Legendary NCAA wrestling champion Jason Nolf has set the grappling world abuzz with his recent announcement to retire from wrestling and pursue a career in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. However, it’s not just his career change that’s making waves, but his playful jabs at BJJ competitors that have the community talking.
Nolf, a three-time NCAA titlist with a storied 22-year wrestling career, recently announced his retirement from sport wrestling, stating, “Wrestling has been a huge part of my life for 22 years, and I’m grateful for everything the sport has provided me. But I have some new things I want to tackle, and I’m ready for this next chapter.”
The transition to BJJ isn’t entirely new for Nolf. He recently competed in the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational, putting on an impressive performance despite only a few weeks of BJJ-specific training. His narrow loss to Tye Ruotolo showcased his potential in the sport.
However, it’s Nolf’s recent comments that have truly stirred the pot. In a video that’s gone viral in the grappling community, Nolf humorously outlines his “guide” to becoming a BJJ competitor:
- “First thing you’re gonna wanna do is ster***,” Nolf quips, poking fun at the ongoing discussions about PEDs in combat sports.
- He emphasizes the sillyness of clubbing collar ties, a technique very often seen in BJJ
- Nolf jokes about pulling guard, a contentious technique in BJJ that’s currently under fire for potentially allowing competitors to avoid standing exchanges.
The reactions to Nolf’s video have been mixed, ranging from amusement to mild offense. Josh Barnett, a catch wrestling proponent, commented, “Nailed it. Now come with me and become a Catch Wrestling guy,” suggesting an alternative path for Nolf.
BJJ black belt Kody Steele seemed to take the jokes in stride, commenting, “The man is learning 😂”, while others like BJJ brand levelxblack said, “You wrong for this 🤣”.
Nolf’s comments come at a time when the BJJ community is engaged in a heated debate about guard pulling and stalling tactics. Kade Ruotolo, another prominent grappler, recently criticized the ease with which competitors can “sit on your back and wait for the guy to come to you,” calling for rule changes to address this issue.
