Open Mat Social Hour

Join us today as Diana breaks down the history of her debilitating low back pain story from when it started, to how it affected her life to how she resolved most of her pain to how she maintains her low back now. What a journey it's been.

This is her story.

Join us today as Diana & Kris explore different modalities we do off the mats to support our jiu jitsu journey. What's the best for you? Let's find out.

Enjoy!

Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris answer some questions from our followers! 

We talk if being a PT has helped us improve our jiu jitsu, excitement over CJI2, as well as a lovely little rant on best fast food restaurants. Enjoy!

Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Dr. Lorrain Ko, PT, DPT.

Lorrain is by trade a physio who works primarily with muay thai fighters. Her & Diana met at a con-ed course through mutual friends, & eventually Lorrain became a client. In this episode, Lorrain speaks on the reasons why she hired a coach/physio for her injury, as well as her biggest takeaways from this experience. We get into some talks about humanity & the importance of that through any rehab process.

This is her story.

Join us today as Diana explores rehab purgatory, why it's so common with jiu jitsu athletes, and ways to break out of it. It's not an easy journey, but with some tweaks, it can change your whole future on the mats.

Enjoy!

Join us today as Diana explores why we always seek novelty, how it intrudes our lives, & why it is actually slowing down your rehab or recovery process.

Included are a couple questions to hit home for a reality check on what matters.

Enjoy!

Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Bailey Brady.

Surgery is demonized often, which is honestly deserved. But what if there was a case where it was warranted? The small %? What should we do? This is Bailey's story. As much as she didn't want to, it was her right decision. In this episode, Bailey talks to us about how her low back pain got to the severity that it did, how it impacted her life, how she made the decision for surgery, how recovery has been, & where she is now. Bailey is...

Join us today as Diana & Kris explore pain - one of the most complex conversations we could have with our clients. Pain is multi-factorial & can change on a day to day basis. Diana & Kris talk how they communicate between different types of pain, how to tell if the pain is one to push through or to pull back from, & how to listen to the body to create longevity in jiu jitsu.

Enjoy!

Join us today as Diana explores why full body assessments are key to developing a good rehab plan for a client. Looking at just one joint is not enough. We need to get a big picture.

Enjoy!

Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris answer some questions from our followers! 

We talk if it's possible to compete while still working through the rehab process (aka not 100% yet), some advice on if getting injured has got you unmotivated & not wanting to get to the gym, & the future of White Belt Wednesdays. Enjoy!

Join us today as Diana & Kris explore why coming back to jiu jitsu too soon after surgery is a really bad idea. We explore some statistics of re-injury (which are scary), whether or not steroids improve surgery recovery rates, & why relying on functional measures or tests is much more reliable than timelines on coming back to training. We only have one body, taking care of it can increase on longevity on the mats.

Enjoy!

Join us today as Diana explores the idea of principles vs. exercises, the downfall of endless "IG reel quick fix" libraries, actual principles we share at seminars, & the harsh truths that noone likes to hear but needs to hear (us included).

A passionate discussion that can make all the difference for your health.

Enjoy!

Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Matt Garrido.

We hear so often the story of avoiding MRIs & advising against our clients getting them. But what if they could actually be helpful? What if they could help create some clarity or even TRUST in the process? That's what happened to Matt & something we talk about in our conversation today. Working with Matt has opened my eyes to the possibility of adapting & flexibility based on what is truly best for the person in front of us. 

This is his story.

Join us today as Diana breaks down her current jiu jitsu training split, her current gym training split, how she manages volume & intensity herself on & off the mats, plus reasoning behind why this works for her. Finding what works for you is the most important part of sustainability, so we hope you can find some ideas to play with.

Enjoy!

Join us today as Diana explores some common lessons she's heard while chatting with clients during our exit/discharge meetings. Insight like this is priceless when applied properly, & we are so grateful to be able to have these conversations with our clients on the regular. We hope you can take away something valuable from today's episode.

Enjoy!

Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Jeff Salvatore.

Jeff was an active kid all of his life, and has had his fair share of injuries. Upon starting Jiu Jitsu, he had his doubts of even being able to train. After a devastating knee injury & surgery, Jeff fell into a state of hopelessness. He felt completely lost, until he started to pick the pieces up to rebuild his knee, & his future. In this episode, Jeff speaks honestly about his experiences, mental struggles, & how he got to where he is now (recently promoted...

Join us today as Diana & Kris explore what it means to state that an exercise is the "best exercise for jiu jitsu". Does it create clarity or more confusion? Does it help simplify the world of strength training for the jiu jitsu community or does it just create more complexity? Have we taken it too far with creativity in exercises? We explore these questions & give us our take on a more realistic framework.

