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BJJ Fanatics Instructionals

Gordon Ryan

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John Danaher Instructionals

Gordon Ryan is a New Jersey (USA) born grappler and member of the well-known group – Danaher Death Squad (DDS), known particularly in jiu-jitsu‘s no-gi and submission-only circuit where he beat big names of the sport such as Alexandre Ribeiro, Romulo Barral, and Gabriel Arges. A submission-orientated competitor and one of the leading jiu-jitsu figures of his generation, Gordon cemented his name as one of the top brown belts on the planet in 2015 by winning the Newaza Challenge and No-Gi World Championship, which led to his black belt promotion under Garry Tonon – this way becoming Tonon’s first-ever student to achieve the rank, a belt responsibility shared with another one of Gordon’s mentors, John Danaher. Gordon went on to become one of the most successful no-gi grapplers of all time by winning back-to-back ADCC World Championships and other unprecedented achievements in the promotion (see below).

Gordon Ryan Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Gordon F. Ryan III

Nickname: During his time as EBI champion, Gordon Ryan was announced on stage as “The Iron Dragon”, which was less of a jiu-jitsu/Brazilian culture style nickname with a goofy backstory, and more of a marketing fight-name as seen in boxing and MMA fighters. More recently, after his undoubted success against some of the best grapplers in the world, Ryan started calling himself “The King”. The nickname had the double gratification of boosting Gordon’s credibility among mainstream fans and upsetting his critics.

Lineage 1: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Jr > Renzo Gracie > Ricardo Almeida > Tom deBlass > Garry Tonon > Gordon Ryan

Lineage 2: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Jr > Renzo Gracie > John Danaher > Gordon Ryan

Main Achievements:

  • ADCC Open Weight Superfight World Title (2022)
  • WNO Heavyweight Champion (2022)
  • 1st Place ADCC World Tournament (2017 / 2019** / 2022)
  • 1st Place IBJJF World No-Gi Championship (2018**)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Pans No-Gi Championship (2018***)
  • 1st Place Quintet 3 (2018*)
  • 1st Place EBI 6 (2016*)
  • 1st Place EBI 8 (2016)
  • 1st Place EBI 11 (2017)
  • 1st Place EBI 14 (2017*)
  • 1st Place Kinektic 1 (2019)
  • 1st Place Grappling Industries (2017***/2016***)
  • 2nd Place ADCC World Championship (2017*)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

  • 1st Place IBJJF World No-Gi Championship (2015 brown)
  • 1st Place Newaza Challenge (2015)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF Pans No-Gi Championship (2014 purple)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute
*** Double gold, all submissions

Favorite Position/Technique: Triangle/Heel-hook

Weight Division: Super-Heavy (100,50 kg / 222.0 lbs)

Team/Association: New Wave

Gordon Ryan Biography

Gordon Ryan was born on the 8th of July, 1995 in Monroe, New Jersey – United States of America.

Ryan’s introduction to jiu-jitsu was made by Miguel Benitez at the age of 15. His tuition would be taken over shortly after by the legendary Tom deBlass – one of New Jersey’s most prominent grapplers.

Months after taking his first steps in the sport, as a four-stripe white belt, Gordon met Garry Tonon. Tonon had just received his brown belt at the time but was already regarded as one of the rising talents in the sport, and deBlass’ most accomplished student to date. The two grapplers became good friends and as Garry started coaching at the Brunswick BJJ academy, Gordon joined his classes, developing his technical abilities also under Tonon’s guidance.

With Garry Tonon’s growing influence in Gordon’s grappling lifestyle, as a purple belt, Ryan started traveling to New York regularly to train with another one of Garry’s mentors – John Danaher. The Renzo Gracie Academy head coach and his methodology were also a big part of Ryan’s success, particularly in the submission-only jiu-jitsu circuit where Ryan’s potential star status was first noticed.

After a stellar 6-month brown belt run, where Ryan won important tournaments such as the Newaza Challenge and the World Championship, Gordon was awarded his black belt by Garry Tonon (February 2016) in a ceremony supported by the presence of Tom deBlass, Ricardo Almeida. and Danaher – who shared the responsibility of the new belt rank.

