Shownotes
#197: Chris Haueter — The Dirty Dozen | BJJ Pioneer on Coaching, the Rule of Three's & Why Nobody Knows Anything 🥋ðŸ§
Chris Haueter is a BJJ living legend:
- One of the Dirty Dozen — the first 12 non-Brazilians to ever earn a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
- The first American to submit a Brazilian in competition.
- The man who coined the term "combat base."
- A coach whose influence runs all the way to Conor McGregor.
He learned the art in the original Gracie garage in the late 1980s — no YouTube, no Instagram, no instructionals. Just reps, mentors, and mat time.
In this conversation, Chris breaks down the difference between teaching and coaching, his Rule of Threes, why you should walk out of every class with just one thing, and his entire philosophy in six words: Think Street, Train Sport, Practice Art.
At 61 and still rolling, Chris leaves us with three rules that go way beyond the mat — listen, don't pout and fuss, and be kind.
Connect with Chris Haueter:
"Life Is Built, Not Born."
Joe Ciccarone
© Copyright - Joe Ciccarone 2026 - Built Not Born Podcast. All Rights Reserved.
Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host.
