Caffeinated Jiu Jitsu

From The Mat To The Stage: Kaitlyn Crokers BJJ and Country Music Journey

• Host Joe Motes • Episode 27

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What happens when country melodies meet the mats of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

 Kaitlyn Croker, a rising star in the world of country music and BJJ enthusiast, joins me during this episode to reveal her unique journey. From singing Disney princess songs to channeling her experiences from a military upbringing into heartfelt music, Kaitlyn shares how storytelling through song became her passion. Meanwhile, her brother's jiu-jitsu practice sparked a new interest, leading her to begin training Gracie Barra in Nashville, Tennessee. Kaitlyn opens up about how these two worlds collide in her life, shaping her music and building resilience through challenges.

Listen as Kaitlyn recounts her family's adventurous move to Nashville to support her career, living in an RV, and the unexpected path it led her to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She talks about the camaraderie found on the mats and the supportive community that embraces both her musical talent and martial prowess. With humorous anecdotes about her jiu-jitsu training, including those intense "shark tank" drills and musical notes sneaking into practice, Kaitlyn illustrates how the structure and discipline of martial arts influence her songwriting and live performances.

Our conversation wraps up with insights into striking a balance between these dual passions and the surprising parallels between performing on stage and facing opponents on the mat. Kaitlyn shares the story behind her song "Dead Man Walking," inspired by the strength she's found through jiu-jitsu. We explore what it means to juggle such diverse careers, her dream training partners, and even a few surprising playlist picks for pre-competition hype. Whether you're a lover of country music, a jiu-jitsu enthusiast, or both, this episode promises to entertain and inspire.

Connect with Kaitlyn on IG https: https://www.instagram.com/kaitlyncrokerofficial/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Visit https://kaitlyncroker.com/

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Caitlin Croker

INTO/Outro

Welcome to Caffeinated Jiu-Jitsu the blend of white belt enthusiasm, black belt wisdom and a dash of caffeine for that extra kick. Dive deep into the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as we explore the journey, techniques, challenges and the sheer joy of the sport from a white belt's perspective, from intriguing interviews with renowned coaches and professors to playful fun episodes that'll have you chuckling mid-roll. We've got it all brewed and ready Now stepping onto the mats and into your ears here's your host, joe moats, of Caffeinated Jiu-Jitsu.

Host

I am your host, joe Motes, and today I am super excited to sit down with someone who's making waves in two different worlds, and that is the world of country music and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. My guest today is the incredibly talented Kaitlin Croker. Kaitlin, welcome.

Guest

Hello, thank you so much for having me.

Host

Thank you so much for being here. Caitlin is a rising country music star with a passion for country music and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. So we're going to talk about how she got into jiu-jitsu and how it influences her life, day-to-day and music, and how she balances both careers and training. And so, caitlin, again, thanks for taking time to speak with us and be on the show.

Guest

Of course, these are my two favorite things, so I can't wait to dive into it.

Host

So, and preparing for a conversation, I am just going to start it out like this right, the song You're a Hero. Right, I got that title right, correct, you're the hero, you're the hero.

Host

Yes, there, that is an amazing song thank you, I love that song, um, you know, I know you're you're from a military family. We'll talk a little bit about that, um, but I'm a military vet and you know I had, uh what, three deployments to iraq, one to afghanistan, one to kuwait, and it was just so much of that song. I was just like, oh, gosh, gosh, yeah, and there was a, there was a lyric in it and it. I know you, you can correct me, of course, but it was around, even though bullets ricochet, it doesn't mean.

Guest

I'm bulletproof. Yes, yes, yes.

Host

Girl, that was good, that was good, thank you.

Guest

Thank you so much. That line is probably my favorite one because it's about you know, even though through the distance we're still together, you know we're still family, it still hurts, you know, I don't have like my dad here with me and it hurts the relationship, you know.

Host

Well, I mean it doesn't, doesn't, but Well, yeah, I mean, you know why they're doing it right, we know why we're doing it Exactly. You know it doesn't make that that. That make it see any easier, right?

Guest

So yeah, yes, exactly, exactly.

Host

Well, we're already starting to talk a little bit about your background, so let's just continue right on.

Guest

All right.

Host

So yeah, obviously our listeners may be new to to who you are. There's probably several out there who listen to country music and may know. But tell us about your journey first into country music, also dive in a little bit about maybe your family and things like that, but just kind of, how did all of this start for you?

Guest

Yeah, so I started off I tell people singing my Disney princess songs Just a little four-year-old girl, you know sing my favorite songs at the top of my lungs. And then my parents just encouraged me when I was younger to keep singing and I enjoyed it. So I then shifted into Christian music and started leading worship at my church and then listened to Broadway and musicals.

Guest

So, I thought I was going to go that route. And then I fell in love with Tim McGraw's Don't Take the Girl, and I remember driving in the car with my mom one day and her turning up the radio and saying listen to the lyrics. And I just remember that feeling. After the song was done I was like, oh my God, the writing in the song is incredible. It's powerful. I want to be a part of this. So that's what started the country music journey.

Family Move Leads to Jiu-Jitsu Journey

Guest

So my family decided to pack everything up in Southern Maryland, where I'm from, and make the move. We sold my childhood home, we bought an RV and then moved to Nashville in it as a family of six. It was supposed to be temporary, but we ended up living in it for eight and a half months, I think. So it was definitely a step of faith. My family, we're big planners, so we don't just sell a house and move to a new state and start a new life. But we did. I have a quick question.

Host

I'm sorry to interrupt yeah, no worries like like that is big, that's a big thing to do as a family. And and did you, did you feel, did you feel any pressure, right like gosh? I couldn't imagine.

Guest

I would be like oh my gosh right, I gotta do this first, and I do want to brag on my family and say they are incredible. You know, I couldn't have asked for better parents, better brothers, a better support system.

Guest

So, that's that, and they put zero pressure on me, but at the same time they did move here primarily for me. So it's like, all right, kid, don't mess this up, you know. But no, it's great. We all love doing it together. They are on my team and they always have been and I hope always will be, so it's just so fun to get to do this with my family.

Host

So your passion for singing started super young. So Disney princesses, who was your favorite princess?

Guest

Well, I guess she wasn't a princess, but I loved mulan, oh yeah, oh gosh, that's she's hardcore. That was my jam I liked her yeah um, I loved ariel.

