Gordon Ryan Retires from BJJ
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion Gordon Ryan announced his retirement from competition, citing an "unfixable" recurring stomach illness. This marks another abrupt departure for the decorated grappler, who has struggled with health issues throughout his career. Ryan's retirement removes one of the sport's most dominant and controversial figures from active competition.
- Ryan's stomach issues reportedly began after extensive antibiotic use for a staph infection in 2018, which led to a severe fungal and bacterial imbalance in his intestines. This condition was initially misdiagnosed as gastroparesis and has caused chronic nausea, vomiting, and at times, an inability to train. - This is not the first time Ryan has stepped away from the sport; he previously announced a temporary retirement in May 2021 to address the same health concerns before returning to competition. He had also suggested in late 2019 that it would be his final year of competition. - He retires as one of the most accomplished no-gi grapplers ever, with a record of 159 wins and only 9 losses. His major titles include being a five-time ADCC World Champion, a two-time IBJJF No-Gi World Champion, and a four-time Eddie Bravo Invitational Champion. - At the 2022 ADCC World Championships, he made history by becoming the first athlete to win gold in their weight division (+99kg) and also win the event's superfight in the same year. - Ryan’s career has been marked by public rivalries and disputes with other high-profile grapplers, including André Galvão and his former teammate Nicky Rodriguez. - Following the breakup of the renowned "Danaher Death Squad" team, Ryan, along with his coach John Danaher, co-founded New Wave Jiu-Jitsu in Austin, Texas. - Despite retiring from competition, Ryan is expected to remain a central figure in the sport by shifting his focus to coaching the next generation of athletes at his gym and continuing to produce his popular and commercially successful instructional videos.
