Train Hard, Train Smart: Lessons from the Mats with Jonavin Webb
If you train jiu jitsu, MMA, wrestling, or any combat sport long enough, injuries are not a question of if, but when. The real difference between athletes who last and those who disappear is not toughness. It is culture, coaching, and decision-making.
Podcast
In the latest episode of the Dr. Jiu Jitsu Podcast, I sat down with my longtime coach, mentor, and friend Jonavin Webb. Jonavin is a third-degree black belt, UFC and CFFC veteran, and the owner of Webb Fitness in New Jersey. He is also the person who introduced me to jiu jitsu over a decade ago and helped guide my path from white belt through competition, injury, surgery, and longevity in the sport.
We talk about what actually keeps athletes healthy over years of training, not just weeks before competition.
Key themes we cover:
Why gym culture matters more than any single drill or workout
How coaches can reduce injuries by managing ego and “spazzy” training behavior
The difference between high-paced training and high damage training
Why leg locks are not the problem, poor control and poor education are
How to train for competition without destroying your training partners
The mental side of injury, surgery, and long layoffs from the mats
Why community and purpose matter during recovery just as much as physical rehab
Lessons from jiu jitsu that translate directly into life, leadership, and resilience
Other Lessons
Jonavin also shares his journey from athlete to coach to gym owner, including how injuries shaped his perspective, how he rebuilt after shoulder surgery, and why he now prioritizes long-term development over short-term wins. As an orthopedic surgeon who treats combat athletes and someone who has personally torn an ACL and had multiple shoulder surgeries, this conversation hits close to home.
If you are a coach, competitor, or everyday practitioner who wants to keep training for decades, not just seasons, this episode is for you.
You can listen to the full episode of the Dr. Jiu Jitsu Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
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Dr. Megan Lisset Jimenez
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