Grappling prodigy Kade Ruotolo has recently expressed his discomfort with the popular moniker “Ruotolo-tine” used to describe his signature submission technique. The 21-year-old jiu-jitsu phenom, known for his innovative and dynamic style, is now on the hunt for a more fitting name for his unique maneuver.
During an appearance on the Beasts with Brains Podcast, Ruotolo candidly shared his feelings about the submission’s current name. “I still feel very conceited about saying it that way. I don’t know, I just don’t feel comfortable saying it like that,” he admitted during an appearance on the Beasts with Brains Podcast.. This revelation comes as Ruotolo prepares for his highly anticipated match against Mikey Musumeci at ONE 168 in Denver, Colorado, scheduled for September 6th.
The young grappler’s hesitation stems not only from personal discomfort but also from practical considerations. Ruotolo recounted instances where even his training partners were confused by the name, stating, “I was even showing it to a few guys at the gym, and they were like what was that even? And I just had to force it out of me…the Ruotolo-tine. But let’s find another name. I don’t want to call it that.”
Interestingly, the submission in question has a rich history in the grappling world, predating Ruotolo’s rise to fame. Grappling enthusiasts have pointed out that similar techniques have been utilized by other notable practitioners:
- Braulio Estima famously used a variation to submit Marcelo Garcia at ADCC in 2009.
- John Danaher has extensively covered the technique in his instructional content.
- Ryan Hall included it in his Arm Triangles DVD, referring to it as a transition from a missed arm triangle.
- Some practitioners have called it an “arm-in ezekiel” or “no-gi ezekiel.”
- Others argue it’s more accurately described as a “katagatame from the back” rather than a guillotine variation.
The technique has also made appearances in MMA, with Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza employing it in competition. Various high-level grapplers and coaches have their own terms for the submission, including “arm in RNC” and Craig Jones’ “arm-in ezekiel.”
An argument can certainly be named for the move to not be called a Ruotolotine.
