Episode 1144 - Scott Taylor
In this episode Jeremy chats with Scott Taylor about his experience in Jujitsu and Tae Kwon Do, the evolution of grappling and striking, and the importance of diverse training.
Scott Taylor - Episode 1144
SUMMARY
In this episode of Whistlekick Martial Arts Radio, host Jeremy engages with Scott Taylor, a seasoned martial artist with over 30 years of experience in Jujitsu and Tae Kwon Do. They discuss Scott's journey into martial arts, the evolution of grappling and striking, and the cultural shifts within the martial arts community. Scott shares insights on the importance of diverse training, the application of wrist locks, and the impact of social media on teaching and learning martial arts. The conversation highlights the value of trying different martial arts and the significance of personal connections in training.
Scott also discusses the importance of finding openings in techniques, the persona he has embraced as the 'Dirty Demon Wrist Locker', and his philosophy on training and teaching. He emphasizes the mental benefits of martial arts, including its role as a form of meditation and stress relief. He also touches on balancing his passion for martial arts with family life, his future training goals, and the calmness that comes from years of experience in high-pressure situations. Ultimately, Scott believes that martial arts offers valuable benefits to everyone, regardless of their background or goals.
TAKEAWAYS
Scott started martial arts due to being bullied in school.
He transitioned from Tae Kwon Do to Jujitsu after 10 years.
The difference between Japanese and Brazilian jujitsu is minimal in terms of techniques.
Scott emphasizes the importance of striking in grappling.
He believes that all martial arts have value and should be explored.
Wrist locks are a specialty for Scott, and he finds them effective in various positions.
Social media has helped Scott connect with others and share his techniques.
He encourages everyone to compete at least once to experience the sport.
Scott's teaching philosophy includes adapting techniques to real-life scenarios.
The martial arts community is evolving to embrace a more integrated approach to training.
Focus on training, teaching, and having fun.
Martial arts serves as a form of meditation.
Balancing passion for martial arts with family life is essential.
Future training should adapt to physical changes.
Calmness under pressure is a key benefit of training.
Martial arts can help with mental health challenges.
Learning from students is a rewarding experience.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
01:01 Scott's Martial Arts Journey
05:59 The Evolution of Grappling and Striking
11:56 Cultural Shifts in Martial Arts
19:02 Wrist Locks and Their Application
23:56 Social Media and Teaching
29:37 The Art of Finding Openings
31:54 Embracing the Dirty Demon Persona
33:50 Training Philosophy and Student Development
35:58 Martial Arts as a Form of Meditation
38:59 Balancing Passion and Family Life
43:11 Future Training Goals and Adaptations
47:53 The Calmness Under Pressure
50:01 The Benefits of Martial Arts for Everyone
To connect with Scott Taylor: https://taylorjiujitsu.com/
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Show Transcript
Jeremy (06:01.605)
Hey, what's going on, everybody? Welcome back to another episode of Whistlekick Martial Arts Radio. Today I'm joined by Scott Taylor. Scott, thanks for being here. And all of you out there, thank you for being here. Thanks for spending some time with Scott and I today as we talk about martial arts, the thing that we do here on Martial Arts Radio, the thing we've been doing for over 10 years and 1100 and something episodes. I don't know exactly what episode this is going to be, but you know because you are watching or listening from the future.
And if you like what we do, if our mission to connect, educate, and entertain the martial artists of the world resonates for you, please make sure you are signed up for the martial arts radio newsletter. Make sure you're checking out what's going on at whistlekick.com. Come to our events. Tell people about what we do. We have been on this mission for a long time. It is going well, but we can always use the help to spread what we do so we can attract more new other.
People to the show, to our events, to buy the stuff that keeps the lights on, and all that good stuff. Thank you for those of you who do that. There are too many to name, so I'm not even going to try. But I can name one person that I'm thankful for right now. Scott, thanks for being here. Thanks for spending some time with me.
scott (07:20.36)
Well, thank you very much for having me. Looking forward to it.
Jeremy (07:23.759)
Yeah, yeah. you know, in the in the early days I had a list of questions that I would go down. And then as an interviewer, I grew past that. And I I I don't have a list of questions. And then for a long time, it was still, how'd you get started in martial arts? And lately I haven't been asking that question. It comes up organically. I don't really need to ask it.
But I will ask the guest sometimes.
How they want to get started. And I've got a backup if you don't have an answer to that. How should we start a conversation about you and your journey and your story? Is there an obvious episode one for you?
scott (08:11.139)
Well, like a lot of kids who got into martial arts, you know, bullied, bullied in the school, smallest kid. That's how I started my my journey. My first art was taekwondo. got my first first an in that. And then like a lot of people, seeing a little guy on the UFC choking people out, like, well, I gotta learn learn that. But funny enough, the style of
Jeremy (08:17.937)
Mm.
Jeremy (08:23.579)
Caldwell.
scott (08:41.123)
Jiu Jitsu I started in is Japanese based, but it focused ninety five percent on the ground. Didn't know the difference back then. So
Jeremy (08:47.121)
Hmm. Yeah.
Right, and e and even today I would say that's probably a rare combination.
scott (08:56.435)
Right. I mean don't get us wrong, we still do all the we do the pitching and cunk kicking and standing joint locks too, but our focus is on the ground. And then, you know, all realize there's somewhat of a difference between the two. And people ask me all the time, what's the difference? I go, There really isn't much difference. you know, b between Japanese jujutsu and Brazilian jujutsu in our style, you know, an arm bar is an arm bar.
Jeremy (09:27.409)
You can only twist somebody up so many ways, right?
scott (09:27.923)
Yep. Right. Somebody's gonna probably teach it a little bit different. Somebody has their own take on it. But in the end, arm bar is an arm bar. Yeah. The choke is a choke. No, we have different ways of maybe setting it up or whatever. They're all pretty much the same setup. Right. So that was my journey into into jujitsu.
Jeremy (09:56.024)
How long had you been doing Taekwondo before you added things?
scott (09:59.127)
Taekwondo I was probably ten years. Yep.
