A while ago, Gordon Ryan delivered an interesting revelation during JRE MMA Show #129, where the then 27-year-old grappling phenom admitted to host Joe Rogan that years of training in BJJ-specific positions have severely compromised his basic mobility.
“I like can’t lift my I can’t do like anything overhead,” Ryan explained during the podcast. “I can’t like wash the back of my neck because my shoulders are just I’m always inverting doing this.”
Ryan went on to demonstrate his limited range of motion, explaining how his body has adapted to jiu-jitsu’s unique positional requirements at the expense of normal human function.
“It’s like anything like this I can do but I can’t bridge like trying to scrub my back of my head I’m like can’t get my shoulders back there,” he said.
Perhaps most concerning was Ryan‘s acknowledgment that these issues will likely worsen with age:
“So it’s just like all a mess and I’m only 27 so once I’m 40 I’m gonna be f***ed.” When Rogan suggested the problems could be addressed, Ryan’s response was characteristically blunt: “I could I’m just lazy.”
And while this snippet was quickly forgotten and overshadowed by the CJI vs ADCC drama, one black belt narrowed in on it.
In an interesting discussion on the Chokes And More podcast, BJJ black belt Sebastian Brosche delivered a pointed critique of what constitutes true athleticism in the sport, singling out world champion Gordon Ryan for what he considers an unhealthy approach to physical development.
During the wide-ranging conversation, Brosche, a two-time world champion (colored belts), highlighted the difference between sports skill and genuine athleticism.
“Gordon Ryan, he told Joe Rogan that he can’t shampoo his neck because his neck and shoulder are so [stiff],” Brosche revealed. “This is not athleticism. If you can’t shower your hair, it’s not athleticism.”
The Swedish grappler went on to explain that athleticism isn’t merely about strength or enhanced performance through substances, but rather the less obvious aspects of physical capability — like maintaining mobility and normal function.
“By athleticism, I don’t mean strength, ster*ids, and these obvious things,” Brosche clarified. “I mean all the non-obvious things like being able to sit like this without my left side cramping up.”
Brosche shared his own journey of discovering the importance of mobility and flexibility after suffering from debilitating stiffness at just 26 years old, when he “couldn’t put on shoes” despite being a championship-level athlete.
His comments underscore a growing conversation in the BJJ community about sustainable training practices and what constitutes healthy physical development for long-term participation in the sport.
Brosche advocates for a more balanced approach to training that incorporates mobility work, proper recovery, and attention to overall physical health rather than pursuing size and strength at the expense of basic functionality.
“Sports skill is different from athleticism,” he emphasized, suggesting that the community should reconsider what it values and celebrates in its champions.
