The Joe Rogan Experience

Jre Mma Show 173 With Benny The Jet Urquidez William Blinky Rodriguez

January 21, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • Benny "The Jet" Urquidez's commitment to community outreach began with training gang members at the Jet Center, which was later motivated by the tragic shooting death of his son. 
  • Benny "The Jet" Urquidez is credited with inventing the first Velcro shin guards after experiencing the devastating impact of Muay Thai leg kicks firsthand. 
  • The early American kickboxing scene, particularly the PKA, stagnated due to rules prohibiting low kicks, which prevented American fighters from adapting to international styles like Muay Thai. 
  • Benny "The Jet" Urquidez and William "Blinky" Rodriguez were pioneers in introducing kickboxing to America when there was very little money or recognition in the sport. 
  • Gene LaBelle was a legendary and eccentric martial arts master known for his intense training methods, including choking students out and marking them with lipstick. 
  • William "Blinky" Rodriguez shared a profound story of forgiveness after meeting the man who murdered his son, emphasizing that the power of forgiveness is greater than any physical skill. 
  • The new gym concept includes specialized features like a steam room, sauna, cold plunge, and nine pieces of custom-designed equipment and five new machines focused on mental, physical, and spiritual endurance. 
  • The location for this ambitious new facility is still undecided, though California remains a possibility, and the project is being approached one day at a time. 

Segments

Joe’s Early Training History
Copied to clipboard!
(00:00:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Joe Rogan trained at the Jet Center in 1994, noting its outreach program for gang members.
  • Summary: Joe Rogan first came to Los Angeles in 1994 and immediately sought out the Comedy Store and the Jet Center for training. He trained at the Jet Center before it sustained roof damage from an earthquake. Rogan recalled the classes included outreach work with young gang members, creating a unique training environment.
Origin of Community Outreach
Copied to clipboard!
(00:01:22)
  • Key Takeaway: William “Blinky” Rodriguez founded a nonprofit organization after his son was killed in a drive-by shooting, driven by a calling to stop generational violence.
  • Summary: William “Blinky” Rodriguez felt a calling to address community violence after his son was killed randomly during a drive-by shooting while learning to drive a stick shift. He established a nonprofit organization 36 years ago, integrating lived experience and professional expertise to combat violence. This mission was fueled by a profound sense of forgiveness that led him to engage directly with the neighborhood where his son was killed, resulting in a peace treaty.
Benny’s Knockout of Terrio
Copied to clipboard!
(00:04:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Benny “The Jet” Urquidez knocked out Jean-Yves Terrio with a right leg followed by a left hook.
  • Summary: The conversation referenced Benny Urquidez’s legendary knockout of Jean-Yves Terrio, a fighter widely feared at the time. The knockout sequence involved a right leg technique followed immediately by a left hook. This victory highlighted Urquidez’s pioneering status in kickboxing.
First Muay Thai Fight Experience
Copied to clipboard!
(00:05:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Benny Urquidez entered his first Muay Thai fight without knowing the rules, leading to a rude awakening from leg kicks, elbows, and knees.
  • Summary: Benny Urquidez initially agreed to fight a Muay Thai opponent without knowing what Muay Thai entailed, mistakenly thinking ‘Thai’ was the fighter’s name. His first encounter, at the Olympic Auditorium against Norong Noy, involved severe leg kicks that caused his eyes to bulge, followed by unexpected knees and elbows to the face. This experience forced him to adapt quickly to a style he was completely unfamiliar with.
Early No-Rules Fighting
Copied to clipboard!
(00:07:14)
  • Key Takeaway: In 1973, Benny and Blinky Urquidez participated in no-rules, no-weight-division fights in Hawaii, where Benny once bit an opponent.
  • Summary: Before formalized kickboxing, Benny and Blinky fought in Full Contact Karate tournaments in Hawaii with no rules or weight divisions, sometimes fighting multiple times over a weekend. During one bout against a 245-pound opponent while weighing 145 pounds, Benny resorted to biting the man’s chest after being pinned. Despite the lack of rules, they utilized their existing Judo and boxing knowledge.
Invention of Shin Guards
Copied to clipboard!
(00:11:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Benny Urquidez invented the first shin guards by adapting leather pads and incorporating Velcro after realizing the need to protect his shins from Muay Thai kicks.
