B Team Jiu Jitsu: Competition Mindset, Team Dynamics, and the Post-DDS Era

This episode features a candid conversation with Craig Jones, Nicky Rod, and Nicky Ryan, key members of the B Team Jiu Jitsu, delving into their individual journeys, competitive philosophies, and the formation of their team following the high-profile split from John Danaher's DDS (Danaher Death Squad). The discussion covers their experiences in elite competitions like ADCC, the financial realities of being professional grapplers, and their personal definitions of success and failure. They share insights into the mental and physical demands of the sport, offering a glimpse into the lives of top-tier athletes navigating the evolving landscape of professional grappling.

A central theme is the contrasting approaches to mental preparation and competition. Craig Jones advocates for a detached, almost nihilistic approach, pushing competition out of his mind until the last moment and viewing all human endeavors as inherently "silly." In contrast, Nicky Rod emphasizes rigorous visualization, consistent warm-ups, and a process-oriented mindset to achieve peak performance. The guests also explore the nuanced relationship between winning and losing; Craig expresses relief at winning and indifference to losing if it's financially beneficial, while Nicky Rod likens winning to a powerful high and acknowledges losing as a necessary part of growth. Nicky Ryan admits his intense hatred of losing has sometimes hindered his competitive activity, highlighting the psychological toll of high-stakes competition.

The conversation also touches on practical aspects of Jiu-Jitsu development and team dynamics. Nicky Rod details his journey from a bouncer to an ADCC silver medalist, emphasizing the importance of asking questions, identifying weaknesses, and specializing in techniques like back control and leg lock defense. The split from DDS is discussed with a shroud of mystery, referred to as "the jungle," but the guests highlight the transition from John Danaher's strict regime to the B Team's more collaborative and free environment, where knowledge is shared among multiple skilled partners. The concept of a black belt is debated, with the consensus being that it signifies deep knowledge and teaching ability rather than just competitive prowess.

Broader implications extend to the philosophy of work, passion, and personal identity. The guests articulate a shared desire to make a living from something they love, avoiding traditional full-time jobs. Craig Jones's philosophical musings on the absurdity of human existence provide a unique lens through which to view the intensity of competitive sports, suggesting that while the pursuit of mastery is engaging, its ultimate significance is subjective. The episode offers a compelling look at the intersection of athletic ambition, personal values, and the complex social dynamics within the world of professional martial arts, showcasing the resilience and adaptability required to thrive at the highest levels of competitive grappling.

I'm proud just to not have to work a full-time job just to get by on the bullshit I've done so far.

I mean for sure two ADCC silver medals which hurts because you're so close to getting that gold but uh you know it takes time I'm understanding that you know supportive Jiu Jitsu takes quite a while to be at the tip top to be the absolute best.

I think teaching is a good measurement of it like how well you're able to show the moves um and you know really make sure that you have an understanding of what you're doing.

I definitely don't hate losing if it pays the bills I don't mind.

I think winning is probably the closest you can think you can get to like heroin or something because I mean we're on a like if you do have extreme success in a torment that you've been you know adamant about training for and competing in for a while and you end up winning it I mean I feel like you're on that high for days at a time afterwards.

My Philosophy is there's no warm-ups on the street.

All of human existence is pretty silly like what are we doing none of us really know what's going on we'll kind of have sex to reproduce we get hungry we eat and then we're all chasing money in cars and whatever the Hell in a capital Society or we worship a dictator in a authoritarian regime yeah and then we get off on we'll let power abuse us and then we just murder others because we get off on it yeah and then eventually all of us will die because the sun will run out of energy because colonizing other planets is very difficult so not what matters.

I miss certain aspects of it but I also do prefer the freedom of being apart from it it's obviously a very strict regime under John danaher.

My Philosophy at the time was if it's bothering old Brazilians yeah it's bothering them for a reason yeah it's probably effective and that's the path I took to sort of try to rip off their moves.

I definitely, you know, having one person to go to that runs practice every day that's, you know, consistent, um, it was definitely, it was definitely, definitely a gift but now I'm also gifted with many, many other partners.

I love that there's you know a problem solving aspect to it um so it's you know it's mentally challenging it's physically challenging helps me get in shape.

I'm a lazy sack of shit out of outside of the the uh the mat.