‘Juice’ Jitsu Is Here!
Are Performance Enhancing Drugs Defeating The Martial Art?
The air in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym hung heavy with the scent of sweat and determination. The ambiance of muffled rebounds of bodies hitting the mats mixed with winded chit-chat between practitioners filled the room. A sea of colorful gi uniforms (also called keikogi or dogi) and competition belts separate the old practitioners from the new. Students of all ages, shapes, genders and sizes come together to share their love for the art.
In one corner of the spacious mat, two white belts engaged in a technical sparring session. Their movements were scrappy, a dance of broken technique and partial strategy as they grappled for control. Sweat dripped from their faces, and the occasional grunts escaped their lips as they chased sweeps, escapes, and submissions. Further down the mat, a pair of blue belts engaged in a more advanced exchange. Their rolls were faster, transitions smoother, and the intensity palpable. The seasoned grapplers seamlessly intertwined their skills, showcasing the intricate chess game that is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
In the midst of the action stood the black belt, Professor Gregory Santos. With his cauliflower ears, ironed out gi, and perfectly knotted belt, he analyzed the students gathered in the gym, tuning into spars when identifying imperfections, offering guidance and demonstrations between pairs. His movements were smooth yet powerful, a testament to years of practice and dedication to the art.
The bell rings “!DING DING DING!” as the sparring sessions conclude.
The elephant in the room, or gym, here and elsewhere soon came up in when talking with various level of practitioners. Throughout the world of competitive Mixed Martial Arts, which has grown rapidly as a spectator sport, giving boxing a run for the money, is the impact of Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDS) on the sport and whether or not they should be banned.
When asked how the use of PEDS has affected his personal Jiu Jitsu experiences, Raymond Belfort, a brown belt, said, “It was almost like rolling with an unstoppable force. Every sweep, sub, or position I went for was met by a brick wall. I stood no chance. That was the only time I doubted my Jiu Jitsu.”
Purple belt Samuel Munoz was more resigned to the reality that PEDs are not going away. “If you can’t beat them, join them. I’m only getting older. Soon enough I’ll just be another old guy rolling on the mats,” said Munoz. “Imagine you’re in the same position as me. You have trained day after day aspiring to get better at the sport you love. Never ‘cutting corners’, always playing by the book. And you are met by another guy who’s been training less than you, but still dominates you every single roll. What’s the point of all my hard work if someone who’s juiced could come and destroy me effortlessly?”
“What’s the point of all my hard work if someone who’s juiced could come and destroy me effortlessly?”
For these experienced practitioners, Jiu Jitsu is their life. They eat, train, sleep, and repeat. Jiu Jitsu isn’t just a sport, but a test. Most Jiu Jitsu relates to life in itself. No matter what position you’ve managed to get yourself in, it is up to your ability and experience to either excel or decline.
Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) encompass a spectrum of substances that athletes may use to augment their physical capabilities. On the bright side of it all, some argue that moderate use of PEDs can serve as an aid to enhance strength, endurance, and recovery — leading to improved athletic performance. However, the benefits come at a considerable cost. The dangers of PEDs include a range of health issues such as cardiovascular complications, liver damage, hormonal imbalances, and psychological side effects.
The use of PEDs often violates anti-doping regulations in may professional and amateur sports contests with governing bodies. Positive testing can result in fines, suspensions and other consequences such as tarnished reputations. Nevertheless, PEDs are rampant in competitive athletics and many urge that quest for enhanced performance be balanced with an awareness of the serious health risks and ethical considerations associated with the use of these substances.
Gordon Ryan, known to be the current “King” of Jiu Jitsu, stands firm on his opinions of PEDs as a necessity in promoting the sports growth. Jiu Jitsu, one of the most important Mixed Martial Arts disciplines, is currently is becoming increasingly mainstream.
In an interview following a recent Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Fight Pass Invitational, Nicky Rodriguez, another big face in the BJJ, called his shot by asking to face Gordon Ryan in a U.S. Anti- Doping Agency USADA) tested Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) match. Prior to this event, Ryan has accused Rodriguez of abusing PEDs, leading to Rodriguez taking (and passing) a random drug test.
Ryan declined the setup, saying, “No, because steroids are not illegal in Jiu Jitsu . . . Like I said, I make the rules. I name the time. I named the place. I name the rule set, because I’ve earned that.” In other words, Ryan, a significant influencer throughout the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world, is vouching for PEDs. Unlike other competitive, combat sport organizations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, IBJJF and its fellow tournaments do not comply within rules of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
In the December 2022, IBJJF World NO-Gi Championship, five competitors tested positive for “doping”, a term used as a catchall for PED use. In another conflict which arose in the same year, Mica Galvao, one of the youngest BJJ black belts in the world, was also caught using PEDs after competing in the IBJJF World Championships in June 2022. Galvao was then stripped from his title and would no longer be known as the youngest BJJ Black Belt to become champion.
Will this new wave of juicers change the sport, and — as Santos sees it, it’s character — for good? Or will a backlash against PEDs arise? That’s not likely until competitive organizations such as the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), ADCC BJJ, and Tezno WNO World Leagues set strict guidelines controlling the use of the juice. Currently, though, no agencies such as the USADA regulate or monitor the use of PEDs in much of competitive Jiu Jitsu, a sport.
Is this the beginning of a new era? Is bigger better when it comes to Jiu Jitsu and PEDs. Professor Gregory Santos a highly respected black belt and and the most experienced practitioner in the gym doesn’t thinks so. “Our beloved sport has been ruined,” says Santos. “A sport that was known to give smaller natural athletes, like myself, technique to defend themselves and win against bigger opponents. But now it has been overrun by these big monstrous men, like Gordon Ryan — a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu star who advocates for the use of PEDs.”
