The Shintaro Higashi Show
Episodes
Training When You Don't Want To | The Shintaro Higashi Show
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Shintaro and David Kim discuss strategies for overcoming the reluctance to train, emphasizing the importance of reducing frictio...
My Biggest Losses | The Shintaro Higashi Show
01 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Shintaro Higashi Show, Shintaro and David Kim delve into the theme of loss, exploring personal experiences in judo and wrestlin...
Olympic Qualification Finally! | The Shintaro Higashi Show
28 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro and David Kim discuss the latest updates on Olympic qualifications for judo in the United States. They explore the new crite...
Dojo Development | The Shintaro Higashi Show
28 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Shintaro Higashi Show, Shintaro and David Kim discuss the growth of Shintaro's dojo network, exploring the idea of affiliat...
What Is No Gi Judo? | The Shintaro Higashi Show
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro dives deep into the concept of NoGi Judo—what it is, what it isn’t, and how it fits into today’s grappling landscape. ...
5 YouTube Lessons After 44 Million Views | The Shintaro Higashi Show
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this solo episode, Shintaro Higashi shares 5 key lessons he’s learned from growing a successful YouTube channel in the grappling space. With over...
5 Lessons From Owning A Dojo | The Shintaro Higashi Show
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this solo episode, Shintaro Higashi breaks down five key lessons he’s learned from decades of running and consulting for martial arts dojos, incl...
Tokyo Judo Tour Recap | The Shintaro Higashi Show
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Follow for more footage of the trip:Instagram: @midjitsuYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@midjitsuGunji YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCMoJ0AislQL...
London: What I Learned | The Shintaro Higashi Show
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro is back from London and shares key takeaways from his recent judo seminar at Gracie Barra Royal Tunbridge Wells in England. In this solo epis...
Blame The Uke! | The Shintaro Higashi Show
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Shintaro Higashi Show, Shintaro and David dive into the often-overlooked but crucial relationship between uke and tori in judo ...
Get Better Fastest: Mindful Training | The Shintaro Higashi Show
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this solo episode, Shintaro Higashi dives into the importance of mindful training for serious judo and jiujitsu improvement. He shares personal ins...
Help USA Judo | The Shintaro Higashi Show
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this solo episode, Shintaro Higashi shares a passionate call to action for the Judo community: support USA Judo by simply becoming a member. Drawin...
Drilling Basics Is A Myth! | The Shintaro Higashi Show
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this solo episode, Shintaro Higashi unpacks the myth of drilling basics—specifically the overemphasis on repetitive Uchi Komi in judo and other g...
3 Ways To Grow Judo | The Shintaro Higashi Show
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this solo episode, Shintaro Higashi breaks down three powerful ways to grow Judo in the United States. From unifying national organizations to crea...
5 Reasons Why BJJ Is More Popular Than Judo | The Shintaro Higashi Show
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro Higashi breaks down 5 unexpected reasons why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is more popular than Judo—and it’s not just about...
Judo Has A Branding Problem | The Shintaro Higashi Show
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this solo episode, Shintaro Higashi breaks down why judo has a branding problem—especially in the United States. He explores how judo is misunder...
Make Judo Easy | The Shintaro Higashi Show
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this solo episode, Shintaro Higashi delivers a passionate monologue on why Judo needs to be made easier and more accessible, especially for beginne...
Old Man Judo: Charleston Recap | The Shintaro Higashi Show
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro Higashi recaps his recent trip to Charleston, South Carolina, where he conducted three judo seminars and competed in the South Carolina Veter...
I'm On A Boat w/Kevin Koenig, aka theyachtfella | The Shintaro Higashi Show
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro Higashi and David Kim ( @midjitsu ) sit down with Kevin Koenig — aka @theyachtfella (Instagram)— a jiu-jitsu brown bel...
3x Olympian Angie Delgado Talks USA Judo Athlete Commission | The Shintaro Higashi Show
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Three-time Olympian Angie Delgado returns to the podcast with Shintaro Higashi to discuss her candidacy for the Team USA Athlete Commission, her visio...
Making $$ with Michael Darda | The Shintaro Higashi Show
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, David sits down with Michael Darda — Chief Economist and Macro Strategist at Roth Capital Partners, frequent guest on Bloomberg, CN...
Leo Lopes: Empire State Judo | The Shintaro Higashi Show
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Shintaro Higashi for an in-depth conversation with Leo Lopes, a central figure in New York’s thriving judo community and a visionary in growing...
No Leg Grabs!? Mongolia GS | The Shintaro Higashi Show
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of the Shintaro Higashi Show dives deep into the 2025 Mongolia Grand Slam, where Shintaro returns from his trip to break down the biggest...
