BJJ: I have questions

[peanut]

My understanding is that Nolf -- a world class freestyler in his prime -- is retiring from freestyle at least in part in order to pursue BJJ. That caught my attention.

I have to confess that I know almost nothing about about BJJ. How popular is it? Are there professional BJJ practitioners? Aside from Brazil, where is BJJ popular? Are there areas of overlap between BJJ and folk/free?

I have questions, but no answers.

Edited August 27 by peanut

[Truzzcat]

1 hour ago, peanut said:

My understanding is that Nolf -- a world class freestyler in his prime -- is retiring from freestyle at least in part in order to pursue BJJ. That caught my attention.

I have to confess that I know almost nothing about about BJJ. How popular is it? Are there professional BJJ practitioners? Aside from Brazil, where is BJJ popular? Are there areas of overlap between BJJ and folk/free?

I have questions, but no answers.

Bjj starts standing and from there the similarities in a lot of ways end. Of course, being able to dictate where the bout takes place is big and leg riding can be a factor as a body triangle or double boots to flatten someone out can be two of the most dominant positions. In my opinion the only thing that allows for there to be more money in BJJ is the fact that Joe rogan and Jocko are so vocal about it. The Hub of BJJ is actually in Texas and puerto rico now I believe with Craig jones and nick rodriguez's gym in Texas and the danahar death squad in puerto rico (where gordon ryan trains). Michael pixley was a fargo champ and Nicky rod started wrestling but they also started training BJJ exclusively 5-10 years ago.

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

1 minute ago, Truzzcat said:

Bjj starts standing and from there the similarities in a lot of ways end. Of course, being able to dictate where the bout takes place is big and leg riding can be a factor as a body triangle or double boots to flatten someone out can be two of the most dominant positions. In my opinion the only thing that allows for there to be more money in BJJ is the fact that Joe rogan and Jocko are so vocal about it. The Hub of BJJ is actually in Texas and puerto rico now I believe with Craig jones and nick rodriguez's gym in Texas and the danahar death squad in puerto rico (where gordon ryan trains). Michael pixley was a fargo champ and Nicky rod started wrestling but they also started training BJJ exclusively 5-10 years ago.

Both the B Team and Danaher (and Ryan and the DDS (or whatever it is now called)) are based out of Austin,TX and have been so for years.  Flo is also based out of Austin and has a great presence in the grappling world.  Most of the BJJ money is in instructional videos and Austin prob has more high level BJJ practitioners than anywhere in the US... it makes sense for Nolf to move Ocean down there.

[PortaJohn]

On 8/27/2024 at 11:28 AM, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

Both the B Team and Danaher (and Ryan and the DDS (or whatever it is now called)) are based out of Austin,TX and have been so for years.  Flo is also based out of Austin and has a great presence in the grappling world.  Most of the BJJ money is in instructional videos and Austin prob has more high level BJJ practitioners than anywhere in the US... it makes sense for Nolf to move Ocean down there.

Do you know if Nolf is going with Danaher or the B Team?  Danaher coaching Nolf would be interesting. 

Also, couldn't keep up with the drama.  Is Danaher still exclusively with Ryan after the split in Puerto Rico?

Edited August 28 by PortaJohn

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

13 hours ago, PortaJohn said:

Do you know if Nolf is going with Danaher or the B Team?  Danaher coaching Nolf would be interesting. 

Also, couldn't keep up with the drama.  Is Danaher still exclusively with Ryan after the split in Puerto Rico?

Danaher has Ryan, Meregali, others.

Nolf seems to have a pre-existing relationship with Jones and B-team.  He has gone down there and trained in the past and they used to kid each other on social media.  I don't KNOW anything, but B-team seems likely.

[meZYNbrink]

18 hours ago, PortaJohn said:

Do you know if Nolf is going with Danaher or the B Team?  Danaher coaching Nolf would be interesting. 

Also, couldn't keep up with the drama.  Is Danaher still exclusively with Ryan after the split in Puerto Rico?

From all accounts, Danaher chose to stick with Gordon during the split. A fair amount of athletes stayed to create New Wave, but Nicky Rod, Nicky Ryan (Gordon's younger brother), Craig Jones, Ethan Crelinston, etc all left to create B Team. Nolf has said he wants to train with both teams as well as Fight Factory (Tackett bros) and even 10P Austin. Interestingly, he said he hoped to help the DDS group toward reconciliation. Would be hilarious if he was the one who brokered that IMO.

[wrestle87]

7 hours ago, meZYNbrink said:

From all accounts, Danaher chose to stick with Gordon during the split. A fair amount of athletes stayed to create New Wave, but Nicky Rod, Nicky Ryan (Gordon's younger brother), Craig Jones, Ethan Crelinston, etc all left to create B Team. Nolf has said he wants to train with both teams as well as Fight Factory (Tackett bros) and even 10P Austin. Interestingly, he said he hoped to help the DDS group toward reconciliation. Would be hilarious if he was the one who brokered that IMO.

Would be fascinating, but that’s gotta be close to the big dinner in Godfather Part I at this point.  

I’d be extra impressed if Nolf knows the story to the split.  It’s out there on the internet somewhere I’m sure, but that is a loooong row to hoe.  

Let’s just say that the OG DDS wasn’t exactly a Glory to God type of environment.