During the latest episode of Joe Rogan Fight Companion for UFC Paris, an interesting exchange unfolded that perfectly encapsulates the ongoing debate about celebrity martial arts belts and the credibility of accelerated training programs.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion Gordon Ryan made some bold claims about Derek Moneyberg’s abilities, and Joe Rogan seemed to accept them without question. Moneyberg is a wealthy figure with a controversial past who earned his black belt from Jake Shields in just three and a half years.
The conversation arose when discussing controversial belt promotions, particularly focusing on wealthy individuals who receive black belts in unusually short timeframes. Ryan defended Moneyberg’s progression, stating that the entrepreneur could “do fine against a normal black belt” despite receiving his black belt in just three and a half years.
Gordon went on to defend Moneyberg by saying: “It’s the thing that doesn’t f**cking matter. Like just get better at jiu-jitsu. The belts are irrelevant for good point. Like there’s just focus on getting better at jiu-jitsu. The belts are irrelevant.”
Rogan, who often rails against “mcdojo” martial artists, agreed with Ryan, saying: “Good point…”
“If he had to compete against like an average black belt who’s been doing jiu-jitsu for, you know, 10 years and he does it for an hour at a random gym in Kentucky, like he would hold his own,” Ryan explained. “Like, he would. I mean he would probably beat him up to be honest.”
What’s particularly striking about this exchange is how readily Rogan accepted Ryan’s assessment. Throughout the conversation, Rogan largely deferred to Ryan’s expertise, asking clarifying questions but never challenging the fundamental premise that someone with three and a half years of training could legitimately compete with practitioners who have been training for a decade.
Ryan’s defense of Moneyberg centered around the intensity and consistency of his training regimen. According to Ryan, Moneyberg trains “seven days a week” for “4 hours a day” with “some of the best” instructors available. Ryan emphasized that Moneyberg’s dedication and access to elite coaching creates a different trajectory than the typical hobbyist practitioner.
“He trains, he trains with the guys. So he doesn’t have, like a lot of looks. Like like he doesn’t go to like a normal gym and train, which I think is something that’s important to do just for your just personal journey in jiu-jitsu,” Ryan noted.
Ryan also added that Shields’ credibility was enough for him: “But if Jake Shields did it, Jake Shields is very legit. And so if he said he’s a black belt, I just take it at face value.”
However, Gordon Ryan’s assessment raises questions about the standards by which martial arts proficiency should be measured. While Ryan is undoubtedly one of the world’s best grapplers, his assessment of Moneyberg’s abilities remains largely skeptical. There’s limited evidence of the entrepreneur actually competing against traditional black belts in neutral settings.
