Episode 31

E31 | Bonus Ep - The Weight I Finally Learned To Carry

Published on: 25th July, 2025

This episode I reflect on the emotional growth that came after losing a friend and coworker and how I handle emotions in my forties. For most of my life, I wore stoicism like armor, but grief cracked it open. I talk about learning to express what I feel, why silence stopped serving me, and how embracing emotion made me a better man, Jiu-Jitsu coach, and friend.

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David Figueroa-Martinez

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Coach | Writer | Grappler

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About the Podcast

Tapped In: A JiuJitsu Podcast
A Bjj/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Podcast By DFM Coaching
Tapped In: Structure, Strategy, and the Inner Game of Jiu-Jitsu

Tapped In is for grapplers who train with intention, not just for medals, but for mastery.

Hosted by BJJ black belt and coach David Figueroa-Martinez, this short-form series explores the mindset, structure, and strategy behind real Jiu-Jitsu growth. Each episode blends sharp coaching insight with grounded reflection, covering everything from game-planning and mat culture to ego management and mental resilience.

No fluff. Just clear, tactical thinking for those who want to train with clarity, lead with purpose, and stay steady in the chaos.

New episodes weekly. Train smarter. Think deeper. Stay tapped in.

About your host

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David Figueroa-Martinez

I’m David Figueroa-Martinez, Jiu-Jitsu black belt, mindset coach, and founder of Tapped In. This podcast isn’t for hype or highlight reels. It’s for grapplers who train with purpose.

I teach structure, not chaos. Mindset, not ego. Progress, not performance.

Through each episode, I share grounded lessons from the mats, the mind, and the moments that shape who we become, as athletes, as leaders, and as people.

I also run DFM Coaching, where I help White and Blue Belts build clarity and structure through personalized systems, and write Choke Point Chronicles, a weekly series diving deep into strategy, growth, and culture in Jiu-Jitsu.

Whether you’re a White Belt looking for direction or a black belt trying to stay sharp without selling your soul, this is where we train the inner game.