Host

I sang a lot of annie when I was younger I uh, because I was gonna ask if ariel was, but in my head I couldn't remember if a Ariel was a princess. But she was right Because she was the.

Guest

Yes, yes, yeah, she yeah that's awesome. Been a minute since I've, yeah, been a minute.

Host

Since you sit down and watched it and I, yeah, yeah, mulan, I remember watching it. Now, mulan's the one. Oh my gosh, I'm going to date myself here. Well, the listeners know I'm an old guy. So is that the one with the dragon? That little dragon.

Guest

Yes, yes, I love that one. She leaves her family, dishonors them, goes to serve in the war and dresses as a man and the whole thing.

Host

That's kind of hardcore, though I like that. Yeah, I think Malana would have trained jiu-jitsu Maybe she did.

Guest

We'll pretend she did, I think she did too.

Host

Yeah, yeah. So as far as Nashville, y'all moved to Nashville. How long have you been in Nashville again?

Guest

I think you said so I think it's about three and a half years now.

Host

Okay.

Guest

Yeah.

Host

Perfect, perfect. Well, you know, here's kind of every. I'm sure the listeners by now have figured this out, but there's a crossover here that people probably don't expect. How did you go from country music singer up and coming country music singer to getting into jujitsu Right? I mean, like I, I've been researching because I want a series here on the podcast called Celebrity Jiu-Jitsu right, where I'm reaching out to like Keanu Reeves and Tom Hardy and all these people, but I haven't found any country music singers except for you that are training in Jiu-Jitsu. Good to be here.

Host

Now, I know they're out there, but how did?

Guest

you get into it, yeah. So my little brother started first. I went to his first class and I was like, oh so weird, but intriguing. You know it's interesting. I've never been a part of anything like that. I think I did taekwondo when I was maybe five for some time with my older brothers, but we didn't stick with it. So, yeah, shout out to the first class and I was just very intrigued. So I did a trial class and absolutely fell in love with it. I thought putting on a gi, wearing a gi, tying my belt, was the weirdest thing in the world. You know those brand new super stiff gis. And I was like I'm like wearing pajamas but people are tugging at them and I don't know what I'm doing. But this is so fun. Yeah, there are just so many emotions at the beginning of it. But yeah, my little brother started and I signed up like the next class.

Host

Yeah, it's crazy how I talked to first off, I asked every guest about their journey and we all have different ways we came in to jiu-jitsu, but there's also those similarities and it's always I won't say that it's almost always through another family member or a friend like I got into it because my one of my younger boys was doing it and then he decided to do soccer. But this academy that he started in did like annual contracts and I didn't want to break a contract. So I was like I'll go try a couple classes and I mean it gets you right. It either gets you or it doesn't, but when it gets you, it gets you and you're like I'm gonna do this for the rest of my life.

Host

Yeah, and yes, the hardest thing was figuring out how to do a square knot and with the belt and make that little call it the butt right, the little butt thing, yeah, yeah, it took me way too long to learn how to do that well, you and I are both blue belts and there are times where I look down I'm like, oops, let me fix that roof before I get on the map yeah, so where do you train at?

Host

gracie baja okay, and that's in Nashville, right.

Guest

Yes.

Host

Yes, awesome, awesome. And who's your instructor?

Guest

Professor Brian.

Host

Nice, nice. Yes, yeah, gracie's Love it. I haven't ever visited Gracie gym. I'm excited to, but I gotta tell you I'm a little nervous too, right, and not for anything for any bad reason, but like there's some serious jujitsu practitioners in there and it would be my luck, I would walk into the Gracie gym where the oldest person's like 25. Right, and like competition focused and oh my gosh.

Guest

Yeah. That's not my gym, by the way.

Host

Yeah, yeah.

Guest

Thanks for telling me you're in Nashville. Let me know. Oh my gosh, yeah, that's not my gym. By the way, yeah, yeah, next time you're in Nashville, let me know.

Host

Oh, 100%, we are totally training together. Okay, so how long have you been training? Total years.

Guest

Oh, I think it's like two years. I'm going to say I believe Maybe just under. Yeah, I believe I started in 2023.

Host

And you, as I mentioned, you're a blue belt, right? Yes, let me ask you this being a blue belt, this is something I've dealt with. Did you feel like, oh my gosh, I'm a blue belt, now I'm supposed to know all this stuff and like like kind of that, not ready for advancement to blue belt, kind of deal?

Guest

Like I'm not supposed to be losing to white belts still.

Host

Oh my gosh, yes, I know, yeah, I know, like two strike white belts and I'm just like getting crushed like two-stroke black belts and I'm just like getting crushed.

Guest

It's, it's. It's a new ball game, because you know the wrist locks and all that fun stuff. That's now legal and yeah yeah, I mean it's.

Guest

I did feel a little like uncertain about this, like are you sure I'm ready for this? But you know, it was a big honor too and I was so proud to get it, just because I mean blood, sweat and tears, you know when it's that kind of sport. But yeah, you know, going up against other people, it just depends. You know some white belts that are there training every day compared to me. I make it whenever I can, but my schedule doesn't allow very often.

Host

Right.

Guest

You know it makes for a pretty even battle, yeah.

Host

Yeah, well, I think it says a lot about kind of your training, consistency and training, but just how you approach training to know with your schedule, right, yeah, and I have no idea and we'll talk about this some more in a bit like what all it takes to be in your profession and to be out on the road and singing, but I can imagine that the time management is just it's hard. So the fact that you were, you know, training in a Gracie Baja and training to the level of getting your blue belt and putting that in that mat time, that says a lot about the way you approach training. So, as you know, kudos I appreciate that yeah absolutely so.

Host

Um so cup combined in music and jiu-jitsu or martial arts. You said you, you taekwondo you. You did a little when you were younger, too.

Guest

Yeah, yes, correct.

Host

So you know, jiu jujitsu and music seem like you know really two different. You know worlds or not really parallels, but do you see any similarities between, maybe, the discipline of training and, like, the discipline it takes for training? Right, we just talked about your consistency and showing up and doing what you're supposed to and then, um, the discipline required to it's the best way to say this to succeed in music, right to. You know, dedicate time for your writing? Uh, because I think you said you were. You know you are a singer, songwriter, you like to write your own stuff, so, yeah, yeah, I mean, you know you're, you're rolling training every day.

