In a sit down interview at Combatives Unlimited in Jacksonville Florida Erik Paulson opened up about his work with Kade Ruotolo and Tye Ruotolo the twin grapplers who have taken the combat sports world by storm. When the interviewer brought up the brothers Erik Paulson‘s first words were simple.
“Happy birthday, boys.”
“It was their birthday. Well, all weekend long. They just turned 23.”
When asked whether Kade Ruotolo and Tye Ruotolo could now be considered catch wrestlers Erik Paulson was direct in his assessment.
“Catch style, but they’re jiu-jitsu originally. I’ve been doing privates with them on all the different oddities of submissions and exotics and variations. So their style is a lot more diverse. And then we’re working a lot of all the different takedowns, all the different styles of takedowns, different tie-ups, straight to attack. “
On what brought him back to coaching Erik Paulson had this to say.
“I got the Ruotolo brothers fig hting and it’s a divine assignment. So I came out of retirement to train them for MMA.”
“So now we’re 5-0.”
Regarding their competitive future Erik Paulson shared.
” So nothing signed for Kade, but Tye’s got a grappling match coming up too. “
Erik Paulson also shed light on how his involvement with the brothers first became public particularly at Craig Jones Invitational.
“Most of the time when they do straight grappling in ONE, I don’t corner them, unless it’s like CJI, because I was doing privates and working with them secretly.”
He explained how his role at CJI came about unexpectedly.
“I wasn’t planning on being there. I was just doing privates and helping them out with some innovative ideas for attacking. And then Pat Tenore said, ‘Hey, you’re cornering the boys at CJI.’ I go, ‘I am? I have a jiu-jitsu camp that weekend.’ But I said, ‘Okay.’ I said, ‘They haven’t asked me.’ So if they ask me I’ll say yes.”
He described how things unfolded at the event once he was there referencing Andre Galvao and Pat Tenorino.
“I know that Galvao had other guys that he was cornering, so they said he’s not going to be available. I was there the whole time. I went through all four for Kade, all four matches, and then the two with Tye. So it was exciting.”
Taken together Erik Paulson‘s words paint a clear picture, his investment in Kade Ruotolo and Tye Ruotolo goes well beyond a professional arrangement. He views coaching them as something he was called to do.