Jeremy (10:02.363)
Okay. And when you did that, was it a step away from Taekwondo? Or was it I I wanna I wanna add something to this this pot, I wanna mix it up?
scott (10:14.691)
It was it became a step away. Yep, didn't Nah, not really. I like the I like the jujitsu a bit better. Like to come to like the do all the taekwondo forums that I learned, I don't remember a single one of those.
Jeremy (10:17.745)
It was. Was that difficult?
Jeremy (10:34.019)
What what flavor of Taekwondo were you? ITF. Chongji, Dangan, Do San Yeah. Yeah.
scott (10:36.915)
ITF.
scott (10:41.455)
Yep. Remember the names, but I don't know. I can't remember smooth go aware. But I still remember my three step spar and I can still get I mean not as good as I used to be, like, you know, older too, so my flexibility's down a little bit. But yeah, I have forayed into into jujitsu. geez, been doing martial arts for forty plus years now. Jiu Jitsu's been a big part of that.
Jeremy (10:48.454)
There you go.
Jeremy (11:07.995)
So if so if if I do math, that says 30 years of jujitsu. I don't know a lot of people with 30 years of jujitsu. I know I know I know a few. I know a few that have you know, and and again, it's these these interesting stand up traditional family Japanese jujitsu systems, you know, blah blah blah. But at the time, there weren't a lot of those. There's there's certainly more of it now.
scott (11:35.981)
No.
Jeremy (11:38.039)
My understanding, you know, I've been training a about about that time. My understanding now is there are a lot of people that supplemented their other stuff. You know, they had a jiu-jitsu curriculum maybe as part of what they did, but it was never the focus because people weren't as interested in it.
scott (11:56.255)
Right. Yes.
Jeremy (11:59.942)
But now the world's changed.
scott (12:03.87)
I think people are seeing the value in it. So I look at the Japanese jujitsu is a jack of all trades, a king of nothing. Because most of the styles do have kicking, punching, throwing, and some ground.
Right, so they're maybe not the best on the ground, but they do have some ground. Right. And you know, then you get into like a keto.
Now, Ikido gets a bad rap. I love a keto.
Jeremy (12:36.977)
Sure does. But let's be fair. All all all martial arts get a bad rap from somebody. Some of them I feel like get ganged up on. And Aikido is one of those, yeah.
scott (12:42.61)
Well, this is true, yeah.
scott (12:48.819)
Yes.
I agreed. I know some good Akido guys. And yes, I get you see the the stuff where they're just, you know, flying through the air, they're doing their their key push stuff. I get it. It's that stuff is yeah, hokey, but you know you just gotta meet a real good Aquito guy. We can show you the the difference. So even I w so now I give pr a private lessons to BJJ Bluebelt.
He's ranked number one in his weight division, blue belt. So he sought me out for wrist locks on the on the ground, because that's my specialty on the ground. So he came to me and we talk and we have long talk sometimes and lessons. And I go, look, don't knock a keto or the stand up side of jujitsu. I said, It's all relevant, all works well together. So I I try to encourage some of the
Jeremy (13:29.89)
nice. Okay.
scott (13:50.17)
BJ guys do like go try. Don't knock it until you try it.
Jeremy (13:55.644)
Right? It's if my my view is that it all exists for a reason. Somebody woke up one day and said, you know, my life needs this. My training, my experience says this needs to exist. So they made it. Or they codified it. Or they, you know, whatever, whatever the verb is there. And I think sometimes people forget that.
their why doesn't necessarily become somebody else's why.
scott (14:25.698)
Yes, I agree with you. Yes, I've told lots of people of well, they say this art's bad. I'm like, go try it. If you like it and it you know, you gravitate towards it, then do it.
Just try every art that you can that you think you might like. And if you like it, stick with it.
Jeremy (14:46.915)
And if you do or don't, it has I I I feel it has far more to do with the person or the people you're training with than it does the art. I've trained in karate schools I loved. I've trained in karate schools that I hated. I've trained in taekwondo schools that I loved, taekwondo schools that I disliked. I've done a variety of different grappling arts that I enjoyed, and others I did not enjoy at all. And can can we can we fault words on a page?
scott (14:53.985)
Yes. Yep.
scott (15:01.395)
Mm. Yeah.
scott (15:12.299)
Right. I agree.
Jeremy (15:17.059)
Or can we fault someone who came, you know, a hundred years ago and and and blame them and say, nah I I didn't like that class because of, you know, that guy back then. No, of course not. It's the it's the fool in the front, or more likely the fool in the back that was responsible for it not being a good time.
scott (15:36.56)
Yeah, so I even have I've had a couple of parents come in and want their kids to join. And you know, they've asked advice too, like, well is jujitsu like you know the best art or whatever. I'm like, not by any means. I go, let them try. They don't like it, it's no hurt on us. I go, maybe they will like a different art. I go, just try different arts. Let them pick the art they want to do.
Jeremy (16:05.413)
What's the best after school sport? What's the best school subject?
scott (16:09.082)
Yeah, exactly. It's all relative, right? Like they're gonna find their own path. Right? I love Taekwondo when I started out. I still love Taekwondo. Even though I can't remember the forms, but I can still do all the kicks and the one step sparring. I haven't forgotten any of those. Just I found Jiu Jitsu and I and I gravitate it more towards that.
Jeremy (16:28.761)
Still has value.
Jeremy (16:32.793)
It's okay to like something more. It's okay you know, and just just because we have a favorite food doesn't mean all other foods are dumb. I don't know too many people who eat one food all the time only.
scott (16:34.841)
Yeah. There's nothing there's
scott (16:46.425)
Right. There's nothing like choking your friends out with their own clothes.
Jeremy (16:49.809)
That's right. That's right. Haven't lived. You haven't lived until that happens. Okay. So let let's let's kind of let's go back. if we're talking about 30 years of jujitsu, we're talking about really early UFC.
You were kind of ahead of you were ahead of the curve.
scott (17:12.695)
Yeah, I was I was I was in my last year of high school when UFC came out
Jeremy (17:22.125)
And so you're ten years, nine, ten years into Taekwondo at that point. If you're in high school, your your parents are probably supportive of that.
scott (17:33.227)
Yes.
