"Survive first, win later. The goal is to stay in the fight."

"Martial arts training can be the crucible for developing life skills beyond fighting—mental toughness, social intelligence, and adaptability."

"If your goal is longevity, your #1 priority should be injury prevention."

"You can’t define someone else’s success—choose your own path in martial arts and life."

-Stephan Kesting

Welcome to the Black Belt Podcast, where we explore the art, philosophy, and evolution of martial arts beyond just technique—diving deep into its impact on mindset, adaptability, and real-world application.

I’m your host, Harinder Singh, and today’s guest is none other than Stephan Kesting—a Canadian martial artist, educator, and author renowned for his contributions to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and other martial arts. Holding a fourth-degree black belt in BJJ, he has dedicated over 40 years to martial arts training, including disciplines such as Combat Submission Wrestling, Kajukenbo Karate, and various forms of Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts. His extensive background also encompasses studies in Judo, Sambo, Kung Fu, Capoeira, and Muay Thai.

Stephan is the founder of GrappleArts.com and brings a broad perspective on martial arts effectiveness across different contexts—from sport to street to survival.

In addition to being a world-class instructor, Stephan has a background in outdoor survival training, having completed an unassisted 42-day solo canoe trip covering 1,000 miles through seven river and lake systems, without seeing another human for 21 days.