CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 3:20
Bas moves to Texas: longhorns, culture shock, and leaving California
Joe welcomes Bas Rutten and they swap stories about Bas becoming a Texas resident—boots, hats, and even riding a longhorn. They also reflect on the California exodus, why Texas feels different, and how friendliness (and lower density) changes day-to-day life.
- •Bas relocates to Texas and describes his first days (New Braunfels, July 4th fireworks)
- •Jokes about “going full Texas” with boots/hat/longhorn
- •Why California became untenable for many people
- •Texas: fewer people, friendlier vibe, different mentality
- 3:20 – 6:43
Self-defense rabbit hole: Tasers, stopping power, and carry guns
A casual joke about being “armed” in Texas turns into a practical discussion on Tasers, their limitations, and why people overestimate personal-defense devices. They compare Tasers to firearms and talk through compact 9mm carry options and reliability concerns.
- •Bas’s birthday Taser story and why no one trusted him with it
- •Tasers can fail or be ineffective on determined/drugged individuals
- •Battery reliability and false confidence with personal-defense tools
- •Compact carry gun talk: SIG P365, Hellcat, Shields, Staccato CS
- 6:43 – 7:53
Texas gun laws and unintended consequences
They discuss constitutional carry and how widespread gun ownership affects public behavior. Joe brings up a tragic incident where police shot an armed homeowner at night, highlighting the complexity and risks around armed self-defense.
- •Constitutional carry as a cultural and legal difference
- •Argument: bad people may have guns, so good people want parity
- •Cautionary story: homeowner shot by police while holding an AR
- •Practical lesson: how to respond when law enforcement arrives
- 7:53 – 10:20
Karate Combat: what it is, why it works, and how it started
The conversation pivots to Karate Combat—Bas’s involvement, event scheduling, and why the promotion is gaining traction. Bas explains its origin story (Wall Street founders), the core ruleset, and why the format creates action without becoming MMA.
- •Bas’s recent Miami trip; next events and growth plans
- •Origin story: ‘Google it’ discovery that full-contact karate had no major league
- •Rules overview: takedowns + brief ground striking window
- •Star hosts and personalities involved (GSP, Wonderboy, Machida)
- 10:20 – 11:07
Rules and geometry: the pit walls, “down” definitions, and ground strikes
Joe and Bas dig into the technical rules that shape the fights—especially the angled walls and what counts as a downed opponent. They compare Karate Combat’s safety/action balance with PRIDE/ONE rules, discussing stomps, soccer kicks, elbows, and knees.
- •Five-second ground striking window and strategic implications
- •Angled wall (‘pit’) enables unique takedowns and resets
- •Leaning on the wall isn’t “down,” so attacks remain legal
- •Debate: knees-to-head vs elbows; PRIDE/ONE vs cage risks
- 11:07 – 27:12
Watching clips: point fighters adapting, knockouts, and distance control
They watch highlight clips and analyze why certain styles succeed or fail—hands-down karate habits meeting boxing hooks, blitz entries, and feints. Bas and Joe praise fighters who manage distance and pressure, using Ross Levine as a showcase example.
- •Hands-down entries can get punished by basic boxing counters
- •Feints and distance management as an underused skill set
- •Ross Levine breakdown: stalking, timing, control, and dominance
- •Early evolution: point fighters learning to continue combinations under pressure
- 27:12 – 34:33
Fighter psychology: ‘the it factor,’ pressure, and why family in the audience changes everything
They broaden into what separates champions from perennial contenders—confidence, mindset, and performing under pressure. They discuss how having kids/family present can add psychological weight, using recent UFC examples to illustrate.
- •Some fighters have ‘it’—others hover near titles but never break through
- •Undefeated records can create risk-averse ‘fight not to lose’ behavior
- •Family/kids watching live can be a major mental burden
- •Examples: Ian Garry’s rise; Mackenzie Dern/Angela Hill toughness; kids reacting ringside
- 34:33 – 51:18
Dark turns: suicide stories, post-fight depression, and identity after fighting
Bas recounts witnessing a suicide in Japan and the discussion shifts to mental health and the ‘crash’ after competition. Bas describes a frightening depression period after his final fight and how he fought back with reframing and gratitude lists, while Joe connects it to broader fighter identity issues.
