JitsCast #2 features one of the top 10th Planet competitors in the world and one of the few competitors to win titles across multiple different rulesets, Ryan Aitken. Although we started out by talking to Aitken about his introduction to Jiu-Jitsu, we quickly progressed to his biggest moments in the sport. He won his first Combat Jiu-Jitsu middleweight world title back in 2021 and he’s been improving at a tremendous rate ever since, rapidly making a name for himself on the competitive scene. That led to him returning to defend that title in 2023, where he won once again became the first man to win back-to-back CJJ world titles.
We wanted to discuss how Aitken was able to have such an impressive track record under that ruleset, along with his mastery of EBI overtime rules. It was that mastery that led to him winning EBI 21: The Absolutes earlier this year and not only was that his biggest title to date, but it also included victories over two of the biggest elite grapplers in the world. He was able to shed some light on how he managed to beat both Franco Pana and Dan Manasoiu in EBI overtime, along with an even more in-depth look at his tactical approach to that ruleset.
Aitken was also willing to break down his run at ADCC 2024 and share the lessons that he has taken away from that performance at the biggest no gi grappling tournament in the world. We also spent quite a long time discussing the most recent major title he added to his collection, the PGF World Season 7 Light-heavyweight crown. Having 15 gruelling matches in one week is no mean feat but to win the majority of them by submission is a truly special achievement. Aitken broke down both his experience at PGF every step of the way, before assessing his match with Gabriel Almeida that’s coming up at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 9.
JitsCast #2 with Ryan Aitken is now available to watch on the official JitsMagazine YouTube channel, click here to subscribe for more or check out the interview below:
