A weekly conversation about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, training and gym culture with 4x IBJJF World Champion Mahamed Aly and BJJ black belt Patrick Almeida, co-owners of One Way Martial Arts in Alexandria, VA. Episodes in English are below. Mahamed's Portuguese show, AlyBjjCast, is further down this page.
Short answer: The One Way Podcast is a weekly show about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, martial arts training and gym culture, hosted by Mahamed Aly, a 4x IBJJF World Champion, and Patrick Almeida, a BJJ black belt. They co-own One Way Martial Arts in Alexandria, Virginia. Every episode is free on YouTube and Spotify, and a new one comes out each week.
It is an honest conversation between two coaches who compete, teach and run an academy: what actually makes students improve, how to tell a good gym from a bad one, what each belt is supposed to mean, and the parts of training nobody explains to beginners. If you train, are thinking about starting, or have a kid on the mats, start with any episode below — you do not need to listen in order.
Every episode
Episode 004
What's Expected From Each Belt in BJJ?
· 1 hr 16 min
Mahamed Aly breaks down the real path from white belt to black belt: what coaches expect at each rank, why blue belt is the first big test and purple belt can be the hardest stage mentally, and how brown and black belt are about maturity, teaching and efficiency. He also talks about team loyalty and switching gyms, what stripes really mean, and why consistency beats talent over the long run.
In this episode
What a white belt should focus on first
Why blue belt is the first real test of confidence and consistency
Why purple belt can be the toughest stage mentally
7 Red Flags That Tell You a Jiu-Jitsu Gym Is Wrong for You
· 50 min
Mahamed Aly and Patrick Almeida break down the warning signs that separate a healthy jiu-jitsu gym from one that quietly normalizes bad hygiene, unsafe training and toxic culture. They explain what to look for before you sign up, what should make you walk out, and why a good coach guides students instead of controlling them. Essential listening for beginners, parents and experienced grapplers.
In this episode
Why dirty mats and neglected equipment are serious red flags
Skin infections and training while sick
Cross-training: the benefits and the gym politics
Why a gym with no women, families or kids can signal a culture problem
Coaches who discourage questions
Why a good gym needs a curriculum, including takedowns
Mahamed Aly and Patrick Almeida talk about coming back from the IBJJF Masters Worlds and why competition changes the way you train. They cover balancing competing with coaching, family and running a gym, how to train hard without hurting your teammates, why strength training and warm-ups matter, and why every athlete should have a date on the calendar.
In this episode
Lessons from competing at the IBJJF Masters Worlds
Competing while coaching, raising a family and running a gym
The difference between training hard and trying to hurt someone
How to train with lighter or less experienced partners
Why athletes should lift weights, and when strength becomes an excuse
Why warm-ups matter for movement and injury prevention
Why every athlete needs a competition date on the calendar
The Story Behind the Name, the Gym, and the Mindset
· 1 hr 26 min
In the first episode, co-founders Mahamed Aly and Patrick Almeida tell the story of how One Way Martial Arts was born: a friendship that started when they trained under the same coach as teenagers in Brazil, a serious knee injury that forced Mahamed to rethink his career, and the decision to open an academy in Alexandria with very little money and a shared refusal to quit. They explain what the name One Way means (when you get one shot, you commit fully) and what they want this podcast to give students, gym owners, fathers and business owners.
In this episode
How Mahamed and Patrick met as teenagers in Brazil
Patrick's path from medicine and engineering to jiu-jitsu, Russia and the U.S.
The knee injury that pushed Mahamed to rebuild
Opening the gym with almost no money and building it by hand
What the name One Way means
Friendship, accountability and loyalty in business
4x IBJJF World Champion, 4x European Open Champion, professional MMA fighter and UFC Contender Series veteran. Co-founder and head coach at One Way Martial Arts.
Patrick Almeida
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with more than 15 years on the mat, IBJJF Masters competitor, co-owner and coach. Meet the rest of the coaching team.
Podcast FAQ
What is the One Way Podcast?
The One Way Podcast is a weekly conversation about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, martial arts training and gym culture, hosted by Mahamed Aly, a 4x IBJJF World Champion, and Patrick Almeida, a BJJ black belt. They co-own One Way Martial Arts in Alexandria, Virginia, and talk about what they have learned from competing, coaching and building an academy.
Where can I listen to the One Way Podcast?
Every episode is free on YouTube and on Spotify. You can also watch the full episodes on this page.
How often do new episodes come out?
A new episode is released every week, and this page is updated automatically when it goes live.
Do I need to train jiu-jitsu to listen?
No. Some episodes are technical, but most are about training habits, gym culture, coaching, parenting and running a business. Beginners, parents and gym owners get as much out of them as competitors do.
Can I train with Mahamed Aly and Patrick Almeida?
Yes. Both coach at One Way Martial Arts, 5416 Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria, VA 22304, right off the Van Dorn Street Metro on the Blue Line with free on-site parking. Your first class is free in any program — book a free trial class or see the class schedule.
Podcast em português
O AlyBjjCast é o podcast do Mahamed Aly em português: conversas sobre jiu-jitsu, treino, competição e carreira, com convidados do esporte e episódios em que ele fala sozinho. Os episódios mais antigos saíram com o nome Soltinho com Aly.
AlyBjjCast #101: jiu-jitsu, moda e liderança, com André "Bintang" Freitas
A maioria das pessoas acha que jiu-jitsu se resume a medalhas. André Freitas e Mahamed Aly falam sobre o que a arte ensina fora do tatame: identidade, trabalho e liderar gente.
O primeiro episódio do podcast. Uma conversa sobre formar atletas, construir equipe e o que muda quando você passa a ser responsável por outras pessoas.
