136: Fatherhood's Impact on My Jiu-Jitsu - Nicky Rod The Black Belt Slayer

136: Fatherhood's Impact on My Jiu-Jitsu - Nicky Rod The Black Belt Slayer

Author: TRAIN HARD Media February 28, 2025 Duration: 46:13

In Episode 136 of The Jason Khalipa Podcast, Jason Khalipa and Gabe Yanez sit down with the "Million Dollar Grappler", The "Black Belt Slayer" the one, the only Nicky Rod to talk about how becoming a father has shaped his Jiu-Jitsu career and mindset. They dive into his training philosophy, the rise of no-gi grappling, and how he stays sharp in competition while balancing family life. Whether you're into fitness, personal growth, or just curious how one of the world’s best grapplers does it, this episode has something for you. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation with one of the top names in the sport!


Code: JKPODCAST for 50% off Lab Work at Blokes

For Him: https://blokes.co/jkpodcast

For Her: https://choosejoi.co/jkpodcast


Never let momentum get to zero. Listen to the Jason Khalipa Podcast every Monday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.


Follow Jason: https://instagram.com/jasonkhalipa?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Follow TRAIN HARD: https://www.instagram.com/trainhard.fit/?hl=en

Never Zero Newsletter: https://www.th.fit/

NCFIT Programming For Gym Owners: https://www.nc.fit/programming

Philanthropy: https://avaskitchen.org/


Chapters:

0:00 - Nicky Rod's $1 Million Grappling Win! 

2:08 - Upcoming Tournaments: What’s New in CJI?

6:23 - How Free Access Boosted Match Popularity!

8:15 - Need More Rivalries? Enhance Your CrossFit Experience!

12:06 - How Fatherhood Changed Nicky’s Jiu-Jitsu Game!

14:06 - Jiu-Jitsu: The Secret to Better Focus and Clarity!

17:46 - Teamwork & Continuous Improvement: The Key to Winning!

19:32 - Nicky’s Secret Strategies for Beating Opponents!

22:59 - Team Training at The B Team: Get Better Together!

24:45 - Coaching Tips: Mindset Matters for Athletes!

28:13 - The Power of Diverse Experiences for Kids!

29:46 - Balancing Competition and Strong Family Ties!

33:03 - How to Keep Fun Alive After Having Kids!

34:41 - Flexible Parenting: A Path to Jiu-Jitsu Success!

38:25 - Gi vs. No-Gi: Which Training Style Should You Choose?

40:12 - Why No-Gi Grappling is Taking Over!

43:38 - Health Hacks: Diet and Blood Work for Fitness!

45:22 - Upcoming Events: Nicky’s Shoutout to Fans!


You’ll find a refreshingly direct tone in the Jason Khalipa Podcast, produced by TRAIN HARD Media. It’s a series grounded in the belief that strength isn’t just physical-it’s built through discipline, clear leadership, and showing up intentionally in all areas of life. Each episode feels like a candid talk between friends, where Jason delves into the mechanics of fitness alongside the broader challenges of fatherhood and cultivating a resilient mindset. The conversations avoid theory and abstraction, focusing instead on the tangible work required to build a capable and purposeful existence. Listeners hear real stories and practical takeaways, often punctuated with laughter, that challenge them to reflect and then move. This isn’t about hype or empty motivation; it’s about the incremental, sometimes messy, work of getting better. Tuning into this podcast means joining a community focused on applied wisdom, where every topic, from gym routines to family dynamics, is discussed with an honesty that’s both relatable and actionable. If you’re looking for a genuine resource in the health and fitness space that connects physical training to the core of how you live, this series provides exactly that.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Jason Khalipa Podcast
Podcast Episodes
An Update: Where Have I Been? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:52
Join Jason Khalipa as he shares experiences from Ava's Kitchen, the Train Hard Men's Club, and lessons on mental resilience and leadership:The impact of charity events like Ava’s Kitchen on children’s perception of givin…
Leave No Doubt: The One Event That Still Sticks with Me [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:05
This episode is about a moment that never really goes away.Looking back at the 2012 CrossFit Games, there’s one event that still stands out—not because of the result, but because of the effort.It wasn’t about losing. It…
What I Learned After Three College Rejections [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:04
In this episode, Jason shares a story from his early years that completely reshaped how he thinks about effort, growth, and long-term success.He talks about “peaking” in high school, not fully applying himself, and the w…
It Was the Deal of a Lifetime… Until It Wasn’t [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:16
When Jason was younger, he thought he found the deal of a lifetime.The car looked great. The price was even better. On paper, it made zero sense not to buy it.But sometimes when something feels too good to be true… it is…
What Really Happened When I Blacked Out at the CrossFit Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:47
This week Jason shares a story from the 2009 CrossFit Games. Coming off a win the year before, expectations were high. In the middle of an event, he blacked out and hit the floor.What happened next mattered more than the…
I Think About This Weekly… Advice I Got at 20 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:37
In this second installment of the month-long Coffee with Khalipa series, Jason shares a piece of advice he received at 20 years old that still shapes how he operates today.“If you want to be an owner, start acting like a…
The Weight of Small Moments: Stories From the Hospital [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:21
Over the next four weeks, Jason is sharing a series of stories that shaped him and the lessons they left behind.In this Coffee with Khalipa episode, he reflects on two moments from his time in the hospital while his daug…
Discipline, De-Escalation, and Commanding Presence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:06
In this episode of the Jason Khalipa Podcast, Jason and MDV dig into what real discipline actually looks like when life gets uncomfortable.The conversation starts with a simple reminder about concessions and quickly move…
Earning a Black Belt: 10 Years in the Making [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:01
What does it really mean to commit to something for 10–15 years?In this episode, Jason Khalipa reflects on earning his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt—and everything the journey required along the way. From starting jiu j…