What Do We Do About Gordon Ryan?
By Kevin Written in 2022
I’ve been covering Gordon Ryan as a “journalist” since the beginning of his career—long before professional jiu-jitsu got attention from mainstream outlets. I’m not a professional writer. I’m just a guy who loves jiu-jitsu and happened to write for a few decent publications at a time when nobody was a professional anything.
I remember Gordon as a skinny purple belt winning the Newaza Open. Then he won No-Gi Worlds as a brown belt. I knew then he’d be special—but I had no idea he’d become the larger-than-life icon we know now.
Back then, to most of the world, he was just Gary Tonon’s student and Eddie Cummings’ training partner. That all changed at EBI, when he beat Yuri Simoes in overtime and earned himself a spotlight. The rest is history—a story worthy of a Netflix miniseries.
There’s no denying Gordon Ryan is a super athlete. If he stays healthy, his reign atop the grappling world should go unchallenged for as long as he wants. He may even eventually switch to gi competition—and he’ll likely dominate that too.
But there’s also a nefarious edge to his character that can’t be ignored.
The Best… and the Worst
Gordon’s online persona is, in a word, brutal. As a lifelong lover of jiu-jitsu, I feel obligated to acknowledge it.
His relentless, often vile online presence has made him one of the most polarizing athletes our sport has ever seen. It’s sparked debates among BJJ traditionalists and fans for years.
There are two sides to jiu-jitsu. There’s the art—the sacred struggle that transforms people’s lives—and then there’s the professional sport, which needs drama, clicks, and eyes on the screen.
The journalist in me can’t deny Gordon’s contributions to the growth of professional BJJ. Honestly? Without him, we might not have a sport to cover. He brought drama, dominance, and absurd online spectacle—more than enough to make the masses tune in.
And with that, the BJJ world exploded. More gyms opened. More students flooded through the doors. More guys at bars knew what jiu-jitsu even was. It’s been the biggest renaissance since Royce Gracie stepped into the UFC cage.
But What About the Art?
Here’s the problem.
While the sport grows, the art of jiu-jitsu still matters. For most of us, jiu-jitsu is a lifestyle. It’s about discipline, humility, and mutual respect. It’s about overcoming struggle and forging character through combat.
Believe it or not, plenty of practitioners couldn’t pick Gordon Ryan out of a lineup—and they’ve been training for years. They’re in it for the camaraderie. The personal growth. The deep friendships earned through shared battle. And those values don’t exactly align with tirades about murdering homeless people in NYC.
As a writer covering the sport for the past seven years, I’ve often felt conflicted. On one hand, I admire what Gordon has done for jiu-jitsu. He’s carried the sport on his shoulders like a titan. But as someone sworn to protect the soul of this art, I have to question how he got there.
The Heel Pays the Bills
In the era of social media, playing the villain pays. And Gordon knows it.
Guys like Colby Covington crafted entire personas just to stay relevant. Logan Paul built an empire off trolling. Gordon’s no different.
He criticizes other pros for not marketing themselves harder. He mocks them, calls them lazy, stupid, irrelevant. And guess what? His bank account backs up his strategy. He’s been on Joe Rogan twice. His net worth has exploded. His fame has crossed into mainstream culture.
So is he wrong?
It’s hard to argue with success. But it leaves us with a weird taste in our mouths.
The Elephant in the Room
Here’s what makes it more complicated:
The kid is undeniably good.
His work ethic is elite. His coaching is brilliant. His skill is unmatched. No one has come close to beating him in the last three years. He walks around with a smirk, knowing the rest of the sport is fighting for second place—and he’s not wrong.
So what do we do about that?
I’m a gym owner now. I teach kids. And I honestly don’t know how I’d respond if one of them started acting like Gordon online. Martial arts is supposed to build character. I’m not saying we all need to walk around like samurai monks, but a little sportsmanship and humility wouldn’t hurt.
I don’t have an answer. Maybe nobody does.
Final Thoughts
The truth is, we all keep tuning in.
Whether you love him or hate him, Gordon Ryan is the central figure of modern jiu-jitsu. He’s not going anywhere. And frankly, he shouldn’t. He’s a once-in-a-generation talent—our sport’s version of Jordan, Gable, or Brady.
But still… I can’t help but hope.
I hope that one day, Gordon evolves. That he sees the whispers behind closed doors. That he realizes what kind of role model he could be. Because there are things more important than the number of commas in your bank account.
And in the end, it’s not just about winning. It’s about what you leave behind when the lights go out.
You don’t have to talk trash to be elite.
If you’re serious about mastering jiu-jitsu without becoming a character in someone else’s hype machine, I’ve got two things for you:
👉 Join my online academy on Skool – Access my intro curriculum, connect with other dedicated grapplers and learn how to build your game with purpose.
🦵 Want to break legs like Gordon—without becoming a villain?
Grab the course: Leglocks for Dummies