Jeremy (17:34.523)
They're probably, you know, maybe maybe at the end you're driving yourself, but initially they were driving you. They're paying for it. Did you have a conversation with them? Mom and dad, I want to go I want to go do this thing. I want to go choke people out like I saw these people on TV doing. No. You just went and did it.
scott (17:50.165)
Nope. Nope, just went and did it.
scott (17:56.48)
But they didn't they didn't care, they didn't really pay much attention to it. So when I started in Jiu Jitsu and got higher up and was doing it for a few years by this point, this is a funny story.
Don't mean to offend anybody. Because, you know, jujitsu, you're rolling around with a but a bunch of sweaty guys. So I would phone my mom on the either way on my way to class, home from class, whether I was going to work, whatever. Talk to my mom almost every day. So she'd be like, Are you going for a gay day? I'm like, yes, mom, I am.
Jeremy (18:17.7)
Yeah.
Jeremy (18:22.897)
Yeah.
Jeremy (18:44.945)
Yeah.
Jeremy (18:55.003)
can't add anything to that. That's that's hysterical. Yeah. No, I'm so sorry.
scott (18:56.655)
No. So my mom passed away passed away five years ago. But it's funny, you know, call her every day and I miss hearing that.
Right. You know, she wasn't trying to offend anybody or me, and I don't I don't offend anybody when I say it, I hope not. It's just a funny little story.
Jeremy (19:20.833)
If if you didn't know what ground martial arts looked like, if you'd never seen any grappling, and if you walked into a room where this was happening, I think that's where most people would initially their brain would initially go, is that what's going on?
scott (19:40.453)
Yeah. Yep.
Jeremy (19:41.667)
Right. And and you know what? It doesn't it it we can we should be able to laugh at ourselves. We should be able to laugh at this.
Things can be funny without being offensive.
scott (19:55.511)
Yes, I agree. You know, it's like when so my guys don't like my choice of my playlist on my phone when we're grappling, 'cause it can go from a to a love song. And we're grappling. And they're like, Really? I'm like, Well, we are cuddling.
Jeremy (20:14.521)
It is very aggressive cuddling.
Jeremy (20:23.249)
So I I wanna, you know, across 30 years, you you've definitely seen the broader cultural shift as grappling arts have been welcomed. And especially by stand up, by striking martial artists. 30 years ago, it was you're over there, we're over here. And while there's still plenty of that, I see far more strikers saying, you know.
scott (20:39.04)
Yes.
Jeremy (20:52.613)
Wouldn't hurt for me to know that. And I even feel like we're starting to see grapplers saying, wouldn't hurt for me to know that.
scott (21:02.73)
Yeah, I agree.
Jeremy (21:04.283)
That took that took a little longer.
Jeremy (21:09.019)
Talk to me about what the culture was like in. I mean, I don't want to expect you to represent all grappling arts from 30 years ago, but you probably had a a perspective that was a little broader than your own school. What was it like in your school and beyond that with these lines of division background?
scott (21:31.993)
Well in our in our school, striking was important because that's how you got into your clinch.
It got into your clinch, then you do your takedown, then you do your submission.
Right. Now you don't necessarily have to strike to get a clinch, but it does help. You see it in UFC a lot now. They're throwing their big right hand just to get to the to the double leg or single leg or right, but you know, It's still very divided. Strikers are over here, grapplers are over here. Right? Striking's the best art. You can't get me if I punch you in the head. Well, learn to protect your head and I can get in.
As simple as that. And then the grapplers will be like, I'll just shoot in and take you down. Well, you're gonna have a hard time shooting and take me down when I'm kicking you in the stomach. Like, you know, learn learn to get around the kick or the punch to close that distance. And that argument still happens a little bit today, but not as much. I think the shift has has pretty well changed.
You know, I think I think if you're a striker, learn learn to grapple. Even if you're not interested in the submission part, learn to do the escapes. That's gonna be the big part of it.
scott (22:57.175)
Right? If you're a grappler, learn to strike so you can close the distance better and get your clinch and then do your takedown.
Jeremy (23:06.339)
I've I I I've said for a long time that a diverse martial artist is a better martial martial artist. That, you know, we can and and and different people I think approach this in different ways. They cut up all these different ranges. You know, we've got punching range and kicking range, and you know, maybe there's there's clinch and wrestle and grapple. I I've different people in different ways, four, five, six different ranges.
scott (23:06.641)
That
scott (23:11.939)
I agree.
Jeremy (23:35.739)
However you look at it, it yeah, a a fight's gonna are gonna move, right? Especially a fight between two people with some skill.
scott (23:44.044)
Yep, exactly.
Jeremy (23:45.176)
And having more tools in your toolbox is a good thing. Yeah, I'm if I go in for my sockets, I'm probably gonna need a ten millimeter. But I've got everything from a two up to a I mean, I've got some stuff in that toolbox that I've never used, but I have it if I need it.
scott (24:02.907)
Exactly. I I agree. You know, so I have a very good friend who does more of the stand-up side of jujitsu. he was actually a big influence in my wristlock game on the ground. And we still train together. He gives me lots of principal ideas on the stand up. He's helped me improve my standing joint lock and way better. And I'm helping him in with his ground game. But he's like, you know, people's
Forget or sad, you know, first we get taught. You grab the hand, you turn it over, you do your Nikki lock. He goes, That's good to start off. He goes, but when I'm doing it, he goes, Like, I'm trapping your hand, I'm hitting you in the face, then I'm doing my lock. It's not that I'm doing the lock right away because nobody's just gonna let you turn their hand.
scott (24:55.826)
So it's I try to explain that principle to my students too. I go, look, we're gonna learn it this way and we're gonna add. Cause nobody's just gonna let you turn their wrist.
And they all understand it, they get it. Like one of my black belts is a former Ontario arm wrestling champion. He's like Yeah, he's like, You're never just you're never gonna bend my wrist.
Jeremy (25:17.007)
No way. That's a strong man.
scott (25:26.317)
So I just teach like do your strike first, your distracting shot. Then turn the hand. That's if we're working stand up techniques. On the ground, wrist locks, little slightly easier to to pull off. Can be a little more sneaky with them. Right? I can hide better.
scott (25:48.025)
Best part about doing on the ground versus stand up is sometimes stand up I can still bend my elbow to get out of the wrist wrist lock standing. On the ground, I have a base everywhere, whether that's my body, your body, or the mat. So easier to put on.
