6 Years 353 days - Gassed6 Years 353 days - Gassed
I'm Quitting Alcohol
Comedian David Boyle recounts an exhausting Jiu-Jitsu class where he pushes his sober body to the edge through rolling and a savage burpee finisher. The story blends raw humour, physical struggle and hints of how intense, booze-free life can feel.
10:43•2 May 2026
Gassed on the Mats: David Boyle’s Brutal Jiu-Jitsu Comeback
Episode Overview
- Hard physical training can feel brutal, even with months of consistent cardio and gym work.
- Food “benders” can replace alcohol binges, so keeping eating habits in check remains important in recovery.
- Rolling with skilled training partners highlights both physical limits and areas for growth.
- High-intensity finishers, like 10 burpees a minute for 10 minutes, can push a person far beyond perceived limits.
- Humour and honesty about struggle help make the tough parts of sobriety and fitness more bearable.
“As soon as you start rolling Jiu-Jitsu, none of that counts for fucking shit.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? For comedian David Boyle, part of the answer is found flat on his back on a Jiu-Jitsu mat, sweat pouring off him like he’s in a sauna and his heart “beating through my chest.” This short, punchy episode of *I’m Quitting Alcohol* follows Boyle as he pushes his sober body to outrageous limits in an intermediate–advanced Jiu-Jitsu class.
You’ll hear how he’s stacked up months of cardio, gym sessions and clean-ish eating, only to realise that “as soon as you start rolling Jiu-Jitsu, none of that counts for fucking shit.” The heart of the episode is Boyle’s description of being utterly “gassed” – barely able to breathe after a few rounds with younger, higher-ranked training partners and then being roped into a brutal finisher: “10 burpees a minute for 10 minutes.” By halfway, he’s lost the ability to count, staggering to the wall between sets, and finishing with a twisted variation that has him “hallucinating” and lying on the mat with his eyes closed.
He jokes about his “little benders” with food – like smashing 600 grams of blueberries and a huge sushi feed – while still trying to keep things mostly under control. While it’s wrapped in stand-up style swearing and self-mockery, there’s a clear message for anyone in recovery: life after booze can still be intense, uncomfortable and sometimes ridiculous, but that intensity can come from pushing the body in healthy ways instead of punishing it with alcohol.
The show’s five-minute format and raw honesty make it ideal for people who like their recovery content real, unfiltered and funny. If you’re rebuilding your life sober and wondering what pushing your limits might look like, this episode offers a sweaty, hilarious glimpse – are you ready for your own version of “Jits is back, baby”?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.
Related Episodes
Similar episodes from other shows in the catalogue.