Multiple sources have indicated that Jacob “Jay Rod” Rodriguez may have returned to training at Simple Man Martial Arts, the rebranded incarnation of the former B Team jiu-jitsu academy. BJJDOC has received several tips suggesting Rodriguez is once again training at the Austin facility he was banned from in May 2025.
The development marks a dramatic reversal for both Rodriguez and the academy which rebranded from B Team to Simple Man Martial Arts in an effort to project a more family friendly image following organizational changes and controversy.
Rodriguez’s removal from B Team in May 2025 sent waves through the Brazilian jiu-jitsu community. The ADCC silver medalist and buggy choke specialist was banned after team leadership discovered he had been keeping screenshots of female teammates’ public Instagram profiles alongside adult content on his phone.
The discovery led to swift action from B Team co-founders Craig Jones and Seth Belisle who issued a statement emphasizing their zero tolerance approach to breaches of trust. Rodriguez received the news via a 1 AM phone call from Jones with little opportunity to explain his perspective at the time.
In subsequent statements, Rodriguez acknowledged his conduct as invasive, inappropriate and unhealthy while also clarifying that rumors involving AI generated content or hidden cameras were false. He disclosed that he had been seeking therapy and working on personal growth through his faith after struggles with impulsive behavior.
The controversy involved at least two female members of the team including competitor Ally Wolski, both of whom praised the gym’s leadership for acting immediately to prioritize member safety.
Following his ban, Rodriguez found himself effectively shut out from elite jiu-jitsu training environments. In an August 2025 appearance on the Jits and Giggles podcast, he described his situation as being cancelled within BJJ.
“I can’t train in Austin specifically… anywhere worth going to,”
he explained, noting that he had contacted reputable gyms but found them hesitant to accept him, something he said he understood from a business perspective.
For several months, Rodriguez trained sporadically or not at all, spending two to three months completely away from the mats. He later relocated to East Austin Jiu-Jitsu for a period but struggled to secure consistent high level training partners.
The environment at the former B Team has shifted significantly since Rodriguez’s departure. Craig Jones announced his exit from the organization in July 2025 citing his inability to manage gym operations remotely as a central issue. Seth Belisle departed alongside Jones to help manage CJI and its charity foundation.
“I’ve been the absent father, you know,”
Jones said in an August interview while describing the difficulty of handling internal issues from afar including the Rodriguez situation.
“Obviously there’s a lot of dramas that just naturally unfold at any gym and I really don’t want to be the one from afar to have to manage those things.”
Leadership transitioned to Nicky Ryan and Damien Anderson who have emphasized continuity while working to make the gym more accessible to recreational practitioners. The rebrand to Simple Man Martial Arts was positioned as a reset and a move toward a more family oriented atmosphere.
BJJDOC has received multiple tips from sources claiming Rodriguez has been seen training at Simple Man Martial Arts, including evidence currently under review by the editorial team.
When contacted for comment, Simple Man coach Damien Anderson provided the following statement:
“Jay Rodriguez is not a member of Simple Man Martial Arts, is not part of our team or programs, and does not train during public classes or member hours. Our zero tolerance policy regarding conduct and member safety remains in place. Any limited use of the facility has occurred outside of public hours and does not involve participation in classes.”
Anderson’s response acknowledges Rodriguez’s presence at the facility while drawing a distinction between membership status and limited facility access outside regular operating hours.
The statement raises questions about what arrangements, if any, exist for Rodriguez’s use of the facility and whether this represents a meaningful change from his banned status. The clarification that he is not participating in classes or training during member hours appears designed to address safety concerns while leaving room for private training arrangements.
If Rodriguez has indeed been granted access to the facility in any capacity, the decision would represent a significant shift from the public stance taken when he was originally banned. When the original ban was announced, many practitioners viewed the decision as an important benchmark for addressing misconduct within gyms.
The leadership transition further complicates the situation as Jones, who personally delivered the ban, is no longer involved in daily operations. Any decision regarding facility access would rest with Ryan and Anderson who may hold different views on accountability and gym culture.
Rodriguez’s presence at the facility, even outside public hours, is expected to provoke strong reactions within the jiu-jitsu community given the circumstances of his original ban and the academy’s stated commitment to member safety and family friendly culture.
This remains a developing story and BJJDOC will continue to monitor the situation and publish updates as more information becomes available.
