Grapplers Who Think Strength Doesn’t Matter Aren’t Living in the Real World - Mark Macqueen | #93

We talk through a world champion’s pivot from powerlifting to jiu-jitsu, why coaching culture at Kingsway changed everything, and how smarter stand-up, pinning, and true strength finally showed up on competition day. We share a clear plan for lifting, cardio, and plyos that keeps you improving without burning out.

• ADCC Trials win, what improved, and why confidence clicked
• Kingsway and ROKA coaching structure, daily feedback, and partner quality
• Austin move, visas, lifestyle trade-offs, and training rhythm
• Powerlifting career highlights, identity, and the emptiness after winning
• Strength’s real role in grappling performance and longevity
• Practical S&C: two-day lift split, one cardio, simple patterns
• Rep ranges, sets, plyos, and keeping compliance over years
• UK training roots, cross-training, and competition plans

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Audio & Video Edited, and Produced by Paul Johnson

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00:00 Settling In and Trials Win
03:26 What Improved: Stand-up, Kazushi, Pinning
05:19 Confidence, Coaching, and Kingsway Impact
08:20 Why ROKA and Choosing a Coaching Culture
12:06 Coaching Quality, Syllabus, and Style Fit
15:07 Gordon as Coach and Kingsway Environment
17:35 Austin Life: Heat, Food, and Moving Plans
19:42 Visas, Timeline, and Competitive Goals
21:34 UK Training Roots and Cross-Training
23:35 From Powerlifting to Jiu-Jitsu: The Shift
27:31 First Class Nerves and Early Struggles
30:17 Weight Loss, Early Comps, Obsession Switch
33:07 Remote Coaching Business and Lifestyle
36:54 What Powerlifting Is and Early Lifting
40:14 Chasing Worlds, Identity, and Aftermath
45:05 Strength vs Technique: Where It Matters
48:17 Practical S&C: Frequency, Cardio, Compliance
51:12 Plyometrics, Rep Ranges, and Movements
55:16 Volume Guidance and Relative Strength
57:39 Who’s Strongest on the Mats?
1:00:09 Size, ADCC Weight, and Closing Thanks