Enjoy!

This episode is probably one of the most important episodes we've ever recorded.

Milton is the CEO of @blackbeltdigitalmarketing, Host of @jiujitsudummies, & Founder/Executive Director of @academysafe, an organization on a mission to building safer jiu jitsu academies. 

With the growth of jiu jitsu, it is imperative that we do everything we can to protect our community, especially our kids from dangerous people & environments. As much as we don't want to admit it, there is abuse in all forms that is happening in our backyards. 

Academy safe is on a mission to mitigate ha...

Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Shane Wilson.

Shane started Jiu Jitsu at the age of 44, as a well to bond with his son & be a beginner at a new hobby. He has gone through his fair share of growing pains in his early days, & shares his lessons with us about how he stays healthy as an older grappler with a goal of staying active & having fun. While we're young, we tend to take certain things for granted, so listening to Shane's words is invaluable to our future. 

This i...

Join us today as Diana chats a bit about the reality of rehab plateau's when trying to get back on the mats & some of the best ways to get back on track. We know the journey back to training is not as simple as we hope so we hope you can take some tangible tips to take with you!

Enjoy!

Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris answer some questions from our followers! 

We talk about if using RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) as a way to manage intensity when lifting is a good idea, the craziness behind Roberto's Flying ArmBar & if we'll be at CJI this year. Enjoy!

Join us today on a solo episode where Diana chats about the power of subtraction. In a world saturated with information on the "best" ways to do XYZ, we often get lost in the sauce. Tune in to hear a bit on why subtraction is sometimes much more effective than addition, & how to apply it in your own life. 

We hope you enjoy!

Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Mike Spindler.

At a young age, Mike was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, an chronic autoimmune disease that causes joint inflammation, pain, & damage over time. He's been training Jiu Jitsu for 3 years now & shares his experiences of his struggles to stay on the mats. Mike is such an optimistic individual that it is contagious. We are so thankful to have him share his time with us.

This is his story.

Join us today on a solo episode where Diana chats some common misconceptions we hear surrounding injuries in the jiu jitsu community & the truth. There is still so much misinformation online & unfortunately, in doctor's offices. So much so, we want to set the record straight. We hope you enjoy!

Thanks for tuning in!

Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris answer some questions from our followers! 

We talk about if it's possible to build athleticism as an aging/older grappler, our tips & advice on managing finger or hand pain, & our thoughts on New Year Resolutions & if we have any of our own. Enjoy!

Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris discuss misconceptions around core training in the general public & in jiu jitsu training rooms, more updated researched ways to train the core & our own favorite exercises.

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Join us today on a solo episode where Diana gives everyone an update about what's been going on behind the scenes at Open Mat Physio HQ. There have been some recent changes along with some plans for 2025 that we wanted to update everyone on! We thank you all for your support & hope you continue to join along with us for the ride of 2025!!

Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris look back on 2024, share what we're most grateful for this year, & talk about what we are most excited for in 2025.

There will be many changes, big moves & events coming up in the New Year & we hope you can all join us!

Wishing you all a safe holidays & new year celebration!

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Join us today on a solo episode where Diana chats about a story that frustrated her which led her down the path of reflecting on how physical therapists play a role in when clients don't succeed in their rehab. Instead of blaming the clients, how can our profession take ownership of our mistakes & be better for it going forward. Some ranting, some reflecting. We hope you enjoy!

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Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris discuss why "just keep your core/glutes active" when doing daily activities is terrible advice. Does it create rigid robots? And how does that translate to regular sport? 

So much nuance in a topic. Hope you enjoy!!!

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Join us today on a solo episode where Diana chats about some tangible and realistic ways to adjust your routine & train around an injury, on & off the mats. We hope you can take something valuable out of it!

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Join us today on a solo episode where Diana chats about the value of a coach or physio, why self-rehab isn't bad but also isn't effective, & how we can actually make your rehab process much easier. 

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Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Nate Olivarez-Giles, a dear client & just an incredibly resilient human being. We are so thankful for his vulnerability & openness to share. The lessons he touches on in this episode are often things we take for granted. We hope his life brings some reflective wisdom into your day.

For his whole life, Nate has been a pretty active, healthy guy. He played different sports & did his due diligence with his nutrition. At the end of 2019, Nate suddenly started experiencing strange GI symptoms while visiting family in...

Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris answer some questions from our followers! We talk about CJI 2025 excitement, the pros/cons to In-Person PT vs Virtual PT, and how to have multiple hobbies while staying healthy for Jiu Jitsu. Enjoy!

Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris discuss if perfect form is as important as we think, and when we should be more lax about it. When does overcorrecting become too much? Is it better to let people explore??

