In a recent episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, a panel of experts including Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models, Stephan Kesting from Grapple Arts, and scientist Kristi Charish discussed the alarming rise of scientific misinformation in the jiu-jitsu community, pointing to popular figures like Joe Rogan as primary sources of the problem.
“I’m not sure there’s a bigger spreader of disinformation and misinformation in general than Joe Rogan,” stated Stephan Kesting during the discussion. “He’s just got such an enormous platform. There are people out there who are more radical than he is, but when you multiply the misinformation by the reach, I think he wins.”
The panel highlighted how the jiu-jitsu community seems particularly vulnerable to pseudoscientific claims, with Kesting explaining that “Joe Rogan is like the patron saint of the sport, because he’s involved heavily with MMA. He platforms a ton of jiu-jitsu guys, Gordon Ryan, Eddie Bravo, Kron Gracie. He’s a jiu-jitsu black belt himself and he’s a fairly eloquent advocate for MMA.”
Charish, who holds a PhD in cell biology and molecular genetics, expressed concern about the fundamental disconnect between legitimate scientific processes and the certainty with which influencers promote unverified health claims.
“One of the things that good scientists and good researchers do is they don’t talk in certainties,” Charish explained. “What I see a lot of these grifters do is that they talk in certainties.”
The conversation also addressed how influencers like Andrew Huberman, who started with solid scientific presentations but has allegedly strayed into more questionable territory, contribute to the problem. Kesting recounted how Huberman promoted a “groundbreaking protocol” about protein timing that was based on a small study of menopausal pregnant women, yet presented as universally applicable.
The panel noted that many popular supplements in the jiu-jitsu community lack scientific backing and proper regulation.
Unlike prescription medications, supplements don’t require rigorous testing for effectiveness or safety.
“They don’t have to test it for safety, and they don’t have to test it for effectiveness,” Charish pointed out.
The panel also discussed how many influencers fail to disclose their use of PEDs while claiming their physiques result from supplements they’re selling.
“You’re totally missing the fact that all these guys are on TRT and growth hormone,” Kesting noted. “Everyone from RFK and to Joe Rogan.”
The panel concluded that this misinformation ecosystem preys particularly on men’s insecurities about masculinity, leading to dangerous practices and wasted money on ineffective supplements. They advocated for improved science communication and literacy as essential countermeasures against the rising tide of “bro science” in the jiu-jitsu community.
