B Team Founders: Jiu-Jitsu Rivalries and Competition

The Origins and Philosophy of the B Team

In this episode, the founders of the B Team jiu-jitsu, Craig Jones, Nicky Rod, and Nicky Ryan, discuss the evolution of their team following the split of the Danaher Death Squad (DDS) into New Wave and B Team. They highlight their unconventional, lighthearted approach to training, emphasizing that while they take competition seriously, they reject the overly rigid environments often found in traditional martial arts.

Competition and Mental Preparation

• The guests reflect on the psychological toll of high-level competition, discussing the thin line between the "love of winning" and the "hate of losing."
• Craig Jones emphasizes a "results-oriented" and often detached mindset toward competition to avoid unnecessary stress.
• Nicky Rod and Nicky Ryan share insights on the necessity of consistency and the long-term process of perfecting technique, noting that even top-ranked, world-class athletes must overcome significant self-doubt.

Technical Insights and Training Methods

The Role of Strength and PEDs

"I think if you're bad at jiu-jitsu and you do steroids, you're going to continue to be bad at jiu-jitsu. But if you're great at grappling and then you also do gear, it's going to enhance what you're already good at."

The guests hold a candid conversation regarding performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in the sport. They argue that while athletic enhancers assist with recovery, skill acquisition remains the primary factor in success. They discuss the "Wild West" nature of the current grappling competition scene and the implications of using PEDs as a "therapeutic" tool versus cheating.

Innovative Teaching Techniques

• The team advocates for constraint-based learning, where students are presented with a problem (e.g., maintaining posture in wrestling) and must discover the technique through experience rather than simple memorization.
• They emphasize the importance of positional sparring (starting in disadvantaged positions) to build mental calluses and practical problem-solving skills.

The Rivalry with New Wave

The episode delves into the public feud with Gordon Ryan. While there is undeniable animosity, the B Team members describe the rivalry as a driver for marketing, growth, and personal motivation. They emphasize that while they are competitors, they view the sport as an ever-evolving field where innovation—such as the adoption of wrestling techniques and the rejection of stagnant "bottom-guard" play—will dictate the future champions.