25 Years of Jiu-Jitsu, Open Mats, and Staying in the Game with Harlan Berk

In this episode of The Grappling Monthly Podcast, we sit down in San Diego with Captain Harlan Berk to talk about 25 years in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the evolution of the San Diego grappling scene, open mat culture, competition, teaching, longevity, and what it means to keep learning after decades on the mat. Harlan started training in 2001, when the jiu-jitsu community in San Diego was much smaller and black belts were far less common. Since then, he has trained through injuries, chronic pain, competition, teaching, business loss, and the changing culture of the sport. This conversation covers the practical side of staying in jiu-jitsu for the long term: learning from anyone, visiting other academies, testing your technique outside your own room, simplifying instruction, managing recovery after hard training, and adjusting your goals as the body changes. We also talk about the overlap between fishing and jiu-jitsu, the growth of San Diego as a grappling hub, Masters competition, leg locks, gi vs no gi, the importance of open mats, and why longevity requires both competitiveness and honesty. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:11 Starting Jiu-Jitsu in 2001 and San Diego's Growth 05:49 Training Through Pain and the Exploding Kids BJJ Scene 11:11 Evolving Teaching Methods and Simplifying Jiu-Jitsu Instruction 19:40 The Evolution of Leg Locks and Masters Competition Mindset 29:14 Navigating Competition & Developing a Unique Jiu-Jitsu Style 36:18 The Correlation Between Fishing, Jiu-Jitsu, and Open Mat Benefits 43:19 The Secrets to Longevity and Managing Ego on the Mats 52:25 Quickfire Questions and Where to Train in San Diego Guest: Harlan Berk Location: Crown Point Coffee, San Diego, CA Grappling Monthly is an independent editorial media brand covering the culture, people, and business of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the grappling arts. Based in Los Angeles, the brand produces in-depth conversations with the coaches, gym owners, competitors, and practitioners shaping the sport. The Grappling Monthly Podcast is the flagship property. A weekly long-form interview series hosted by Sébastien Maniatopoulos, a BJJ black belt establishing roots in the Southern California grappling community. The brand's editorial focus is on the human stories behind the art: how academies are built, how practitioners evolve, how the culture of jiu-jitsu intersects with identity, business, and community. Grappling Monthly publishes across YouTube, Instagram, Substack, and major podcast platforms. Subscribe and turn on notifications. IG and TikTok: @grapplingmonthly For sponsorships and collaborations: grapplingmonthly@gmail.com #jiujitsu #jiujitsulifestyle #grapplingmonthly #martialarts #combatsports