Guest

you're gonna get better. You're practicing guitar singing every day. It's that's also gonna get better. So, um, it's. Jiu-jitsu has taught me more than anything how to overcome mental battles, because a huge part of being in the music industry it's all mental. You know you're singing on stage and you're wondering you know, do these people like what they're hearing? Am I singing the right songs? Am I on pitch? Do I look? Okay, you know what is that person talking to the other person? About All that? And jujitsu is more of a mental battle than anything, because you know you're getting choked, you have to keep your head, you have to keep going, you can't stop or you know you end up getting choked and having to tap out and all that. So perseverance is a huge thing that jujitsu has taught me and I'm very thankful for it.

Host

Yeah, yeah, I think that's. That's a great similarity. It's a mental thing. Again, I can't you know really well, I guess, if I put myself in that scenario, I've done public speaking, not singing but, yeah, I found myself thinking, like, what are they whispering about?

Host

Are they not like, am I making this like too complex? Am I not breaking this down? Do I know what I'm talking about? Okay, I think when you're in front of a crowd like that, you know one thing I want to ask, because this, this, actually it was funny. I was thinking about our conversation driving home this evening and this question kind of popped in my head when I thought about this. And no, I don't, I don't memorize every question I'm going to ask, but so so the creativity it takes to write a song because you wrote you're the hero, correct, right, you wrote that song. So, yes, the creativity it takes to put something like that together, that you see similarities in the creativity of developing your jujitsu game, because there's so much right that we can do. How many guards are there and how many submissions do am I, you know? Is my game leg locks? Is my game chokes? Am I being clear in kind of the ask there?

Guest

yeah, yeah, for sure, I mean I've I found myself rolling with someone and creating new moves, not on purpose, but just trying to get out of a certain position.

Jiu-Jitsu and Music Challenges

Guest

I remember the first time I ever the first class. Do you guys do shark tank?

Host

I don't think so. No, that doesn't ring a bell. I've heard of shark tank, but I don't know if I know what it is.

Guest

Best and worst thing ever is like half the people will go down and then everybody standing in line will go fight someone. Everybody's standing in line. We'll go fight someone and normally it's in close guard and first person to sweep or um yes, we do do that yes stays and then goats back in line.

Guest

okay. So first class ever we did that and I was like, oh my gosh, what, what have I just gotten myself into? And um, I I remember like winning one of them and I like stood up, did some weird move with the foot behind me, while I was in close guard and I don't even remember what I did, but I was like that worked Cool. I like this sport, but I mean, it's just like from day one, it's all about getting creative. I find it hard to remember the moves we learn in class, because I'm not there super consistently where there's a song stuck in my head that I had like just written that day or had just come from a write, and I find myself like humming it, singing it, whistling, and I'm like no, no, get back in the game, you know.

Host

so it's confusing sometimes they, they bleed into each other they do.

Guest

yes, I mean, I've never found myself, you know know, rolling while singing on stage, so it's like jujitsu hasn't really crept into music, but music has definitely crept into jujitsu.

Host

Yeah, that would be. That would be hard, unless, like, oh my gosh, I like I'm not speaking this into your life or anything, but like you see the YouTube videos I was watching maybe it was IG where, like Matt Rafe the comedian, the guy like jumped up on the stage and ran up there, I feel sorry for someone. If they do that, Like you could like totally take them down and your fans are going to be going nuts. Yeah, now I'm going to have to watch all your live streams now. Just just, I'm hoping that's fine.

Guest

I'll send you a video, if that ever happens.

Host

Yeah, please do do um. So so you were talking about rolling like your very first uh day and I think when I started training uh here in uh brazelton before I moved over to alliance, I think I was rolling by uh this second or third like class because I was like super out of shape. But, um, but at alliance, right like our new white belts don't roll into like 30, 40 something classes. Right, like they have to even test yeah yeah, it's, it's they, so they get.

Host

So when they start rolling, they come with like this massive amount of knowledge of the fundamentals, which is cool. That's helpful, right, and that's like, I guess, the reason I'm sharing that is do you remember kind of the point in jujitsu where things started making sense?

Guest

Because that's only happened to me, like recently like recently, like I feel like I had just started getting things and then I took a break, not by my own choice, just because things picked up, and then it was like the first day all over again getting back into it and I'm like I'm not on my game. But I will say I think one of my strengths is defense. I typically know where people are going. Even if I'm not the best moving into different positions, I'm better at defending and I've just learned that from getting knocked down too many times. Yeah.

Host

Yeah, my entire game is a bottom game and it's because I've always been on the bottom getting crushed.

Host

And I was like well there's no way I'm going to purposely be the guy on top a lot so yeah yeah, so it's, it's for sure offense through defense right that's right, that's right so so thinking about, uh, staying kind of on some, I guess the parallels, if you will, up to jiu-jitsu and in your music career, I guess the parallels, if you will, of jiu-jitsu and your music career has, let's see, how can I say this? Has training jiu-jitsu helped you approach challenges in a different way in your music career you mentioned, you know, sometimes you get in your head when you're on stage or vice versa. Has your music career ever kind of?

INTO/Outro

like hey, this is nothing.

Host

I mean this role's tough, but like I was singing to a thousand people last night, so is there any correlation there in overcoming challenges between the two?

Guest

Well, so it's funny.

Jiu-Jitsu, Music, and Self-Care

Guest

I guess I must've been a little cocky. My first competition, my first and only competition, I was like you know, I'm used to getting on stage and overcoming obstacles. You know things go wrong and you just learn to adapt and you know the show must go on. So I'm like you know, it's just like that, I'll be fine. I've trained, I've practiced. I think I had only been doing jujitsu for like two or three months.

INTO/Outro

At that point.

Guest

I mean, I was brand new. I don't know why I even decided to compete, but I stepped on the mat. I've never been more terrified for anything in my life and I remember my professor saying that he's like this is a new ball game. When you step on the mat, you know it's like the other person's trying to come for your life, you know. So I was like, yeah, you know it's fine, though I'm used to. You know, have some nerves, you get on stage and then you just do your thing and it'll be fine. Nope, I got choked out in the first 30 seconds. I think I had just learned, like the class before, I didn't know you could do submissions from.

Host

Half Guard, so the other girl got me from the. Ezekiel choke From half guard.

Guest

She was on top yeah.

