Jiu Jitsu Fieldnotes

Callum and Cat explore BJJ through honest conversation — training frequency, women on the mats, competition nerves, and the mental game of grappling. Cat brings a unique angle as an orthopaedic surgeon, sharing how her career shapes her approach to injuries, recovery, and the sport she's fallen in love with.

Show Notes

Callum and Cat roll into the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – where sweaty grappling meets surgical precision. They dig into the physical realities of BJJ, how often you should be training (and how often you actually do), and the particular challenges women face on the mats. Cat talks through her journey from traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu into BJJ, sharing how it’s helped her navigate personal hurdles, find her people, and fall in love with the grind.

Along the way, the conversation bounces between competition nerves, the mental chess match of grappling, and the simple joy of training with good humans. Cat also brings her day job into the mix, offering a behind-the-scenes look at sports injuries, recovery, and how being an orthopaedic surgeon shapes her approach to looking after her own body.

With plenty of laughs, honest reflections, and shared enthusiasm for the sport, Callum and Cat explore how martial arts culture is changing – especially for women – and why an inclusive, supportive gym can make all the difference. It’s thoughtful, funny, and reassuringly human – whether you train every day or just like hearing smart people talk about hurting themselves in controlled environments.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Grappling and Injuries
01:48 Balancing Work and Training
05:31 The Journey to Becoming an Orthopedic Surgeon
10:08 Experiences in the Hospital Environment
14:24 Martial Arts Background and Training Preferences
21:11 The Importance of Community in Martial Arts
25:59 Introducing Kids to Martial Arts
27:15 The Mental Challenge of Competition
30:34 A Week in the Life of an Orthopedic Surgeon
36:56 The Changing Landscape for Women in BJJ
41:15 Injuries and Recovery in Combat Sports
44:54 Techniques and Training Insights
50:56 The Importance of Community in Jiu-Jitsu
01:01:46 Encouraging Competition and Growth

What is Jiu Jitsu Fieldnotes?

Jiu Jitsu Fieldnotes is a podcast about what really happens on the mats.

Rooted in the community at Roger Gracie Academy Marlow — one of the UK's most respected BJJ academies — this show captures the stories, lessons, and quiet transformations that happen through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Not just the techniques, but the people behind them.

Each episode explores the personal side of training. The friendships forged through shared struggle. The setbacks that force growth. The moments where something clicks — physically, mentally, or emotionally — and changes how you see yourself. Because Brazilian Jiu Jitsu isn't just good for the body. It builds resilience, sharpens focus, and has a way of quietly sorting out your head too.

This isn't a podcast about champions or highlight reels. It's about the everyday practitioners. The early mornings. The injuries. The small victories. The long road from confusion to clarity.

Whether you're a white belt stepping onto the mats for the first time or a black belt who's spent decades refining your craft, these are the stories that connect everyone who trains.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu isn't just something you do. It's something you live.

These are the field notes.

🥋 Find us at Roger Gracie Academy Marlow: https://rgamarlow.com/