Brian Shaw has officially wrapped up his Strongman career after more than a decade of dominance. However, contrary to most who decide to rest in their retirement, Brian has immediately jumped over to a brand new challenge. This came as a surprise to many, especially since the sport he chose to pursue was MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). Well, he is obviously taking it very seriously, as he recently had a workout session with one of the most notable athletes in the entirety of combat sports, Gordon Ryan.
Brian Shaw has recently released a statement that he has signed a contract to be a part of an official MMA fight. He has not yet revealed who the match will be against, but his fellow Strongman, Mitchell Hooper, has stated that Brian will face Martyn Ford. However, regardless of who Brian steps in the ring, he will make sure to come in as prepared as possible. This is evident by the fact that he is training with Gordon Ryan, who has won numerous jiu-jitsu World Championships.
Related: 2023 Shaw Classic Results — Brian Shaw Is The Strongest Man On Earth
Brian Shaw’s Workout With Gordon Ryan
During the opening of the video, Gordon Ryan revealed that he is often regarded as one of the large heavyweights, but when he stood next to the humongous Brian Shaw, it did not quite look like it.
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“I feel very small on the mat today, I try to convince people that I am not a big heavyweight and nobody believes me, but I think we are going to shed some light on that today,” said Gordon Ryan.
“I only have like 190 pounds, give or take, of weight advantage,” replied Shaw.
To start off the workout, Brian Shaw first learned some techniques and tips regarding guard passing, as well as some head and arm finishes from the top mount position. Gordon also explained the difference between pins and submissions to Shaw, as well as how each should feel.
“The Pins are with bodyweight, so you are not using any strength from the top position, ideally. Then, once you apply the submission, your strength comes into play. You are not using all this strength to hold them down, you are just applying bodyweight.” stated Gordon.
After they spent some time learning the moves and getting a feel for everything, it was time for Brian Shaw and the rest of the crew to spar a bit in the cage. It is safe to say that Brian’s sparring partner, Dan Manasoiu, got a bit worried for his health.
“Oh no, we are going into the cage. I had ribs, I am not going to have ribs any more,” said Dan.
However, before they got into the cage, Gordon explained to Brian the basics of taking someone down, and picking them up, from a standing position. Under his guidance, Brian managed to play around with some of the biggest guys in Gordon’s crew, one of whom weighed 270 pounds.
At the end of the training session, Brian Shaw talked a bit to Gordon Ryan about how his journey in MMA has been going so far.
“I get very frustrated. We do striking and we are just working on footwork, and I get so pi**ed off because I want to do it again and again since I am not efficient at it… You expect to just do it and be good. Even though it is brand new, you have that mental place where I am expected to be good at this,” said Brian.
Watch the full video here:
Related: Brian Shaw Begins Pec Tear Recovery Process After Suffering The Injury at 2023 Shaw Classic
Gordon Ryan has already completed training sessions with other Strongmen as well, most notably Hafthor Bjornsson and Martins Licis. However, unlike them, Brian Shaw is actively preparing for an MMA fight. So, his training session with Gordon was much more serious and covered in depth.
On the other hand, Brian Shaw is quickly gaining knowledge of all aspects of MMA, and is already looking very dangerous. His strength and mass from years of Strongman seem to play into his advantage, as he definitely does not lack power or control over his opponents. Brian still has a few months to prepare for his fight, meaning he will get into an even better shape.
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