The Go Earn Your Salt Podcast

Ep. 41- Carl Sims and Miyo Strong- The Pit Challenge & Women's Self Defense Instructors

Miyo Strong is the Program Director of Smart Defense. As a survivor and advocate, Miyo has taught self-defense for over a decade and has led programs for Temple MMA and Empower Self-Defense. After chasing down her photography goals and earning her master’s and craftsman degrees from Professional Photographers of America, Miyo decided to pursue Jiu Jitsu full time as a competitor and coach in 2016. A black belt under Johnny Carlquist, Miyo also holds certification as a strength and conditioning coach from the prestigious Gym Jones. Miyo is a 5x Jiu Jitsu World Master Champion in both Gi and No Gi, a former MMA fighter, and holds a record of 6-0 in Jiu Jitsu super fights. Through the Smart Defense program, Miyo has empowered thousands of women, teens, and survivors with life-saving skills, confidence, and healing through movement, community, and education.
Carl Simms was Born in Riverside, California. His family moved to Preston, Idaho when he was 12 in 1982. Raised as a Jehovah’s Witness in Preston in a predominately LDS community. As a JW they were strongly discouraged from pursuing Athletics and/or pursuing Higher education. He completely left the religion in his early 30’s. During his teenage years his father taught him the trade of Machining. After High School (1987) he worked in his Machine shop for about 5 years. After which he worked out in Industry. Now married to his wife Cali with kids he joined up with his Dad and they became business partners forming Millennium Machining Inc. in Preston, Idaho In 2008 Carl officially started Jiu-Jitsu and competed regularly. He took 2nd at Blue Belt IBJJF Worlds and 1st at Purple, 1st at Brown, and 1st twice at Black Belt Gi and No Gi. In 2016 he established Proving Grounds Invitational an invitation, only EBI style tournament. That is where he first met Miyo Strong Throughout the years, he has taught self-defense. In 2022 he helped teach a Women’s self Defense class with the inaugural college program of Smart Defense (with the Elizabeth Smart Foundation) he taught with Miyo as the head instructor at Southern Utah University In 2024 he established The Pit Challenge a Grappling Industries style tournament.
Instagram:
Carl: https://www.instagram.com/carl_warren_g._sims/
Miyo: https://www.instagram.com/utahjitsmama/
Smart Defense:
https://www.instagram.com/esfsmartdefense/ 
Elizabeth Smart  Foundation: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethsmartfoundation/ 
The Pit Challenge:
https://www.instagram.com/thepitchallenge/
 
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Ep. 40- Chad Lyman- Code 4 Concepts Police Jiu Jitsu

Chad Lyman has combined his years of operational law enforcement and Mixed Martial Arts experience to emerge as one of the nation’s leading defensive tactics trainers. He is the consummate professional, trainer, and street cop whose dedication to students and the advancement of officer safety through modern tactics is unparalleled. His intensive study and experience led to development of the comprehensive intermediate use-of-force training system; Code 4 Concepts.
Chad’s career began with a Bachelor’s Degree from Portland State University in Administration of Justice and double minor in History and Terrorism Studies. Chad then entered into law enforcement as a full-time Police Officer with the Portland Police Bureau in the late 1990’s. There he distinguished himself as a key trainer of police personnel in the areas of defensive tactics and subject control.
Chad later moved to Southern Nevada to serve with a major metropolitan police department in 2004. His responsibilities have included patrol, Field Training Officer, gang detective, Mobile Crimes Saturation Team (anti-terrorism), full-time SWAT operator, and in the training division as part of the Advanced Officer Skills Training (AOST) team. Chad currently is assigned to the LVPPA (Union) as a SME in defensive tactics, use of force, and tactics. He also holds multiple law enforcement user and instructor certifications including FTO, firearms, active shooter, riot/civil unrest, response to ambushes, instructor development, patrol procedures, vehicle extraction, room clearing, and advanced defensive tactics instructor.
Chad has trained in Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 1998 with some of the best teams in the world. He currently serves as the head BJJ coach at Xtreme Couture MMA where he leads the curriculum, coaches, and manages the belts of students and coaches in the program. Chad also serves as the head BJJ coach at Las Vegas Krav Maga and MMA where he serves in a similar manner. Chad has taught Mixed Martial Arts/BJJ in Las Vegas since 2006. Chad received his Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2012, and is currently a 2nddegree Black Belt. Because of his exceptional skills and coaching experience Chad has served as a personal ground fighting coach for several professional MMA competitors in the past. In 2012, Chad was inducted in the Masters Martial Arts Hall of Fame for his work in the area of police and military defensive tactics. Chad also serves as a certified MMA and BJJ judge for events in Las Vegas.
As the Director of Combatives for PFC, Chad is the Lead Instructor and primary curriculum developer for PFC’s Code 4 Concepts courses. He is also an instructor for PFC’s weapons, tactics and protective services courses delivered to military, law enforcement and security personnel. Chad frequently serves as a featured instructor at training conferences throughout the U.S. to include ILLETA, NYTOA and TAC OPS East. Chad has also been a featured guest on multiple national-level podcasts.
As the C4C profile has grown within the public sector (military/LEO) and private sector (EP teams, security, MMA/BJJ gyms, qualified civilians) Chad has had opportunities to teach internationally as well as nationally. C4C has developed a solid cadre of instructors to draw from to provide training remotely to clients, or set up training in Las Vegas. Chad can lead training with military units, police departments, EP teams/security, MMA/BJJ (sport, fight, or street based), or civilian privates or small groups. C4C curriculum includes both empty hand and weapon based training.
Website: https://c4cpjj.com/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c4cpjj/ 
 
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Ep. 39- Mike Howell- Wild Things Coffee

Most people see the surface—the game lights, the scoreboard, the finished product. Michael tends to focus on what happens long before that: the little things, small habits, the conversations that shape how a team shows up when it matters. Whether he’s on the sidelines at Eagle High School or building something like Wild Things Coffee, he’s always paying attention to the details most people overlook the ones that quietly decide everything, the team.
Michael Howell is a co-founder of Wild Things Coffee and a high school football coach who’s spent years developing people as much as performance. His approach is built on culture, unity and showing up. For him, it’s never just about the result, it’s about building up the people around him.
Favorite Books:
Think Fast and Slow- Daniel Kahneman
Power of Moments- Chip and Dan Heath
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildthingsmeridan/ and https://www.instagram.com/coachmhowell/
Website: https://wildthingscoffee.com/
 
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Ep. 38- Mike and Ramona Diaz- Park City Jiu Jitsu

Mike Diaz is a 5th-degree black belt under Master Pedro Sauer and one of the senior instructors in the Sauer lineage. With nearly 30 years immersed in Jiu-Jitsu, he is known for combining technical precision with a deep focus on longevity, sustainability, and real-world effectiveness.
A former U.S. Marine, Mike began training in 1997 and earned his black belt in 2006. He is the founder of Park City Jiu Jitsu, where he has spent decades mentoring students of all backgrounds — from law enforcement professionals to everyday people seeking confidence, resilience, and practical self-defense.
Mike also trained extensively with Master Alvaro Romano to incorporate Ginastica Natural into his approach, blending functional movement, breath, and mobility work with Jiu-Jitsu to help students train smarter, recover better, and stay healthy long term.
Known for his calm, fundamentals-first teaching style, Mike emphasizes that Jiu-Jitsu isn’t just about winning matches — it’s about building strength, composure, and longevity so people can continue training, growing, and showing up on the mat for decades. His work continues to influence a generation of practitioners who value sustainable performance, recovery, and lifelong practice over short-term intensity.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parkcityjiujitsu/ 
Website: https://parkcitybjj.com/ 
Train High Camp 2026: www.TrainHighCamp.com 
 
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Ep. 37- Jesse Aldous: Entrepreneur, Rodeo Cowboy

Jesse Aldous is an Mergers and Acquisitions Advisor and Business Broker with firsthand experience navigating growth, acquisition, and exit. After selling his own multi-location business, he served as Vice President of Business Development and Acquisitions for a private group, where he developed a disciplined approach to identifying, acquiring, and repositioning businesses.
He is widely regarded as a national expert in audiology acquisitions and is the founder of Audiology Acquisitions (https://www.audiologyacquisition.com), a platform dedicated to helping audiology practice owners maximize value through strategic transitions and growth initiatives.
Jesse lives in Eagle, Idaho, with his wife, Hailey, and their six children. He enjoys skiing, golfing, and spending time outdoors with his family.
 
