Ethan Crelinsten

Biography

Ethan Crelinsten is a Canadian Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under John Danaher known for his high-paced style, technical versatility, and ability to blend modern guard work with wrestle-ups and top pressure. He first gained recognition as part of the Danaher Death Squad, where he developed a dangerous leglock game and a dynamic guard built around inversions, entanglements, and rapid transitions to top positions or the back. Originally known primarily as a guard player, he has since evolved into a well-rounded athlete with an increasingly wrestle-heavy, pressure-based top game.

After the dissolution of DDS, Crelinsten followed John Danaher and his students to New Wave Jiu-Jitsu in Puerto Rico, further refining his no-gi game. When the team eventually split, he helped form B-Team Jiu-Jitsu with Craig Jones, Nick Rodriguez, and Nicky Ryan, contributing to one of the most successful and entertaining training rooms in modern no-gi. At B-Team, Ethan continued to evolve his style while training alongside some of the world’s best grapplers. His hard work paid dividends when he strangled Fabricio Andrey at a WNO event in 2022. He is also an ADCC veteran, competing most recently at ADCC 2024.

Crelinsten later became a co-host of "The Simple Man Podcast" alongside teammates Damien Anderson and Nick Rodriguez with Nicky Ryan joining after. Following CJI 2, Simple Man Martial Arts was formed, where Ethan now trains, teaches, and competes. Known for his spastic but effective guard passing, aggressive wrestling scrambles, and a continually developing guard game, he remains one of the most dynamic athletes in contemporary no-gi jiu-jitsu.

Personal

* Legend status is reserved for retired athletes with outstanding achievements and a lasting impact on the sport.

Rankings