Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA

Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA in Phuket, Thailand will host world-renowned grappler Craig Jones for a special Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu seminar on Saturday March 21, 2026, offering athletes the chance to learn directly from one of the sport’s most influential figures. Jones, an Australian black belt and two-time silver medalist at the prestigious ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship, has become one of the most recognizable competitors and personalities in modern no-gi grappling. His seminars have become highly sought after worldwide, combining high-level technique with the irreverent humor and unconventional teaching style that have helped make him both beloved and controversial within the sport. As for what Jones will actually be teaching — well, he’s just as hard to pin down with details as he is on the mats. What we can say with complete confidence is that whatever he chooses to cover on the day will be worth every minute. Craig Jones does not do mediocre seminars, and anyone who was at Bangtao in January 2024 will tell you exactly that. He’s Been Here Before This is not Craig Jones’ first visit to Bangtao. In January 2024, Jones came to Phuket for a two-day event under the banner of B-Team x Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA, one of the most talked-about grappling events the gym has hosted. Day one focused on the octopus guard, one of the most creative and unpredictable positions in Jones’ game, breaking down the sweeps, reversals, and entries that have made it a signature part of his competitive arsenal. Day two shifted to the art of pinning, exploring the B-Team’s philosophy of dominant top control and how to use pressure, weight distribution, and leverage to keep opponents stuck and struggling. What made the visit truly memorable, however, was what happened off the mats. Rather than keeping a professional distance, Craig rolled with attendees for a full 20 minutes straight, giving participants the kind of live feel that no instructional video can replicate. The atmosphere that weekend was electric, and for those who were there, it remains one of the standout experiences in the gym’s history. Now he’s back, and if his first visit is anything to go by, this one will be just as unforgettable. CRAIG JONES SEMINAR: Ep 1 | The Art of Pinning | B-Team x Bangtao BJJ | No Gi Jiu Jitsu CRAIG JONES | 20 Minute Roll | Bangtao BJJ Buggy Chokes and a Viral Moment at CJI 2 Jones recently demonstrated the effectiveness of the buggy choke in spectacular fashion at Craig Jones Invitational 2 (CJI 2) in Las Vegas. In a superfight against former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen, Jones submitted Sonnen with a buggy choke twice in the same match, rendering the MMA veteran unconscious on both occasions in a performance that quickly went viral within the combat sports community. The match was part of CJI 2, the second edition of the Craig Jones Invitational, a major professional grappling event founded by Jones himself. The event featured a team-based tournament with some of the world’s top no-gi athletes competing for prize purses reaching $1 million, among the largest payouts ever offered in the sport. Changing the Economics of Grappling Jones launched the Craig Jones Invitational in 2024 under the Fair Fight Foundation, with the stated goal of improving athlete compensation and creating a more sustainable professional environment for grapplers. The initiative made headlines by offering dramatically higher prize money than traditional grappling tournaments, sparking intense debate throughout the community and attracting some of the sport’s biggest names. For many athletes and fans, the project represented a major step toward professionalizing submission grappling. For others, it challenged the existing competitive landscape, helping cement Jones’ reputation as both a disruptor and a driving force behind the sport’s rapid evolution. From ADCC Breakthrough to Global Grappling Star Jones first rose to international prominence at the 2017 ADCC World Championship, widely considered the most prestigious tournament in submission grappling. There, he stunned the grappling world by submitting multiple elite competitors, including Brazilian legend Leandro Lo. Since then, Jones has built an impressive competitive résumé that includes: ADCC World Championship silver medals in 2019 and 2022 Multiple Polaris Pro Grappling titles Victories across major professional grappling promotions worldwide He also played a central role in the creation of B-Team Jiu-Jitsu, one of the most influential no-gi grappling teams of the past decade. A Unique Voice in the Sport Beyond his competition results, Jones has become known for his outspoken personality and comedic approach to the sport. His candid interviews, self-deprecating humor, and willingness to challenge established norms have made him one of grappling’s most entertaining figures, while occasionally stirring controversy among fans and fellow competitors. That combination of elite skill and unapologetic personality has helped Jones build a massive global following and made his seminars some of the most anticipated events in the grappling community. Seminar Details The seminar at Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA will give participants the opportunity to learn directly from Jones’ modern no-gi system, including techniques drawn from his competition game. Athletes of all experience levels are welcome, though the seminar is expected to be particularly valuable for practitioners interested in modern no-gi grappling and submission-focused strategies. Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026 Time: 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM Location: Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA, Phuket

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