The Joe Rogan Experience – MMA Show #173

Guests: Benny "The Jet" Urquidez & William "Blinky" Rodriguez
Date: January 21, 2026
Host: Joe Rogan

Episode Overview

This episode of the JRE MMA Show is a wide-ranging, deeply personal, and historic conversation with legendary martial artists Benny "The Jet" Urquidez and William "Blinky" Rodriguez. Rogan explores their impact as pioneers in kickboxing and martial arts, delving into their fighting careers, the origins and evolution of modern martial arts, and their lifelong commitment to community outreach and mentorship. The trio discuss everything from brutal no-rules matches of the 70s, the importance of the Jet Center gym in LA, the rise of MMA and changes to martial arts values, to the transformative power of forgiveness and community leadership.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Jet Center and LA Martial Arts in the 1990s

• Joe Rogan shares his early LA days, training at the Jet Center (00:16–01:04), noting its tough, diverse crowd and outreach to gang members.
• The Jet Center's dual legacy: martial skill and social impact (03:54).

Notable Quote:

• “You brought them to a place like the Jet Center where they can learn discipline, learn how to fight, build real confidence…” – Joe Rogan (03:54)

2. Personal Tragedy & Community Work

• Blinky Rodriguez recounts losing his son to gang violence and the subsequent creation of an anti-violence nonprofit (01:25–03:54).
• Forgiveness as a transformative force, leading to peace initiatives and direct reconciliation with the man who killed his son (100:57–102:21).

Notable Moments:

• “No mothers crying, no babies dying. To this day, I still continue to press in...keeping violence in the middle of it and dealing with it.” – Blinky Rodriguez (02:41)
• “The power of forgiveness is more powerful than my left hook. And I had a good one, Joe.” – Blinky Rodriguez (101:27)

3. Early Days of Kickboxing and Muay Thai

• Benny’s introduction to Muay Thai came without knowledge of the rules or techniques; his experiences fighting much larger opponents, and the brutal, no-rules, no weight class contests in Hawaii (05:22–08:43).
• Discussion of the invention of shin guards for kickboxing due to the brutality of leg kicks (13:38–14:45).

Notable Quotes:

• “I tell you, it was when my brother asked me, what would you want to fight? Thai, you know, and I said, what’s ‘Thai’? …Honest, I thought that was his name.” – Benny Urquidez (05:22)
• “I created the first shin guards.” – Benny Urquidez (14:16)

4. Evolution of Rules & American Kickboxing’s Identity

• The formation of the PKA and debates over rules (ex: no leg kicks from “waist-up” kickboxing, then incorporating sweeps and different sanctioning bodies) (20:04–24:11).
• The importance of leg kicks historically, and how techniques like the calf kick have only recently revolutionized MMA (21:40–23:58).

Notable Quotes:

• “If you’re not kicking calf, thigh, body and head, it’s not international.” – Blinky Rodriguez (23:45)
• “It would have probably flourished in America and been as big as MMA.” – Joe Rogan (29:57)

5. Technical Evolution & MMA’s Trajectory

• How rule changes, promotional strategies, and the influence of pioneers shaped American kickboxing and MMA.
• The impact of the Gracie family and the growth of MMA from the 1990s on (107:31–109:25).
• New generations of MMA: young fighters are now well-rounded, technical, and more athletic than ever (105:20–106:35).

Notable Quotes:

• “Martial arts has evolved more since 1993 to 2026 than it did in the last 10,000 years.” – Joe Rogan (35:00)
• “The kids of today, they can do everything. They could submit you, they can take you down, they can kickbox with you. They could do it all.” – Joe Rogan (105:20)

6. Old School Training vs. Modern Awareness

• Culture of “gym wars” versus today’s emphasis on safety and longevity – reflecting on sparring practices and the insufficient understanding of concussions in previous generations (46:00–47:36).
• Thai approach: high frequency, light sparring, and the economic reality of fighting as a livelihood (48:55–49:39).

