#363 – B-Team Jiu Jitsu: Craig Jones, Nicky Rod, and Nicky Ryan
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What is the B-Team and its background?
The following is a conversation with Craig Jones, Nikki Rodd, and Nikki Ryan, who together with Ethan Crelliston and others make up the B-Team, a legendary jiu-jitsu team here in Austin, Texas. It was formed after the so-called Donaher Death Squad, the team headed by John Donaher, split up into New Wave Jiu-Jitsu and B-Team Jiu-Jitsu, both located here in Austin, Texas. There has been a lot of trash talk back and forth, including accusations of greasing and steroid use. And I, as a practitioner and fan of grappling, jiu-jitsu, and martial arts in general, am here for it. To see the best grapplers in history, go at it, both on the mat and on Instagram. I like the people on both teams and train with both.
And I'm really happy to see the exciting rapid evolution of the sport that these athletes and coaches are catalyzing. And now a quick few second mention of each sponsor. Check them out in the description. It's the best way to support this podcast. We got BetterHelp for mental health, Eight Sleep for naps, and Athletic Greens for daily multivitamins.
What are the dynamics of winning and losing in jiu-jitsu?
Choose wisely, my friends. And if you want to work with our amazing team, we're always hiring. Go to lexfriedman.com slash hiring. And now onto the full ad reads. As always, no ads in the middle. I try to make this interesting, but if you must skip them, please still check out our sponsors. I enjoy their stuff. Maybe you will too.
How did the Danaher Death Squad influence the B-Team?
This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp, spelled H-E-L-P, help. There's that quote from Jack Kerouac, the book on the road that I recently finished reading, rereading. Rereading for like, I don't know, the 10th at least time in my life. And there's a quote in there about the Mad Ones. the main character, Sal. It's strange how bad my memory is, but something tells me that his last name is Paradise, Sal Paradise, and Dean Moriarty. And Sal is Jack Kerouac, and the real-life name of Dean Moriarty, I don't remember, but the character name is Dean Moriarty, and he represents sort of the weird, the crazy, the chaotic friend shaman guide through life, the drop of poison in a perfectly calm drink or a perfectly calm pond or town like Tom Waits says.
Anyway, those people and that part of ourselves is really powerful, that weirdness, that darkness, that chaos. You have to have control of it, I think. I think being self-aware and introspective about that and bringing it to the surface and knowing that that part of you exists. Check them out at betterhelp.com slash Lex and save on your first month. This episode is also brought to you by 8sleep and it's pod three mattress. As I record these very words, it is extremely late at night. It has been a long night before then and a long day. And the thing that carries me through is a beautiful power nap. or a couple of those. When I'm deprived of sleep, because of various curve balls that life throws at me, as it does for everybody, I think I at least maintain my sanity and my well-being by taking power naps.
What are the implications of steroids in grappling?
Sometimes I'll actually drink a coffee right before the nap, and I take that nap, and about 30 minutes after, I pop up all refreshed, ready to go. Not like now. Actually, physically, mentally, spiritually refreshed. Now I'm more calm and zen. Ready to take on the darkness that waits for me when I finally close my eyes. And I'm laying on that eight sleep bed as I'm ready to very soon. It is a source of happiness for me. A cold bed with a warm blanket. It's a peaceful escape from the chaos of life outside. It's a weird little feature of biology that we get to sleep. And that is both necessary and it's just wonderful. Anyway, check it out and get special savings when you go to 8sleep.com. This show is also brought to you by Athletic Greens and its AG1 drink, which is an all-in-one daily drink to support better health and peak performance.
It is delicious. I've drank it twice today because I'm traveling. I packed a few travel packs to go with me, like little travel companions. that represent home, and then I get to the hotel, and I unpack it, and that's a little reminder, a little habit that I get to carry with me that represents home, that makes me feel like I'm at home, because what is home after all but a set of habits and a set of people that bring joy to our lives, and a set of habits that bring joy, and a set of greens is that.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the B-Team and its background?
0:00–1:14
2
What are the dynamics of winning and losing in jiu-jitsu?
1:14–1:36
3
How did the Danaher Death Squad influence the B-Team?
1:36–3:48
4
What are the implications of steroids in grappling?
3:48–1:29:00
5
How can jiu-jitsu practitioners safely get back to their feet in MMA?
1:29:00–1:29:27
6
What are the pros and cons of playing bottom guard in jiu-jitsu?
1:29:27–1:30:45
7
What are the challenges of coaching MMA fighters compared to jiu-jitsu?
1:30:45–1:32:06
8
How do injuries impact training and competition in jiu-jitsu?
1:32:06–2:53:54
Speakers
5 identifiedMore from Lex Fridman Podcast
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