ADCC HISTORY

On September 2022 Gordon Ryan competed at the ADCC World Championship, where he was set to challenge the promotion’s open weight (absolute) belt in a superfight against the belt holder, André Galvão. Unhappy with just competing in one match, Gordon requested to compete also in the +99 kilogram division, an unprecedented request given the prestige and cash prize on the title on the line in the super fight. The request was granted by the ADCC top promoter, Mo Jassim and Gordon Ryan went on to make history by being the first athlete to ever win the +99 kg gold medal and the open weight super fight belt of the ADCC in the same year.

GORDON RYAN STOMACH CONDITION

According to Ryan’s social media account (Instagram), after repeated use of antibiotics for a persistent staphylococcus infection (staph) in 2018, the athlete started suffering from stomach issues, which were first diagnosed as Gastroparesis, a condition that affects the stomach muscles and prevents proper stomach emptying.

After suffering from this debilitating condition for nearly 4 years, in May 2021, Gordon officially retired from competition until further notice, explaining to his fans he could not maintain a high standard of training/performance due to his health, as reported by Bloody Elbow (here).

In a later statement, in August 2021, Gordon Ryan posted on his IG account (@gordonlovesjiujitsu) that he had finally been correctly diagnosed by a gastroenterologist (unnamed) with “yeast and bacterial overgrowth” in his stomach. A condition that had started to affect his kidneys as well. In his post’s closing arguments, Ryan added:

Once we can rebalance the microbiome in my stomach and replenish the bacteria needed to fight the yeast infection, I should be good to go. Fingers crossed we get it in order, which we should.

DANAHER DEATH SQUAD BREAK-UP

On July 2021, coach John Danaher announced the end of the Danaher Death Squad as a unified training and competition team, alluding to “the physical location of a future school, personality conflicts, conflicting values and an inevitable tension between the team brand and the growing individual brands of members” as the main factors for the split (original statement here).

Later in that month, Gordon Ryan and John Danaher announced the name of their new team: New Wave Jiu-Jitsu. Although the squad lost a few key players at the time, such as Gordon’s brother, Nicky Ryan, Craig Jones, Ethan Crelinsten, and Nicky Rodriguez (all of which went on to form the “B-Team” workgroup), New Wave kept Garry Tonon and Oliver Taza from the remaining Danaher Death Squad.

Cover photo by Nathalia Santoro.

Gordon Ryan BJJ Instructional

Gordon Ryan Grappling Record

99 WINS
  • BY POINTS
    4 (4%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    2 (2%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    81 (82%)
  • BY DECISION
    4 (4%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    1 (1%)
  • BY EBI/OT
    6 (6%)

81 SUBMISSIONS WINS

#214eb8
RNC
32
26
#86e620
Inside heel hook
12
10
#5AD3D1
Reverse triangle
9
7
#d1212a
Outside heel hook
6
5
#fad11b
Armbar
6
5
#f58822
Choke
5
4
#224aba
Triangle
4
3
#ff9124
Kneebar
4
3
#bf1f6c
Kimura
4
3
#22c9a5
Short choke
2
2
#fad223
Katagatame
2
2
#03861f
Armlock
2
2
#039a1f
Verbal tap
2
2
#03b41f
Arm in guillotine
2
2
#03c61f
Triangle armbar
1
1
#03d61f
Mounted guillotine
1
1
#03f61f
Heel hook
1
1
#82ff5f
Tarikoplata
1
1
#a4ff5f
Pressure
1
1
81
(100%) SUBMISSIONS
5 LOSSES
  • BY POINTS
    4 (80%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    0 (0%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    1 (20%)
  • BY DECISION
    0 (0%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    0 (0%)
  • BY DQ
    0 (0%)

