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# This moment feels like the 1930s
- URL: https://fightingmatters.com/this-moment-feels-like-the-1930s/
- Published: 2026-01-18T04:45:14.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-12T05:16:36.000Z
- Description: In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Stephan Kesting unpack the political chaos of early 2026 and its real-world consequences for martial artists.
- Author: Fighting Matters
- Tags: Podcast, Video, Fascism, US Politics

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Stephan Kesting unpack the political chaos of early 2026 and its real-world consequences for martial artists. From international instability and economic shocks to propaganda, media capture, and rising authoritarianism, they discuss why “keeping politics out of jiu-jitsu” is no longer possible... and what individuals can actually do in moments like this.  
  
🔗 Links Mentioned:  
• Fighting Matters Linktree — [https://linktr.ee/fightingmatters](https://linktr.ee/fightingmatters?ref=fightingmatters.com)  
• BJJ Mental Models — [https://bjjmentalmodels.com](https://bjjmentalmodels.com/?ref=fightingmatters.com)  
• Grapplearts — [https://grapplearts.com](https://grapplearts.com/?ref=fightingmatters.com)  
  
⸻  
  
👥 Featuring:  
• Steve Kwan — @bjjmentalmodels  
• Stephan Kesting — @stephankesting  
  
⸻  
  
🧠 Topics Discussed:  
• Why global politics now directly affect martial arts  
• Authoritarianism, distraction, and media manipulation  
• Economic collapse, inflation, and gym sustainability  
• Voting with your dollars and leaving toxic gyms  
• Building unlikely coalitions in existential moments  
• Why silence and “staying apolitical” is no longer neutral  
  
⸻  
  
📖 Chapters:  
[00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPhlRtbtAp0&ref=fightingmatters.com) — Opening and Stephan’s rant  
[03:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPhlRtbtAp0&t=210s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — Distraction politics and global instability  
[08:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPhlRtbtAp0&t=500s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — Checks, balances, and institutional failure  
[15:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPhlRtbtAp0&t=900s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — Elections, force, and fear  
[24:40](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPhlRtbtAp0&t=1480s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — Canada, China, and economic survival  
[39:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPhlRtbtAp0&t=2340s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — Why martial artists can’t ignore this  
[46:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPhlRtbtAp0&t=2790s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — What individuals can actually do  
[56:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPhlRtbtAp0&t=3370s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — Coalitions, Rogan, and strange bedfellows  
[01:04:40](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPhlRtbtAp0&t=3880s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — Voting with your dollars  
[01:07:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPhlRtbtAp0&t=4035s&ref=fightingmatters.com) — Final thoughts and calls to action