Podcast Summary
Craig Jones' Humor and High-Paying Competition: Australian jujitsu black belt Craig Jones is known for his humor and runs the highest paying grappling competition, the Craig Jones Invitational, with a $1 million prize for bracket winners.
Craig Jones, a jujitsu black belt and submission grappling practitioner from Australia, has made a name for himself in the sport by maintaining a strong sense of humor and launching the highest paying grappling competition, the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI), with a prize of $1 million for the bracket winners. Jones, who grew up in Australia and took up jujitsu around the age of 15, moved to Melbourne to train with Lachlan Giles and eventually earned his black belt. He has competed seriously in the US since 2013 and had his biggest breakout in 2017 at the ADCC, where he lost to Keenan Cornelius and Gordon Ryan. Despite these losses, Jones continues to push himself and prepare for upcoming matches against top competitors like Gabi Garcia and Mackenzie Dunn.
Jiu-Jitsu challenges: Focus on personal training style, adaptability, and team support are crucial in overcoming Jiu-Jitsu challenges. Staying dedicated and improving constantly is essential.
The interviewee shared experiences of competing in Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, moving between training locations, and dealing with various challenges. He discussed the importance of focusing on one's training style, being adaptable, and building a strong team. The interviewee also mentioned the difficulties of adjusting to new environments and dealing with unexpected challenges, such as mailbox lock issues in Puerto Rico. Ultimately, he emphasized the importance of staying dedicated to Jiu-Jitsu, improving constantly, and building a strong team to support growth. Despite the challenges, he remained committed to his passion for the sport and continued to make a name for himself in the Jiu-Jitsu community.
Monetizing BJJ skills and content: The interviewee prioritizes creating instructionals and monetizing skills over competing or practicing for the love of the art, using various platforms like OnlyFans.
The interviewee's primary motivation in BJJ is to create instructionals and make money, rather than for the love of the art or competition. He has experimented with various platforms, including OnlyFans, to monetize his skills and insights. Despite his success in competitions, he does not particularly enjoy them and prefers to focus on instructionals and behind-the-scenes content for paying subscribers. He also acknowledges the importance of strategic training and preparation for high-stakes matches. The evolution of online instructionals and platforms like BJJ has made learning and accessing high-level techniques more accessible to a wider audience, even for those who couldn't afford it in the past. However, the interviewee's experiences also highlight the potential challenges and ethical considerations of monetizing martial arts content and engaging in online competition.
Jiu-jitsu coaching and entrepreneurship: A jiu-jitsu athlete shares his experiences in coaching, media appearances, and entrepreneurship, discussing the potential for financial success in jiu-jitsu and the challenges of MMA coaching and media work, as well as his use of testosterone replacement therapy.
The speaker, a jiu-jitsu athlete, has had varied experiences in coaching and media appearances. He enjoys coaching jiu-jitsu but finds MMA coaching too violent and serious. He had issues with TV show producers due to his unfiltered humor and attempts to disrupt COVID tests. In the world of jujitsu, he saw potential for financial success through creating a platform for athletes to monetize their skills and training, leading to the creation of CJI. The speaker also discussed his use of testosterone replacement therapy for performance enhancement and health, but acknowledged potential health risks. Overall, the speaker's experiences and insights highlight the unique challenges and opportunities in the worlds of martial arts coaching, media, and entrepreneurship.
Fair compensation for athletes: Athletes deserve adequate compensation for their time, effort, and risk in competitions. Organizers have a responsibility to provide reasonable incentives to attract and retain top talent.
The discussion revolves around a conversation between a martial artist and an investor regarding the pay and conditions in a martial arts competition, specifically Jiu Jitsu. The martial artist felt that the prize money was not motivating enough for him to participate, and he proposed the idea of organizing his own event with better compensation. This led to a heated exchange with the competition organizer, resulting in increased prize money and show money for the athletes. The conversation also touched upon the ruleset for the competition, specifically the use of angled walls to discourage backing off and minimize stalling tactics. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of fair compensation for athletes and the role of competition organizers in setting the rules and conditions for events.
MMA rules in Jiu Jitsu competition: Competition follows MMA rules with 3 rounds, 10 point must system, and focuses on active engagement, discouraging stalling, and allowing strategic gameplay.
The upcoming Jiu Jitsu competition will follow MMA rules with three, five-minute rounds and a 10 point must system for scoring. The goal is to encourage active engagement between competitors and prevent stalling. The competition will feature a head ref and three judges, with the aim of having two of them able to see each submission attempt clearly. Initiating action, close submissions, and positional dominant control will be the main factors in determining the winner of each round. The rules are designed to allow for strategic gameplay while discouraging stalling and overly defensive play. The competition is expected to be intense due to the large prize money at stake.
BJJ Competitions Scoring System: The current ADCC scoring system rewards turtling, leading to stagnant matches and lack of action, while the CJI competition's open scoring system aims to encourage constant action and prevent draws.
The turtle position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) competitions should not be considered a safe position, but rather a disadvantageous one. The current ADCC scoring system rewards turtling, which can lead to stagnant matches and lack of action. The Fair Fight Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by the competition's organizers, aims to donate profits to charities, specifically Tap Cancer Out, and allow athletes to choose where the donations go. The CJI competition brings together the best grapplers in the world, and while the stakes are high, there is a risk of unprecedented reactions and injuries. The competition's open scoring system aims to encourage action throughout the match and avoid surprises at the end. Additionally, the organizers have added rounds and an overtime round in the finals to ensure constant action and prevent draws. The competition also aims to promote cultural grappling and historical martial arts around the world.