Host

Yes, yes, yeah. So I'll tell you yeah. So, thinking back to my first competition and I lost, my first competition too. It was a I lost. They got me in a cross collar choke from close guard.

Guest

Yeah, yeah.

Host

Um, always listen to your coach from the sideline yes, yeah, you know it's hard to though it's impossible. It's not hard it's impossible, um, but no, I uh, I know exactly what you're talking about because I've been. You know I've been deployed, I've been in combat zones, I've jumped out of airplanes, I've done all these things that that are scary and intimidating. And you know, I have five kids and five boys and that's terrifying every day, having all those kids around boys wow and but it.

Host

Wow, but it's hard to explain. It's once you get on the bullpen or the waiting area, whatever they call it at that tournament, and you go and you, you know they do the come on the mat. Hey, I just remember it a haze, not a daze, but just like this fog of okay, we're about to do this and I know I grabbed the collar.

Guest

We're about to do this and I know I grabbed the collar, but I don't remember much after that. Yeah, and you cling on with those death grips because you just over grip, because you're not used to that.

Guest

Yeah, I mean, it's definitely a new ballgame. I remember having a show that night. I competed in the morning and then had to play that night. Oh, wow, I think I said like sorry, my voice is a little raspy. You know, today did my first competition and, um, you know, being a brand new white belt, I I really thought I could make it through the Ezekiel choke. I, you know, could have found my way out of it, but no, you know when you're brand new.

Guest

you're like I can hold out but out, but no, you just doubt.

Host

You know, actually, let's talk about that. Let me ask you this. I know this is something we met initially, just kind of for our verbal meet and greet the other day. Yes, we talked a little bit about this and made sure we wanted to talk about it, so we're going to talk about it now. How did you take care of yourself in training to ensure you can stay healthy to get on stage? Training to ensure you can stay healthy to get on stage, because here's the I mean. Again, it goes back to the pressure too, because I mean these, these venues pay for you to come, right, I mean you people buy tickets to see you or or whatever. How so you have to go like you can't. It would kill your brand not to show up or cancel. Right, and you're trying to grow and get so don't want to over-talk it. How do you keep yourself healthy?

Guest

So I train as much as I can for the workout so I stay healthy. In that regard, I will not train typically the day of or especially the day before I have a show, because jiu-jitsu is all neck, all core, and when you're singing you do not want any tension there, you want it to be completely loose, completely free. And I have noticed I do struggle singing a little bit more because you're fighting people, you know. Just, your muscles learn to adapt, they tense up. When you're fighting someone You're trying to keep your head off the ground. You're, you know, you're keeping your core tight, keeping everything close. Um, so yeah, it 100% affects it. So it's, it's a fine line between doing jiu-jitsu, because I want to keep training, keep bettering myself, but also music is my career, so you know that has to come first. Yeah, and I think I did tell you this the other day, but I have not come unscathed before with with these shows.

Guest

So, for instance, with these shows. So, for instance, I was playing the Bluebird Cafe and I think it was a few days before the Bluebird, I was training and we were doing Shark Tank. I was in let's see close guard. My opponent was going for triangle, so I kind of dove my shoulder in to block his leg and his heel picked me right in the ear and it ended up rupturing my eardrum. So you know, not only was that extremely painful, but I couldn't hear anything, but I still had to play. So no it it turned out being fine. I think I just couldn't hear anything.

Host

So is that like when you kind of rely on I'm getting in the weeds here, but it's the way my mind works at this point in the night? You would think I would be tired at 9-11, but I just. This is caffeinated jujitsu.

Guest

So you have to be caffeinated on it?

Host

Yes, so is that when you rely on kind of like your technology and your audio, like I see, singers wear things in their ears. I don't know if that's it like? Is that? I mean situations like that, because obviously you couldn't hear like yourself normally?

Guest

right, right. So at the bluebird they don't have any of those, so it's just the mic and the monitor. Yeah, no help you're here, do your best right, you got this.

Guest

So at that point I was just running off of what you know muscle memory, just what I'm used to, what singing this song is supposed to feel like. I will say I do think it kind of helped. Not that I would go through that again, but I do think it kind of helped because you know, when you plug your ear you can hear yourself better. It was kind of the same thing. So it's like my ear was all plugged up, even though I couldn't hear that. I was on pitch. After the fact, when I got my hearing back, I think I was probably more on issues than I have ever been. So I think it helped, but I would not go through that again just for that.

Host

Yeah, you have to take care of yourself more than probably your training partners do. Right, like the HR physician recruiter guy doesn't have to worry about, you know, internally damaged senses, larynx and never being able to, you know, live a dream or something like that, you know, so kind of staying back in the weeds here or getting into the weeds. One more question. So this may be a stupid question but I'm going to ask it anyway have you noticed any improvements or any differences in, like your voice, your tone or anything like that, since you've been training jujitsu? And the reason I ask is because all of the you know and again I don't know everything you use when you sing, but like the building of your cardio, like my lungs feel more open and stuff like that, and that's okay if there's not anything you notice. But I just kind of wonder that.

Guest

Yeah, you just spoke on it. So before doing jujitsu I didn't do a whole lot of cardio. I grew up doing a whole bunch of sports but in my later teenage years I really just did like strength training. So jujitsu really helped improve my cardio. So I do think it did help my singing in that regard.

Host

I would definitely think endurance, I mean you're standing there for like what hour? Two hours sometimes. I mean just, you know, a grip strength too, right, because you play the guitar, right, that's your main instrument that you use.

Guest

Yes, yeah, yes yeah.

Host

Actually that would probably help the other way with gripping in jiu-jitsu. Yeah, you're coming there. Like who's this white belt? Like ripping my collar off?

Guest

Yeah, I hadn't thought of that, but that's a good point.

Host

Yeah, when I was a teenager, my stepdad, he had gotten an electric guitar and he was like, here, learn how to play the guitar. And I tried it for about two weeks and the strings. And I was like, oh my God, I can't do this. This is not for me. It's just the initial pain. I didn't get through it and then, plus, I wasn't really that talented.

Guest

Yeah, yeah, I mean that's I always have. But yeah, I've got what cuts on my hands from boxing Um a few days ago, so it's like never. I'm never without any any. You know, battle, battle Mark.

Host

Yeah, so boxing, now too yeah. We'll have to. We'll have to maybe circle back to that one.

Guest

Well, yeah, yeah.