Jeremy (26:05.903)
Now wrist locks are kind of your thing, aren't they? Yeah. Well wha how how d how does one become
scott (26:08.494)
Yes, they are.
scott (26:14.636)
An asshole?
Jeremy (26:14.955)
So well, see, I I thought I thought that was heel hooks. but how does how does one pick a joint and say, My specialty is going to be dis you know, really dialing in on that joint? Was it conscious or did you wake up one day and say, you know, I really like doing this and
scott (26:39.202)
Actually, you know what it was? I I I hit one during rolling. I'm like, that was kind of real simple. And then I got another one. Then I got another one. Then I'm like, okay, this is I'm finding them everywhere now. So I just really dove into it. And I find them just about from any position, really.
Jeremy (26:39.441)
I'll go to
Jeremy (27:03.109)
Are you were you finding them because people were ignoring the defense against them? Or you just happen to see things differently than most? Okay.
scott (27:14.588)
Little bit of both. So people in sometimes in in Grapplin have a bad habit of just letting their hand get loose. So if I see that, I will take that opportunity to grab a hold of your wrist. Yeah, now that can be just a simple gooseneck or reverse gooseneck or center lock, Nikio, Sankyo, whatever you want to call it.
Or whatever you call it in your system. but yeah, so I just started finding them kinda everywhere and really developed a a good game around it. And people, some of my guys, some other guys I know who I've probably haven't even grappled with before I've come in, they're like, I've seen your videos. I I don't want to put my hands on you because it's bad. I go, that's the point. Don't want you touching me. So wrist locks.
Really psychological warfare. I already have it in your head that you don't want to put your hands on me.
Jeremy (28:24.315)
Do you compete? This seems like it would give you a leg up. Okay.
scott (28:26.265)
I haven't competed in years. I've I've done a I've done a few I I work a regular job too and I work twelve hour shifts. Yeah, so no. I work in in a basically a paper mill. So all that beautiful lamelet flooring you see in the house and malamine, white shelving, we we run all that paper.
Jeremy (28:36.068)
Didn't leave a lot of time. What do you do?
Jeremy (28:47.291)
Yeah. Yep.
scott (28:52.6)
Yeah, I know I've been doing that for twenty five years. So to train how I would like to train for a competition is a little hard. Right? But I did a couple. You know, it was fun. I think everybody should compete at least once. Try it. If you like it, go for it. Not all everybody's geared for competition.
Jeremy (29:05.329)
See that.
scott (29:20.553)
Right. I do like coaching when I have the chance out for my students. But definitely try at least one just to see how you like it.
Jeremy (29:34.546)
So if if if you're grappling with someone, I'm just trying to to play this out. I I have definitely less experience than you with your grappling. I don't have a ton, I have we'll say a little bit. I'm imagining that there may be ways that, you know, if if we're if we're here, if I'm in guard and I think I'm safe because I've I've got your ghee, you probably have wrist locks for that, don't you? Stuff I stuff I've never even thought of. Okay.
scott (29:56.407)
I do, all kinds.
scott (30:04.062)
Hold my key, yep, so I got a few from there. You put your hand in the crook of my elbow, which a lot of people seem like to do. I'll pretty much take your wrist home. yeah. Got some from when I'm in turtle and you're trying to attack. They're they're everywhere if you can just look. So this is why that one that one guy who he he seeked me out. He asked a another mutual friend of ours. He's like,
Hey, I want to start learning this locks. And this other gentleman was like, This is the guy you need to go see. And he's been with me for a year now.
Jeremy (30:41.695)
cool. So he saw video that you put up. Is is social media part of how you're reaching people? Is it something you do as, you know, hobby? Are you giving back? You know what or do you sell courses? What's what's social media like for you?
scott (31:00.964)
it's just where I reach out and I post videos on there. I wasn't never expecting to be I will say big, but I'm not that big. But it's grown. I've had a few people reach out and said, you know, hey, I I got one of your wrist locks in in a tournament today or in a live role, so makes me feel good.
Jeremy (31:19.66)
cool. Yeah.
scott (31:26.649)
Just they just clicked. And I did put instructionals out on BJJ Fanatics. I have another good friend who put instructionals on BJ and I was asking him, like, how did you get on on there? Did they ask you? He goes, You really want to know how I got there? I go, Yeah. He goes, I just emailed him. He goes, just email them. I'm like, okay. So I emailed him. And they were like, sure, we'd love to have your stuff.
I'm like, okay. So set it all up, send it away. It's done okay on there. So, you know, some good reviews, some people love it. So I always tell people when I teach at a seminar or, you know, they've talked to me or I've shown them some wrist locks. I'm like, hey, if you hit one in a live roll or a tournament, message me. I love hearing about it.
Jeremy (32:19.257)
Mm.
Is is the response entirely positive or are there people that say, you know, this isn't this isn't something, you know, or this doesn't there's there's gotta be the in the internet's a a nasty place, so there's gotta be somebody out there that hates what you're doing.
scott (32:35.473)
It is.
there's been some that have said that's just being a dick.
And I'm like, well then I'm a dick. But most of it's been positive. Some of it'd be like, I would have never thought of of that. I did one, I put it on Instagram, I think, years ago, or some platform can't remember. I'm pretty sure it was Instagram. And it was from Gessika Tommy. You have a hold of hand, but you need them in their wrist so the wrist will bend. And the one guy was like, That's not.
Technique that's just being a asshole. I'm like, Well, it's technique 'cause it works and I learnt that one the hard way 'cause my instructor did it to me years ago. But it worked.
Jeremy (33:30.031)
And I and I would imagine that that that is one of the differences between the more modern BJJ, where a lot of I I I won't go far so far as to say a lot, but a good number of schools are focused on competition. And so everything that they're training is is rooted in rule set versus old school Japanese jujitsu where there's no rule set at all going on here. This is this is a self defense curriculum.
scott (33:58.575)
Right, so according to the rules, in jujitsu, wrist locks, blue belt and up. I'm allowed to grab all four fingers, not individual ones.
So I've had a few people come in or or my friend John Mutton is the one that I give private lessons to. He's brought a couple of people in and they've only been like boy belts. And like, we can't do wrist locks yet. I'm like, yeah, but you're never too it's never too early to learn how to be an asshole.
