Professor Eddie Kone on Jiu-Jitsu, Survival, Legacy & Learning from the Gracies | The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset

Host Pete Deeley welcomes Professor Eddie Kone to The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset, discussing Eddie’s 30-year journey in jiu-jitsu that began on March 12, 1996, and how a difficult childhood in children’s homes, homelessness, and street violence shaped his ego, competitiveness, and eventual growth into a teacher. Eddie recounts seeing early UFC footage, traveling to Rio, finding the Gracie Academy in Botafogo, and being humbled by Royler, then realizing he had unknowingly met Helio and other icons. They explore mentorship, jiu-jitsu’s spiritual depth, the balance between offense and defense, community divisions, and why competition can matter for understanding stress. Eddie shares a memorable MMA fight taken on short notice and emphasizes teaching jiu-jitsu for people who feel they “cannot,” including students who are blind or have cerebral palsy, while pointing viewers to ricksongracie.com and related instructors.

In this episode

• 00:00 Welcome and Coffee Plug
• 00:31 Eddie Kone Introduction
• 02:03 Life Beyond Jiu Jitsu
• 03:32 Wild Youth and Ego
• 05:31 Street Survival Roots
• 06:39 Early Gyms and Reality Checks
• 07:53 UFC Spark and Brazil Plan
• 10:06 Mentors and Father Figures
• 13:09 Why Rio Happened
• 15:02 Finding the Gracie Academy
• 16:58 First Roll With Royler
• 18:12 Hooked for Life
• 20:22 Scarcity to Explorer Mindset
• 23:49 Culture Smiles and Spirituality
• 28:37 Defense Versus Offense
• 29:58 Your Jiu Jitsu Tribe
• 30:54 Community Drama and Ego
• 33:05 Why Compete at All
• 35:09 Open Weight Tournament Story
• 37:13 Most Memorable Cage Fight
• 43:10 Legacy and Finding a Tribe
• 47:13 Inside Rickson Circle
• 49:44 Rickson Details and Access
• 54:09 Students Who Transform
• 57:51 Superhero Name and Farewell

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