The Martial Maze martial arts podcast
The Martial Maze martial arts podcast

The Martial Maze martial arts podcast

ISRAEL LOPEZ SENSEI

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Episodes

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The Martial Maze is the ultimate podcast for martial artists, combat-sports fans, and anyone fascinated by the science, culture, and evolution of fighting. Each episode dives deep into the world of martial arts—from traditional disciplines like Karate, Muay Thai, Judo, and Kung Fu, to modern systems such as MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, Boxing, and Modern Combatives. Hosted by Israel lopez sensei and Barak Yalad Shidoshi. With over a combined 80 years of experience in both street and sport martial arts. Step into the maze. Explore every art. Understand the fighter within.

Recent Episodes

FAFO..... The Martial Art of Speech Revisited
NOV 13, 2025
FAFO..... The Martial Art of Speech Revisited

The Martial Maze is the ultimate podcast for martial artists, combat-sports fans, and anyone fascinated by the science, culture, and evolution of fighting. Each episode dives deep into the world of martial arts—from traditional disciplines like Karate, Muay Thai, Judo, and Kung Fu, to modern systems such as MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, Boxing, and Modern Combatives.

Hosted by Israel lopez Sensei and Barak Yalad Shidoshi. With over a combined 80 years of experience in both street and sport martial arts. , The Martial Maze explores technique, strategy, mindset, self-defense, training methods, and the stories behind the world’s most influential fighters and coaches. Through expert interviews, detailed breakdowns, and real conversations, the show unlocks the “why” behind martial arts and what it takes to grow on and off the mats.

Whether you're a beginner, competitive athlete, instructor, or lifelong student, this podcast helps you sharpen your skills, deepen your knowledge, and stay connected to the global martial arts community.

Step into the maze. Explore every art. Understand the fighter within.


Konnichiwa! In this episode of the Martial maze martial arts podcast, we revisit the martial art of speech. Doesn't matter what art you study. Whether it's Kung Fu, Brazilian jujutsu, Judo, Karate, MMA or Wrestling words matter, words have always mattered. Within the Martial community it is commonly referred to as F#ck Around and Find Out. This episode is a follow up to an earlier episode from the season on The Martial Arts of Speech. And if one really wants to live their lives in such a way where violence misses them this is an episode that you do not want to miss out on. We hope you enjoy!

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64 MIN
The Martial Art of Speech
OCT 15, 2025
The Martial Art of Speech

The Martial Maze is the ultimate podcast for martial artists, combat-sports fans, and anyone fascinated by the science, culture, and evolution of fighting. Each episode dives deep into the world of martial arts—from traditional disciplines like Karate, Muay Thai, Judo, and Kung Fu, to modern systems such as MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, Boxing, and Modern Combatives.

Hosted by Israel lopez Sensei and Barak Yalad Shidoshi. With over a combined 80 years of experience in both street and sport martial arts. , The Martial Maze explores technique, strategy, mindset, self-defense, training methods, and the stories behind the world’s most influential fighters and coaches. Through expert interviews, detailed breakdowns, and real conversations, the show unlocks the “why” behind martial arts and what it takes to grow on and off the mats.

Whether you're a beginner, competitive athlete, instructor, or lifelong student, this podcast helps you sharpen your skills, deepen your knowledge, and stay connected to the global martial arts community.

Step into the maze. Explore every art. Understand the fighter within.


Konnichiwa! When asked the question, what is martial arts? Most martial artist will respond with the textbook answer. That Martial arts, is a codified systems of combat practices and traditions used for self-defense, competition, and physical, mental, and spiritual development. With no mention of speech or written word. It's almost as if it's an afterthought. Don’t give me wrong. In the study of martial arts. You will hear many martial arts quote Sun Tau, Miyamoto Musashi, Dr. Jigoro Kano, and General S Patton Junior. Just the name a few.....

But surprisingly many don’t think of speech or the written word as a tactical tool that is just as effective, if not more effective than any physical ability that one can gleam in the martial art arts..

When we think of those men and their quotes, we often associate them with sayings that heal , unify, inspire and motivate.  However, if we just look at speech and the written word, it can be a very effective tool in a martial artist  arsenal. Someone who was well trained in speech, can destroy, insight , cause emotional and mental harm without ever lifting a finger. Over the next hour, in this crossover collaborative episode between Jamie from The Daily Former and myself with special guest, Randy Haskins sensei of the Underground Alliance Martial Science Research Association, we'll make an attempt at navigating the Martial Art of Speech.... And as always, thank you for listening to The Martial Maze Martial Arts Podcast. We hope you enjoy


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63 MIN
False sense of security revisited
SEP 24, 2025
False sense of security revisited

The Martial Maze is the ultimate podcast for martial artists, combat-sports fans, and anyone fascinated by the science, culture, and evolution of fighting. Each episode dives deep into the world of martial arts—from traditional disciplines like Karate, Muay Thai, Judo, and Kung Fu, to modern systems such as MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, Boxing, and Modern Combatives.