Jeremy (34:36.081)
Still learn, can still learn. Yeah.
scott (34:41.378)
And you know, it was the same as with leg locks and heel hooks. that's dirty, that's cheating. You know, take the words right out of Dean Lister, or another guy who's famous for wrist locks is Pete the Greek, is you know, Dean Lister, why ignore five percent of the body? Pete the Greek, why ignore zero point five percent of the body?
Jeremy (35:05.969)
Mm-hmm.
scott (35:10.263)
Like a submission is a submission as far as I'm concerned.
Jeremy (35:13.101)
Mm. If it works, it works.
scott (35:15.863)
Yep. You know, maybe the next thing you're gonna start seeing is neck cranks.
Jeremy (35:17.681)
Yeah.
Jeremy (35:22.603)
And that's one of the interesting things about the competitive side of whether it's grappling or really it's it's any martial art, any martial arts competition, any combat sport, is that it it shifts. You get you get people that are they're all doing roughly the same mix of things, and then somebody over here says, you know, what they're ignoring is this, and they get really good at that, and it starts working, and it shifts.
scott (35:37.292)
Yes, absolutely.
Jeremy (35:51.43)
The balance of whatever. And then it exposes something else, right? It you probably heard heard this from one of your instructors. I we used to get told this all the time when I was a kid. So ever doesn't matter who they are and what they're doing, everyone is open somewhere at all times. There's always an opening.
scott (36:12.18)
Yes.
Jeremy (36:14.799)
And you just gotta figure out what's the combination of that opening versus, you know, their philosophy under whatever the rule set is.
scott (36:21.79)
Right, absolutely.
Right. So Yeah, they're still considered dirty wrist locks. That's why I love
Jeremy (36:32.465)
I gonna say that seem seems like you something you appreciate about it more than something you tolerate. And isn't didn't I even see in in your in your forum that your social media is like dirty wrist locker or something?
scott (36:39.194)
Yeah. And you know, all people
scott (36:47.444)
so nickname that kind of stuck years ago was Dirty Demon Wrist Locker. one of my good friends, I think he was a blue belt in DJ at the time, it might have been this purple. I wrist locked him, he looked at me, he's like, You're just like a little dirty demon asshole.
scott (37:11.24)
Yeah, I get called lots of names if you can't tell. I do. I do. Proud of proud of those names. I earned them.
Jeremy (37:13.689)
I I I can tell and you seem to wear all of them as a badge.
Jeremy (37:23.003)
Right on.
So yeah.
scott (37:25.892)
So yeah, so that nickname just kind of stuck and it's been with me for a few years now. I remember going to watch one of the biggest tournaments here in in Ontario. it's the Ontario Open. And I was just coming up the line, everybody's gay, it's the Dirty Demon guy. I'm like, Wow. I guess I've reached a lot of people.
Jeremy (37:51.539)
What's it what's it like getting recognized like that?
scott (37:54.785)
It feels good, like I was never expecting that better. But it you know, not gonna lie, it does feel good. you know, I love being recognized, but I I mm
Don't play on it like I'm I'm no better than anybody else.
Right. There's you know, I'm good at my thing. There's people way better than me at jujitsu. Right. So I I have I'm humble. I have no ego. Right? You tap me, you tap me, great. I tap you, I tap you, great. Like, you know, if you catch me in something that I've never seen, show me what you did, because that was cool.
scott (38:42.293)
Right, you know, I was listening to another podcast and they're talking about the politics in martial arts. And No, my thing is, yes, it's there. I kinda wish everybody would just shut up and drink.
Jeremy (38:57.425)
We had a shirt for a while that said shut up and train.
scott (38:59.858)
Yeah. But it's just I try not to get into that. I just I just wanna train. Just wanna train, teach, have fun.
Jeremy (39:15.195)
Just just give me the time and space to get better and help my students get better. That's all that matters to me.
scott (39:20.82)
Absolutely. That's just it. You know, I just I want to improve my students. And I'm big on too. Like if they said, you know, hey, can I go train here too, or there this place around Old Mass? Do you care if I go? I don't care if you go. You know, whatever you learn from there, bring it back. Show me. Maybe I've never seen it. Pick up as much as you can. Like I said, I'm not the best at jujitsu. Right?
Bring what you learned, bring it back, and maybe we can incorporate it into our game. Right? You had Jerry DeSanto on the other day. So he is on a brown belt under him in PJJ. Yeah, so he got me better at a few things I was not the best at, and he likes my wristle.
Jeremy (40:04.996)
Okay.
Jeremy (40:15.162)
Nice. It's
scott (40:16.057)
So it's it's good. No Jerry Jerry's a super super nice guy. He he doesn't play the whole pol political game either. He just wants to train. He wants everybody to train together. And that's all I'm for.
Jeremy (40:32.527)
I I think so often within martial arts we
Jeremy (40:42.373)
We lay our problems at the feet of other martial artists. You know, a martial arts school that's not doing well blames the other martial arts school in town and forgets the fact that there are far more people not training at either school than there are at right? It's if we'd stop if I look at I look at martial arts and you you can imagine, given what we do and
scott (40:49.955)
Yes.
Jeremy (41:11.013)
I think martial arts is the best thing. I think everybody should be doing martial arts. And what what would it the world look like if everybody was?
scott (41:15.308)
I agree with ya.
scott (41:21.006)
Maybe everybody would be really kung fu fighting.
Jeremy (41:23.641)
Maybe they would. Maybe they would. Maybe maybe we'd have fewer issues. Maybe there'd be fewer mental health challenges.
scott (41:29.911)
Maybe.
scott (41:35.849)
And that's a big aspect I try to explain to people too. Like, you know, they're like some martial arts been doing it for years ago. Look, it's it's helped me a lot. Keeps me sane up here. It's a good after a hard day at work, go there and take all your frustrations out on other people. You get you know
Jeremy (41:58.844)
Yeah. That's right. That's right.
scott (42:04.006)
When I when I'm work and I finish day shift, I go right from work to the dojo, which is forty five minutes away. And some of the guys are like, What are you doing after work? Today, Scott. I'm like, I'm gonna take all my frustrations out on my students.
