The Joe Rogan ExperienceJRE MMA Show #173 with Benny "The Jet" Urquidez & William "Blinky" Rodriguez
CHAPTERS
Rogan’s Jet Center memories and why Benny & Blinky are pioneers
Joe opens by recalling moving to LA in 1994 and immediately seeking out the Jet Center as a must-visit training hub. He sets the tone by framing Urquidez and Rodriguez as foundational figures in American kickboxing and martial arts culture.
Blinky Rodriguez on losing his son and building a violence-intervention mission
William “Blinky” Rodriguez tells the story of his son being killed in a drive-by shooting and how it reshaped his life’s purpose. He describes decades of community work rooted in forgiveness, peace-building, and direct intervention.
Classic kickboxing stories: Theriault KO details and the Jet Center’s role
The conversation shifts from community work to iconic kickboxing moments and how gyms like the Jet Center forged discipline and confidence. Joe and Blinky break down a famous finish and the technical setup behind it.
Urquidez’s first Muay Thai experience: not knowing the rules, learning the hard way
Benny recounts agreeing to fight “Thai” without realizing it meant Muay Thai, then being shocked by leg kicks, knees, and elbows. He describes the first exposure as a turning point that forced rapid adaptation.
The Hawaii ‘no rules’ era: no weight classes, elimination brackets, and survival tactics
Benny and Blinky describe early full-contact/anything-goes competition where size mismatches were extreme and rules were minimal. They recount fighting across multiple days and the brutal reality of ‘figure it out’ combat sport experimentation.
Inventing shin guards and reverse-engineering Muay Thai from film
Benny explains how they studied black-and-white footage to understand Muay Thai and protect themselves in training. He details creating early shin guards with a leather shop and Velcro, plus observations about Thai conditioning methods.
Japan, belts, and the evolution into modern kickboxing (PKA/WKA/K-1 roots)
The guests and Joe connect early American and Japanese kickboxing history to the rulesets that shaped the sport. They discuss team formats, promoter decisions, and how removing certain strikes altered public perception and development in the U.S.
Low kicks, calf kicks, and why modern MMA “rediscovered” an old weapon
Joe and the guests connect earlier leg-attack strategies to today’s calf-kick renaissance across MMA and striking sports. They cite modern fighters and highlight how leg attacks disrupt movement, stance, and power generation.
Why American kickboxing stalled: TV rules, promotion, and what fans want to watch
Joe argues that American kickboxing’s rule constraints and presentation damaged its long-term popularity. The group compares MMA’s promotional success to kickboxing’s fragmented growth and discusses how to package stand-up fighting for modern audiences.
Ground fighting, crowd impatience, and the lost ‘warrior code’ in combat sports
They debate entertainment vs reality in fighting—especially when audiences boo grappling. Joe explains why stand-ups can be unfair, while Benny and Blinky stress bushido values, dignity, and the shift toward business-first decision-making.
Training smarter: concussions, sparring culture, and why the Jet Center stood out
Joe contrasts old-school gym wars with more technical, sustainable training approaches. They discuss concussions, why hard sparring must be limited, and how Thai training culture differs due to frequent competition.
Gene LeBell, Olympic Auditorium history, and Ali vs Inoki from the inside
The talk turns to legendary figures and crossover fights that prefigured MMA. Benny shares Gene LeBell stories and recounts being on the card for Muhammad Ali vs Antonio Inoki, including warnings about leg attacks and the aftermath.
Lily Urquidez-Rodriguez: women’s boxing & kickboxing trailblazing before it was accepted
Blinky and Benny pay tribute to Lily as an early champion across boxing and kickboxing, well before women’s combat sports had mainstream legitimacy. Joe connects her impact to later stars who faced limited opportunities.
Jet Center as transformation engine: confidence, discipline, and turning rivals into teammates
They return to what made the Jet Center special beyond fighting—personal growth, community cross-pollination, and structured progression. Joe and Blinky describe using martial arts to redirect gang conflict and create pathways into work and stability.
Forgiveness in action: Blinky meets his son’s killer and finds closure
Rodriguez shares a detailed 2023 account of meeting the man who murdered his son—inside a prison—after decades of pain and community work. The moment becomes a spiritual, emotional turning point that reinforces his belief in forgiveness as transformative power.
What comes next: documentaries, new gyms, and building a ‘safe haven’ for growth
In the closing stretch, they discuss ongoing teaching through seminars, working with fighters privately, and plans for documentaries. Benny describes designing a new kind of gym and equipment focused on mental, physical, and spiritual endurance—aimed at helping people ‘mirror their truth.’
