Back to the Roots of BJJ with Joe Ahlert: Renzo Gracie Lineage, Old School MMA & Real-World Self-Defense
In Episode 385 of Airey Bros Radio, we go belly to belly with Professor Joe Ahlert — a 4th-degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Renzo Gracie, East Coast MMA pioneer, and co-founder of Duncan Defense Consultants.With over 30 years of experience, Joe has trained with legends like John Danaher, Royce Gracie, and Renzo Gracie, competed in the underground days of MMA, and built a thriving academy in New Jersey focused on self-defense, sport BJJ, wrestling, Muay Thai, and firearms training.
We cover:
📸 Instagram – @ahlert_jiu_jitsu
📸 Instagram – @joeabjj
🌐 Website – AhlertBJJ.comFollow & Support Airey Bros Radio:
📺 YouTube – @AireyBros
📸 Instagram – @aireybrosradio
🎧 Spotify – Listen Here
☕ Buy Us a Coffee – Support the Show
Presented by:
🏃♂️ Black Sheep Endurance Coaching
Show Notes (Timestamp Highlights)
0:00 – Intro & connection to Middletown North wrestling community
1:00 – Joe’s BJJ beginnings under Royce, Royler & Rorion Gracie in 1993
6:00 – Why he hated jiu jitsu at first — and what changed after UFC 1
9:00 – 5 years as a white belt & early coaching experiences
14:00 – Training wrestlers for BJJ & addressing belt promotion mindset
17:30 – NYC days at Renzo Gracie Academy & meeting John Danaher in 2000
23:00 – Eddie Cummings, Gary Tonon, Gordon Ryan – the early days
30:00 – Self-defense vs. sport BJJ – preparing for the real world
36:00 – Knife defense, concealed carry, and why jiu jitsu isn’t the only answer
46:00 – Founding Duncan Defense Consultants
54:00 – Jiu jitsu as therapy through life’s challenges
1:04:00 – Importance of taking notes in training
1:08:00 – Music, coffee, guilty pleasures, and life outside the mats
We cover:
- The old-school NYC BJJ scene with Renzo & Danaher
- How BJJ has evolved from the 90s to today
- Sport jiu jitsu vs. real-world self-defense
- Cross-training benefits for wrestlers & martial artists
- Starting Duncan Defense Consultants & concealed carry safety
- Advice for new students, competitors, and those returning to the mats
📸 Instagram – @ahlert_jiu_jitsu
📸 Instagram – @joeabjj
🌐 Website – AhlertBJJ.comFollow & Support Airey Bros Radio:
📺 YouTube – @AireyBros
📸 Instagram – @aireybrosradio
🎧 Spotify – Listen Here
☕ Buy Us a Coffee – Support the Show
Presented by:
🏃♂️ Black Sheep Endurance Coaching
Show Notes (Timestamp Highlights)
0:00 – Intro & connection to Middletown North wrestling community
1:00 – Joe’s BJJ beginnings under Royce, Royler & Rorion Gracie in 1993
6:00 – Why he hated jiu jitsu at first — and what changed after UFC 1
9:00 – 5 years as a white belt & early coaching experiences
14:00 – Training wrestlers for BJJ & addressing belt promotion mindset
17:30 – NYC days at Renzo Gracie Academy & meeting John Danaher in 2000
23:00 – Eddie Cummings, Gary Tonon, Gordon Ryan – the early days
30:00 – Self-defense vs. sport BJJ – preparing for the real world
36:00 – Knife defense, concealed carry, and why jiu jitsu isn’t the only answer
46:00 – Founding Duncan Defense Consultants
54:00 – Jiu jitsu as therapy through life’s challenges
1:04:00 – Importance of taking notes in training
1:08:00 – Music, coffee, guilty pleasures, and life outside the mats
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