Glover fundamentally challenged this notion, stating,
“I don’t know that I agree with that I don’t know that I think physical attributes are more important than technique.”
“I always saw it as like the icing on the cake. If I had a match with a dude who was clearly on ster*ids and I beat him, you know, it just was like, yeah, I beat—I could, I could tell people, you know, you could brag about that later and be like, “Oh, I tapped out that dude who’s on ster*ids.”
The veteran grappler humorously pointed out that PED users often appear more physically impressive when shirtless, but their muscular physique is typically hidden beneath a gi during competitions. His skepticism about the widespread perception that contemporary athletes rely more on physical gifts than refined technical skills sets the stage for a broader discussion about performance enhancement in the sport.
“So, I don’t know. I feel like it’s a lose-lose thing if you’re doing the ster*ids, you know. Um, I think the question he said was abusing the ster*ids, though. Yeah, I mean, you’ve seen it with all the pro wrestlers. You see all these pro wrestlers that have died in their 40s and their early 50s, all from heart attacks. And it’s like, what’s the—what’s the factor here? What’s the common factor here that’s causing this?”
Perspective on Performance Enhancement
In the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, performance-enhancing substances have always been a hot topic of discussion. Glover’s approach to this controversial subject is refreshingly straightforward.
“I have no problem with dudes doing ster*ids for trying to win matches or fights,” he explains, viewing it as “the icing on the cake.”
What truly sets his perspective apart is his unique competitive mindset. “If I had a match with a dude who was clearly on ster*ids and I beat him, you know, it just was like yeah I beat I could I could tell people you know you could brag about that later and be like oh I tapped out that dude who’s on ster*ids.”
Interestingly, he notes that many contemporary athletes like Craig Jones and Gordon Ryan are increasingly open about their ster*id use, which he sees as a form of transparency that removes the stigma.
BJJ’s Effectiveness in Self-Defense
Beyond competition, Glover passionately advocates for BJJ’s supremacy in real-world self-defense scenarios. Drawing from personal experience, he emphasizes that BJJ practitioners have consistently demonstrated superior ability to neutralize threatening situations without escalating.
His key argument centers on BJJ’s unique approach to self-defense, particularly highlighting the role of the Guard.
“The idea of the Guard is to prevent people from punching you in the face so getting somebody on the ground… is a way to stop people from punching you in the face.”
While acknowledging limitations with multiple attackers, Glover remains steadfast in his belief:
“I think it’s been pretty soundly proven that Brazilian jiu-jitsu is the most important and most effective uh style of martial arts for self-defense.”
The discussion ultimately highlights the complex relationship between physical enhancement and genuine skill in martial arts, with Glover consistently championing technique and personal achievement over artificial advantages or pure physical attributes.
