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Jordan Burroughs, Freestyle Wrestling Olympic Champion, Starts Training BJJ

Jordan Burroughs, Freestyle Wrestling Olympic Champion, Starts Training BJJ
Image Credits: Levi Ventura

Jordan Burroughs is one of the most recognizable wrestlers in the world.

The 35-year-old American started wrestling when he was just 5 years old.
He became an Olympic Gold Medalist in 2012, by defeating Iran’s Sadegh Saeed Goudarzi. In 2013, he won the World gold medal; him and John Smith are the only American wrestlers who have won 3 world or Olympic gold medals in a row.

He went on for 3 and a half years without suffering a loss, a streak which was broken in February 2014.

And, well, the 6x world champion was recently spotted training Jiu-Jitsu!
Burroughs shared the video via his social media:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jordan Burroughs (@alliseeisgold)

So is Burroughs training BJJ because he wants to try it out, maybe compete in it some day…
Or because, perhaps, he is thinking of transitioning to MMA?

That might be a possibility, although Burroughs was earlier interviewed by Joe Rogan.
And he said that MMA is a wholly different sport than wrestling:

I think about going to MMA until I see a guy like ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry get his whole thing split, nose crooked and I’m like, I’m good.
In wrestling, you lose, you get taken down, pushed out, you get pinned.

In fighting, you lose, you get something broken, choked out, tapped, unconscious.
It’s a very, very different sport.

Wrestling, you score as many points as possible doing the least damage as possible.
In MMA, I feel like it’s different.

Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: you can be slow and unathletic and still kick butt in Jiu-Jitsu.

Welcome to SLOTH Jiu-jitsu – the ultimate programme for conserving energy, utilising body weight and taking your time! An especially effective strategy for older or less athletic competitors, but suitable and highly recommended for all jiu-jitsu practitioners. 12 chapters taught in person by 3rd Degree BJJ Black Belt Gile Huni.