  • Summary: After being hurt by Muay Thai leg kicks, Benny Urquidez sought protection for his shins from an older leather shop owner. He created the first shin guards by attaching leather pads around his shins using Velcro, which the shop owner helped source. He later observed that Thai fighters protected their shins using numbing sprays rather than physical padding.
Evolution of American Kickboxing
Copied to clipboard!
(00:15:21)
  • Key Takeaway: The Japanese created kickboxing by removing elbows and clinching from Muay Thai to increase excitement after losing to Thai fighters, a development that preceded K-1.
  • Summary: Following losses by Japanese karate fighters to Muay Thai practitioners, Japan adjusted the rules by eliminating elbows and the clinch to create a more exciting, linear style of kickboxing. Benny Urquidez and his brother helped pioneer this transition through the WKA, which allowed leg sweeps, contrasting with the PKA’s waist-up focus. The PKA’s restriction on leg kicks, largely due to Bill Wallace’s preference, is cited as a major reason kickboxing failed to flourish in America.
Impact of Calf Kicks
Copied to clipboard!
(00:19:07)
  • Key Takeaway: The calf kick, once overlooked in American kickboxing, is now a primary weapon in MMA, with Japanese Kyokushin fighters currently using it effectively against Thai champions.
  • Summary: The calf kick, which Benny Urquidez utilized effectively against Jean-Yves Terrio, has become a crucial weapon in modern MMA, neutralizing fighters’ movement. Japanese Kyokushin fighters are now successfully employing heavy calf kicks to defeat top Muay Thai athletes like Tawanchai. This demonstrates the continuous evolution of combat sports techniques based on exposure and adaptation.
Early UFC Commentary Irony
Copied to clipboard!
(00:29:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Bill ‘Superfoot’ Wallace, whose PKA rules limited kicks to the waist, ironically became the first commentator for the no-rules UFC.
  • Summary: The decision by the PKA to restrict kicks above the waist, largely to accommodate Bill Wallace’s limitations, is viewed as a factor that stunted American kickboxing’s growth. This is ironic because Wallace later served as the first commentator for the UFC, a promotion built on minimal rules.
Sparring Philosophy Contrast
Copied to clipboard!
(00:45:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Thai fighters prioritize light, technique-focused sparring because they fight frequently for money, whereas American fighters historically engaged in full-power sparring without understanding concussion risks.
  • Summary: Thai fighters often engage in light sparring (‘Oi, oi!’) because they fight professionally almost weekly, making hard training unnecessary and counterproductive. In contrast, early American fighters often sparred at full power, leading to frequent knockouts and concussions without any understanding of the long-term damage. This difference highlights the divergent motivations: Thai fighters train to preserve themselves for the next paycheck fight, while early American fighters trained for dominance in the gym.
Muay Thai Gambling Culture
Copied to clipboard!
(00:47:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Muay Thai fights in Thailand often feature heavy gambling, causing fighters to take the first round lightly to allow bets to be placed and finalized before engaging seriously in the second round.
  • Summary: The prevalence of gambling in Thai fights dictates the pace of the early rounds, as fighters wait for bets to be placed and opponents to be switched before escalating the intensity. Foreigners unfamiliar with this custom often attempt to fight at full speed immediately, which is contrary to the established local rhythm. This gambling culture is cited as a major factor driving the high level of skill and ferocity developed in Thai fighters.
Loss of Warrior Code
Copied to clipboard!
(00:54:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Traditional martial arts contained a vital code of honor, characterized by rigid structure, bowing, and letting weapons speak, which has been lost in modern, business-driven combat sports.
  • Summary: The transition from traditional martial arts to modern combat sports involved the dissipation of an honor system where warriors communicated through action rather than trash talk. Traditional training involved rigid structures like bowing and keying eyes, fostering respect. This code of honor is seen as having held inherent power that has been replaced by commercial interests prioritizing entertainment over pure martial tradition.
Pioneers and Early Kickboxing Pay
Copied to clipboard!
(00:56:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Benny Urquidez and his sister were the first husband and wife to fight on the same boxing card, often paying for their own travel expenses to promote kickboxing.