Judo Bots! | The Shintaro Higashi Show
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, David Kim and newly minted PhD Peter Yu explore the intersection of judo and cutting-edge AI. With Shint...
Veterans Judo with Ray Marquez & Billy Gavigan | The Shintaro Higashi Show
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, we dive deep into the world of Veterans Judo with special guests Ray Greeley and Billy Gavigan. They dis...
How To Get Better | The Shintaro Higashi Show
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Shintaro Higashi Show, Shintaro and David Kim dive into the realities of how to get better at judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The...
Inside Trips | The Shintaro Higashi Show
13 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, Shintaro and David dive deep into the mechanics of inside trips, particularly focusing on Ouchi Gari. Th...
Peter Yu Returns! | The Shintaro Higashi Show
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Peter Yu returns to the podcast to share exciting updates on his post-PhD life, including his move to Silicon Valley to work on autonomous vehicle...
Junior Nationals! | The Shintaro Higashi Show
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro Higashi returns from the Junior Nationals in Chicago and shares a detailed, behind-the-scenes look at this major youth judo event. Joined by ...
Coach or Instructor? | The Shintaro Higashi Show
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro Higashi and Dave dive into the nuanced distinction between being an instructor and a coach in martial arts. They explore the...
Inside Heritage Jiu Jitsu | The Shintaro Higashi Show
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Marcus Johnson joins the show to talk about the launch of Heritage Jiu Jitsu, a premium new BJJ studio in Morganville, NJ. Shintaro and Marcus dive in...
Snap, Crackle, Pop: Knees and Necks Edition | The Shintaro Higashi Show
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, Shintaro sits down with co-host David Kim to share stories of their respective surgeries—Shintaro's re...
Everything is Bigger in the Dakotas! | The Shintaro Higashi Show
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro Higashi returns from a seminar tour through North and South Dakota and shares highlights from his teaching experience with co-host David Kim....
Natsumi Tsunoda Breakdown: Tomoe Nage | The Shintaro Higashi Show
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Shintaro Higashi Show, Shintaro and David Kim break down the unique judo techniques of Natsumi Tsunoda, a gold medalist at the ...
The toughest room in NY? | The Shintaro Higashi Show
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Shintaro Higashi Show, Shintaro and guest David Kim discuss the revival of the Judo program at the New York Athletic Club (NYAC...
Say hello to a special guest: Midjitsu?
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
David Kim is coming onboard to help with the podcast! He discusses balancing family life with martial arts training, his jiu-jitsu journey as a middle...
Driving to the Dojo | What to Think About Before Practice
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, you’re riding shotgun as Shintaro drives to the dojo and dives deep into what goes through his mind be...
How Strong Do You REALLY Need To Be? w/ Vinnie Mancuso
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do big deadlifts = better judo?In this episode, Shintaro sits down with wrestling coach and grappling veteran Vinnie Mancuso to talk about lifting for...
💉 PEDs in Grappling? Training & Recovery with Vinnie Mancuso
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, I sit down with my longtime friend, elite grappler, and judo black belt Vinnie Mancuso to dive deep into...
The Reality of Being a Woman in Jiu-Jitsu with Lydia Coleman
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, we’re joined by Lydia Coleman — a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Pan-American champion, Judo brown ...
🚨 Marine vs. Detective: The Jiu-Jitsu Journey of Jeff Morris! 🥋
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro sits down with Jeff Morris, Owner & Head Instructor of Greenwich Jiu Jitsu Academy. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, Un...
Sensei Seth on Spinning Kicks, Judo, & Content Creation!
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro welcomes Sensei Seth, a top martial arts YouTuber, for an in-depth conversation about his journey from viral spinning kicks and the Bottle Ca...
Colton Brown on Judo, Coaching, & Building a Legacy
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Two-time Olympian Colton Brown joins the podcast to share his journey from elite competitor to top-level coach and dojo owner. We dive into his transi...
Goodbye Peter! 🎤
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After years of insightful conversations, debates, and plenty of laughs, Peter is saying goodbye to the podcast as he moves forward in his career after...
How Can AI Help Judo?!? 🤔
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
AI is rapidly changing the way we train, learn, and analyze Judo. Peter breaks down the fundamentals of AI, how machine learning can enhance coaching,...
Weight Lifting for Grappling
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro and Peter dive into the role of weight training for grapplers, especially when dealing with injuries. Shintaro shares his pe...
Coaching Methods: Is the Ecological Approach the Best?
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The ecological approach to coaching has sparked intense debates in the grappling community. In this episode, Shintaro and Peter break down what the ec...
