Jay Rods ban from B-Team was confirmed by Craig Jones, citing disturbing locker room behavior and multiple team complaints.
B-Team, long known for its laid-back and irreverent culture, took a rare hardline stance.
The decision marks a turning point for the team — and possibly the broader culture of elite No-Gi grappling.
Jay Rods Ban: The Facts Behind the Decision
On May 7, Craig Jones publicly confirmed that Jay Rodriguez — also known as J-Rod — had been banned from B-Team Jiu-Jitsu, one of the top No-Gi grappling squads in the world. The announcement followed internal allegations of inappropriate locker room conduct and repeated boundary-crossing interactions with women.
The move came after weeks of behind-the-scenes tension and, according to Jones, multiple complaints from both athletes and staff.
“I made a call to ban him because I don’t want that sort of behavior around anyone in our environment — female or male.”– Craig Jones
Rodriguez later responded with a social media video denying any malicious intent and characterizing the incidents as misunderstandings. However, he confirmed the ban was real and that he would no longer be representing B-Team moving forward.
“I’ve been removed from B-Team. I still have love for the guys, but I’ll be continuing my training elsewhere.”– Jay Rodriguez
What makes this story explosive isn’t just that Jay Rods ban happened — it’s that it happened at B-Team.
Why Was Jay Rodriguez Banned from B-Team?
While speculation initially swirled, the reasons behind Jay Rodriguez B-Team ban were explicitly confirmed by B-Team co-founder Craig Jones. The behavior, described in a Craig Jones statement on Jay Rodriguez as “disturbing” and “inexcusable,” created a pattern that the team leadership could no longer overlook.
Though specific details remain confidential, sources close to the situation cited unsolicited and inappropriate interactions with female team members and a disregard for personal boundaries. What raised the stakes, according to Jones, was that this wasn’t a one-off — it was a repeated issue, and one that prompted discomfort among teammates and staff.
In his own words, the decision wasn’t about policing behavior lightly, but about “protecting everyone in the room — male and female alike.”
“There were multiple complaints. I had to take action. We want a safe space for everyone who trains, period.”– Craig Jones
Why This Isn’t Just Another Scandal
B-Team was created as a countercultural response to the highly structured, ultra-serious world of Danaher’s DDS. It branded itself on freedom: jokes over dogma, vibes over hierarchies, and letting athletes be athletes.
In the public eye, it was a place where you could wear rashguards with memes, crack jokes mid-round, and talk trash in interviews.
Jay Rod himself was a perfect fit: charismatic, youthful, confident, and rising fast. He didn’t come from the polished IBJJF circuit. He came from wrestling, brotherhood, and the new breed of No-Gi charisma.
That’s what makes Jay Rod’s ban so symbolic, because it represents the moment where even B-Team, the self-appointed wild card of modern grappling, had to become the authority.
“We’ve been the ‘fun’ team for a while… but there are some things you can’t overlook, and you have to protect the people in your gym.”– Craig Jones
In that sense, this isn’t just a story about Jay Rod. It’s a story about the limits of gym culture — and how even those built on looseness and brotherhood are not immune from having to draw the line.
From Chaos to Accountability: B-Team Grows Up
In the world of elite jiu-jitsu, locker rooms are often protected spaces, not just for athletes, but for behavior that exists in a gray zone. When Craig Jones and the B-Team created their squad post-DDS, they marketed themselves as everything the old school wasn’t. Less rigid. More fun. No hard rules.
But Jay Rods ban forces a reevaluation of that brand. Can a team still be edgy and inclusive? Can it protect its culture without becoming what it originally pushed back against?
For Jones, the answer appears to be yes — but with new boundaries.
By banning Rodriguez publicly and acknowledging the reasons without euphemism, Jones positioned B-Team not as careless, but as the type of team that can correct itself.
That’s rare in combat sports, where infractions are often covered, minimized, or quietly dealt with. B-Team took a reputational hit by confirming the ban — and maybe that’s what gives the decision credibility.
“We could’ve said nothing. But that’s not leadership. That’s just hiding.”– Craig Jones
The Aftermath of Jay Rods Ban: What Happens Now?
Jay Rodriguez is one of the most talented young grapplers in the sport. His breakout at ADCC 2022 turned heads. His pace, aggression, and wrestling-forward game made him a prospect to watch.
But Jay Rodriguez’s ban from B-Team places him in limbo — too talented to ignore, but too radioactive for easy reintegration. He says he’ll continue training and competing, and it’s likely smaller gyms or international camps will welcome him. But the door to elite American teams may be closed, at least for now.
Meanwhile, B-Team has undergone a quiet but real shift. What started as a loose brotherhood of heel-hooking misfits now faces the responsibility of preserving the environment it built, especially as more women, teens, and newcomers walk through its doors.
Craig Jones didn’t just kick someone out. He drew a line. And that changes what B-Team represents going forward.
