Jon Jones began jiu-jitsu training at Gracie Barra in New Mexico this week to address what he calls his “weakness.”
Already the UFC light heavyweight champion and considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, Jones comes from a wrestling background. He was an All-American wrestler at Iowa Central Community College. He is also an outstanding striker, and he embraces many Muay Thai techniques, winning several of his fights with knee and elbow strikes.
Jones has said for a while that he needs more work on his jiu-jitsu, and admitted last year that he doesn’t practice it daily. He signed up to train at the Gracie Barra school in Albuquerque to address it.
He tweeted about his experience Wednesday:
I’m excited to stop neglecting my weakness #Jujitsu #Whitebelt #Growth twitter.com/JonnyBones/sta…
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) March 7, 2013
I went into that class tonight extremely humble ready to learn
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) March 7, 2013
According to GracieMag.com, Roberto “Tussa” Alencar, the leader of the Gracie Barra gym in Albuquerque, invited Jones to come train.
“I began training in wrestling at Jackson’s MMA in December last year and about two weeks ago we met and I invited him to train in the gi with us,” Tussa told GracieMag.com. “Tonight he came to the academy to sign up.”
Even though Jones’ takedown defense is pretty much flawless, maybe he felt he needs some more jiu-jitsu work in case Chael Sonnen takes him down. He reportedly will also do no-gi training at the school after his April 27 fight with Sonnen.
Photo credit: Paul Abell-US PRESSWIRE