1 SUBMISSION LOSSES

#214eb8
RNC
100
1
1
(100%) SUBMISSION

Gordon Ryan Fight History

ID Opponent W/L Method Competition Weight Stage Year
8858Tex JohnsonTex JohnsonLPointsGrappling Ind.ABSF2016
11340Felipe PenaFelipe PenaLRNCStudio 540 SPFABSSPF2016
12570Leandro LoLeandro LoLPts: 4x0ADCC WC TrialsABSSPF2017
13939Felipe PenaFelipe PenaLPts: 6x0ADCCABSF2017
16348Vinny MagalhaesVinny MagalhaesLPointsACBJJ 13O95KGSPF2018
9124Ian MurrayWInside heel hookSapateiro Inv.ABSR12016
9128Elliott HillWArmlockSapateiro Inv.ABS4F2016
9130PJ BarchPJ BarchWKneebarSapateiro Inv.ABSSF2016
9131Enrico CoccoEnrico CoccoWInside heel hookSapateiro Inv.ABSF2016
9452Pat SabatiniWInside heel hookGoodfight Pro77KGSF2016
9453Kevin BerbrichWChokeGoodfight Pro77KGF2016
9454Joshua BacallaoWInside heel hookPTL Sunday OpenABSSF2016
9456Nathan OrchardWReverse trianglePTL Sunday OpenABSSPF2016
9487James PartridgeWInside heel hookOnnit Inv. 2ABSSPF2016
9671Jacen FlynnWRNCEBI 6ABSR12016
9678Marcello SalazarWKneebarEBI 6ABS4F2016
9681Yuri SimoesYuri SimoesWEBI/OTEBI 6ABSSF2016
9683Rustam ChsievWEBI/OTEBI 6ABSF2016
10355Keenan CorneliusKeenan CorneliusWInside heel hookGrappling Ind.ABSSPF2016
10488Matt ArroyoWInside heel hookEBI 884KGR12016
10496Mike HillebrandWRNCEBI 884KG4F2016
10500Josh HaydenWEBI/OTEBI 884KGSF2016
10502Kyle GriffinWInside heel hookEBI 884KGF2016
10762Todd MueckemheimWKimuraSapateiro Inv.ABSSPF2016
10763Vagner RochaVagner RochaD---Sapateiro 2ABSSPF2016
11474Bryan BrownWRNCSapateiro 6ABSR12017
11481Antonio CarlosAntonio CarlosWReverse triangleSapateiro 6ABS4F2017
11485Jesseray ChildreyWRNCSapateiro 6ABSSF2017
11487Matthew TeslaWReverse triangleSapateiro 6ABSF2017
11675Joe BaizeWReverse triangleSUG 3ABSSPF2017
12005JP LebosnoyaniWRNCEBI 1177KGR12017
12013C. MacKarskiWArm in guillotineEBI 1177KG4F2017
12018Marcel GoncalvesMarcel GoncalvesWShort chokeEBI 1177KGSF2017
12019Vagner RochaVagner RochaWRNCEBI 1177KGF2017
12374Lucas BarbosaLucas BarbosaWReferee DecisionF2W 3092KGSPF2017
12917Eliot KellyEliot KellyWTriangle armbarF2W 34ABSSPF2017
13646M. JokmanovicWKimuraGrappling Ind.ABS4F2017
13647Tex JohnsonTex JohnsonWReverse triangleGrappling Ind.ABSSF2017
13648D. JohnsonWRNCGrappling Ind.ABSF2017
13883Dillon DanisDillon DanisWReferee DecisionADCC88KGE12017
13887Romulo BarralRomulo BarralWRNCADCC88KG4F2017
13889Alexandre RibeiroAlexandre RibeiroWReferee DecisionADCC88KGSF2017
13891Keenan CorneliusKeenan CorneliusWMounted guillotineADCC88KGF2017
13931Roberto AbreuRoberto AbreuWInside heel hookADCCABSE12017
13935Craig JonesCraig JonesWKatagatameADCCABS4F2017
13936Mahamed AlyMahamed AlyWHeel hookADCCABSSF2017
14503Ralek GracieWReverse triangleMetamorisABSSPF2017
14539D. BorovicWOutside heel hookEBI 14ABSR12017
14547P. DonabedianWArmbarEBI 14ABS4F2017
14551C. HellenbergWEBI/OTEBI 14ABSSF2017
14553Craig JonesCraig JonesWEBI/OTEBI 14ABSF2017
14574Yuri SimoesYuri SimoesWRNCKasai ProABSSPF2017
17404Max GimenisMax GimenisWRNCNo Gi Pan Am.ABSSF2018
17406Kaynan DuarteKaynan DuarteWRNCNo Gi Pan Am.ABSF2018