A heavily nuanced topic that we felt was important to open up. Hope you enjoy!!!

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Join us today on a solo episode where Diana chats about flare ups, why they are actually really important to our rehab process, what lessons we can learn from them, & how to use flare ups as a tool for longevity on the mats. 

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Join us today on a solo episode where Diana chats about some key differences between overtraining and under-recovering, how they show up in our lives, & some strategies on how to combat them. 

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Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris answer some questions from our followers! We talk about our what to do to "speed" up progress when we're impatient, our fears of jiu jitsu getting watered down, & whether or not pineapple belongs on pizza (LOL). Enjoy.

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Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Brad Edmonson. Brad is the owner of MisFits Jiu Jitsu in Illinois & a huge advocate for mental health & safety in jiu jitsu gyms. Having gone through many scary injuries during his journey to black belt, Brad shares his reflections & how he has taken it into his own hands to create a safe environment for his students to train in. He also shares his mental health struggles, how he has combatted that & some advice on those struggling with chronic pain. 

This is his story.

Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris discuss what we do as physios & coaches outside of the obvious. A bit of a quick brain dump! Enjoy.

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Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris answer some questions from our followers! We talk about our thoughts on the narrative behind braces/sleeves for training & what it should be, ADCC/CJI weekend, & finish with what we're currently working on in training. Enjoy.

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Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris discuss examples & actual strategies on training smarter for longevity. Taking care of yourself takes care of your training partners, & keep both of you safe & health on the mats for a long time. Enjoy.

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Join us today on a solo episode where Diana chats about some things to think about & be weary of when getting back to the mats. She gives some examples, as well as, strategies to make sure your return is smooth & successful!

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Join us today on a very special episode with a very special guest, Chris Cappeto. Chris started jiu jitsu at age 51 & has experienced a myriad of injuries, struggles & achievements since he started training. Today he shares with us his philosophy & thought processes behind longevity for older grapplers. He shares how he takes care of himself on & off the mats, as well as, tips for other grapplers in the Master's category struggling with chronic issues. Hope you enjoy!!

This is his story.

Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris discuss what it means to be strong, strong enough & how it applies to jiu jitsu. The nuances & context matter. Enjoy.

Thanks for tuning in!

Join us today on a solo episode where Diana chats about mental health in the Olympics, why it stirred up thoughts in her brain, & why she thinks it is ABSOLUTELY crucial to prioritize in life & rehab. She then chats about the role of a PT in all of that.

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Join us today on a very special episode with a very special guest, Amber Agee. It was a regular sparring day when Amber suffered a life-altering knee injury that consisted of her tearing her PCL along with many other structures in her knee. She saw multiple orthopedic surgeons, & ended up needing to undergo surgery twice in order to finally be on her recovery way. In this episode, she shares the challenges she faced, both mentally & physically, how she overcame going from hopeless to powerful, & some of her biggest lessons that she is grateful for today. It's an emotional one...

Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris answer some questions from our followers! We talk who we're excited to see next weekend, ways that we work around schedule & training constraints + how to be less injured as a white belt. Enjoy.

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Join us today on a solo episode where Diana chats about the feeling we all get when we fall off the tracks of our rehab or maintenance routines. She gives tangible action steps to get back on the path towards our goals!

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Join us today on a special episode with Dr. Archie Bayacal of GroundWork Chiropractic. He is a brown belt in Jiu Jitsu, who has a unique story on how he landed in the world of chiropractics. He recently opened his own practice in Garden Grove, CA, and is looking to go full time in a short 3 weeks!! Archie speaks his story in such a calm, humble demeanor and we are so thankful to have been able to share some time together.

This is his story.

Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris answer some questions from our followers! We talk chronic soreness & our love for coffee. Enjoy.

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Join us today on a solo episode where Diana chats about what makes Open Mat Physio different than the traditional, clinic PT. We are so thankful for the trust that the Jiu Jitsu community has in us, so we try out absolute best to deliver the best!

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Join us today on a special episode with our very own, Kris Martin. A year ago, Kris got into an accident that shattered his ankle while skiing on the mountains. This led to him needing to get immediate ankle surgery and a long rehab process that had many challenges, both mentally and physically. Kris shares his experience pre-op, post-op, during recovery, and how he is now. We are so grateful he is doing better, and we hope you enjoy the episode.

This is his story.

Join us today on an episode where Diana, Daisuke & Kris discuss what nocebos, how old school medicine has caused us to feel fragile & if it's possible for us to be an older grappler & healthy on the mats. Enjoy.

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Join us today on a solo episode where Diana chats about the role of plyometrics in rehab & how that carries over into getting back on the mats!

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Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris answer some questions from our followers! This will be a regular segment in our podcast episode rotation. Enjoy.