Grappling in Japan
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Grappling in Japan has a rich and diverse history, spanning judo, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and even sumo. In this episode, Shintaro and Peter d...
What is ChatGPT?
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Large language models like ChatGPT are transforming the way we interact with AI. Peter explains its inner workings, how it understands language throug...
Different Look At Learning Grappling
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Grappling is much more than perfect throws or traditional techniques. In this episode, Shintaro and Peter discuss rethinking training methodologies, f...
Judo Events
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro and Peter explore the dynamics of organizing Judo events, reflecting on the challenges and benefits of building a thriving judo community. Th...
What Is Peer Review?
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro learns about peer review from Peter. They tackle common misconceptions, explain how peer review parallels qualifying rounds ...
Reaction to The Lies Behind Judo Basics
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro recently caught some strays from the popular video “The Lies Behind Judo Basics”. In this episode, Shintaro gives his real first-time rea...
New IJF Rules - Leg Grabs Aren’t Dead
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The new IJF rule set has sparked significant debate in the Judo community, with controversial changes and intriguing predictions about the sport's fut...
Catching Up With Shintaro and Peter - Tokyo Grand Slam and PhD
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro shares his experience at the Tokyo Grand Slam, where he was one of the IJF commentators. From meeting Olympic champions to e...
What Is a PhD?
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Peter and Shintaro shift gears from grappling to dive into Peter’s current main focus: earning a PhD. They explore what it means to...
EuroTrip Debrief
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro just returned from an international seminar trip in the Netherlands and Germany. In this episode, Shintaro recounts the challenges of organiz...
Las Vegas World Judo Championships Veterans
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Las Vegas World Judo Championships Veterans was an incredible display of skill, resilience, and the enduring love for judo. In this solo episode, ...
Martial Arts Content Creator to Sumo National Champion - Sensei Seth
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro welcomes Sensei Seth, a popular martial arts YouTuber, to discuss Seth’s journey from spinning kicks and the Bottle Cap Challenge to becomi...
Safe Randori
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro and Peter discuss how to keep randori safe. They explore key principles of self-preservation, fostering a safe training envi...
The Art of Asking the Right Question in Judo and BJJ
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro and Peter tackle one of the most frequently asked questions in the martial arts world: "What am I doing wrong?" Drawing from...
Wrestling With Olympic Wrestling Gold Medalist Rei Higuchi
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro recently participated in special training sessions with the Olympic Wrestling Gold Medalist Rei Higuchi as the translator, and shares this in...
Leg Grabs Are Back in Judo!
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After a 14-year absence, certain prestigious tournaments, including the All Japan Open Championship, are experimenting with reintroducing leg grabs. S...
Judo Politics and USA Judo’s Future - Ramon Hernandez
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro sits down with long-time judo competitor and coach, Ramon Hernandez, to discuss the evolving landscape of USA Judo. They div...
Financials of USA Judo - Matthew Parker
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro sits down with Matthew Parker to dive deep into the inner workings of USA Judo. Matthew, a former national team member and c...
Million Dollar Deal with USA Judo - Jimmy Pedro
06 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro is joined by the legendary Jimmy Pedro, a two-time Olympic medalist and world champion in Judo, to discuss his campaign for ...
USA Judo Beef Behind Closed Doors - Nicole Stout
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special extra episode, Shintaro sits down with Nicole Stout, a four-time national champion and USA Judo board member. Nicole opens up about he...
Important Issues In the USA Judo Election - Colton Brown
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro sits down with two-time Olympian and Grand Prix medalist Colton Brown to discuss the important issues that are on the ballot...
Why You Should Vote In the USA Judo Election - Chris Round
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
USA Judo's board elections are fast approaching, and they could significantly shape the future of American Judo. In this episode, Shintaro s...
"Still Got It" Training
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro and Peter explore the concept of "Still Got It" training—a strategy for grapplers who can't train as consist...
CJI Recap
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The much anticipated Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) concluded last month, and it really challenged the status quo of submission grappling as a sport. ...
Seminar Economics
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this solo episode, Shintaro dives deep into the economics of hosting martial arts seminars, drawing from his extensive experience as both a clinici...
Paris Judo Recap Part 2 - Are too many shidos ruining Judo?
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Here’s Part 2 of Shintaro and Peter’s Paris Olympics Judo recap! Shintaro and Peter talk about Abe Hifumi’s dominant performance, Hashimoto’s ...
Rethinking Judo Basics
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this solo episode, Shintaro dives deep into the core principles of judo instruction. Challenging traditional methods, Shintaro advocates for a fund...