Hosted by Israel lopez Sensei and Barak Yalad Shidoshi. With over a combined 80 years of experience in both street and sport martial arts. , The Martial Maze explores technique, strategy, mindset, self-defense, training methods, and the stories behind the world’s most influential fighters and coaches. Through expert interviews, detailed breakdowns, and real conversations, the show unlocks the “why” behind martial arts and what it takes to grow on and off the mats.

Whether you're a beginner, competitive athlete, instructor, or lifelong student, this podcast helps you sharpen your skills, deepen your knowledge, and stay connected to the global martial arts community.

Step into the maze. Explore every art. Understand the fighter within.

Konnichiwa! In this episode of the Martial Maze martial arts podcast. We revisit an earlier discussion on why Brazilian jiu-jitsu should stop selling a false sense of security. Joining in on the discussion is Wing Chun kung fu practitioner and Brazilian jujutsu blue belt. Sifu Dan Joe of Lithium-Tiger Martial Arts in Rockland County, New York

Daniel Josephs is a Sifu in Wing Chun Kung-Fu under the lineage of Great Grandmaster Yip Man, Great Grandmaster Moy Yat, Grandmaster Moy Wu (Tony Watts), and his Sifu Master Stephan Coram. He is the owner and founder of Lithium Tiger Wing Chun and has over ten years of experience in martial arts instruction.His nickname, Lithium Tiger, came about through kung fu, broadening his view on life. He says that seeing things from different perspectives allows one not to get “tunnel vision” and to see everything as a learning experience.

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47 MIN
BJJ stop selling a false sense of security!
AUG 11, 2025
BJJ stop selling a false sense of security!

The Martial Maze is the ultimate podcast for martial artists, combat-sports fans, and anyone fascinated by the science, culture, and evolution of fighting. Each episode dives deep into the world of martial arts—from traditional disciplines like Karate, Muay Thai, Judo, and Kung Fu, to modern systems such as MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, Boxing, and Modern Combatives.

Hosted by Israel lopez Sensei and Barak Yalad Shidoshi. With over a combined 80 years of experience in both street and sport martial arts. , The Martial Maze explores technique, strategy, mindset, self-defense, training methods, and the stories behind the world’s most influential fighters and coaches. Through expert interviews, detailed breakdowns, and real conversations, the show unlocks the “why” behind martial arts and what it takes to grow on and off the mats.

Whether you're a beginner, competitive athlete, instructor, or lifelong student, this podcast helps you sharpen your skills, deepen your knowledge, and stay connected to the global martial arts community.

Step into the maze. Explore every art. Understand the fighter within.

Konnichiwa! In this episode of the Martial Maze martial arts podcast. We discuss Brazilian Jujitsu's attempt at selling the false narrative that it is 100% the best at self protection self-defense in the world of martial arts. Where there are many martial arts systems that attempt to make this very same claim, like MMA, Judo, Karate, Kung Fu.... etc. etc. Most fall short simply because the instructor is regurgitating technique that does not come from any real lived experience. Or they mistake sport fighting for real world fighting, which is most dangerous. As it almost always leads to a false sense of security that has lead many martial arts practitioners to make poor life choices in the context of self-defense. This is definitely a controversial topic as it will definitely rub some martial arts practitioners the wrong way. We only asked that you keep an open mind, and look at what we're discussing from a pragmatic lens. We hope you enjoy!

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61 MIN
Can you buy a black belt in Brazilian Jujitsu?
JUL 25, 2025
Can you buy a black belt in Brazilian Jujitsu?

The Martial Maze is the ultimate podcast for martial artists, combat-sports fans, and anyone fascinated by the science, culture, and evolution of fighting. Each episode dives deep into the world of martial arts—from traditional disciplines like Karate, Muay Thai, Judo, and Kung Fu, to modern systems such as MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, Boxing, and Modern Combatives.

Hosted by Israel lopez Sensei and Barak Yalad Shidoshi. With over a combined 80 years of experience in both street and sport martial arts. , The Martial Maze explores technique, strategy, mindset, self-defense, training methods, and the stories behind the world’s most influential fighters and coaches. Through expert interviews, detailed breakdowns, and real conversations, the show unlocks the “why” behind martial arts and what it takes to grow on and off the mats.

Whether you're a beginner, competitive athlete, instructor, or lifelong student, this podcast helps you sharpen your skills, deepen your knowledge, and stay connected to the global martial arts community.

Step into the maze. Explore every art. Understand the fighter within.


konnichiwa! In this episode of the Martial maze martial arts podcast, we asked a question. Can you buy a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu? It's beginning to look like the commercialization of Brazilian Jujitsu is going the way of commercial Karate. We take a look at Brazilian Jujitsu's newest black belt Derek Moneyberg. After only training in Brazilian Jujitsu for 3 1/2 years, he received his black belt. Some say he's not legit other say he is we'll leave this for you to decide. We hope you enjoy.

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18 MIN