Elite submission grappler Gordon Ryan has confirmed that he is stepping away from active competition.
At 30 years old, Ryan shared that serious medical problems have made it impossible for him to train at the level required to compete. After trying for years to manage his condition, he has decided to move on from tournaments for now.
In a lengthy statement posted on Instagram, Ryan reflected on his career and explained how his health has declined.
“Today marks 10 years at black belt, 10 years on top of the sport, and the probable end to my competitve career. As many of you know, ive had this debilitating and seemingly unfixable stomach issue since recurring staph infections antibiotics wiped out my good gut biome. Without going into too much boring detail, the problem has gone through phases of better and worse over the years, and has now morphed into a multitude of new problems, including me just getting sick or staph whenever I train hard and compromise my immune system in any way. Because of these issues, I have not been able to train or lift hard since January of 2024, as i just begin dry heaving immediately when i do. I competed in ADCC with no camp, at 10 percent of how I should have been operating, and i have seen no improvement in my condition since. This, of course, has been immensely frustrating, as my technical skills are far better than ever, my body is otherwise very healthy, and im only 30 10 years from my prime.”
A Career Built on Major Titles and Big Moments
Ryan became one of the most dominant figures in modern jiu jitsu through victories at major events such as ADCC and IBJJF competitions. Over the past decade, he helped raise the profile of submission grappling and competed in large venues that once seemed out of reach for the sport.
He also extended his influence into mixed martial arts. Ryan worked with former UFC champion Jon Jones while Jones prepared for his heavyweight title bout against Stipe Miocic, offering grappling guidance during camp.
Turning Focus Toward Coaching and Growth
Although his competition run appears to be over, Ryan says he still spends time training and plans to invest his energy into teaching and expanding his academy.
“I have so much more left to give if i could just fix this one issue. Im still on the mats almost everyday, but not able to do what my mind tells my body. Because of this, I believe it is best I put my focuses elsewhere for now as I try to remedy my stomach, and possibly return one day, pending my health and assessment of relative physical skills at the time, as my knowledge is unmatched. For now, i can confidently say, i am done. I will spend the next few years building @kingsway_hq to its student capacity, opening a global affiliation program, helping the athletes achieve all of their goals and dreams, and sharing all of knowledge with the world. After that, who knows. There are far too many people involved to thank, but you know who you are. To the fans, thank you. The thought of selling out t mobile arena for a jiu jitsu event was unheard of when I started training. We truly made this sport something great, and you all have made me genuinely wealthy along the way. This wouldnt have been possible without you all and your constant support. Thank you to everyone involved, and I hope to be back… especially for 2 matches with Vinny and a last dance with felipe. Until the time comes 👑”
For now, one of the sport’s most successful competitors is closing the competition chapter of his career. Whether he returns will depend on his health, but his role as a coach and mentor is set to continue.
