Does the size of your Johnson really matter?

Who’s On Top This Week:

Back to the ADCC Open Rankings this week as the last few weeks have seen a bunch of matches play out 📈 

Those of you playing at home may remember that when we last looked at these tables - the New Wave juniors sensations Dan Manasoiu and Helena Crevar topped the Men’s and Women’s divisions respectively.

Well… HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS … because nothing has changed 🌬 🤠

The human tower that is Dan M. took an easy double gold at the Arizona Open, carving through his competition like a hot scalpel through a buttery meniscus 🔪 (editors note: 🤮 … sorry).

And since these rankings were published, he’s gone on to Hulk smash everyone at the Vancouver Open for another double gold - so Daniel ain’t going anywhere for now.

The Arizona Open also saw New Wave’s Oliver Taza crack the Top 10 after blitzing the 76kg division and Deandre Corbe rocket from #8 to #3 after taking the W in the 70kg division.

The Women’s rankings are less shaken up after the AZ open - however, a double gold winning performance from Alex Enriquez sees her storm from Not Ranked to #3! 🥇 🥇 

What’s Happening On The Mats:

Does the size of your Johnson really matter? (asking for a friend)

First things first - get your filthy little mind out of the gutter. I’m clearly talking about the one and only Mighty Mouse - Demetrious Johnson 🐭 

Aside from arguably being the greatest MMA competitor of all time with some wiiiild Jiu-Jitsu skills, he’s tiny. Like 5 foot 3 and 135lbs kind of tiny (or 1.6m and 60 odd kg for the rest of us).

But being a small Johnson doesn’t mean he’s a scared Johnson, because when the 245lbs troll of a bodybuilder that is Bradley Martyn went on record saying “150 pounds is like a towel to me. I’m gonna crush his head on the floor.” - DJ responded with “Tell him I’m down. It’s not going to go well.” 🤕 

The size vs technique debate in Jiu-Jitsu endlessly rages on, with Mikey showing us that the bigger they are the harder they fall - and Shaquille O’Neal responding with a ‘hold my basketball 🏀 ‘ as he put a heavy ‘Shaq Attack’ on a few black belts.

What do you think? 

Will Mighty Mouse topple the big fella? Or will he just get muscled out? Scroll down ⬇️ a bit further and let us know in this week’s survey…

Think you could you get your black belt in 18 months?

Cos Travis Stevens did. 18 measly months. I’ve had roast dinners that have taken longer than that 🥘 

Granted, Mr. Stevens wasn’t exactly starting his BJJ journey from scratch (if ‘scratch’ is middle-aged with a dodgy lower back) - he came to BJJ as a silver-medal winning Judoka, having competed in 3 separate Olympic games 🥋 

Along with jits icons like Caio Terra, BJ Penn & the Martinez Bros. - he’s one of just a few names in the sport to get their black belt quicker than most of us take to tie their belt 💥 

And if you’re thinking that Travis’s record-setting BJJ black belt might be a classic case of favouritism or Olympian privilege … and maybe, just maybe, it’s a bit watered down and you might have the edge on him… well, Tim Spriggs is here to tell you otherwise.

Speaking of Travis Steven’s picking fights everywhere he goes…

‘Crossfit is stupid’ - Travis Stevens (basically)

In a 2018 interview with Men’s Journal, Travis Stevens picked a fight with the only fitness community that’s arguably more cultish passionate than Jiu-Jitsu - CrossFit 🏋️‍♀️

With the true insatiable lust for combat that only a dual sport black belt holder can have, Travis came out firing - claiming it’s the least helpful form of workout anyone could choose and that at best, it’s ineffective - and at worst, dangerous ⛔️

His hero quote, as evidenced by the poor chap in the GIF above ⬆️ , has to be: “I think CrossFit should be required—due to the number of injuries that come out of it—to have a warning label on ESPN when it’s on, saying, “Do not perform this at home.”

There you have it - to all you Crossfitters that are sick of getting injured, BJJ is waiting to sofly nurture you back to health… 😳 

Do Less. No, Wait, Do More:

The Good Option:

Embrace A Foot Fetish

Legs. Most of us have them - and when it comes to BJJ, most of us don’t know what to do with them.

Coach: ‘It’s easy. Just sweep from ashi garami, move into backside 50/50 to capture the heel and finish!’

Me: Ummm…

Well, if this sounds more like a Harry Potter spell than a submission sequence to you - the video below is a great run through some of the key leg entanglement positions, what they are called and how you can find them 🧙‍♀️

The Not-So-Good Option:

Watching too much Power Slap^TM

Power Slap, the worst idea in combat sport history, has polluted the minds of these once pure BJJ competitors 😔 

When once they might have been looking for takedowns and chasing submissions, now they are just kicking and slapping their way across the mat, hoping the other cops a DQ 🖐

To make matters worse, one of them is wearing ‘cargo board shorts’ with a big ol’ pocket. What’s in the pocket huh!? BJJ fashun is getting dodgy out there…

Things That Keep You Up At 2 AM:

‘Good technique will always beat size and strength’.

The classic mat cry of small guys with world-class skills.

If you’ve been in Jiu-Jitsu long enough you’ve probably heard some variation of this idea. And with that front of mind - you’ve probably also been folded like a tablecloth by a giant who is an entire belt level below you.

What gives? Shouldn’t your advanced knowledge of power-shrimping win out as the ex-football player slowly puts your kneecap inside your ear canal? 👂

So… ⬇️

This week’s big question:

Last week’s results:

Last week we asked you - “Will Gordon Ryan & Ffion Davies Finish The Year At The Top Of the FloGrappling P4P No-Gi Rankings?”

• 100% of you said - ‘💪 Yep - they will both stay at #1’

Not a doubt to be seen anywhere in this crowd about the top 2 P4P No-Gi grapplers in our sport right now. This guy is here to tell you otherwise though 🤷‍♂️

The Meme Open Mat:

I could turn the alarm down a few notches I guess 🤷‍♂️…

‘Can I see that again coach?? 🤔 ’

Think you’ve got the spiciest BJJ memes going around? Hit reply, send them through to get them featured 🔥 

We Grow You Grow!

Everyone knows that there’s a time and a place to refer your friends to the best BJJ newsletter in the game 😎 📰 

And that time is now. And that place is here ⬇️ (well, a little bit further down to be precise)

The reason being - is that aside from making yourself eligible for our epic referral rewards program, we will soon be putting together a little sumthin’ sumthin’ for our favourite readers.

(hint: it starts with ‘G’ and ends in ‘iveaway’)

The word on the street is that to receive an entry in this extremely mysterious event - you’ll need to have your name on the Tap Nap & Snap Wall Of Fame.

And the only way to do that is to 👇 …