7. Martial Values & Warrior Code

• The gradual diminishing of the Bushido (“prosciutto” as repeated in transcript) – a code of honor, discipline, humility, and respect (57:18–58:09; 79:24–81:49).
• The role of martial arts in personal transformation, self-discipline, and helping people out of difficult life circumstances (89:42–94:29, 90:44–93:26).

Notable Quotes:

• “There was power in that code of honor, of strength, of knowing.” – Benny Urquidez (57:31)
• “Martial arts was a vehicle for developing your human potential.” – Joe Rogan (80:37)

8. Women's Pioneering Role in Combat Sports

• Tribute to Lily Urquidez, Blinky’s late wife, as a trailblazer in women’s boxing and kickboxing, and the first woman with boxing, martial arts, and kickboxing titles (58:09–74:47).

9. Gene LeBell & Legendary Encounters

• Benny’s stories of training with Gene LeBell, old school “tough guy” lore, and the cross-pollination of martial arts (62:12–66:11).

10. Modern MMA: Challenges & Innovations

• Problems like eye-pokes in MMA gloves and potential equipment reforms (76:01–78:05).
• Dangers of “gaming the rules,” cheating, and the necessity for an honor code (79:24–80:15).

11. Impact of Martial Arts on Human Development

• Martial arts as a life path: discipline, confidence, overcoming anger and trauma, learning real self-defense and respect (90:44–94:29).
• The profound benefit to even non-fighters (professionals, at-risk youth, ex-cons) from training in martial arts and experiencing personal growth.

Notable Quote:

• “Your battle is in the gym tomorrow…and you’re going to learn and grow…your battle is inside yourself.” – Joe Rogan (84:45)

12. The Future: Giving Back

• Benny is considering opening a new type of gym—a haven for learning self-defense, personal truth, and healing (117:28–121:19).
• The importance of a community-oriented academy that brings people together from around the world (118:17–121:02).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |------------|---------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:41 | Blinky | “No mothers crying, no babies dying. To this day, I still continue to press in…” | | 14:16 | Benny | “I created the first shin guards.” | | 23:45 | Blinky | “If you’re not kicking calf, thigh, body and head, it’s not international.” | | 35:00 | Joe | “Martial arts has evolved more since 1993 to 2026 than it did in the last 10,000 years.” | | 46:52 | Benny | “Nobody actually understood a concussion, right? Hey, all right. Shake it off. You know, it'll be okay…” | | 80:37 | Joe | “Martial arts was a vehicle for developing your human potential.” | | 101:27 | Blinky | “The power of forgiveness is more powerful than my left hook. And I had a good one, Joe.” | | 107:31 | Joe | “What is it like for you two men as pioneers, like real, true pioneers in the earliest days of martial arts…?” | | 117:28 | Benny | “I've been doodling again...I'm talking about a gym...a safe haven where people will come to learn their truth.” |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jet Center & LA Roots: 00:16–03:54
• Blinky’s Anti-Violence Non-Profit & Forgiveness Story: 01:25–03:54; 100:57–102:21
• Origins of American Kickboxing & Thailand Fights: 05:22–14:45
• Rule Evolution & Calf Kick Discussion: 20:04–23:58
• Early MMA and Influence of Muay Thai: 29:28–34:33
• Pioneering Women’s Combat Sports: 58:09–74:47
• Benny/LeBell Stories & Gene LeBell’s Influence: 62:12–66:11
• Martial Arts as Social Transformation: 80:37–94:29
• Jet Center Legacy & New Gym Vision: 117:28–121:02
• Closing Reflections on Martial Arts & Life: 121:02–121:28

Final Thoughts

This episode stands as a testament to the enduring power of martial arts—not just in fighting, but as a tool for personal and communal transformation. Benny and Blinky detail the gritty, rule-breaking past that built the foundation for today’s MMA and reflect on the personal costs and values that come with living the martial artist’s life. Their stories of innovation, honor, and forgiveness highlight the importance of remembering those who paved the way, not just for sport, but for the healing and growth of entire communities.