In a an interesting conversation wtih Joe Rogan, superstar grappler Gordon Ryan made a bold declaration – he believes he is the only person who could save the traditional Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsucompetition scene. This statement came as a surprise, given Ryan’s reputation as a dominant No-Gi competitor.
Ryan explained his perspective, noting that the Gi competition format has struggled to capture the attention of mainstream audiences in recent years. He argued that the sport has become too focused on point-scoring and tactical maneuvering, lacking the excitement and unpredictability that draws in casual viewers.
“Most people are just painful to watch in the Gi,” Mo Jassim stated bluntly.
Rogan immitated his coach Jean Jacques Machado: “The Gi is rough. Even I don’t like watching Gi matches sometimes.”
According to Ryan, the key to revitalizing Gi BJJ lies in his unique skill set and persona. As a world-class grappler with a penchant for finishing opponents, Ryan believes he could bring a more dynamic and entertaining style to Gi competitions.
“If I started competing in the Gi, that’s the only way people would actually watch it,” Ryan asserted. “They’d be like, ‘Oh s*it, this guy’s going to go out there and try to submit everyone.'”
And while Ryan is often a bit arrogant he does have a point. Gi matches are often decided by a single advantage and the like depriving spectators of entertainment value.
This is an interesting take from Ryan, who claimed he would transition to Gi at one point only to give it up once his medical situation deteriorated. Ryan also sidelined his MMA transition when he endured a major knee injury several years ago. He’s since given up on transition citing the fact that he’s more than capable to monetize his Nogi grappling so he doesn’t have the financial motiv for the transition.
Previously Ryan claimed that Gi BJJ is in danger of getting phased out due to being increasingly unfriendly to spectators.