Jeremy (42:24.527)
Nice. Nice.
scott (42:26.344)
But you know, and I try to tell people for those how many hours I'm on the mat, nothing else matters.
My only focus is the guy on trying to kill me and I'm trying to kill him.
Jeremy (42:41.593)
It's it's hard to let your mind wander when that's going on, isn't it? It's it it's my preferred form of meditation.
scott (42:45.146)
Absolutely.
scott (42:49.628)
Yep, same here. A little bit. Now I'm just starting to get into
scott (42:58.12)
Yeah, Idol.
Jeremy (42:59.289)
Hmm. You're you're you're picking up a stick.
scott (43:03.216)
Yes I am. I love sword work. Sword work is fun.
Jeremy (43:05.093)
Or maybe it's an actual blade. Yeah. How how how do you how do you get there from how 'cause correct me if I'm wrong, I'm unaware of any ground techniques with a sword.
scott (43:17.928)
There's none. I just really I just really like the sword work.
Jeremy (43:18.989)
Okay. Have you tried though? Have you tried have you tried to come up with them? Okay.
scott (43:23.374)
Not yet.
Jeremy (43:27.894)
If if if anybody's gonna look for him though, I bet it's you.
scott (43:32.203)
Yeah, I'll I'll I'll give it a yeah.
Jeremy (43:33.181)
There's there's there's gotta be something. There's gotta be a way that you know you fall and it's trapped against you and you can use the handle on on somebody. I don't know. Somebody somebody's come up with
scott (43:45.709)
Yeah, absolutely. So I have some good friends that that I met. And Nicholas Suino. I don't know if you ever heard of him. He's out of Michigan. Ann Arbor. Yeah, you should really get him on the show. He's yeah, he's black belt and judo, karate, jujutsu, blue or purple and
Jeremy (43:58.8)
I've heard that name. I've heard that name.
Let's let's do it. Help help us connect with them, please.
scott (44:15.543)
BJJ and Black Belt and I I Idle. He's gonna kick my ass if I'm saying it wrong, which I probably am. E E Idle. E idle.
Yeah, if I say it wrong, he's gonna smack me with a big stick.
Jeremy (44:36.497)
There's too many th there's only one consonant in that word. It doesn't make sense. It's it so it sounds like if old MacDonald named a martial art.
scott (44:49.261)
Well that's what he says. He goes, You know the song you know old MacDonald had a farm E I E I O that's that's how he says it. That's how he gets you to say it. So I try it in my head.
Jeremy (44:59.889)
Well now my joke now my joke's less funny if it's real.
scott (45:02.661)
And then my wife corrects me all the time when I say it wrong.
Jeremy (45:08.111)
What does she think of of this this passion for training?
scott (45:12.918)
so she came in a little bit later, like we're a blended family. when we first started Yes.
Jeremy (45:19.877)
So martial arts was definitely there first. So she knew she knew what she was getting herself into.
scott (45:25.776)
yeah, when we started dating and stuff, I said, Look, I like the train, I like the train a lot. And I don't think she really knew that at the beginning and now she kind of knew. Now as I got older, I have dialed back a little bit 'cause I gotta make sure I stay married.
but she still knows it's my passion. and I go around to quite a bit of places and teach at different big event seminars or or just if people have me in. you know, when COVID came in and all that stopped and as soon as they lifted all the bands, she looked at me, she goes, I'm never gonna see you. Nope.
Jeremy (46:05.253)
Ha ha.
Jeremy (46:09.179)
Does she have any training background?
scott (46:11.462)
She got her yellow belt.
Jeremy (46:13.249)
Okay. She did she did just enough that she has a bit of an understanding of what it is and why it's important to you.
scott (46:21.237)
Yes. But when when she when she used to come to like class and watch or you know, she watches the UFC with me. she knows quite a bit from just watching. And you know, for watching UFC or something together, she's like, Well, could he do this? I go, Yep, he could do that. He's gonna counter with this. So, or coming home from class, she would ask questions like, Well, could
Jeremy (46:22.287)
That's
scott (46:48.352)
Could you have done this? I'm like, yep, they probably would have countered with that. So she does ask a lot of questions, she knows. And she helps me run the dojo. She takes after care of the more the business side and administration things, because she's an administrator by trade. So she looks after that. I'm like, I want nothing to do with that part. You just keep me informed what's going on.
Jeremy (46:58.38)
well.
Jeremy (47:10.927)
You just teach you just get to teach. that's that's I think that's most people's dream. I just want to show up and teach.
scott (47:20.778)
Yep. Especially if you're a owner. Don't want anything with the good size. I just want to come and teach and go away at NLA.
Jeremy (47:27.511)
Not the it's not the easiest part. Yeah.
scott (47:31.082)
Yeah, so one the one of the first days we or first time she came to watch a class when we were dating, my instructor's like, All right, class, we're doing throws tonight. And he was doing hariah gosh. So I'm like, no, Japanese juice. So I'm like, you know, Hanchi, y you don't have to throw me just because my wife
at the time her name Sherry. Well her name's still Sherry, but Sherry is like at the time we're dating and he goes, he looks, he's got a hold of me and he goes, I go, you don't have to throw me just because Sherry's here. He goes, yeah, yeah I do
scott (48:19.633)
Nope. Went through the air and she's her she told me her thought was like, my god, don't break I just met
Jeremy (48:31.825)
So let's let's kinda shift the timeline a little bit. I can do math. You've got plenty of years left.
You have not I'm I'm sure I'm sure you have some bumps and things, but I haven't heard you complain about injuries getting in your way. So I I don't imagine that you're gonna stop. What are you gonna keep doing? Are you gonna continue to train the way you are? Are there other things that you're looking at? Are there, you know, I've got I'm once I I you know, you I heard you say brown belt and BJJ, you know, post black belt, I'm gonna go on to judo. You know, what are what are your thoughts?
as you look at your own training in the future.
scott (49:13.976)
Enough. You mentioned judo. I'm actually going to be starting judo. Yeah. Just like you know, we have throws. I just want to get better at more balance breaking and entries into the throws. Judo's good for that. The sword works coming into play because as I get older, I want something a little easier on my body. All right. Now I have my share of bumps and bruises for sure. Like I got arthritis.