  • Summary: The Urquidez family traveled the world introducing kickboxing, fighting on the same cards as boxers like Bobby Chacon and Alexis Arguello. Early pioneers sometimes had to pay for their own gas and travel to compete, highlighting that their motivation was the love of the sport and building it, not immediate financial gain. Benny Urquidez was Bobby Chacon’s sparring partner until an accidental reflex kick caused Chacon to refuse further sparring.
Martial Arts Origins and Gene LaBelle
Copied to clipboard!
(00:58:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Full Contact Karate competitions began in 1973, building upon earlier sparring practices dating back to 1964, predating the widespread popularity of Bruce Lee’s films.
  • Summary: The first official Full Contact Karate competitions occurred in 1973, following sparring that involved bare-knuckle striking on the ground since 1964. Gene LaBelle, known as the ‘Master of Disasters,’ was a significant figure whom both guests trained under or knew through connections like Silvio Pimento. LaBelle famously tested new students by choking them unconscious and marking their faces with lipstick.
Gene LaBelle’s Painful Lesson
Copied to clipboard!
(01:01:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Gene LaBelle demonstrated the limits of bravado by inflicting intense pain on a student who claimed he wasn’t afraid to die, using a painful big toe submission.
  • Summary: After a student claimed he was unafraid to die, Gene LaBelle immediately applied a painful submission hold involving his thumbnail pressed into the student’s big toe. This submission caused pain radiating from the toe to the forehead and back, immediately humbling the student. LaBelle also famously defended his property at age 70 by throwing one car burglar onto concrete and choking the other unconscious.
Ali vs. Inoki Fight Analysis
Copied to clipboard!
(01:03:21)
  • Key Takeaway: Muhammad Ali’s 1976 fight against Antonio Inoki in Japan resulted in severe leg damage to Ali due to Inoki’s repeated leg kicks.
  • Summary: Benny Urquidez was on the undercard of the Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki fight, warning Ali that Inoki would target his legs. Inoki immediately executed flying round kicks to Ali’s thighs, leading to Ali holding onto the ropes and kicking Inoki while he was on the ground. Ali’s legs were so badly damaged they required draining fluid and subsequent surgery, compromising his movement.
Carl Gotch’s Brutal Conditioning
Copied to clipboard!
(01:09:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Legendary catch wrestler Carl Gotch established brutal conditioning standards that Japanese pro wrestlers, including Antonio Inoki, adopted to build strength and technique.
  • Summary: Carl Gotch was a legendary catch wrestler who trained many Japanese pro wrestlers, influencing figures like Sakuraba. Gotch’s training emphasized extreme conditioning; prospective students had to meet an insane physical requirement before he would teach them any submission holds. This training focused on natural movement, strength, and conditioning, exemplified by Inoki’s powerful grip and use of steel clubs.
Lily Urquidez’s Boxing Trailblazing
Copied to clipboard!
(01:11:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Lily Urquidez was the first woman in the US to hold boxing, martial arts, and kickboxing titles, paving the way for later female fighters like Christy Martin and Claressa Shields.
  • Summary: Before Lily Urquidez, there was virtually no presence for female boxing in the United States. She began boxing after being challenged by the notion that women could not box, even knocking out men in the gym. Lily was the first woman to secure titles across boxing, martial arts, and kickboxing, creating a path for subsequent champions.
MMA Glove Design and Eye Pokes
Copied to clipboard!
(01:13:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Covering the fingertips of MMA gloves, similar to old-school Everlast gloves, could drastically reduce debilitating eye pokes without hindering grappling.
  • Summary: Eye pokes are a major problem in modern MMA, exemplified by Tom Aspinall’s recent eye injuries requiring surgery. The speaker suggests covering the fingertips with padding, creating a mitten-like glove while keeping the thumbs free, to prevent pokes during striking. This change would improve the product by preventing fights from being stopped prematurely due to accidental fouls.
Code of Honor vs. Modern Sport
Copied to clipboard!
(01:16:58)
  • Key Takeaway: The shift from a warrior’s code of honor to a money-driven sport has led to cheating and a loss of respect, contrasting with the pioneers’ focus on self-improvement.
  • Summary: The early days emphasized a code of honor, dignity, and respect among warriors, contrasting with modern sports where money often dictates behavior, leading to cheating like Margarito’s plaster-filled wraps. Martial arts should be a vehicle for developing human potential, teaching self-defense and self-improvement rather than aggression. This focus on honor would develop better human beings who imitate respectful martial artists instead of trash-talking figures.
