B Team Jiu Jitsu
Also known as | The B-Team[1] |
---|---|
Date founded | 2021[2] |
Country of origin | United States |
Founder | Craig Jones, Nicky Ryan, Nick Rodriguez, Izaak Michell, and Ethan Crelinsten |
Current head | Craig Jones[3] |
Arts taught | Grappling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu |
Practitioners | See notable members |
Official website | bteamjj |
B Team Jiu Jitsu (stylized as B-Team Jiu-Jitsu), also known simply as The B-Team, is a submission grappling team and gym located in Austin, Texas. Led by ADCC silver medalist Craig Jones, it is regarded as one of the top grappling organizations in the world.[4]
History
[edit]The B-Team was founded in 2021 after a split in John Danaher's eponymous "Danaher Death Squad".[5] The B-Team was initially headed by former Danaher team members Craig Jones, Nicky Ryan, Nick Rodriguez, Izaak Michell, and Ethan Crelinsten.[6] Around the same time of The B-Team's founding, Danaher, Gordon Ryan, and Garry Tonon created New Wave Jiu-Jitsu in Austin, Texas.[7]
In 2022, The B-Team's Jay Rodriguez won the ADCC North American West Coast trials in the 88kg division,[8] while Izaak Michell won the ADCC Asia and Oceania trials in the 99kg division.[9] Izaak Michell later left The B-Team due to disputes over responsibilities, pay, and ownership of the team.
During the 2022 ADCC World Championships, The B-Team was represented by seven athletes competing across all weight classes. Nicky Rodriguez won silver in the +99 kg while Craig Jones won silver at −99 kg.[10][11] In January 2023, B-Team member Damien Anderson announced that he was opening a B-Team location in New Jersey.[12]
From August 16–17, 2024, B-Team head Craig Jones held the Craig Jones Invitational, counterprogramming the broadcast of the 2024 ADCC World Championship. Counterprograming in this context means paying the athletes that money they deserve, which attracted more viewers by default.
Notable members
[edit]A list of current and former members:[10]
- Damien “Demon Hands” Anderson
- Ethan Crelinsten — ADCC North American Trials Champion (2017, 2018)[13]
- Izaak Michell
- Robert "Degle" Diggle[14]
- Kenta Iwamoto
- Craig Jones
- Kieran Kichuk
- Declan Moody
- Vince Barbosa
- Haisam Rida[15]
- Jay Rodriguez
- Nick Rodriguez
- Nicky Ryan — Polaris Invitational 145 lbs Champion (2018, 2019), ADCC North American Trials Champion (2019)[16]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "New Team, Familiar Faces: Who is a part of B Team Jiu Jitsu?". Jiu Jitsu Legacy. March 31, 2022.
- ^ Lindsey, Alex (August 21, 2021). "Craig Jones Gives First Tour Of New Academy, B-Team Jiu-Jitsu". Jitsmagazine.com.
- ^ "Craig Jones". BJJ Heroes – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. October 22, 2017.
- ^ "B Team Jiu Jitsu". LowKickMMA.com. December 10, 2022.
- ^ Jones, Phil (July 26, 2021). "John Danaher Announces The Death Of The Danaher Death Squad". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
- ^ "#363 – B-Team Jiu Jitsu: Craig Jones, Nicky Rod, and Nicky Ryan". Lex Fridman. March 6, 2023.
- ^ "John Danaher, Craig Jones talk about conflict behind DDS split". BOEC.COM. October 19, 2022.
- ^ "ADCC North American West Coast Trials 2022 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. April 4, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
- ^ "ADCC Asia And Oceania Trials 2022 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
- ^ a b Coate, Ben (September 26, 2022). "Video: Craig Jones recaps The B-Team's performance at 2022 ADCC World Championships". Grappling Insider.
- ^ "ADCC 2022 Live Results, Play-by-play, Analysis, Highlights, More". Jitsmagazine. September 18, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
- ^ Tang, Andrea (January 17, 2023). "BREAKING: Damien Anderson on Launching Brand New B-Team Gym, Fight Career Plans, and More". Jiu-Jitsu Times.
- ^ "Ethan Crelinsten". BJJ Heroes - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. May 11, 2020.
- ^ Jones, Phil (October 16, 2021). "Robert Degle Joins B-Team Jiu-Jitsu". Jitsmagazine.com.
- ^ Rogers, Kian (April 12, 2023). "Haisam Rida Joins B-Team Jiu-Jitsu". JitsMagazine. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ^ "Nicky Ryan". BJJ Heroes - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. November 6, 2020.