Paris Judo Recap Part 1 - Teddy Riner is THE GOAT and Uta Abe's Heartbreaking Loss
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Paris 2024 Summer Games have just wrapped up, leaving Judo fans with unforgettable moments. From Teddy Riner’s legendary gold medal win to Uta A...
Q&A
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You asked and we answered! Shintaro and Peter answer some of the pressing questions asked by subscribers from what camera they use to how to do foot s...
Guests From Japan
29 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, Shintaro hosted some special guests from Japan who are high-level Judokas. It was such a unique experience where they shared so many out-of-...
Traincation
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Shintaro Higashi Show, Shintaro dives into the rising trend of "traincations"—vacations centered around intensive m...
Getting Back To Judo After a Long Break
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Shintaro Higashi Show, Shintaro and Peter delve into the challenges and strategies for getting back into judo after a long brea...
Shintaro Life Update
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this solo episode, Shintaro shares a quick update on his Judo life. From experimenting with new Judo and BJJ techniques to navigating the challenge...
Filming Instructionals
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Filming instructional videos for martial arts can be a complex and intriguing process. In this episode, Shintaro sits down with Peter to share his per...
Endurance in Grappling
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Endurance in grappling and martial arts is a crucial aspect often overlooked. In this episode, Shintaro and Peter dive deep into the intricacies of bu...
ADCC vs. CJI
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The BJJ world has the latest and hottest rivalry, and it’s not between two athletes but two tournaments: ADCC vs. CJI! In this episode, Shintaro and...
No-Gi Judo Seminar Debrief
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
No-Gi Judo has become exponentially more popular over the past year, and its evolution into its own discipline has been accelerating. In this episode,...
Coaching Strategies and Pedagogy - An Interview With Chris Round
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro sits down with Chris Round for the second time to discuss his coaching strategies and pedagogy. They discuss Chris's non...
Judo Parents
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As many of you know, Shintaro grew up with a Judo parent (his father), and he himself is a Judo parent. In this episode, Shintaro goes into the detail...
Skin Care for Grapplers - An Interview with Dr. Doug Krohn
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro sits down with Dr. Doug Krohn, MD from CLn Skin Care to talk about skin care for grapplers. Dr. Krohn debunks common skin care myths among gr...
Judo Grand Slam Tbilisi, Antalya Debrief
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro and Peter sit down to do an extensive debrief of Shintaro’s recent trip to Tbilisi, Georgia, and Antalya, Turkey, where he had the opportun...
An Interview With Robert Eriksson - US Judo National Resident Training Center Team Head Coach
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Shintaro Higashi Show, Shintaro sits down with Robert Eriksson, the head coach for the new US Judo National Resident Training C...
Judo and Innovation
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As some of you may know, Peter has been a PhD student since he quit his job as a software engineer back in 2020. During this time, he’s gained a lot...
An Interview with Dr. Rhadi Ferguson
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shintaro sits down with legendary Dr. Rhadi Ferguson to talk about his journey through the world of Judo, BJJ, wrestling, Olympics an...
Branding in Martial Arts
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In modern society, with so many competing interests, martial arts also needs strong branding to survive. In this episode, Shintaro and Peter delve int...
Heart To Heart From Tbilisi
08 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro recently traveled to Tbilisi, Georgia as one of the IJF commentators for 2024 Judo Grand Slam Tbilisi. In the midst of his busy schedule, he ...
An Interview With Ruotolo Brothers
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Peter sits down with the Ruotolo brothers Kade and Tye. The brothers talk about how they started BJJ as babies and their professional...
From Judo to Sambo - An Interview with Mattia Galbiati
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mattia Galbiati is a decorated Judoka from Italy who's had great success after transitioning to Sambo. In this episode, Shintaro and Mattia discus...
How to Be a Better Judo Teacher
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you become a good Judo teacher, and what does a good Judo teacher even look like? In this episode, Shintaro and Peter critically examine the te...
Making It to the Olympics for Judo, Then and Now - An Interview with Nicky Yonezuka
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro sits down with Nicky Yonezuka, the second generation of the famous Yonezuka family. Nicky shares what it was like growing up in a Judo family...
The Private Lesson Series
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro introduces a new video series—The Private Lesson Series! This series aims to replicate the experience of a private lesson with Shintaro. Mo...
Taking Judo More Seriously
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro and Peter have extensively discussed the 'everyday Judoka,' for whom competition and randori may not be the most effective ways to le...
Kids Judo Program - An Interview With Joseph Coker
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Running a kids' program is one of the most important yet often overlooked aspects of managing a successful martial arts school. Essential for grow...