*note from editor, WWE wrestler turned actor Dave Bautista has since been promoted to BJJ Brown belt
In a revealing clip, renowned black belt under John Danaher Firas Zahabi highlighted how the widespread PED abuse undermines the development of skill in BJJ.
The Technical Crisis in Modern Jiu-Jitsu
Zahabi’s key argument centers on the dangerous misconception that athletic performance equates to genuine skill.
“You have to differentiate between being effective and technical,” he emphasizes, highlighting how PED use can mask fundamental technical deficiencies.
The Tristar Gym head coach provides a compelling breakdown of how performance-enhancers create a false sense of technical proficiency:
“If you’re a blue belt and I jam you up with a bunch of ster*ids, you’re going to become a purple belt in not long – not technically a purple belt – but because of added strength now you can compete with the purple belts.”
Impact on Instruction
For practitioners seeking guidance, the problem extends beyond competition.
“Imagine there are a lot of instructors out there who take a lot of ster*ids… they don’t understand technique because they’re so strong they’re doing it wrong,” Zahabi warns.
The reliance on artificially enhanced strength leads instructors to prioritize force over technique:
“When you’re on ster*ids, you feel stronger, so it makes sense you want to force your way into a submission or force your way to the back. But that takes away from thinking about the better solution – how to avoid the guy’s strength and subdue him using angle or leverage.”
The Testing Dilemma
The most alarming aspect, according to Zahabi, is the prevalence of performance-enhancers at elite levels.
“But also, you can’t forget—even the most technical guys are on juice. Even the most. That’s the crazy thing about the sport of Jiu-Jitsu. There are very few natural guys. There are very few in the elite level because they don’t test, right? They don’t test.”
