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Fighting Matters

Fighting Matters
Jiu-Jitsu
Far-Right Extremism
Fascism
UFC
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Jiu Jitsu
Martial Arts
Community
Sexual Assault
Mental Health
MMA
Combat Sports
Violence
Trump's Big Beautiful Bill
Donald Trump
Active Clubs
Political Violence
Charlie Kirk
Authoritarianism
Consent

Fighting fascism and the far-right in combat sports like MMA and BJJ.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes90Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
WrestlingNewsSportsSports News

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Artwork for Fighting Matters

Latest Episodes

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Jesse Walker and Mike Mahaffey catch up on a run of recent news where powerful people did awful things and faced no real consequences: Andrew Tate arrested on 42 charges he may never answer for, ICE killings at tr... more

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In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan is joined by Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ to talk about Graham Platner, the Maine Senate candidate whose campaign has come apart under a run of scandals: a Nazi-associated tattoo, credible sexual ass... more

YouTube

In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, Steve Kwan is joined by Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ and Mike Mahaffey of Old Bastard BJJ on the eve of America's 250th Fourth of July. They open with whether there's anything left to celebrate and ... more

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In this episode of Fighting Matters, co-hosts Jesse Walker and Mike Mahaffey take on Conor McGregor's UFC comeback and the media tour selling it: a man found civilly liable for sexual assault, platformed on Jimmy Fallon like none of it happened, with... more

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Recent Guests

Dr. Clayton Green
Jiu Jitsu dermatologist, Associate Professor of Dermatology, expert on skin infections
University of Rochester; Schwarzer Dermatology Group
Episode: Why did UFC BJJ let Mikey compete with a staph infection?
David Riedman
Jiu-Jitsu practitioner with national security/AI background
The Riedman Report / K-12 School Shooting Database
Episode: How Jiu-Jitsu Survives the AI Era
Andrea Tang
Host on BJJ Today; published novelist
Penguin Random House / BJJ Today
Episode: A Man Broke Into My Apartment at 4 AM (feat. Andrea Tang)
Mike Mahaffey
Jiujitsu coach and gym owner advocate
Old Bastard BJJ; Magic BJJ
Episode: How YOU Can Clean Up Jiu-Jitsu
Jesse Walker
From Rough Hands BJJ
Rough Hands BJJ
Episode: Why BJJ Camps Need Less Jiu-Jitsu
Niamh Bryn
Mutual friend from Snowblind BJJ
Snowblind BJJ
Episode: Why BJJ Camps Need Less Jiu-Jitsu
Hannah Gais
Senior Research Analyst at the Southern Poverty Law Center
Southern Poverty Law Center
Episode: How to Identify "Active Clubs" in BJJ
Eric Lowe
HEMA practitioner and educator
Episode: How HEMA Pushed Out White Supremacists (And What BJJ Can Learn)
Matt Tansey
Clinical mental health counselor
Private practice in Vermont, Connecticut, Colorado
Episode: Jiu-Jitsu Isn't Therapy

Hosts

Steve Kwan
Host of Fighting Matters; co-host; focuses on culture, safety, and extremism in martial arts
Jesse Kwan
Co-host and guest host; engages on culture, safety, and policy topics
Mike Mahaffey
Jiujitsu coach and gym owner; practical insights on gym culture and safeguarding communities
Stephan Kesting
Host and martial arts educator; contributes technical and cultural perspectives

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 26 ratings
  • Absolutely love your show!!!

    I’ve been looking for a community of martial artists who lean progressive. I’m a 59 year old getting back into taekwondo after being out of martial arts since my college days. Thank you for what you all do!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Slingmeister
    United States5 months ago
  • Timely and Important

    This is exactly what we need right now. It’s so important. I’m a professional historian (not a YouTube historian) and a lifelong martial artist. It’s about time the martial arts community opened its eyes to what is happening. We can be on the right side of history, or the wrong side. The good guys or the bad guys.

    This podcast is important.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FreeBornAde
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • More of this!

    This is the energy we need more of in this community!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Biglou502
    United Statesa year ago
  • Thank you!

    Thank you so much for putting this out there! We need more of this in the BJJ community, we are not all on the Rogan

    to fascist pipeline.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BJJ lawyer
    United Statesa year ago
  • Wonderful podcast

    Glad to see there are sane bjj people out there and it’s not just me listening to right wingers in the change room

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Judokris
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Respectful, research-backed discussions that challenge assumptions.
Insightful, asks thoughtful questions about culture and accountability.
Balanced coverage of controversial topics with emphasis on safety and inclusion.
Brings in diverse expert perspectives and practical takeaways for gym communities.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#143
Canada/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#176
Germany/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#223
Australia/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#23
Netherlands/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#39
Norway/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#72
Denmark/Sports/Wrestling

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Jiu-Jitsu Survives the AI Era
Q: Where should gym owners draw the line on using AI for business decisions?
Use AI for low-stakes, routine tasks that improve efficiency without replacing essential human interaction or strategic judgment; rely on humans to verify critical outputs, especially in areas like coaching, pricing, and member engagement.
How Jiu-Jitsu Survives the AI Era
Q: What exactly is AI doing when you ask it to write a contract or analyze a document?
AI acts as a highly advanced predictor, not a true thinker, mapping patterns across vast data to produce outputs that often resemble human reasoning but are based on statistical likelihood rather than understanding, which can lead to correct results or hallucinations.
A Man Broke Into My Apartment at 4 AM (feat. Andrea Tang)
Q: What message would you share with other survivors considering speaking out or pursuing justice?
Speak when you're ready, because the public response can be cruel, but sharing your experience can connect and empower others, and it also helps expose systemic issues that need reform.
A Man Broke Into My Apartment at 4 AM (feat. Andrea Tang)
Q: How did your martial arts training influence your response during the incident and in the courtroom later?
The training gave me practical reflexes to create space and breathe, and the courtroom process exposed me to the realities of trauma, evidence, and long-term resilience.
The Invisible Heart of BJJ (w/ Valerie Worthington)
Q: How could the sport advance through professionalization and education?
She proposes clearer roles for instructors, better preparation and ethics training, and a system that supports individuals and communities in evaluating and improving practices, not just policing behavior.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Fighting Matters

What is Fighting Matters about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on combat sports culture with a sharp focus on accountability, safety, and ethics, especially around the influence of politics, extremism, and social issues in gyms and events. Episodes frequently examine how gyms, camps, and promotions handle misconduct, safeguarding communities, and creating inclusive environments, often pairing practical guidance for owners and coaches with thoughtful analysis of broader societal dynamics. Notable themes include countering extremist recruitment, responsible use of technology and AI in training and business, and driving healthier culture while staying true to sport values. A standout pattern is diverse, expert-informed discussions that push for concrete actions listeners can take to impr... more

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How many listeners does Fighting Matters get?

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What are the audience demographics for Fighting Matters?

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How many subscribers and views does Fighting Matters have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Fighting Matters has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Fighting Matters?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Fighting Matters:

1. BJJ Mental Models
2. The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting
3. The Chewjitsu Podcast
4. Bulletproof For BJJ Podcast
5. Maintenance Phase

How many episodes of Fighting Matters are there?

Fighting Matters launched a year ago and published 90 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Fighting Matters?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Fighting Matters?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Fighting Matters from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Fighting Matters?

Recent guests on Fighting Matters include:

1. Dr. Clayton Green
2. David Riedman
3. Andrea Tang
4. Mike Mahaffey
5. Jesse Walker
6. Niamh Bryn
7. Hannah Gais
8. Eric Lowe

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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