Grappling Tournament Format: Unique format and significant financial reward generate excitement, but potential lack of submissions, injuries, and rules regarding replacements may impact the outcome of the million-dollar grappling tournament, which aims to be an annual event with potential pay-per-view model in the future.
The upcoming million-dollar grappling tournament, where competitors fight to the finish with no second place, is generating excitement due to its unique format and significant financial reward. However, concerns have been raised about the potential lack of submissions, injuries, and rules regarding replacements if a winner is unable to continue. The long-term plan is to make the event an annual occurrence, with a free initial broadcast to maximize reach and gauge viewership before potentially transitioning to a pay-per-view model. Competitors are expected to put it all on the line for the chance to win a life-changing prize, but the outcome remains uncertain as some may opt for safer strategies or focus on performance bonuses rather than risking injury. The success of the event will depend on the athletes' willingness to engage in exciting, high-stakes matches, as well as effective judging to determine the winners.
BJJ positioning: Maintaining a dominant position in BJJ is crucial for exhausting opponents and increasing chances of winning rounds. Passing or being close to a pass keeps the bottom opponent defending and burning energy.
Maintaining top position in BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) is crucial for exhausting your opponent and increasing the likelihood of winning rounds. The speaker emphasizes the importance of continually passing or being close to a pass, making the bottom opponent defend and burn energy. He also mentions the significance of the judges in BJJ competitions and the potential disadvantages of taking the back position. Additionally, the speaker discusses the upcoming ADCC and Craig Jones Invitational competitions, sharing some details about the events and notable participants. He also mentions his upcoming match against Gabi Garcia and how it came about. Regarding his personal preparation, he admits to having done no training for it. The conversation also touches upon the topic of performance-enhancing drugs, but the speaker does not provide specific details about his own use.
PEDs in BJJ: Using PEDs for an edge in BJJ can have uncertain long-term effects and risks, and success can be achieved without their use. Prioritize overall health and wellness and consider the support of a trusted coach or healthcare professional.
Some athletes in the competitive BJJ scene use performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) to gain an edge, but the long-term effects and risks are uncertain. The speaker's personal experience with PEDs was driven by the desire to compete at a higher weight division, but he eventually came to the conclusion that a stable dosage was healthier for both physical and mental well-being. The speaker encourages young athletes to be aware that success can be achieved without the use of PEDs and to prioritize overall health and wellness. The conversation also touched upon the importance of having a support system, such as a trusted coach or healthcare professional, when considering the use of PEDs.
BJJ pursuits dynamics: People's BJJ pursuits can range from competitive to hobbyist, and even within the same person, with some training hard every time and others having mellow sessions. The Craig Jones Invitational introduces a large cash prize, potentially leading to intense matches and endurance of pain.
The dynamic of people's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) pursuits can vary greatly, from competitive to hobbyist, and sometimes even within the same person. The conversation between the father and his daughters, as well as the experiences of different BJJ practitioners, illustrate this. Some people train hard every time, while others have mellow sessions. The upcoming Craig Jones Invitational adds an unknown element with a large cash prize, potentially leading to intense, long-lasting matches and a strong willingness to endure pain. Ultimately, the passion for BJJ drives people to push themselves, even when it's challenging.
Decision making during uncomfortable situations: The speaker emphasizes the importance of not giving in during uncomfortable situations and fighting back or holding on until the situation ends.
The speaker shares his experiences of being in uncomfortable situations, particularly during jiu-jitsu training, and his decision-making process when faced with those situations. He emphasizes that he has never given in to being choked unconscious and always tries to fight back or hold his breath until the round ends. The speaker also promotes Jockofuel and OriginUSA, encouraging listeners to check out their websites for various products, including protein, joint protocol, American-made clothing, and Jiu-Jitsu gear. Additionally, he mentions his leadership consultancy, Echelon Front, which helps solve problems within organizations through leadership solutions. The speaker also encourages listeners to subscribe to his podcast, check out his books, and explore other resources like ColoradoCraftBeef and PrimalBeef for high-quality beef.
Leadership training, Jiu Jitsu for self-defense: Jiu Jitsu not only improves physical skills, but also leadership abilities through training. Check out Extreme Ownership's online courses and consider Jiu Jitsu for self-defense.
While Jiu Jitsu is a physical skill that can be improved through online training, it's important to remember that leadership is also a crucial skill that requires practice and learning. Jocko Willink encourages individuals to check out Extreme Ownership's online courses for leadership training. He also highlights various charities and organizations, such as America's Mighty Warriors and Heroes and Horses, that support veterans and their families. Additionally, Jocko emphasizes the importance of training Jiu Jitsu for self-defense and encourages everyone to try it out. Whether you're a first responder or just looking for a new hobby, Jiu Jitsu can help improve your life. Don't forget to connect with Jocko and the team on various social media platforms, such as B Team Jiu Jitsu and Jocko.com. And finally, Jocko expresses gratitude to all those who serve and protect our way of life, encouraging them to train Jiu Jitsu as well.