Steve Maxwell is an American strength and conditioning coach, physical educator and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. He was the first American to earn a black belt under Relson Gracie, was among the first to teach kettlebell classes in the US, and holds a master’s degree in exercise science. He has trained professional athletes and US government agencies, and has spent years travelling the world as a nomadic coach.
Brian Rose has interviewed Maxwell seven times on London Real between 2014 and 2024, making him one of the show’s most frequent returning guests. They have covered breathing, mobility, ageing well, the early days of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and the UFC, a hotel-room workout, a self-defence lesson and his approach to longevity in his seventies.
Every interview is listed below in order.
Still Strong: The Blueprint For Longevity & Happiness (2024). His most recent interview and the best summary of how he stays fit and healthy into his seventies. For his story and the early Gracie days, go back to Ageless (2014).
Across several interviews Maxwell argues that most people breathe from the wrong place and that calm, controlled breathing is the foundation of training. He traces this back to what he learned from the Gracie family.
He is known for joint mobility routines. He argues that keeping a full range of movement matters as much as strength, especially as you get older.
Speaking in 2015, he said workouts should never be about anxiety or chasing numbers. In 2024 he described playing the long game: plenty of sleep, water, simple food and not overeating, so that you can stay active for decades.
In 2016 he explained why he prefers to set intentions rather than goals, and why gratitude and daily affirmations are part of his routine.
Maxwell trained with the Gracie family before the first UFC. In his 2020 episode he argued that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the best martial arts to start with for practical self-defence.
Steve Maxwell is an American strength and conditioning coach, physical educator and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. He was the first American to earn a black belt under Relson Gracie and is known for his joint mobility and kettlebell training.
He talked about breathing, mobility, anti-ageing habits, the early days of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and the UFC, living as a nomadic coach, self-defence and how to stay healthy into old age.
Start with Still Strong from 2024 for his current approach to health and longevity. Watch Ageless from 2014 for his story and the early Gracie Jiu-Jitsu days.
Seven times between 2014 and 2024: Ageless, Mobility For Life, Breathe, Hotel Workout, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Master, a self-defence session and Still Strong.
In his 2014 London Real interview Maxwell is introduced as someone who has trained Joe Rogan, and the episode notes for his 2019 interview also mention Rogan among his students.
For many years Maxwell has lived a nomadic life, travelling from city to city to teach seminars with very few possessions, as he describes in several of his London Real interviews.
Official site: maxwellsc.com
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