No competition / in-house tournaments only
20:22 Peaked in high school
22:57 Focusing only on top competitors
23:20 Focusing only on hot women
23:45 Focusing only on their phones
24:55 Can't pause your membership
25:41 "We don't tap to THAT here..."
27:26 Mat bullies are tolerated

ORANGE FLAGS

29:46 Mandatory and expensive uniforms
30:52 Ranking and promotion fees
32:19 I see dead people (and bow to them)
33:30 Instructor doesn't roll
35:01 No colored belts (or women)
35:21 "Professor" (see video below)

RELATED RESOURCES

The infamous "Don't Call Me Professor" video - https://youtu.be/-TeE3tYMiJM

Grapplearts instructionals in streaming and app formats: https://www.grapplearts.com/instructionals/

My best-selling book: Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

My book co-written with BJJ black belt world champion Brandon Mullins: Nonstop Jiu-Jitsu: https://www.amazon.com/Non-Stop-Jiu-Jitsu-Champions-Aggressive/dp/B08CPNPNDD