10 months after undergoing ACL reconstruction surgery, Nicky Ryan is steadily progressing in his physio and already has his eyes set on returning to competition. The 24-year-old grappler recently shared updates, outlining plans to get back on the mats in 2026 while reflecting on his approach to recovery and long-term goals.
“We’re back to training pretty hard again. So hopefully return to comp in 2026,”
Ryan said in a recent video update, later clarifying his timeline as
“mid to late 2026.”
Ryan’s recovery from his third knee surgery has forced him into an unexpected coaching role, one that could shape the trajectory of his career. On The White Monster Podcast, he spoke candidly about the precarious position he’s in at such a young age.
“If I retear this ACL, I’m just going full-time coach,”
Ryan admitted.
“I’m 23 going on three knee surgeries. I’m like if I get one more, that’s it for me.”
During physio, Ryan has poured his energy into developing his coaching methodology, working with athletes of various skill levels, including Nicky Rodriguez, Nick Mataya, and Ally Wolski. He has been applying the Constraints-Led Approach, a training method that emphasizes skill development through structured games and scenarios.
“It’s kind of like the first time I’m really doing this because I don’t think people realize it’s very hard to be a head coach and a full-time athlete at the same time,”
Ryan explained.
“So now it’s like, you know, I’m forced to sit out and watch the rounds and stuff, and trying to take on more of a head coach role now.”
The results have been promising. According to Ryan, the progress he’s seeing from this coaching approach is
“pretty crazy.”
Still, he remains clear about his priorities once fully healthy. Asked about balancing coaching and competing, he said,
“I wouldn’t say I enjoy one more than the other. I enjoy both probably around the same amount. But trying to put more of an emphasis on being an athlete when I’m healthy just because there’s a limited time I can be an athlete. And, you know, I can be a coach when I’m 60. I can be a coach when I’m 30 years old still.”
Despite his competitive ambitions, Ryan admitted the pressure of competition isn’t something he particularly enjoys.
“I hate competing. I love winning. I hate competing,”
he confessed.
“I hate the lead-up to competition. I get so nervous every single time before I compete.”
His advice to others dealing with competition anxiety is straightforward:
“I mean, it’s not that serious. A lot of people tend to take competition way too seriously. And, you know, if you go out there and you lose your random Naga, it’s not like anybody’s really going to care. So just try and have fun with it.”
Ryan also shared insights into staying mentally engaged during injury recovery.
“Taking up other hobbies helps. I play a lot of video games when I get injured. Also still just going in every day, even when you can’t train, is super helpful. That way, you know, you still stay kind of mentally engaged with the sport. And then you can have other hobbies outside of that so you don’t lose your mind.”
Before stepping away from competition, Ryan has major goals he wants to achieve.
“End goal one: at least accomplish something in the sport, win a big title, ADCC, CJI, something along those lines,”
he said.
His vision goes beyond personal accolades.
“Definitively become the best in the world at my weight class. And then after that, you know, create a huge affiliation in a gym where we create, you know, more world champs.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Ryan expressed a desire to stay closer to home after a busy travel schedule in 2025.
“I want to stay home in 2026. I did a lot of traveling in 2025, so I’m ready to stay home and spend some time in my new house.”
Whether his future lies primarily on the mats or shaping the next generation of grapplers from the sidelines may ultimately depend on how his reconstructed knee holds up. Either way, he has already proven himself as both a formidable competitor and an increasingly respected coaching mind in the jiu-jitsu world.