Guest

So, knowing, knowing kind of the risk that training could could have on your career, what, what keeps you coming back, you know, to I remember my professor saying one time a lot of people show up for this sport and they stay for the people, and I found that a hundred percent to be true. Um, like when it? When I'm gone for weeks at a time, I legit miss the people. You know, I can go to the gym and get in a good workout and feel good. You know, wish I was still rolling, but I can still be content because I'm still working out. But you know, I really just miss the people.

Host

So that was that was the most unexpected thing for me, getting into jujitsu Right. So I grew up in small town, georgia and Commerce Georgia. You have to Google it. It's kind of cute town. Everybody here in Georgiaorgia just knows it's where the outlet malls are, but anyway, um, so I I graduated high school with the same friends that I went to elementary school with and you know so.

Host

But when I left, you know, I was all over in the military and stuff and I really didn't keep like like you would have a community but then you would just move away from them. You know, and when I started jujitsu, like it's the, I think what? What surprised me is not so much that I bonded with people because I'm I think I'm a pretty likable guy, but it was how quick the bonds for like, oh man, like I would I gotta bury a body for this guy.

Host

Man, this is my boy, you know Right right right right, you know, and just the deepness of the friendship, yes, and it just comes so fast, and that's why I go back every day, you know, I go back. I'm sore, or I've been lucky enough not to knock on wood here, not to have any injuries yet, but besides black eye and some rash guard burn or some gi burns, on my face.

Host

But yeah, and I think it's always going to be that way, because, especially for us, right, because I think we're in the sense of we're people, person or people, people, right, we'd like people and entertaining and helping or just being with people. But black belts say the same thing, right, they talk about how you know it's the community Every professor tries to foster, or should be trying to foster, that that close knit community, right, that family kind of vibe. I love that, knowing that, that, wow, as long as I'm doing this, it's going to have that feeling.

Guest

Yeah, no for sure when I first started going. So we have something at our gym. We call it dad class. It's the noon class, but they were primarily all dads and some of them were special forces in the Army, air Force force and all that, and they just quickly became like my closest guys, like they'd come out to shows and stuff. Now some of them have moved and I was just saying like, hey, I think I have a show out there. He was like, oh great, bring your game. You know, I'd love to train. Bring your dad, I train with my dad also.

Host

That's cool.

Guest

So, yeah, yeah, I think training with these guys. I mean my confidence just went through the roof, like I can walk down the street now and feel secure. Not that you know I'm naive and think that I can go against any person, but I have a good understanding of weight distribution. And first, just the simple things how to defend a choke and the different steps, how to keep my head when somebody's coming at me, because I'm so used to it. Now, yeah, that that, and then training with these guys. I never thought I'd become really good friends with guys two, three times my age, but I mean, there's some of my favorite people on this planet.

Host

Yeah, yeah.

Guest

Because of jujitsu, so I love it.

Host

Yeah, and I love the diversity of those who train. Right, it can be a CEO, it can be an Army Ranger, it can be a doctor, it can be a nurse. It could be a stay at home. Right, it can be a doctor, it can be a nurse. It could be a stay-at-home mom. Right, it could be anybody and everybody. On the podcast there is this episode. You've got to check it out. Shamelessly plugging here in this episode, but it's called From Homelessness to World Champion and the Rise of Bad Jackie. Right, and her story will blow you away. Wow, she is. She's one of the Alliance World world champions.

Host

She's been training jujitsu for four years, she's a brown belt and oh my gosh and, and let me tell you she's she's going this year for her third consecutive world title and, yeah, she's won a brown belt. She's won in it. Uh, I'm sorry she's won it at blue belt, purple belt and won it at. I'm sorry, she's won it at Blue Belt, purple Belt and now she's going for Brown Belt. And there's no indication that she's not going to get it.

Host

And like just not long ago she was living in a warehouse around rats. She's a military veteran. I mean her story's amazing Anyway, the diversity of it, of her story of jujitsu and then just you know people like her in it. I of her story of of jujitsu and then just you know people like her in it. I love the stories, so yeah.

Guest

Wow, that's. That's incredible.

Host

Yeah, I'll. I'll send you the link to it. You'll love it.

Guest

I would love to take a listen.

Jiu-Jitsu Techniques and Music Tour Balance

Host

So you, you train with your dad, you train with what we call like sounds like the executive class, right Like for us, us older guys. So let's get kind of technical. Do you have any favorite techniques cards? Anything like that, like what kind of what's your game consist of?

Guest

Yeah, I've been told I'm best at taking the back. I enjoy it the most. I actually just learned a fun little sneaky trick last night where you can choke someone out Whether you think you're going to the back, and then you just grab cross collar and get them in a body triangle.

Host

Oh, nice, get it done.

Guest

Yeah, I like taking the back a lot, I like. So if this is the other person's gi, let's see. So I describe this so I'm in closed guard what I take the person's gi and kind of like get their hips up a little and then move the gi around their arm. Oh, nice. And I love chopping their arm. They never see it coming and I love seeing their reaction when that happens. I promise, I'm a team player, but I do enjoy that.

Host

So is it a sweep you're setting up from there, or is it a lock? There's some type of lock there from there or is it a lock? There's some type of lock there it.

Guest

Yeah, it's just a lock. Like you, you just chop their arm and then you proceed with your sweep, and it just makes it easier because now you're only defending one arm that's right, all right so.

Host

So when I come train in nashville, you got to show me that okay, yeah, we'll do it's, it's so easy.

Guest

And then I've been really blessed to have some amazing training partners. I do remember this. One time, though, I went to another school. This person was just throwing me around like it wasn't technique at all. There's someone to show you how strong I am. And oh boy, and I was getting mad like I was furious, so I got out and then, um, do you know what the nutcracker is?

Host

no, no, not familiar, I mean the play.

Guest

But you take yeah, you take their um, their collar and you just dig your um knuckles into their jaw. It's very painful, um, and it's it's. It's a little you don't want to do on your friends, but it's it, you know it's it's reserved for those type of people exactly I know again.

Host

I I promise I'm a nice roller look, I, I know exactly what you're talking about. Sometimes we have those people who come in from time to time too. It's usually like the wrestlers that come in.

Guest

Yeah.

Host

Or those who train MMA right, they're going to go to the UFC.

Guest

Yeah.

