In a poignant conclusion to the Craig Jones Invitational 2 day two, viewers witnessed the end of an era as B Team announced their official rebrand to Simple Man Martial Arts. The announcement came through an emotional video segment during the tournament broadcast, marking a significant transition for one of BJJ’s most recognizable teams.
The B Team was originally founded by five grapplers: Craig Jones, Seth Belisle, Nicky Rod, Nicky Ryan, and Ethan Crellinsten. What began as a simple desire for their own training space evolved into something much larger over their four years together. As explained in the announcement video,
“When we started, it was just about having our own place. Somewhere to train, somewhere to be ourselves, somewhere we could get better, and somewhere we could pursue our dreams.”
The team’s growth was organic and impressive. The video detailed how
“People came and came and came and it just kept growing. We had people from all over the world come and train with us. People who wanted to make B team their home.”
Notable additions included Damien Anderson, Jozef Chen, JRod, Declan Moody, Chris Wojcik, Owen Jones, Kenta Iwamoto, Haisam Rida and many others, transforming what started as a small group into a legitimate powerhouse team.
However, change was inevitable. The announcement acknowledged that
“Nothing stays the same forever” and “Craig’s focus shifted. He’s busy traveling the world. And of course, he created the coolest event in jiu-jitsu.”
This shift necessitated the transition from B Team to Simple Man Martial Arts.
The new gym will be operated by Nicky Ryan, Nicky Rod, Ethan, and Damien, maintaining the core philosophy and training environment that made B Team successful. Importantly, the rebrand will expand their offerings beyond professional competition training. As stated in the announcement,
“It won’t be just for the pros. We’ll have classes for hobbyists, kids, even MMA.”
The video reassured current and prospective members that the essence of what made B Team special would remain intact:
“What we’ve got isn’t going to change. The same people, the same vibe, the same goals.”
While Craig Jones won’t be physically present at the Austin, Texas location, his influence and support will continue, with the acknowledgment that
“We know he’ll be watching over us.”
The timing of this announcement during CJI 2 was particularly fitting, as it came during what would be B Team’s final competition under that banner. Remarkably, the team went out on a high note, defeating New Wave in the tournament final to claim the $1 million prize, making their final appearance as B Team a victorious one.
Simple Man Martial Arts will continue to serve both elite competitors and everyday practitioners, maintaining the inclusive culture that made B Team a destination for grapplers worldwide.
For those interested in training with the newly branded team, the announcement concluded with an invitation:
“Thanks for everything, all the love and support. And come and train with us at Simple Man Martial Arts.”
The rebrand ensures that while one chapter closes, the legacy and training philosophy that defined B Team will continue under its new identity.
