In a revealing interview on Morning Kombat, Craig Jones announced significant changes coming to the B-Team jiu-jitsu gym, including his departure and a potential rebrand to ‘Simple Man Jiu-Jitsu.’
The Australian grappling star, speaking from Washington DC during his farewell tour across America, detailed the end of an era for one of jiu-jitsu’s most prominent teams.
Jones confirmed that B-Team as it currently exists will be “no more” with himself stepping away from the gym he helped establish. The remaining core members—Nicky Ryan, Nicky Rod, Damien and Ethan Crelinsten—will continue operating under a new identity.
“I’m like kind of like the dad that went out for milk and never came back,” Jones explained, characterizing his departure as a natural evolution rather than a bitter split.
The decision stems from practical considerations about running a successful jiu-jitsu academy.
Jones noted the difficulty of maintaining a gym with multiple owners, explaining that “it’s hard to have a gym with five six owners you know? It’s like it’s kind of hard to make a profit that way really.”
He emphasized that jiu-jitsu gyms function best with a single owner who serves as both coach and business operator.
“A jiu-jitsu gym functions best with a single owner who’s the coach and has the students. To be a professional athlete you kind of have to be selfish but to run an academy for all people you kind of have to be selfless,” Jones noted.
Regarding the rebrand, Jones hinted at the likely new name during the interview.
“They got their Simple Man podcast. So I’m like ‘Simple Man Jiu-Jitsu fits quite well against Kingsway Elitist,'” he said, referencing Gordon Ryan‘s new team name.
The rebrand represents a fresh start for the remaining team members who plan to create a more family-friendly image while incorporating mixed martial arts and striking instruction.
Jones acknowledged that his “image is quite tarnished” and that “B team is quite synonymous with me” making the separation beneficial for both parties. The new iteration will focus on serving the broader jiu-jitsu community with Nicky Ryan stepping into a head coaching role after overcoming injury setbacks.
The changes coincide with similar rebranding efforts across the jiu-jitsu landscape. New Wave, led by John Danaher and Gordon Ryan, is simultaneously transitioning to “KingsWay,” marking the end of both historic team names. This transformation will culminate at Jones‘ CJI 2 event in August which he describes as potentially the final opportunity to see the original B-Team versus New Wave rivalry play out.
