Gordon Ryan believes that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s appeal to intelligent individuals stems from its unique characteristics. ‘Number one, it’s a never-ending puzzle you can always improve upon and it’s very methodical,’ he explained on the Ketone-IQ interview.
His coach John Danaher’s training approach emphasizes mental preparation over physical conditioning. ‘He puts more work or more emphasis on the mental work, which is the hardest kind of work,’ Ryan said. ‘Everyone’s happy to come in and get a strong workout and go home feeling sore, but then when you ask them to sit down and say “hey think about this armbar for an hour” – no one wants to do that.’
The Great Equalizer of Success
Ryan offers insights into why high-profile individuals like Mark Zuckerberg and Lex Fridman are drawn to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The sport’s unique ability to level the playing field is a key attraction. ‘When you’re on those mats you’re a regular guy, you’re not an ultra-rich guy, you’re not a celebrity – you’re your belt,’ he noted.
The champion emphasized that social status provides no advantage in BJJ. ‘Having a billion dollars in the bank isn’t going to help you get out of an armbar,’ Ryan explained, suggesting this reality check is particularly appealing to successful individuals by ‘normalizing things again.’
Expanding Combat Sports Awareness
Ryan sees the increased mainstream attention to combat sports, including crossover events, as ultimately positive. ‘I think it’s bringing eyes to Combat Sports and eyes are always good,’ he explained. He praised figures like the Paul brothers, acknowledging ‘they know what’s going on, they know how to make money, they know how to play the game.’
Looking ahead, Ryan plans to continue competing through age 40 if his health permits. If not, he aims to transition ‘from hopefully being the greatest competitor ever to the greatest coach ever,’ following his successful coaching debut with Jon Jones and preparing to open Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu in Austin, Texas.
