August 14, 2024 • 2hr 21min
#439 – Craig Jones: Jiu Jitsu, $2 Million Prize, CJI, ADCC, Ukraine & Trolling
Lex Fridman Podcast
Key Takeaways
- Craig Jones is organizing the CJI tournament with over $2 million in prize money, happening the same weekend as ADCC
- The goal of CJI is to increase athlete pay and grow the sport of jiu-jitsu by making it freely accessible
- Craig recently traveled to Ukraine twice, including to the front lines, to raise awareness and support Ukrainian soldiers
- He discusses the increasing use of drones in the Ukraine war and the potential future of autonomous drone warfare
- Craig provides insights on his trolling and humor, innovative jiu-jitsu game, and thoughts on the future of the sport
- He shares stories of training with Alexander Volkanovski and thoughts on the Dagestani wrestling style
- Craig emphasizes the importance of staying relaxed and not panicking as a beginner in jiu-jitsu
Introduction
Craig Jones is a legendary jiu-jitsu competitor, co-founder of B-Team, and organizer of the upcoming CJI tournament. In this wide-ranging conversation, Craig discusses his recent travels to Ukraine, insights on the war, his innovative approach to jiu-jitsu, thoughts on the future of the sport, and details about the CJI tournament. He also shares stories from his career and provides advice for jiu-jitsu practitioners.
Topics Discussed
CJI Tournament (56:18)
Craig discusses organizing the CJI tournament, which has over $2 million in prize money and is happening the same weekend as ADCC:
- The goal is to increase athlete pay and grow the sport by making it freely accessible
- $10,001 to show up, $1 million to win each division
- Using an innovative "alley" setup with angled walls inspired by Karate Combat
- Craig's motivation: "The mission has always been, first and foremost, increased athlete pay."
Travels to Ukraine (14:24)
Craig shares details about his two recent trips to Ukraine:
- Visited the front lines, coming within 0.7 km at one point
- Experienced air raid sirens and missile strikes in Kyiv
- Toured Chernobyl and heavily shelled areas like Kherson
- On the experience: "We heard artillery strike and because you're in an armored vehicle. It sounds further away than it is."
Drone Warfare in Ukraine (39:49)
Craig discusses the increasing use of drones in the Ukraine war:
- Consumer-level cheap drones being weaponized
- FPV (first-person view) drones used for kamikaze attacks
- Potential future of autonomous drone swarms in warfare
- Craig's observation: "A $3 million Russian tank could be destroyed by a $300 drone, which is just crazy how fast the war changes."
Trolling and Humor (1:32:18)
Craig reflects on his approach to trolling and humor in the jiu-jitsu world:
- Sees it as providing balance and "justice" in the sport
- Believes there's often respect underlying the trolling
- Compares his trolling skills to Chael Sonnen in MMA
- On his motivation: "I think what I offer is some balance. It's like, I'm bringing some justice."
Innovative Jiu-Jitsu Game (2:00:45)
Craig discusses how he developed his innovative jiu-jitsu style:
- Financial motivation to create unique techniques for instructionals
- Finding creative ways to beat opponents keeps it interesting
- Studies tape to reverse engineer and innovate techniques
- On creativity: "If you can find a humiliating move to do to someone...a move that is unexpected when you get hit with something you don't expect, I think that is sort of really one of the most fun aspects of it."
Training with Alexander Volkanovski (2:04:22)
Craig shares insights from training with UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski:
- Impressed by Volkanovski's humble origins and work ethic
- Learned a lot about grappling exchanges and getting back up
- Witnessed Volkanovski's intense cardio workouts and weight cuts
- On Volkanovski's mentality: "The amount of work he puts in and just his sheer sort of mental willpower."
Dagestani Wrestling Style (2:09:53)
Craig discusses what makes Dagestani wrestlers so effective:
- Grinding, never-give-an-inch mentality instilled from childhood
- Style works well for MMA and wrestling, but can be vulnerable in pure grappling
- Effective for pressure against the cage and ground control
- Craig's analysis: "I think just never ending an inch in training is just. They've done that since they were born, basically."
Advice for Jiu-Jitsu Beginners (1:57:44)
Craig offers advice for those starting out in jiu-jitsu:
- Focus on staying relaxed and not panicking in bad positions
- Pick safe training partners and try to understand positions
- Avoid explosive movements that can lead to injury
- Key advice: "If you can remain calm in bad positions, that is a skill. That's your confidence."
Future of Jiu-Jitsu (2:13:26)
Craig shares his thoughts on how jiu-jitsu might evolve in the coming years:
- Continued innovation and refinement of techniques
- Greater integration of wrestling into jiu-jitsu
- More emphasis on submissions from standing positions
- Ideal progression: "If you just follow the rules of you should always be fighting to get on top, whether that's a submission that leads to a sweep or a sweep, and you should be trying to avoid being pinned."
Steroids in Jiu-Jitsu (2:16:32)
Craig discusses the prevalence of steroid use in jiu-jitsu:
- Difficult to determine exact percentage of athletes using
- Some athletes are clearly using, while others may just have good genetics
- Cautions against assuming all impressive physiques are due to steroids
- Craig's perspective: "It's so hard to say because like you train with people and they don't even tell you what they're on."
Conclusion
Craig Jones provides a unique and entertaining perspective on the world of jiu-jitsu, blending humor with deep insights into the sport. His experiences in Ukraine offer a sobering look at the realities of modern warfare, while his innovative approach to jiu-jitsu and the CJI tournament demonstrate his commitment to growing and improving the sport. Craig's advice for beginners and thoughts on the future of jiu-jitsu offer valuable guidance for practitioners at all levels. Throughout the conversation, Craig's wit and irreverent humor shine through, making for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion.