The Lex Fridman Podcast – #363 – B-Team Jiu Jitsu: Craig Jones, Nicky Rod, and Nicky Ryan

Intro

In this episode of “The Lex Fridman Podcast,” Lex Fridman sits down with members of the B-Team Jiu-Jitsu, including Craig Jones, Nicky Rod, and Nicky Ryan. They discuss various topics related to the world of Jiu-Jitsu, including their training philosophies, competition mindset, and the evolution of the sport. They also touch on personal experiences, controversies, and the camaraderie among top grapplers in their community.

Main Takeaways

The B-Team and New Wave Jiu-Jitsu

• The B-Team is a legendary Jiu-Jitsu team in Austin, Texas, formed after the Donohar Death Squad split up.
• Trash talk and accusations of greasing and steroid use have been exchanged between the B-Team and New Wave Jiu-Jitsu.

Philosophy and Mindset

• The speakers are focused on improving themselves every day and are not in a rush to achieve their goals.
• The process of achieving a black belt is based on knowledge and teaching ability, not just competition success.
• Winning is a high that lasts for days, but losing is necessary for growth.
• The speakers take the rank of black belt seriously as it represents a step in their journey as martial artists.
• The speakers are not motivated by the excitement of winning, but by the relief of achieving their goals.
• The speakers approach competition with a similar mindset, focusing on blocking out distractions and approaching it like any other training day.

Humor and Personal Relationships

• They enjoy pushing the boundaries with their humor but also gauge reactions to avoid crossing the line.
• They joke about the speaker being Switzerland in World War II and discuss the possibility of making a T-shirt about it.
• Personal differences aside, Gordon was a good training partner, but negative experiences outweighed the good.

Training and Competitions

• They both do minimal warm-ups before competition and believe there are no warm-ups on the street.
• Winning or losing, they try to move on quickly and make a joke out of it.
• They approach competition with a mindset of collecting time instead of chasing submissions to win in overtime.
• Unwillingness to tap in competition can be a sign of a champion.

Jiu-Jitsu Community and Culture

• There is an underlying deep camaraderie among top grapplers in the same town.
• The gym aims to create well-rounded athletes by teaching top game, bottom game, and wrestling.
• To improve in Jiu-Jitsu, it’s important to focus on the fundamentals and ask questions about why techniques work.

Steroids and Controversies

• Accusations of steroid use and greasing in grappling competitions have caused controversy.
• Using steroids in sports is cheating, whether it’s illegal or not.
• It becomes a Russian roulette situation, where some take small amounts and others take huge amounts.

Summary

The Evolution of Jiu-Jitsu and Training Mindset

The B-Team Jiu-Jitsu, formed after the Donohar Death Squad split up, is a legendary team in Austin, Texas. They emphasize the importance of continuous improvement and not rushing to achieve goals. The process of achieving a black belt is based on knowledge and teaching ability, not just competition success. Winning and losing are seen as essential for growth, and the rank of black belt holds significant meaning for them. They approach competition with a focused mindset, blocking out distractions and treating it like any other training day.

The Role of Humor and Personal Relationships

The speakers enjoy pushing the boundaries with their humor, but they also gauge reactions to avoid crossing the line. They joke about various topics, including the speaker being Switzerland in World War II. Despite personal differences, they acknowledge the positive aspects of training with former teammates. Maintaining a balance between humor and personal relationships is important for a healthy training environment.

Training and Competitions

Minimal warm-ups are preferred before competitions, as they believe there are no warm-ups on the street. Whether they win or lose, they try to move on quickly and make a joke out of it. Their approach to competition involves collecting time instead of chasing submissions to win in overtime. Unwillingness to tap in competition can be seen as a sign of a champion.

Jiu-Jitsu Community and Culture

The Jiu-Jitsu community fosters an underlying deep camaraderie among top grapplers in the same town. The B-Team Jiu-Jitsu aims to create well-rounded athletes by teaching top game, bottom game, and wrestling. They emphasize the importance of focusing on fundamentals and asking questions to understand why techniques work.

Steroids and Controversies

Accusations of steroid use and greasing in grappling competitions have caused controversy. The speakers believe that using steroids in sports is cheating, regardless of its legality. They acknowledge the risks associated with steroid use and the varying amounts individuals take. The topic of steroids in sports remains a contentious issue.

Conclusion

The B-Team Jiu-Jitsu members provide insights into their training philosophies, competition mindset, and the evolving landscape of Jiu-Jitsu. They emphasize the importance of continuous improvement, the value of personal relationships, and the challenges of competing in a sport with controversies. Through their experiences, they shed light on the dedication and passion required to excel in Jiu-Jitsu.