In an episode of Theo Von’s podcast “This Past Weekend”, the comedian playfully asked retired Navy SEAL and BJJ black belt Jocko Willink how quickly he could tap Von out in a grappling match.
Willink, known for his no-nonsense approach, gave a straightforward answer: “It wouldn’t take very long.” He explained that his years of jiu-jitsu training would give him a significant advantage over someone without grappling experience like Von.
When pressed for a specific timeframe, Willink estimated it would take “sub one minute” to submit Von, unless the comedian was “wearing a real slippery suit or something.” Even then, Willink said any extra time gained would be minimal.
The exchange highlighted the effectiveness of Brazilian jiu-jitsu training, which Willink emphasized can allow a skilled practitioner to quickly control an untrained opponent regardless of size or strength differences. It also highlighted how those who don’t have BJJ experience overestimate their abilities.
Willink encouraged Von to try training jiu-jitsu himself, noting that age or flexibility aren’t barriers to starting. He said the constant opportunity for improvement is what makes jiu-jitsu so appealing for many practitioners.
“Jiu-jitsu makes you feel humble, especially when you start, because you’re just gonna get choked out,” Willink explained. “You’re gonna get tapped out by people that are smaller than you and by females that are smaller than you, and that stings.”
He emphasized that this humbling aspect is actually beneficial, as it forces practitioners to check their ego and embrace the learning process. Willink noted that in BJJ, there’s no hiding from your mistakes or shortcomings on the mat.
“In jiu-jitsu you make mistakes, everyone sees them,” he said. “You get tapped out, there’s no question about it. There’s no mystery in jiu-jitsu – you got tapped out by this guy, that’s it.”