Gym Atmosphere and Growth
Copied to clipboard!
(01:19:46)
  • Key Takeaway: A fighter’s growth is dictated by the level of their training partners; being the best in a weak gym prevents reaching world-class potential.
  • Summary: Fighters imitate the atmosphere of their gym, and the top person sets the aspiration level for everyone else. If a fighter is the best in their gym but not world-class, they must leave to find opponents who will test and challenge them to grow. The Jet Center was successful because it attracted high-level talent, forcing students to reach for the stars.
Alex Garcia’s Redemption Arc
Copied to clipboard!
(01:23:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Alex Garcia, a former convict, won a silver medal at the World Games by defeating high-level competition, demonstrating that redemption through martial arts is possible.
  • Summary: William Rodriguez trained Alex Garcia, who had served five years for manslaughter, guiding him to win the Diamond Belt, Golden Glove, and State Title. Garcia earned the right to fight three-time Olympic gold medalist Teofilo Stevenson in the World Games, winning the silver medal for the US. This success provided proof that individuals returning from incarceration can achieve great things when given a path.
Forgiveness and Spiritual Healing
Copied to clipboard!
(01:32:33)
  • Key Takeaway: William “Blinky” Rodriguez chose to forgive the man who murdered his son after a spiritual prompting, realizing the power of forgiveness is more potent than any physical skill.
  • Summary: After being told the inmate who killed his son wanted to speak with him, Rodriguez felt compelled by a ‘gentle voice’ to agree to an in-person meeting. During their conversation in the prison chapel, Rodriguez felt a ‘Holy Ghost moment’ and led the inmate to accept Christ. Rodriguez concluded that the power of forgiveness is more powerful than his famous left hook and is essential for living without the heavy yoke of carrying resentment.
The Jet Center Legacy and Future
Copied to clipboard!
(01:53:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Benny Urquidez dreamed of owning the Jet Center gym before it was built, and he and Blinky purchased the property with only $4,000 down, creating a legendary training haven.
  • Summary: Benny Urquidez drew the plans for the Jet Center on toilet paper while in Japan, and Blinky revealed he had dreamed of that exact gym layout the night before. They purchased the bowling alley property that became the gym with a small down payment, creating a place where people learned their truth through defense training. Urquidez now continues to doodle plans for a new safe haven gym focused on self-discovery.
Dreaming and Securing Gym Property
Copied to clipboard!
(01:53:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Benny Urquidez’s vision for a new gym was validated when his dream matched the plans presented by his associate.
  • Summary: The speakers recounted securing a property at 14540 Friar Street, which was formerly a bowling alley, closing the escrow with only $4,000 down. The construction and building process began a month later, creating a space with a palpable atmosphere. The speaker felt nervous entering this legendary gym space for the first time.
Future Gym Vision and Purpose
Copied to clipboard!
(01:55:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The next planned gym will serve as a safe haven focused on teaching self-defense and facilitating emotional release for visitors.
  • Summary: Urquidez has been sketching designs for a future gym intended to help people learn their truth, release anger, fear, and frustration, and feel safe doing so. This new facility is designed to attract people from all over the world seeking self-discovery. The location is currently being determined, with California being a possibility.
Custom Equipment and Timeline
Copied to clipboard!
(01:56:38)
  • Key Takeaway: The new gym concept includes nine pieces of never-before-seen equipment and five new machines designed for comprehensive mental, physical, and spiritual endurance.
  • Summary: The speaker has already designed nine unique pieces of equipment and five new machines for the facility. While the project is underway, the timeline remains flexible, focusing on taking things one day at a time rather than rushing the process. The goal is to create a place where people can examine their purpose and reason for existence.
Concluding Thoughts and Gratitude
Copied to clipboard!
(01:57:25)
  • Key Takeaway: The conversation concluded with mutual appreciation for the guests’ teaching potential and the importance of providing a place for humanity.
  • Summary: The host expressed happiness about the plans for the new facility, believing people will travel globally to train and learn there. The guests affirmed that their work, including outreach services, is fundamentally about serving humanity and providing necessary community spaces. The episode concluded with thanks to both Benny Urquidez and William Rodriguez.