Chokes and More

What happens when you trade your guitar for the vulnerability of the mats? In this episode, host Miko Hytönen sits down right after a gruelling training session with heavy metal musician and BJJ blue belt Manolo Reyes. They dive deep into the parallel worlds of extreme music and grappling, comparing the adrenaline of performing live to competing in combat sports. Manolo shares his journey from finding a sanctuary in Judo to escape childhood boredom, to surviving sweaty summer sessions, mastering the systematic "blueprint" of Jiu-Jitsu, and recently earning his blue belt. The duo also explores the mental grit required to survive the "white belt tax," the unique bond forged by shared suffering on the tatami, and why stopping Jiu-Jitsu simply isn't an option if you want to stay sane. Plus, stay tuned for a massive sneak peek into Miko’s upcoming instructional release, Lapel Chokes from Everywhere, Volume 2! Key Discussion Points • Stage Adrenaline vs. Mat Competition: Why a guitar acts as a protective shield on stage, whereas competing in Jiu-Jitsu leaves your body as the ultimate instrument. • The Music Journey: Manolo's roots in the Malaga metal scene, from thrash metal bands to a legendary pawn shop audition that landed his first major guitar upgrade. • The White Belt Tax: Accepting the brutal reality that everyone will beat you for the first four months, and why tracking visible progress keeps you hooked. • BJJ as a Mental Sanctuary: How stepping onto the mats completely silences the noise of everyday life and provides a much-needed vacation from your own head. • The Blueprint System: Breaking down the positional hierarchy from closed guard to turtle, and the structural difference between daylight technical rolling and evening "warfare". • Overcoming Injuries: Navigating heavy-guy leg mileage, recovering from an MCL sprain, and learning to play a smart guard game. • Favourite Weapons & Guard Jumping Risks: The versatility of the Kimura grip, setting sneaky half-guard traps, and why jumping guard is far too risky for both competition and self-defence. EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEK: Miko drops details on his upcoming BJJ Fanatics instructional, Lapel Chokes from Everywhere, Volume 2, and how wrapping up an opponent’s head with their own gi tail completely neutralises raw athleticism. Mentioned in This Episode Times of War: Check out Manolo's hardcore metal band on: • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimesOfWarOfficial/ • Bandcamp: https://timesofwarofficial.bandcamp.com/ TitanFall: Follow Manolo's latest metal project on • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/titanfallband/ • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Fr0r6X3nv9vt37GwWuqGz Miko's BJJ Fanatics Instructionals: • NEW Lapel Chokes from Everywhere Vol 2: Get the Brand New Release Here: https://bjjfanatics.com/products/lapel-chokes-from-everywhere-by-miko-hytonen-1 • Lapel Chokes from Everywhere Vol 1: Stream the Bestselling Original: https://bjjfanatics.com/products/lapel-chokes-from-everywhere-by-miko-hytonen Enjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the channel. Remember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies. Manto 🥋 www.man.to/chokes code: Chokes -15% Find me on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more BJJ Fanatics: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen

Stop number 7 - Siliguri, West Bengal. The Penultimate stop of this whole tour! In this episode, Miko goes beyond the mats to explore the famous pineapple fields and tea gardens of North East India before visiting local high schools to inspire the next generation of athletes. What went down: The Best Fresh Pineapple Juice: We start the day in Siliguri, famous for its pineapples and tea gardens. Watch as we try fresh pineapple with a local twist - salt to balance the sweetness! Inspiring the Youth at Muraligaan High School: I share my personal journey from struggling to buy food in Spain to becoming a national team coach. We discuss why discipline and self-belief are the keys to success, even when no one else believes in you. BJJ Self-Defense Demonstrations: See Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in action! We demonstrate how smaller, weaker individuals can use technique and leverage to defend against larger opponents, covering escapes from chokes and grab-holds. Exploring Father Leblond & Madati High Schools: We meet amazing students training in Kudo and BJJ, discussing how martial arts build character and the ability to solve problems under pressure. Agriculture Deep-Dive: Did you know pineapples take 18 months to harvest? We visit a 15-acre pineapple garden and the sprawling tea gardens of West Bengal, meeting the hardworking people who make India a global leader in tea production. Stay tuned for the final leg of the journey! BJOI is here to stay! My mission is to share my passion. The Indian BJJ Revolution starts from here. Fuelled by: BJOI Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Organisation India. The biggest BJJ organisation in India. Enjoy the episode and subscribe to the channel. Remember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies. Manto 🥋 www.man.to/chokes code: Chokes -15% Find me on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more BJJ Fanatics: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen