ADCC champion and BJJ legend Dean Lister recently shared details about his rocky relationship with one of Jiu-Jitsu’s most prominent governing bodies – the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF).
Known for his role in the leg lock revolution and his ADCC Hall of Fame credentials, Lister didn’t hold back as he criticized the IBJJF’s approach to evolving techniques within the sport.
Here is what he had to say about the organization’s history of banning techniques rather than adapting rule sets to reflect the sport’s growth:
It’s a pretty effective defense just to make something illegal.
However, the real surprise came when Lister revealed that the IBJJF once failed to recognize him as a black belt – despite his decades of high-level experience and accolades:
There was a time where they didn’t even recognize me as a black belt…
I’m like, what? Political (decision) is what I’m saying.
Lister has long been a staple in elite grappling circles, and his resume includes ADCC titles and an induction into the ADCC Hall of Fame:
It’s just funny, because I’m in the Hall of Fame for Abu Dhabi.
Despite the friction, Lister seems not to care about it all anymore. His final take was less about outrage and more about acceptance:
I just, at some point, I stopped caring.
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