Jeremy (49:17.241)
Not surprised.
scott (49:43.517)
Starting in my hands and you know, hands ache all the time. you know, shoulders aren't as flexible as they used to be. And you know, sometimes I groan when I stand up. You know, as it's just getting older, right? And I definitely don't roll as hard as I used to when in my younger days. Right? And I pick and choose who I roll with. You know, I'm not gonna
Always roll with a big brute because I wanna don't wanna wake up sore next day. Right? And my worst injury didn't even come from training. I crushed my finger at work.
Jeremy (50:20.975)
Never does.
scott (50:26.302)
That was my that was been my worst injury. Didn't even do it while I was standing.
Jeremy (50:29.009)
And and let me guess, the first thing you thought was, Man, this is gonna mess up my training.
scott (50:33.198)
a little bit, but I never lost any I never lost my finger, never lost any feeling. I got lucky. Yep. I have a scar on the bottom of this finger. so much pressure I blew my finger open there. I could see inside and I broke it on top. I had twenty stitches. Ten on the inside, ten on the outside.
Jeremy (50:38.609)
Mm.
Jeremy (50:49.049)
gross.
Jeremy (50:57.233)
It's a lot of stitches for a small place. How long did that take to heal?
scott (51:01.416)
it was it was a few months physical therapy on my finger just to make sure like I could bend it. And you know, one of the first things when I was in the emergency room, the doctor's like, Do you feel that? I'm like, Yeah, ow, stop doing that.
Jeremy (51:03.685)
Yeah.
Jeremy (51:16.369)
And he said, That's a good thing. We're glad. That means you're gonna keep your finger.
scott (51:20.618)
E Yes. They did say that. And well when I did it, I was like so at work there's chucks in the core of the paper. I end a night shift, I wasn't paying attention, you know, half asleep. I thought I was taking the one arm out, but I was bringing it back in. So I crushed it between the the chuck and the core of the paper.
And I was like, huh, seems to be a lot of pressure on my finger. And I looked, I was like, ow, ow. So reached up, ripped my hand out of the thing instead of just moving my thumb up one and backing the arm out. Cause, you know, I panicked there for a minute. And then when I remember it pulling my hand out, looking at that, I could see inside my finger, covering my hand up, when I'm fucking going to the hospital. And never went in the shock. I was pretty calm.
No, boss was driving me to my lead hand driving me to the hospital. So I phoned my wife. I'm like, hey, honey, on my way to the hospital, just crush my finger at work. She's like, you know, so I woke her up six in the morning. She's like, Are you fucking kidding me? I go, Nope. She's like, All right. And then she hung up. I'm like, Okay. As we're driving, my boss is like, Are you okay, Scotty? Like, you're not feeling the faint. I go, I'm fine.
Jeremy (52:40.367)
Yeah.
scott (52:49.527)
I go, put my body through a lot of damage. I go, but don't get me wrong, it fucking hurts. And he's like, you're a tough old bastard. And so get to hospital. You know, you're sitting waiting to go back in the ER after you've seen the triage nurse. So I'm sitting there waiting. And I'm taking pictures. Send it to my send it to my one buddy, because it's all wrapped up in gauze. And he's like, Please tell me you didn't lose your finger. I'm like, don't know yet. Don't know what kind of damage I've done. And he's like,
Keep me up to date. I'm like, yep. When I phone my wife again, I go, she's like, yeah. I go, Are you coming? She goes, Do I have to? I'm like, well, yeah, I need a ride back to work. All my stuff's still there. She's like, fine. So
Jeremy (53:32.185)
N now I assume that she didn't realize how bad it was because you were so calm.
scott (53:38.642)
Yeah. Maybe not. She didn't really say much. She just phoned in work and then she came down and she walked in. I'm like she walked in, she just shook her hat and I'm like, take pictures
Jeremy (53:53.551)
Most people would be freaking out in that situation.
scott (53:53.892)
And and yes, it's on my left hand and I'm left handed. So when I kinda, you know, got it all stitched up and I'm like, left handed, honey. So you know, gotta go to the bathroom and I looked at her and she's like, Not a chance in hell.
Jeremy (54:11.319)
Ha ha ha.
Jeremy (54:20.891)
Do you you you you pointed out that you never went into shock or anything? Do you think that's because of your training?
scott (54:28.894)
I think so. That I'm on the ERT team at work, so you know.
Think I really learned how to stay calm in in difficult situations.
Right. That was, you know, traumatic, difficult. So but I was more mad 'cause I'm like, if I lose my finger, what am I gonna do?
scott (54:56.776)
So
Jeremy (54:57.221)
I I think the ability to stay calm under pressure is is possibly the most underdiscussed benefit of training. Cause I've got the I've got the same thing. this horrendous thing is occurring around me. Hmm. That's not ideal. let's go over there now. Right? Like and and I I I I know I'm nowhere close to alone. I know plenty of people that are very similar. Give them a couple decades of
scott (55:06.039)
Yeah.
scott (55:25.326)
Yeah, so
Jeremy (55:27.355)
high adrenaline training and shh they level out.
scott (55:32.337)
So, you know, a lot of people say, Jiu-Jitsu, the the art of being comfortable in uncomfortable positions. Far as I'm concerned, any martial arts like that, because getting punched and kicked in the face and stuff is is not comfortable. So I mean you could say it for every art, pretty much. Right? And then I even told people like I had asthma.
Years and years ago and people was like, You had asthma? I go, Yeah, I got it went away. They're like, How? Like, you learn to breathe when you got somebody who's two hundred and fifty pounds on top of you.
So yeah, it got rid of my asthma. Not saying that's gonna work for everybody. It it worked for me. Maybe I was just one of the lucky ones.
But you know, as far as I'm concerned, any martial arts is is a benefit to anybody. And whatever you're looking for, whether it's self defense, improve your fitness, more confidence, more discipline, whatever you're looking for.
It it's there for you somewhere in whatever art you wanna try or study.
Jeremy (56:49.679)
Yep. Th there's there are more opportunities than we will ever be able to take advantage of. There's more to learn. The more I learn, the more I realize I will never learn as much as I want to. And I think that's pretty cool.
scott (57:06.353)
Yeah, so so for my sword work that I've started doing.
