Gordon Ryan: Jiu Jitsu Athlete Profile

Gordon Ryan, a New Jersey native, is a renowned grappler and member of the Danaher Death Squad. He has gained significant recognition in the no-gi and submission-only circuit of jiu-jitsu, defeating prominent figures like Alexandre Ribeiro, Romulo Barral, and Gabriel Arges. Known for his submission-focused approach, Gordon established himself as a leading figure in the sport.

In 2015, he clinched the Newaza Challenge and No-Gi World Championship titles, earning his black belt under Garry Tonon. This achievement made him Tonon’s first-ever black belt student, shared with another mentor, John Danaher. Gordon’s subsequent victories, including back-to-back ADCC World Championships, solidified his status as one of the most successful no-gi grapplers.

As of writing, Gordon Ryan has a record of 159 wins, 9 losses, with 130 wins by way of submission. Take note that out of that 9 losses, he only has a single fight where he was defeated by submission and it is from Felipe Pena in 2016.

Biography

Gordon Ryan, born in 1995, began his jiu-jitsu journey under Miguel Benitez at 15. He later trained with renowned grappler Tom deBlass. While still a white belt, Gordon met Garry Tonon, a rising star in the sport, and trained with him at Brunswick BJJ Academy.

As his skills developed under Tonon’s guidance, Gordon also started training with John Danaher at Renzo Gracie Academy in New York. Danaher’s coaching played a significant role in Ryan’s success, especially in the submission-only circuit.

Black Belt in 5 Years

He started his BJJ journey at 15 and in just 5 years, Gordon Ryan managed to climb to black belt. He hade a staller brown belt run and won important tournaments, which led to his promotion in February 2016 by Garry Tonon supported by Ricardo Almeida, Tom deBlass, and Danaher.

“The King” and “The Iron Dragon”

When he was the EBI Champion, he earned the name “The Iron Dragon”. It’s more like a marketing name like in boxing and MMA.

After beating some of the best grapplers in the world, Ryan decided to call himself “The King”, which is similar to the nickname given to LeBron James in the NBA. It is a double gratification of boosting his credibility among fans. He even wears a crown and a robe to depict a traditional king.

How Old is Gordon Ryan?

As of writing, Gordon Ryan is 29 years old.

What is his Weight Class?

He is competing in the Super Heavy Weight division.

What is his Belt Rank?

Gordon Ryan holds a Black Belt rank in Jiu Jitsu.

Team or Affiliation

New Wave

Best Gordon Ryan Jiu Jitsu Instructionals

Considered as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in Jiu Jitsu, Gordon Ryan will show you how to properly use BJJ techniques to help you win against your opponent.

If you want to learn from the best, you should check some of his popular instructionals: