Chael Sonnen recently weighed in on Gordon Ryan’s controversial statements about performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Sonnen began by highlighting the structural challenges that have allowed PED use to become normalized within Jiu-Jitsu:
There is not a governing body, it is not recognized by the international Olympic Committee or a United States affiliate as an actual sport.
So there is no president, there is no CEO, there is not a leader in Jiu-Jitsu to come out explain the bylaws and moreover give you an interpretation.
It is very much the wild west.
Sonnen took aim at a long-standing narrative within martial arts – that technique always trumps physical strength.
Drawing from his wrestling background, he challenged this notion:
I was told strength doesn’t matter – it’s about technique, speed, and heart.
None of them are true.Strength matters. Horsepower matters. How big a horse are you?
Sonnen offered a hypothetical situation to better illustrate his point:
If you took possibly the world’s greatest technician in Jiu-Jitsu and you put him with a strong man, a guy that goes up on he lifts a boulder over his head…
The world’s greatest Jiu-Jitsu guy is going to ultimately win.
But not in the streets, not under any quantifiable measure.
Sonnen closed by praising Ryan’s honesty:
Good for Gordon.
Now you have the GOAT within the sport talking about how important strength really is.
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