Summary
Gordon Ryan promotes a jiu-jitsu event. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/GordonRyan
Combat sports have lost one of their great representatives. Last Monday (16), Gordon Ryan, a jiu-jitsu legend and considered by many to be the best grappler in history, announced his retirement from grappling competitions. The American made the decision on the tenth anniversary of his black belt in the gentle art. Despite the symbolism of the date, the announcement has already left a legion of 'King' fans saddened by his absence from the mats.
The grappling star made a lengthy statement on his official Instagram account. In it, Ryan confessed that he would like to continue competing at a high level, but explained that his health problems persist and prevent him from being a true athlete. It is worth noting that the American, weakened and far from his best physical condition, did not compete in 2025 and last fought in June 2024.
In any case, 'King' made a point of highlighting key moments in his sporting career. The athlete paid tribute to people who were important to him on his journey and celebrated having created a legacy and placed the sport on a different level in terms of marketing and scholarships for athletes.
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“Today marks 10 years as a black belt, 10 years at the top of the sport, and the likely end of my competitive career. As many of you know, I have been suffering from a debilitating and seemingly incurable stomach problem since recurring staph infections and antibiotic use decimated my intestines. Without going into too much tedious detail, the problem has gone through phases of improvement and worsening over the years.”, wrote the jiu-jitsu legend.
“Now, it has turned into a series of new problems, including staph infections that make me sick whenever I train hard and compromise my immune system in some way. Due to these problems, I haven't been able to train or lift heavy weights since January 2024, as I immediately start feeling nauseous. I competed in the ADCC without any training period, being at only 10% of my capacity, and I haven't seen any improvement since then.”
“This has obviously been extremely frustrating, since my technical skills are much better than ever, my body is very healthy, and I’m only 30 years old. I still have a lot to offer if I could solve this problem. I continue to train almost every day, but I can’t do what my mind tells my body to do. Therefore, I believe the best thing is to focus on other things now while I try to solve my stomach problem.”
“Perhaps I’ll return someday, depending on my health and the assessment of my physical abilities, since my knowledge is unparalleled. For now, I can confidently say: that’s enough. I will spend the next few years building Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu to its maximum student capacity, opening a global affiliate program, helping athletes achieve all their goals and dreams, and sharing all my knowledge with the world.”
“After that, who knows. There are many people involved to thank, but you know who you are. To the fans, thank you so much. The idea of filling the T-Mobile Arena for a jiu-jitsu event was unthinkable when I started training. We really transformed this sport into something great, and you have truly enriched me along the way. This wouldn't have been possible without you and your constant support. Thank you to everyone involved.”, he concluded.
Ryan's status in grappling
Gordon Ryan, 30, is already a grappling legend. The American has collected numerous titles in grappling and honed his jiu-jitsu skills under the renowned coach John Danaher. In his career, he has been a seven-time ADCC champion and has defeated big names in the sport such as André Galvão, Craig Jones, Felipe Preguiça, and Kaynan Duarte. Marcus BuchechaNick Rodriguez, Yuri Simões, among others.
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