- •Witnessing suicide and the ‘instant regret’ theme of jumping
- •Bas’s post-2006 depression and intrusive thoughts despite external success
- •Coping tools: listing positives vs negatives; the role of family support
- •Transition problem: fighters losing identity and structure after retirement
- 51:18 – 1:01:50
Injuries, recovery, and the promise (and politics) of stem cells & peptides
They unpack Bas’s long-term neck/nerve damage, atrophy, and the slow grind of rehab, alongside Joe’s rotator cuff recovery story. The conversation expands into why regenerative medicine is restricted, how inflammation reduction differs from true healing, and why athletes seek treatment abroad.
- •Bas’s neck injury history (slams, acting stunt) and lasting nerve issues
- •Atrophy/strength loss and incremental recovery over years
- •Joe’s rotator cuff tear healed after stem cell treatment (MRI-confirmed)
- •Regulation vs incentives: pharma, pain meds, and barriers to regenerative therapies
- •Peptides as a way to ‘trigger your own body’ rather than adding foreign substances
- 1:01:50 – 1:16:16
Tech tangent: implants, social credit fears, EVs, and Tesla self-driving
A discussion about medical advances branches into concerns about embedded tech, hacking, and centralized control. From there they move to electric cars—Tesla performance, self-driving limitations, and why Joe still loves visceral old cars.
- •Fear of body-tech/implant hacking and surveillance implications
- •Concerns about centralized digital currency + social credit controls
- •Tesla Plaid speed, quiet driving, and safety advantages for merging
- •Skepticism about fully trusting autonomous driving today
- •Contrast with Joe’s raw 1993 Porsche ‘visceral’ driving experience
- 1:16:16 – 2:01:27
MMA nostalgia: early wild rules, Kimbo, bare-knuckle, and legendary athletes
They bounce through classic combat-sports stories and clips—Kimbo Slice’s era, early UFC chaos (wrestling shoes, loose rules), and fighters who were monsters in their prime. The thread includes freak athletes like Yoel Romero and Karelin, plus how rule changes shape legacies.
- •Kimbo Slice’s rise via internet fame; how he’d fit in modern BKFC
- •Houston Alexander’s late-career bare-knuckle success at 51
- •Yoel Romero myths, Cuban sports pipeline, and unusual physiology anecdotes
- •Alexander Karelin highlights: size, athleticism, and ‘Russian science’ jokes
- •Rule-change controversy: Karelin vs Rulon Gardner grip-break point
- 2:01:27 – 2:45:05
Bas’s fight craft and training obsession: nerves, focus, and targeted damage
Bas explains how he developed elite composure—writing ‘R’ for relax, learning to slow down under pressure, and using ADHD-like obsession to rapidly close skill gaps. They go deep on tactical details: aiming strikes to the same spot, timing body shots on inhales, and why shins snap when kicks land flat.
- •Bas’s ‘R’ reminder and the shift from hothead to composed finisher
- •‘Bubble’ focus: calm mind in chaos; fighting as mental quiet for ADD
- •Obsession as a competitive advantage: drilling weaknesses (submissions) relentlessly
- •Precision targeting: same spot low kicks vs spreading damage
- •Kick mechanics: edge-of-shin vs flat-shin risks; open-stance checking and breaks
- 2:45:05 – 2:51:32
Lifestyle now: gym ownership, insane metabolism, TRT decision, and daily training
They discuss Bas’s current routine—keeping his Thousand Oaks gym, running fitness challenges, and how his genetics affect body composition. Bas also shares why he started TRT for mental well-being, plus what his workouts and diet look like at 58.
- •Still owns and operates the Thousand Oaks gym; adding wrestling coaches
- •Six-week fitness challenge transformation example and accountability
- •Genetics: unusually high testosterone when young; fast metabolism claims
- •Starting TRT due to low free testosterone and emotional/mental changes
- •Current training: incline treadmill, backward walking, supersets, high-carb intake
- 2:51:32 – 3:07:21
Breathing masterclass + O2 Trainer demo: diaphragm mechanics and endurance gains
Bas closes with an extended, technical breakdown of diaphragmatic breathing, inspiratory muscle training, and why many athletes breathe inefficiently. He demonstrates his O2 Trainer on-air, explains the physiology (metaboreflex and blood-stealing), and gives practical usage guidance and expectations.
- •Most people breathe incorrectly (shoulder/chest rise vs diaphragm) and why it happens
- •Endurance mechanism: breathing muscles fatigue triggers metaboreflex and steals blood from limbs
- •IMT (inspiratory muscle training) as a proven tool used by endurance Olympians
- •Live demo: posture cues, shoulder-down breathing, and back-expansion variation
- •Product details: O2 Trainer settings, durability, asthma claims, and when to train (not pre-endurance)