A good friend of mine lives about two hours from me. Every three months I'm gonna go see see him, Randy Dolphin. so we agreed, you know, we'll go up there, we'll do some some Iido and then we'll do some jujitsu.
Jeremy (57:35.985)
So you're trading off. That's good. I wish more people would do that.
scott (57:36.135)
Looking forward Yeah, looking forward to
Jeremy (57:42.053)
Just sharing, you know, get get a friend in every whatever the you you trade off. You know, I'll
scott (57:47.889)
Yeah, so I've also done a little bit of a stick and knife fighting. Not by any means proficient at it. Very basic. But my good friend who teaches our Mui Thai program at the Dojo, Mark Madarles, he's he's trained in in stick and knife and Jeet Kune Do. So he's been a big asset. You know, we trade off ideas. he's gonna be one of my black belts very soon.
Jeremy (58:16.155)
Nice.
scott (58:17.354)
And you know, I just said I'm like, you know, show me some nice stuff, show me some stick work. And so, you know, he's he's he's been a big influence on me and vice versa. So, you know, always look forward to to what he's got in store for me. And you know, I take what I learned from a lot of my friends. You know, everybody's like, Who is your big influence for martial arts? Like,
I can name a lot of people, you know, all the stars, Chuck Norris, Bruce Lee, Gene LaBelle, all those guys, but a lot of my big influences have been my friends.
Mark Madero's, Ryan Boldrug, all these guys influence me quite a bit. And even my students still influence me. I love when they're excited to train. Gets me excited to teach.
Jeremy (59:15.691)
And you you've you've been at it long enough. You probably have some students that that push you a little bit.
scott (59:22.859)
Yes.
Jeremy (59:23.653)
There's nothing better than that. There's nothing better than saying, you know, I taught you everything you know, and now you're starting to push me a little bit. Cause it makes you get better.
scott (59:34.285)
Yeah. I love I've loved when they've caught me in something.
Jeremy (59:44.209)
Yeah.
scott (59:47.211)
You know, I I I love that feeling. And they're like, Yeah, you exactly what you taught me. And I go, Yeah, and you caught me with it, like legitimately caught me with it.
You know, it's a good feeling for them, it's a good feeling for me.
Jeremy (01:00:01.787)
Totally. And and I think it's a sign of a good learning environment.
scott (01:00:05.671)
I think so. I agree.
Jeremy (01:00:07.003)
Right. I've I've definitely trained at schools where it's you know, everybody shuts up and the instructor, you know, tries to cram knowledge into your brain. That doesn't work. That's not how people learn.
scott (01:00:17.7)
Yeah. Well e even the fact like you know, sometimes instructors g look like you're supposed to have the answer for everything.
Told my students if they've asked me something like, Well, I don't know, but I'll find out. Or let's find out together. Right. And I think that's some of the best experiences in teaching is, well, I don't know. Let's find out. Let's see how well it works.
I think that's some of the best way to gain knowledge right there.
Jeremy (01:00:55.769)
For sure. Scott, if people want to get a hold of you, where where are they gonna go? Where should we
scott (01:01:01.718)
so Facebook, you can find Taylor Jiu Jitsu or just Scott Taylor. Instagram is Taylor Jiu Jitsu or Dirty Demon Wrist Locker.
I'm not a big TikTok guy or X or Twitter or whatever the hell it's called now.
Jeremy (01:01:24.433)
You could you could take your stuff and and cross post it if if that was important, if you're trying to drum up seminar interest or something. But yeah. Yeah, TikTok is both my favorite and least favorite platform.
scott (01:01:37.156)
Yeah. I do have Dick Doc and I can't remember what name I'm using under there right now, so
Jeremy (01:01:44.559)
Well, we we we will put the the links that you gave us into the show notes so to everybody out there if you're driving or whatever, no need to take notes. Just make sure you visit whistlekick martial arts radio dot com for Scott's episode.
scott (01:01:56.672)
I gotta say I'm I'm loving the podcast. I've I've listened to episodes here and there, jumped around, but like I'm gonna start from number one.
Jeremy (01:02:00.092)
Thank you.
Jeremy (01:02:07.237)
Just I'm I'm glad you didn't start with number one. That's a long time ago. It was a it was a different world. I was a different person. I was not nearly well, not to say that I'm good now, but whatever I am now, I was not as good then. Sitting there. How did you get started in Marshall? I literally I had a page, I had a piece paper right here, and I
For the first fifty episodes, I couldn't remember the ten questions I had written down and I'd look off camera, but it was audio only, so nobody knew. Actually, the f the first God, what I don't even remember when we started doing video. It was it was late. It was later than it should have been. I remember that. We held out for a long time.
scott (01:02:41.94)
Right.
scott (01:02:52.864)
Yes. You also had another one of my good friends on on your podcast probably a year or two ago now, Chris Hansen.
Jeremy (01:03:00.271)
Yeah, Chris is a great guy. You you create you crazy north of the border folks.
Jeremy (01:03:09.233)
Yeah, he's a good guy. the for for those of you out there, if if that name doesn't ring a bell, karate unity might ring ring a bell. That's his point.
Good guy, good man. Well Yeah, for sure.
scott (01:03:21.153)
Chris is Chris is a a good man, yep. And so is Jerry. Jerry's a good man too. I
Jeremy (01:03:27.845)
Well, we we try not to have bad people on the show. We try to make sure the people we bring on the show are good people. We do so we do I don't want to say we vet, that that suggests a deeper process than we likely have for for people, but you know, we check people out and if you know, we look at their social media and if all they're doing is promoting their stuff or being a jerk, you know, we don't you know, we pass. Yeah, don't think you're a fit for our show. That's okay.
scott (01:03:31.194)
Okay.
scott (01:03:53.251)
Yeah.
scott (01:03:58.041)
I agree.
Jeremy (01:03:59.941)
Well, how do we end today, Scott? What do what do you what do you want the audience to come away with?
scott (01:04:05.69)
Just wanna keep training. The journey is hard. You're gonna have ups and downs. You're gonna reach a plateau, but just keep training. Push through it, you'll get to the other side.