The jiu-jitsu world lit up when Craig Jones announced he was stepping away from B Team, but according to Declan Moody and Austin Senos on their White Monster podcast, this isn’t some dramatic repeat of the old DDS breakup.
“Everyone thinks what’s happening is the same thing that happened with the original DDS split and it’s couldn’t be further”
from the truth, said Senos, who made it clear this move had been in the works for a while. There’s no scandal here—just a grappler shifting gears.
Moody had just landed from Australia when the news hit and suddenly found himself answering texts from people worried about visas and what this meant for the team. But the mood behind the scenes? Calm and expected.
“Craig said so many times in the YouTube like owning a gym like he wasn’t a fan of owning a gym. He literally did it so they could train for the next ADCC and then he could help the younger guys get a business under them”
Senos said.
“This was the plan from day one.”
Jones has been gradually pulling back from active competition and doubling down on other ventures. Senos added,
“Craig’s a good guy but owning a gym isn’t for everybody especially if you don’t live here.”
The torch is now in the hands of Nicky Ryan and Damien Anderson, which both Moody and Senos see as a natural fit.
“Nicky Ryan and Damien are here all the time. B Team is synonymous with those guys,”
Senos said.
Moody was encouraged by how the new leadership took immediate initiative.
“At the end of the session Nicky Ryan came over and asked me what I thought of the structure and how we did it”
he said. That sort of openness is exactly what they hope will shape the future—more involvement, more feedback, more direction from inside the room.
There’s also a shift toward making the gym more inclusive to those not chasing podiums. While competition remains a priority, they want to improve the experience for hobbyists and newer grapplers.
Senos was blunt about what’s actually changing:
“If you come into B Team you’re not going to notice anything different.”
The room is the same. The talent is still there. The sessions are still stacked. Leadership might change, but the environment doesn’t skip a beat.
With events coming up and preparation rolling on for major tournaments, the real focus remains—training hard and producing results.
For anyone hoping for gossip or some internal implosion, Moody and Senos made it clear:
“Everyone’s perspective on it is positive. It’s a business decision on these guys’ parts.”
Craig’s moved on, the team is still here and evolving. Nothing fell apart—this was the handoff.
