The Reef Podcast

Lee Kirtley - Are you over-graded?

Lee Kirtley is a second-degree black belt based in Stockton on Teeside and runs Innovation Jiu Jitsu. Lee sits down with Scott and Alain for a candid chat about gradings, how he applies judo in nearly all of his classes as well as talking about how to go about getting promoted. 

Mateusz Flaga - The Polish warrior

Today’s guest is the kind of grappler you hate seeing across from you on competition day. Calm face, bad intentions. A European Championship medallist, and one of the most consistently dangerous competitors on the international circuit. He’s gone toe-to-toe with the best in the world, stacked medals across IBJJF majors, and built a reputation for pressure, precision, and breaking people mentally before the tap ever comes.
This is a man who’s done the hard rounds, travelled the world chasing wins, and backed it all up when it mattered most. No gimmicks, no noise, just results and receipts.

Enrico Wright - Mortal Kombat or Streetfighter?

In this episode of our The Reef podcast, the mats take a back seat as we roll into the world of gaming consoles. Scott and Alain swap stories about their favourite systems—from old-school PlayStations and Nintendos to next-gen powerhouses like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Expect plenty of laughs as they debate which console reigns supreme, compare gaming to grappling, and reveal how gaming helps (or hinders) recovery days. It’s a fun, off-topic chat that shows another side of the BJJ lifestyle—where fighting for arm bars meets fighting final bosses. Perfect for gamers who love jiu-jitsu

Krzysztof Łukaszewicz - ego is your enemy

Ladies and gentlemen, buckle up! On today’s episode, we’ve got one of the driving forces of Polish Jiu-Jitsu — Coach Krzysztof Łukaszewicz! A black belt who lives and breathes the grind, Krzysztof has been tearing it up on the mats for years, building champions and pushing Polish BJJ onto the global stage. Known for his razor-sharp technique, relentless energy, and no-nonsense coaching style, he’s the guy who can take your game apart and rebuild it stronger than ever. Get ready to hear his story, his philosophy, and what it takes to build a winning culture inside the academy. This is one you don’t want to miss!

Alain Pozo - the answer to the question is...

We're Back!  After a crazy summer, some normality has resumed for us here at The Reef Podcast.  With no guest, Scott sits down with Alain and answers your questions on everything BJJ for new coaches, new white belts and seasoned competitors. 

Darragh O'Conail - An Irishman abroad

Darragh O’Conaill, a second-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt hailing from Dublin, is now based in Alicante, Spain. A standout middleweight on the European circuit, he’s a 4-time IBJJF European No-Gi Champion and has triumphed at prestigious tournaments like the London and American National No-Gi Opens. Under the mentorship of Saulo and Alexandre Ribeiro, Darragh also leads East Coast Jiu-Jitsu Academy, a major force in Ireland’s BJJ scene. From rugby fields to world-class mats, his journey is one of grit, growth, and devotion. Stick around as we dive deep into his technique, coaching ethos, and why he’s become a BJJ icon

Gabriel Sousa - Brazil V Gringos

Gabriel Sousa is one of the best No-Gi players in the world - and has won numerous World titles and fought in and won Silver at ADCC in Las Vegas.  He sat down along side AJP Silver medlist Jobson Apolinàrio (Bobby) for a chat about growning up in brazil, the challanges that faced as well as fighting gringos!

Lucas Luz - stop going backwards

Lucas Luz is a third-degree Gracie Black belt under Robin Gracie.  Lucas has schools in Swindon and Gloucester and popped over to Essex to teach a packed seminar at Reef.  Lucas has just returned from an AJP event where he won Gold in both Gi and No-Gi, and speaks openly about how it's not always about the sub, but about pressure.

Taylor Pearman in Belfast!

Alain and Leon fly to Belfast to train and teach at New Ground BJJ.  They sit down with Jean Luca, Martin McCleghan and Sam Hutchinson for a good old natter and get gate-crached by ADCC fighter and head coach at Enso BJJ, Taylor Pearman.  Strap in!

Episode 013 - No Gi is Easier!

Reiss Bailey from New School BJJ in Brixton joins Scott and Alain for this no-holds barred, honest, and raw chat about everything BJJ.  Reiss is a brand new Black Belt, and discusses competition mindset and how to bring the exposure levels of the Gi game up to the level of NoGi.  Some people may find this episode controversial!