Website: https://www.audiologyacquisition.com/
Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-aldous-91b1a39/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audiologyacquisitions/
 
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Ep. 36- Ari Knazan- Invictus Law Enforcement Collective

Ari Knazan is a veteran law-enforcement officer, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, instructor, and co-founder of the Invictus Leo Collective — a movement dedicated to helping first responders become proficient in use of force matters.
Ari earned his BJJ black belt under Professor Keith Owen (RIP) in 2016 and is now a 3rd-degree BJJ black belt under Master Pedro Sauer. He also holds a 6th-degree black belt (2003) in Japanese Jiu-Jitsu under Soke Steve Hiscoe, and he has spent years teaching officers, and everyday people how to apply calm, technical skill under pressure.
Long before online instructionals were common, Ari was already teaching at scale. In 2006, he created Submissions 101, one of the earliest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu video instructional channels on YouTube, helping thousands of practitioners learn techniques at a time when BJJ content online was rare. That early commitment to sharing knowledge helped shape the digital learning culture that the sport now takes for granted.
He operates Invictus HQ, his home academy and training base, where he coaches athletes, mentors instructors, and continues refining a teaching style built on clarity, pressure-testing, and real-world application.
Academically, Ari holds a degree in philosophy — a background that deeply informs how he teaches. His approach isn’t just physical; it’s thoughtful, ethical, and principle-driven. Control yourself. Protect others. Act with intent. Train the mind as hard as the body.
Outside the academy, Ari is also the creator and host of Geek Assassin, a retro-fueled pop-culture project (and webcast) celebrating 80s films, sci-fi, board games, and storytelling. He blends creativity with discipline through his design studio Chaos (enterchaos.com), producing digital art, posters, branding, and visual media for both martial arts and geek culture communities.
Whether he’s teaching on the mat, designing late into the night, or quoting an 80s movie nobody else remembers, Ari believes a well-lived life should be equal parts warrior, teacher, and creator.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invictusleo_official/ and https://www.instagram.com/geekassassin/ 
YouTube: ⁨@InvictusLeo33 ⁩ and ⁨@Submissions101⁩
Website: https://invictusleo.com/ 
 
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Ep. 35- Alex Martinez- Business Owner, Coach, Athlete

Alex Martinez owns Ares East Mesa Jiu Jitsu academy in Mesa, Arizona. He is the host of the BJJ Foxcast podcast, a Jiu Jitsu competitor, and former Ironman triathlete! Did I mention that Alex also served our country in the U.S. Navy?
In this episode we talk about business, leadership, mentorship, and fitness along with tangents on creating a great culture in business, competition, and staying healthy as an older athlete in a young athlete sport.
Alex can be found at:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/areseastmesabjj/  OR https://www.instagram.com/thebjjfoxcast/
YouTube: ⁨@thebjjfoxcast9981⁩  or  ⁨@areseastmesabjj8683⁩ 
Website: https://areseastmesabjj.com/
 
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Ep. 34- David Schlachter- Abstract Chimp Shoes

David Schlachter is the founder of the Abstract Chimp Shoe Company. David's company produces "barefoot" shoes that allow one's feet to move in a natural way to promote health and freedom of movement. In this interview we discuss when David got his start in the shoe world, what it takes to gain traction in business, and the obstacles present in any start-up. Listen in!
David can be found on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abstractchimp/
YouTube:  @abstractchimp 
Website: https://abstractchimp.com/
 
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Ep. 33- David Dunn- Business Owner, Stunt Man, Ninja

David Dunn has done more in his life than seems humanly possible. In this interview I learn about his appearance in the popular series Yellowstone and 1923, philosophy of business ownership, his martial arts journey, and how he has stayed in shape deep into his fifth decade. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, but the knowledge and wisdom David drops in our conversation will leave you with some valuable tools for life!
Instagram: @daviddunn_jiujitsu
YouTube:  @daviddunn_jiujitsu7501 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fightacademy
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Ep. 32- Ben Beers- Idaho Seamless Gutter

Ben is the founder and owner of Idaho Seamless Gutter in Meridian, Idaho. In this episode we hear Ben's story of how he made the transition from being an employee to becoming a business owner. If you have dreams of building your own business, this episode is one you should listen too.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/idahoseamlessgutter/
Youtube:  ⁨@idahoseamlessgutter⁩ 
Website: www.IdahoSeamlessGutter.com
 
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