17457Charles McGuireWTarikoplataNo Gi Pan Am.O97KGSF2018
17459Max GimenisMax GimenisWRNCNo Gi Pan Am.O97KGF2018
17732Josh BarnettWTriangleQuintet 3ABSSF2018
17733Marcos SouzaMarcos SouzaWRNCQuintet 3ABSSF2018
17734Roberto SatoshiRoberto SatoshiD---Quintet 3ABSSF2018
17746Craig JonesCraig JonesWShort chokeQuintet 3ABSF2018
17747Vitor ShaolinVitor ShaolinWArmbarQuintet 3ABSF2018
17748Gregor GracieGregor GracieD---Quintet 3ABSF2018
18686Evangelous MoumtzisWArmbarNoGi WorldsO97KGR12018
18695Yuri SimoesYuri SimoesWPts: 11x0NoGi WorldsO97KGSF2018
18696Roberto AbreuRoberto AbreuWDQNoGi WorldsO97KGF2018
18705Kalil FadlallahWChokeNoGi WorldsABSR12018
18711Vegard RandebergWRNCNoGi WorldsABSR22018
18716Patrick GaudioPatrick GaudioWPts: 4x4, AdvNoGi WorldsABS4F2018
18719Jackson SousaJackson SousaWRNCNoGi WorldsABSSF2018
18720Yuri SimoesYuri SimoesWPts: 0x0, AdvNoGi WorldsABSF2018
19020Joao RochaJoao RochaWPts: 1x0Kasai Dallas120KGSPF2019
21367Gabriel CheccoWKimuraKinektic 1ABSR32019
21368Rafael DomingosWRNCKinektic 1ABSR42019
21369G. VasconcelosWArm in guillotineKinektic 1ABSR52019
21828Ben HodgkinsonWRNCADCC99KGR12019
21836Tim SpriggsTim SpriggsWRNCADCC99KG4F2019
21888Lucas BarbosaLucas BarbosaWPts: 3x0ADCC99KGSF2019
21890Vinicius TratorVinicius TratorWChokeADCC99KGF2019
21906Pedro MarinhoPedro MarinhoWOutside heel hookADCCABSR12019
21913Garry TononGarry TononWChokeADCCABS4F2019
21916Lachlan GilesLachlan GilesWRNCADCCABSSF2019
21918Marcus AlmeidaMarcus AlmeidaWPts: 0x0, PenADCCABSF2019
21964Rousimar PalharesRousimar PalharesWReferee DecisionWorld FestivalABSSPF2019
22798Bo NickalWTriangleThird Coast III94KGSPF2019
22807Aleksei OleinikWKneebarQuintet UltraABSSPF2019
22920Gabriel GonzagaGabriel GonzagaWOutside heel hookSUG 10ABSSPF2019
23452Tex JohnsonTex JohnsonWKatagatameSub StarsN/ASPF2020
23523Pat DowneyWVerbal tapBJJ Fanatics GPABSSPF2020
23742David NewtonWRNCGrappling Ind.ABSSPF2020
23743Abraham HallWTriangleGrappling Ind.ABSSPF2020
23744Benjamin DixonWRNCGrappling Ind.ABSSPF2020
23745Chad AllenWRNCGrappling Ind.ABSSPF2020
23746Austin TracyWRNCGrappling Ind.ABSSPF2020
23751Kyle BoehmKyle BoehmWArmlockWNOABSSPF2020
24078Matheus DinizMatheus DinizWInside heel hookWNO 4ABSSPF2020
25174Roberto JimenezRoberto JimenezWArmbarWNO 6ABSSPF2021
25396Vagner RochaVagner RochaWReverse triangleWNO 793KGSPF2021
31297Jacob CouchJacob CouchWPressureWNO 12O92KGSPF2022
33648Pedro MarinhoPedro MarinhoWRNCWNO 13O93KGSPF2022
34224Felipe PenaFelipe PenaWVerbal tapWNO 14ABSSPF2022
35072Heikki JussilaWRNCADCCO99KGR12022
35080Victor HugoVictor HugoWPts: 8x0ADCCO99KG4F2022
35084Roosevelt SousaRoosevelt SousaWOutside heel hookADCCO99KGSF2022
35086Nick RodriguezNick RodriguezWOutside heel hookADCCO99KGF2022
35117Andre GalvaoAndre GalvaoWRNCADCCABSSPF2022
36970Nick RodriguezNick RodriguezWEBI/OTUFC FP Inv.ABSSPF2022
43297Patrick GaudioPatrick GaudioWArmbarWNO 20ABSSPF2023
Craig Jones Brand New Instructional

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