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Join us today on an episode where Diana, Daisuke & Kris discuss what over-diagnosing is, why it is so problematic, & best strategies to use when getting a diagnosis that may sound scary or life altering. Enjoy.

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Join us today on a solo episode where Diana chats about some the nuances behind the answer to "Do I have to Do Physical Therapy Forever?". Yes & No, let's chat.

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Join us today on a very special episode with a very special guest, Crystal King. Crys is not only an incredible human, but also a jiu jitsu enthusiast with a deep love for the sport. In this episode, she shares with us her background, having to hide her injury at a very active job, the emotional truth behind building confidence again, & ways that she has been working on pushing forward despite adversity. We are so thankful for Crys' vulnerability & openness in this conversation.

This is her story.

Join us today on an episode where Diana, Daisuke & Kris discuss how to tell it's time to see a physio. The reality is that not every little ache or pain need rehab. Here's how to tell. Enjoy.

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Join us today on a solo episode where Diana chats about some similarities between rehab & BJJ. They have a lot more in common than we think. Enjoy.

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Join us today on a very special episode with a very special guest, Brian Bybee. Brian is a jiu jitsu enthusiast out of Caique Utah & a K-9 Police Office. In this episode, he shares with us his gradual onset of low back pain that went from everyday soreness to not being able to straighten his leg or even pick up something from the ground; so much to the point where his coworkers told him "You're done, buddy. You need help". Brian shares his insights & advice for those who may be experiencing something similar. We are so thankful for this...

Join us today on an episode where Diana, Daisuke & Kris answer some questions from our followers! We hope to be able to do Q&A's more often. Enjoy.

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Join us today on a very special episode with a very special guest, Eduardo Lomeli, CheckMat Black Belt! Eduardo is the Co-Owner of Academy JJ, and just an incredible human to know. In this episode, he discusses his background of starting BJJ at 35, opening up 3 academies with Hector, & how his knee surgery made him question if he even deserved to level up to Black Belt. A wholesome episode with so much good advice from Eduardo. We hope you enjoy!

This is his story.

Join us today on an episode where Diana, Daisuke & Kris reflect on our each individual jiu jitsu journeys & what we have learned. 

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Join us today on an episode where Diana is solo & chatting about the negative side of the clickbait videos we see on IG & TikTok. As much as intention may be trying to push the exposure of the rehab profession, it leaves many people hopeless and confused while going through an injury themselves. We hope we can create an open space for discussion of the nuances & the grey.

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Join us today on an episode where Diana, Daisuke & Kris discuss practical ways to make your rehab process back to the mats easier. We cover everything from communication to recovery. Enjoy.

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Join us today on a very special episode with a very special guest, Juan Herrera or Juanplusjuanis2 on IG! Juan is a Navy Vet, Purple Belt in BJJ, & an extremely talented actor/producer in the film industry. In this episode, he takes us on the journey of discovering Jiu Jitsu, using it to fuel his passions in life, how he got through a catastrophic knee injury, & his mental strategies when he's working through anything difficult. It was an inspiring chat, & we hope you enjoy!

This is his story.

Join us today on an episode where Diana is solo & chatting about when the team at Open Mat Physio would recommend taking a temporary break from training jiu jitsu. This is always a really hard call to make, but usually the best short term decision for long term outcomes & health.

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Join us today on a very special episode with a very special guest, Nina Vo! Nina is a white belt in BJJ, and in her first tournament injured her knee badly. Through her trials & tribulations, she made her way to us & trusted us to help her get back to training. Nina shares her most impactful lessons & some important advice for those who may be going through something similar. Truly, an episode you don't want to miss.

This is her story.

Join us today on an episode where Diana, Daisuke & Kris discuss why different types of challenges we see in the world of rehab for jiu jitsu athletes. We also chatted about some tips on how to work through some of these challenges to be able to get back to training as quickly and as safely as possible.

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Join us today on an episode where Diana is solo & chatting about the idea of patience during the rehab process, why it's SO incredibly hard to have at times & a couple ways to reframe it to keep the progress coming. Plus, patience is just a great life skill to have.

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Join us today on a very special episode with our dear friend, amazing human & tattoo artist badass, Liz Sanchez. Liz tore her ACL during a freak accident while training, and endured many  hardships along her path to recovery. She recalls her experiences vividly while sharing gems of wisdom she learned as a master's athlete aspiring to be an active competitor.  Her dedication to consistent work is why she is where is she & we are so humbled to have been a part of her journey.

This is her story.

Join us today on an episode where Diana is solo & chatting about the concept of language in rehab & jiu jitsu, & why it matters so much when working with a rehab professional. It's a lot deeper than just understanding movements & positions.

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