Over the last few years, Australian grappler Izaak Michell has gone from underground prospect to one of the most talked-about names in no-gi jiu-jitsu. He’s won big trials, gone to war at ADCC, and trained under some of the most influential coaches in the sport.
In late 2025, though, Michell’s story took a sharp turn. A mix of public statements, gym splits, and online speculation has left fans asking the same question: what actually happened, and what does it mean for his career?
BJJHype breaks down what’s known so far – and what’s still very much unclear.
The Rise: Trials Winner and ADCC Standout
Born in Adelaide in 1998, Michell built a reputation as a high-pace, heavy-pressuring grappler, with big results at ADCC Asia & Oceania Trials, Who’s Next, and the IBJJF No-Gi Worlds as a brown belt.
Training stints with Leo Arruda, John Danaher, and Craig Jones helped push him from prospect to serious contender on the international scene, and by 2022–23 he was widely considered one of the most promising no-gi athletes in the 88 kg range.
B-Team, the Split, and the CJI 2 Ban
Michell was closely associated with B-Team Jiu-Jitsu in Austin during his big competitive push. That relationship eventually broke down, and by 2023 he was no longer representing B-Team – something that fans first pieced together through social media and event registrations, then later through community discussion on platforms like Reddit.Reddit+1
The tension became more concrete in 2025, when Craig Jones Invitational 2 (CJI 2) was announced. Many assumed Michell would appear under Danaher’s or New Wave’s banner, but Craig Jones publicly ruled that out. On his podcast, Jones explained that Michell had threatened legal action over a visa sponsorship, and that he would not sign Michell to any of his events going forward.Jiu Jitsu Legacy+1
Short version of that episode:
- Jones says he sponsored Michell’s U.S. visa.
- According to Jones, Michell later threatened to sue him related to that sponsorship.
- As a result, Jones banned him from CJI events and said he wouldn’t work with him contractually in the future.Jiu Jitsu Legacy+1
Michell, for his part, publicly stated that he had been blocked from competing at CJI events, while emphasizing that Danaher and Gordon Ryan had invited him to represent their team instead.BJJDOC
So already before the most recent drama, you had:
- A public professional split with B-Team.
- A very visible ban from CJI 2 tied to a contract/visa dispute, not competitive performance.
Kingsway, Danaher & Gordon Ryan: A New Home… For a While
After leaving B-Team, Michell began training under John Danaher again and became associated with Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu, the gym led by Gordon Ryan and Danaher in Austin.BJJDOC
He continued to compete at a high level, including winning ADCC Asia & Oceania Trials for 2026 at 77 kg – a huge achievement that effectively punched his ticket to the next ADCC World Championship.Jitsmagazine.com+1
From the outside, it looked like the perfect reset: fresh team, world-class training partners, a ticket to ADCC, and growing name value.
December 2025: Removed From Kingsway
On December 17, 2025, things changed fast.
Kingsway co-founder Gordon Ryan posted a statement on social media announcing that Izaak Michell was no longer training at or affiliated with the gym. The statement added that they had been advised not to share any further details and even asked that comments be limited to avoid rumor-spreading.Jitsmagazine.com+1
Key points from the public info:
- Michell is no longer allowed to train at or represent Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu.Jitsmagazine.com+1
- Ryan explicitly said they’d been advised not to disclose details, implying legal or professional counsel is involved.Jitsmagazine.com+1
Shortly after, grappling media outlets like JitsMagazine and BJJDoc reported on the split, noting that rumors of a police or legal investigation were circulating, but that no concrete public information from authorities had been released at the time of publication.Jitsmagazine.com+2BJJDOC+2
Allegations, Rumors, and the Line Between Them
This is where things get especially sensitive – and where it’s important to separate facts from speculation:
What’s confirmed publicly:
- Kingsway / Gordon Ryan say Michell is no longer welcome at the gym and that they’ve been advised not to give details.Jitsmagazine.com+1
- Craig Jones has shared social content linking to a support resource for people who have experienced unwanted intimate encounters, and posted warnings implying that Michell should be kept away from women.BJJDOC+1
- Media outlets have reported that there are serious allegations and rumors of an investigation, but they have not cited public police records or specific charges.BJJDOC+2BJJDOC+2
What is not publicly verified at this time:
- There is no widely reported evidence of formal charges, a public arrest record, or a detailed statement from law enforcement as of the latest coverage.BJJDOC+1
- Michell has not (yet) issued a full public response addressing the most recent wave of allegations in detail, beyond earlier comments regarding his CJI exclusion.Jitsmagazine.com+1
In other words: we know that major figures in the sport have taken drastic, public steps to distance themselves from him. We don’t yet know exactly what evidence any investigators or lawyers may have, or how – if at all – this will translate into formal legal action.
For everyone watching this unfold, it’s worth remembering:
- Allegations are not the same as convictions.
- People making accusations deserve to be taken seriously and supported.
- At the same time, the jiu-jitsu community does not have access to all the facts or any court outcome yet.
What It Means for His Career
From a competitive and professional standpoint, Michell’s situation is already serious even without a court case:
- Banned from CJI events due to a contract/visa dispute with Craig Jones.Jiu Jitsu Legacy+1
- Removed from Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu, losing access to one of the most stacked training rooms in the world.Jitsmagazine.com+1
- Uncertain ADCC 2026 status – he won his invite on the mats, but coverage has already raised questions about whether organizers will keep him on the card given the public controversy.Jitsmagazine.com+1
Even if no formal charges ever materialize, reputational damage in a small community like grappling can be extremely hard to reverse. Sponsors, promotions, and gyms will ask themselves whether having Michell on their mats or cards is worth the risk.
Where Things Stand Now
As of now, the situation looks like this:
- Michell remains one of the most talented no-gi athletes of his generation, with serious accomplishments already on his resume.
- He has had two high-profile splits with major teams (B-Team and Kingsway), plus a public ban from an elite invitational event.Jiu Jitsu Legacy+2Jitsmagazine.com+2
- There are serious allegations and rumors circulating, amplified by posts and actions from high-profile figures like Craig Jones and Gordon Ryan – but the full details, evidence, and official outcomes (if any) are not public.Jitsmagazine.com+2BJJDOC+2
For fans and practitioners, this is a reminder of how quickly narratives can flip in modern jiu-jitsu – and how important it is to:
- Pay attention to credible reporting,
- Avoid dog-piling or harassment, and
- Let actual legal processes, if they exist, play out.
BJJHype will keep following the story as more verifiable, public information emerges. Until then, the Izaak Michell saga sits in a tense middle ground: a world-class athlete caught between huge career opportunities and a growing cloud of controversy that could define how he’s remembered in the sport.
