The rivalry between Gordon Ryan and Craig Jones has escalated into a full-scale technical race, with Ryan releasing a pointed video countering Jones’s wildly successful Octopus 2.0 guard system.
The move comes as Jones’s instructional reportedly crossed $300,000 in sales during its first three to four weeks, dominating social media feeds with practitioners worldwide experimenting with the guard.
Ryan announced his counter-instructional in a video declaring his intention to create a comprehensive tutorial on dismantling what he called the “overback/octopus guard.” The timing appears deliberately calculated to undercut Jones’s commercial success and technical reputation.
“I figured I was just going to do a YouTube video or two, but I’m just going to do a whole instructional on how to dismantle this overback/octopus guard.”
Ryan announced in the video, which quickly generated hundreds of comments from the jiu-jitsu community.
The technical breakdown focused on countering the position from side control, with Ryan emphasizing hip positioning as the critical factor.
“If he can start bridging towards me and getting over top of me and getting his hips higher than mine, he ends up in a situation where he’s up and on top of me.”
He explained, demonstrating how posting on the opponent’s knee prevents hip elevation and creates opportunities for back attacks.
Ryan also outlined alternative solutions when the primary defense fails.
“If I feel like just none of this is going to start working from here, if I feel like I just can’t beat him from this position, as he goes to start coming on top of me, we can just sag away. We can elbow cut in.”
He stated, noting that this approach opens multiple offensive possibilities.
The jiu-jitsu community responded with a mixture of amusement and appreciation for the technical exchange. One popular comment read, “can’t wait for the Craig Jones counter on ‘countering the octopus guard’ instructional.”
Behind the technical posturing, however, lies a deeper conflict. Gordon Ryan has said it’s ‘on sight’ when he sees Craig Jones. Ryan is likely provoked by Jones publicizing his marriage, arrest, and the latest round of cheeky c-ck references. Not to mention, Jones actually released merch commemorating Mrs. Ryan’s arrest and becoming a BJJ meme.
On a serious note, Jones has been using his platform to spread awareness about the serious allegations facing Izaak Michell.
Michell has attempted to present this as a personal vendetta, despite the fact that his wanted status stems from an incident reported to the police before Craig Jones even learned about it. The case involved a Kingsway member (Hannah Griffith) and was carried out by another Kingsway member (Michell).
Ryan released a brief statement distancing himself and coach John Danaher from Michell but has declined further comment on the matter. It’s notable that he harbors such resentment for Jones while showing no similar energy toward Michell.
Recent Google Trends data shows Jones has overtaken Ryan in worldwide and U.S. search interest after years of Ryan dominating that space. Jones has also capitalized on recent news involving Ryan’s wife, who faces charges in Texas, further needling his rival.
Ryan’s frustration seems evident in the release of this counter-instructional, which many in the community view as a direct attempt to diminish Jones’s commercial and technical momentum. The Octopus 2.0 system has become ubiquitous in training rooms globally, with practitioners sharing videos of their attempts across social media platforms.
Both athletes have built substantial followings, with their ongoing feud generating massive engagement in the grappling community. But this also paints a daunting picture of BJJ in 2026. Two of the biggest names in jiu-jitsu are both retired and not actively competing, highlighting the limitations of other athletes and promotions in maintaining audience interest.
Ryan concluded his video by promising the full instructional would be available on his platform, providing what he claims are comprehensive tools to counter Jones’s increasingly popular guard system. Whether the technical merit matches the promotional bluster remains to be seen.