Host

I remember one. This wrestler just picked me up and he was just slamming me over and over. I got him in a guillotine and surprised him and he just kept slamming me and slamming me. I think it was twice. And then my professor, professor Maciel, saw it and he stopped. He was like, hey, you can't do that, you can't do that. And then he did it again. Professor Maciel stopped the round and said hey, you come with me now.

Guest

Oh, I knew you were going to say that.

Host

That's the best move. Oh, I love it. Yeah, and let me tell you it was Wow. There's a lot of places that I've been in my life that I would never you know, I would say are just terrible places that I wouldn't wish on anybody, and that his role, that makes the list. Yeah, so because our professor he's, he's an ultra heavyweight, he's a jack big guy. Wow, I mean, he's a beast on the mat.

Guest

My goodness.

Host

He won nationals last year. He's just a strong dude and anytime you roll with him it's bad enough as it is. So when he goes like 40 or 50% on you, it's just. But I love that Blast. You're 50% on you, but I love that. I love that more and more these days is kind of suppressed in gyms, especially since look, you and I aren't aiming to be world champions.

Host

We just like jujitsu and want to have something of our own, you know. But it's good that that culture is being fostered, I think, across the board, and I hope that's good that that that culture is being fostered, I think, across the board, and I hope that's something that continues.

Guest

Yes, yes, me too.

Host

I I 100 agree with that, yeah so, uh, you're definitely gonna have to show me that. That arm trap. Uh, I love using the gi too. I I've recently started doing some lapel chokes like lapel uh ezekiel, my game is a hundred percent, almost half guard and or deep half when it's not half guard and um, as far as submissions, I'm almost all chokes.

Host

I I find, uh that the locks and uh, anything to do with the legs, just it's just real steppy and I'm not I'm not a smart dude, I have to keep it simple. So, yeah, um, I try to stay with those things.

Guest

Yeah, I agree I don't like to. Well, I would try more things, but again, when you're not there that often it makes it difficult. So I'm a big smash pass person. I love it and it can work for almost any size. Some people you know you just struggle with that one, or they know it's coming, so they know how to defend it.

Host

But oftentimes that one works out pretty well for me yeah, I think that's a good one too does have, I think, a high, high ratio of success. So so we've been kind of uh talking a lot about you know, on the uh being on the mat, let's talk, uh. Let's get back to kind of your music career mixed with jujitsu. How do you balance this thing right? How do you keep that balance? I know you're I would imagine you go on some type of tour. I mean you don't just sing solely around Nashville. You talked about being here in Georgia not long ago. Like, how do you do this? Do you go to other gyms? Do you have a plan? I don't know.

Guest

You know well, first of all, my professor joked about like, oh, you know, you have to take us on the road when you get a tour bus and we can train, you know, before shows and stuff. And I was like, yeah, yeah, for sure, let's do that. We haven't yet to do that. Um, typically when I go to other states and travel, one, you know normally there's not a lot of room for extra space and geese are bulky little things. But also it goes along with if, if someone is training and you know, has it out for, you know, practicing chokes and stuff, it makes it really difficult to sing and combat against that when your muscles are already tired and sore and then you have to go perform. You know it's a dust, you can, so it that that makes it difficult. And normally when you are traveling it's a pretty tight schedule. But, um, I would like to be more intentional this year about seeing if there are nearby schools and still branching out and trying to train if we have enough time and if the schedule allows.

Host

Yeah, yeah, I would imagine that I don't see how it could be done right, training regularly on the road and, you know, being present on the road and doing all the things. I would imagine I mean in your downtime you're trying to maybe get those creative juices flowing and do some writing on those trips. I think that's a great idea. About the tour bus thing, I mean, how cool would it be to have like your own personal jujitsu training coach yeah. That would be cool.

Host

Sounds like a no-brainer to me oh, you know what that actually sounds like a good business idea. I'm gonna have to jot that down in my journal. Like, um, when I get to be a black belt, um, nobody's gonna want a blue belt. Maybe if they didn't know any better, like, wait a minute, this guy's only been doing it for two years, but yeah, no, that's awesome, that's. You know, I could definitely see how it can be difficult, but it sounds like you kind of think it through. Do you ever get, or maybe have you ever gotten a chance to train at I don't know some other gym in another state or what have you, while you were on the road and if you?

Host

did what was the experience like.

Guest

So out of state I have not done yet. My dad works at the Pentagon now and I keep encouraging him to go to some of the schools around DC and the Virginia area, so I might just have to tag along one of these trips and go with him. But yeah, I've not left the state yet to do that. But I will say there is no better feeling for me than having, or after a long, stressful day you know, writing, doing music, studio, whatever and then just turning all that off and just fighting rolling. You know, it's just, it's it's in frame for me and I feel like it just it keeps me getting it all out on the mat.

Musicians Discuss Jiu-Jitsu Training

Host

Do you do any like solo drills, like maybe in your hotel or something like that when you're traveling? Like because sometimes when I travel for business this is gonna sound weird, but like I'll, do you know like 50 hip hip escapes, or yeah, you know, uh, hip thrust or something. It's just something like we do in warm up. Do you ever do any?

Guest

of that, so I have before. I don't do it super regularly, um. At the same time, though, my little brother trains, and so practically wherever we are, you know we're, he's coming in from behind me, um, and going in for a joke, and all that. Typically, as you know, luck would have it, I'm typically at a show in heels and he just feels the need to sit up on a stool next to me and just go in for the choke. And I'm trying to talk to someone and like, yeah, I'm a little defining the choke and I'm all bad. How old is he? He's 11.

Host

Yeah, I have 11 here. Oh gosh, is Cam 11 or 12? I gotta write this stuff down.

Guest

Isn't that, adrian?

Host

How long has your dad been trained?

Guest

He's actually the newest member of the family to train.

Host

Yeah, tell me that story.

Guest

So my little brother he was the first one, and then I signed up the class after. And then my dad, he was the first one, and then I signed up the class after. And then my dad, he started doing it maybe, I think, less than a year ago. Oh wow, and so yeah, he's again. He's in DC every other week, so that makes it kind of difficult for him to train and all that.

Guest

But yeah, he's. He's my least favorite opponent to train because he's the strongest and he doesn't even realize how strong he is. Like I'll be in his close guard and I'm like I can't breathe and I'm like we're not even doing anything. I'm just like kneeling there and I'm like you win. I mean everyone else. You know even some of the special ops guys. Like I enjoy rolling with them because I'm learning something. I'm typically losing because they've got all this.

Guest

You know, prior experience of fighting and all that, but my dad used to be so dang strong that I'm just every position it's like all right, you got it good job yeah, I.

Host

I. So my brother-in-law trains now. He just started, oh awesome and gosh, I'm so proud of him. He, he go, he's actually trains more than than I train. I didn't go training tonight because I kind of had something going on, yeah and I, uh, he, uh, yeah, he'll text me going to training tonight, going to train now. I am but trying, you'll probably be me there, but it's it it was.

Host

Um. So my son Easton's birthday was over this week, this past weekend, and both her brothers came down and her parents came down, my wife's parents came down and it was just. It was just kind of cool to have somebody to sit there and, you know, talk about like kind of geek out for a little bit I thought that was pretty cool because I totally, I totally geek out. Did you ever watch like BJJ fanatics and like technique stuff when you're on the road, like IG stuff, or do you stay away from that stuff?

Guest

So I haven't recently. When I first started, I was obsessed with it. So I was homeschooled the last three years of high school because I moved to Nashville and was doing music full time. So, you know, when I was supposed to be doing schoolwork I was still, you know, learning things just on YouTube and about jujitsu. So, yes, I did a lot of that, not not so much now, just because I can't find the time.

Host

Yeah.

Guest

But early on yes.

Host

Yeah, when are you going to be able to sit down and watch an hour instructional Right? So, um, yeah, I'm kind of a nerd, I still do a lot of that stuff now. Yeah, I'm kind of a nerd, I still do a lot of that stuff. Now, like, I've come to the point, I think, in my journey where I can separate the bs, like, yeah, that's only going to work on somebody if they're they're dead, but I still like it, especially when I'm traveling.

Host

Let me, um, let me ask you this so when you come across your fans and and, by the way, I'm one of your new fans but when you you come, when you come across your fans or fellow musicians musician, I can't say that word your favorite singer, songwriters, there we go yeah, are they. Are they ever surprised to find out? You train jujitsu like do they like what? You do what?

Guest

exactly that's. That's typically the response Like, wait, what'd you say? Jiu-jitsu, what, really? Yeah, so it's normally like you do that. It's fun, I like you know, being able to say like, yeah, not a lot of people do this and it's just something that feels so natural and I just I love it so much that I love bringing it up. I'm so glad we were able to do this, because there's not a lot of opportunities where I get to combine, you know, my two passions. So, this is really fun for me.

Host

Yeah, I think I'd be the same way, like well, not that one, because I, you know, we just met. But like if I didn't train jujitsu but I knew just a little bit about it, I can think of at least five people I'd be like if they told me they were training jujitsu, I'd be like no way. But that's the cool thing about the martial art is because it's for everyone.

Guest

Yeah, yeah.

Jiu-Jitsu and Music Career Highlights

Host

So a couple more questions. Wow, we've been at it for like 55 minutes, so this has been an amazing conversation. Yeah, questions, wow, we've been at it for like 55 minutes, so this has been an amazing conversation, right, yeah? So I have one question yes, it may be difficult, and then I have kind of a few questions. I call them like the rapid fire questions, just some fun questions, but here it goes.

Guest

Yeah, alright.

Host

You could write a song about Jiu jujitsu. What would it be?

Guest

Banish.

Host

I told you that's like. I mean, how would you do that?

Guest

Well, okay, okay. So I'll say this the first song ever released is called Dead man Walking. Yeah, it's great and I thank you. I wrote it shortly after starting jujitsu and I think it was just that confidence boost of knowing I could, you know, roll with guys. I remember the first time I swept this guy must have been at least 250 maybe. I felt like I was on top of the world Shoot, it must have been the next day. And then I just had this song idea, like right after, called dead man walking, and you know, just just got up on my soapbox and I was like, oh, I can, you know, do this, and blah, blah. So so wrote this fun country song um, it's a, it's a classic country, um, guy he's and he goes full revenge on him and all that. But I think jujitsu actually inspired that.

Host

It inspired some aggression.

Guest

Exactly exactly, and I don't really write those songs a lot, so it's kind of funny and out of the ordinary. But yeah, I think that aggression inspired yeah.

Host

Well, I can tell you, you can definitely hear the. Well, now, I don't think I'm going to be able to listen to that song the same now, though, because I'm going to just hear the oh she just swept somebody and the roll intensity. But that's cool, that's cool. So yeah, some rapid fire questions. If you could create a playlist to play during a role or I got it what if you could create a playlist to listen to right before you step on the mats of a competition, what would your first three songs on that playlist be?

Guest

say no lies oh, bgs really that playlist be Stay no Lies Ooh Bee Gees. Really I love Mr Brightside.

Host

That's by the Killers.

Guest

The.

Host

Killers yes.

Guest

I love the.

Host

Killers.

Guest

I'm not sounding like a country artist right now.

Host

Yeah, no.

Guest

What's that song? What are those songs they play at the football games?

Host

I'm blanking on the name well, in commerce it was always we will rock you where people were stomping and all that. What that one?

Guest

works. Yeah, yeah, I think. Before the competition I listened to a lot of I like Skillet. Yes, Skillet's good but yeah, I, I feel like I should be listing some, some country songs, but you know, that's though right on my field.

Host

Yeah, because, because country for me like, because I like a lot of like mellow country, and then also I like a lot of the country. Gold, like the george jones conway tweed, like the old stuff right oh gosh, I bet you love. I wonder if and it may be the same for you or it may not be, but, like if you look at your Spotify or your Amazon Music playlist, whatever like would you say it's more country, more rock, more rap, I mean, or is it just a crazy mix of everything?

Guest

So it's everything.

Guest

I actually don't listen to a whole lot of music anymore, and because I'm always around it yeah and I feel like it just keeps my mind fresh when I'm not always having all these different influences, although there there is a time and a place for that. I've been listening to a lot of podcasts recently, but yeah, I listen to a lot of rock country. I've listened to worship in the gym before. Really, just any kind of music will get me pumped up, like I can get pumped up to a slow song in the gym. I'll say for a jujitsu competition. Though it's, we're gonna do right, yeah we're gonna yeah, I, I don't it's yeah, I'm kind of bad because I like.

Host

so I said I'm from north, I'm from georgia. We've established that small town georgia and I sound like I'm from small town georgia. You hear my accent. But yeah, I listen to like. The majority of my playlist is like throwback. He's 90 rap Like Mob Deep, just LL Cool J oh my gosh, I can't believe he's liking it. 60s now. Anyway, no, that's so cool. I always wanted to ask a singer that and like kind of wonder what's on their playlist. I always wanted to ask a singer that and like kind of wonder what's on their playlist. And I could see like here, if I'm a librarian, I probably don't want to like read books all night, if I'm around books all day, kind of deal. So yeah.

Host

But no, all right. Next question in our rapid fire. Okay, so if you could train with your dream jujitsu training partner, this could be a celebrity, it could be otherwise, and you can't say your dad or your brother, because you already get to do that. I knew you were probably, your mind was probably going there, but if, if you could choose any celebrity, training partner or otherwise, and they could be alive, they could be alive, they could be alive. Whatever, who would it be?

Guest

So I believe this person trains still, but Chris Young I've heard he does jujitsu.

Host

That's the artist right.

Guest

Yes, yes, I love his voice.

Host

It's like butter to me what's the song I'm thinking about?

Guest

that he sings it sings tomorrow, he sings um oh gosh, I know exactly what you're talking about he's got one of the smoothest voices. I know exactly what you're talking about but I've heard he does Jiu Jitsu, so I'm hoping I can come for a met and roll with him one day.

Host

Fingers crossed well, if you meet him, we gotta get him on the podcast yes remember to keep us little guys in mind when you're at the CMA's talking Jiu Jitsu with Chris Young. Okay, what was the toughest part about starting jujitsu?

Guest

Well, getting through the door, I'd say, just showing up is probably the hardest thing. You know, for me, now, that's the hardest obstacle. I want to go, even when I'm tired. You know, for me, now that's the hardest obstacle. I want to go, even when I'm tired. You know, I want to see my family. It's just getting up and getting through the door and you know, finding the energy to do that. So I'd say, just eliminate as many obstacles as you can. If you're trying to talk yourself out of it, just do it once. If you hate it, you don't have it. But um, I'm, I'm a big fan of just trying thing, new things, and jiu-jitsu was that for me and I just completely fell in love with it, and I think a lot of people do. I think you stop training because either life gets too busy and it just gets pushed to the side. There aren't a whole lot of people I've met that have said I tried Jiu Jitsu and was just uncomfortable with it.

Host

So yeah, yeah, same here. I've met maybe one or two, but out of all those that, well, out of all those I've met I've trained with and so they love it just as much as you and I. So this has been an amazing conversation and I so, um, this has been an amazing conversation, but before we kind of wrap up here, what is next in your music career? Do you got? I believe you may have just recorded a new single any tour, no, I, I'm not putting anything out there, but yeah, no, no, no yeah, so I was just in the studio and finished up a song called Trouble I Chase.

Guest

It is a fun summer song, high energy. I just got the mix back last night and I am absolutely pumped for it. We're talking about music videos and all that. The release date is March 28th. The single release party is March 28th. The single release party is March 29th. Addison Malik and Brett Westgrove are going to be opening for me and it's going to be at Thief's on the third floor in the Neon Steeple room. Basically they recreated the Ryman. It is such a special special venue.

Guest

It's incredible, stunning, it sounds amazing, the whole chief staff is absolutely incredible, and that's Eric Church's bar on Broadway.

Host

I love Eric Church.

Guest

Yeah, I know.

Host

My gosh.

Guest

But I just told my jujitsu family last night when I was there training about it and they put it in the calendars and so I'm excited to see them there. That's coming up. I'll be in Miami in May at Trump Doral for the Truth Seekers conference okay which I'm stoked about. We'll be singing some patriotic songs, as well as opening the conference both days with the national anthem, and then, um, some more show dates later this year with Brett Westbrook you've got a busy, busy few months, a busy year here's to keeping up with jujitsu, or hoping it keeps up with me that's it.

Host

Well, you'll be staring at your purple belt before you know it. I, you definitely kind of have figured this out somewhat, right, how to stay consistent A little bit. Yeah, and where can people follow you keep in touch with all the latest. Is it Instagram or are there other places?

Guest

Yeah, so I'm on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, all the things Caitlin Croker, that's K-A-I-T-L-Y-N-C-R-O-K-E-R on all streaming platforms.

Host

Nice, nice. And the very, very, very last question. I promise, of course, any final words or advice for people starting their jujitsu career, those that are new. That's what we focus on. That's kind of the audience here at Caffeinated Jiu-Jitsu, those who are kind of within their one to three years. Any final words of advice?

Guest

Awesome. So if you fall in love with the sport, keep showing up for the people. If you've fallen out of love with the sport, keep showing up for the people, because I think they're the ones that keep you going and they're the ones that make golf sport enjoyable. If you've had a bad experience at a gym, switch gyms, because odds are, there's a group of people that want to train with you and all that. So just keep showing up. Keep doing it. Watch out for the injuries. They're not fun. Yes, Take care of yourself. Yes, it. Watch out for the injuries. They're not fun.

Host

Yes, take care of yourself.

Guest

Yes, yes, take care of yourself, but yeah, it's such a fun sport, so keep doing it, keep showing up.

Host

Yeah well, caitlin, this has been awesome. Thank you so much for agreeing to come on and taking time out of your busy week evening. What have you? It's been awesome. It's been awesome. It's been great to talk to a fellow Blue Belt. Thanks for the amazing music you're putting out. Again, I'm a

Podcast Guest Thank You and Farewell

Host

fan. I'm going to be keeping up with you and I'm sure the listeners will too. We'll have all of your links and everything in the show notes. Thank you so much for being here. Awesome time.

Guest

Thank you so much for having here Awesome time. Thank you so much for having me. It's been such a pleasure.

INTO/Outro

And that's the final tap on today's episode of Caffeinated Jiu-Jitsu. A big thanks to all of our listeners, especially today's insightful guest, for sharing their BJJ knowledge and tales and tails. If you felt that adrenaline rush and are hungry for more, hit, subscribe, drop a review and spread the jujitsu buzz. For show notes and to contact the host, reach out to the email provided in the podcast description and to join our grappling community, head over to Instagram. Get those geese, crisp your coffee strong and always be prepared for the next roll Oss.

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Black Rifle Coffee Podcast Artwork

Black Rifle Coffee Podcast

Black Rifle Coffee Podcast Network