Penn State’s National Champion Jason Nolf Finally Speaks on His First Steps Outside Wrestling: “Got to Start Somewhere”

For wrestlers, testing the limits can often become a pressing thought in the back of their minds, and with a world of combat sport at their disposal, they are never short on options. While Penn State is a revered name in the country’s collegiate wrestling circuit, many of its stars have gone on to etch their names in other domains as well, and Jason Nolf seems to be the latest entry to the long list.

Winning numerous gold medals at the US National Championships, NCAA D1 Championships, and Zagreb Open, Nolf has firmly sealed his status among the wrestling elites. However, the 28-year-old now feels it’s time to try his hand out at other pastures.

Jason Nolf shares how grand ambitions are becoming a reality

In a recent podcast with MMA star Bo Nickal, a U23 World Championships winner and a Penn State alum himself, Nolf was seen talking about how he has fancied jiu-jitsu for a long time. The interview was shared on YouTube, and Jason can be heard revealing how his new venture has been taking shape off late. Noting that he has been training with Nickal and Jon Tran, a trainer at the 85 BJJ Academy, Nolf stated that his jiu-jitsu arsenal has been steadily growing. “I’ve been training a little bit with Jon and Bo a little Jiu-Jitsu doing a couple drills um I have like four moves that I’m just hoping that one of those four moves works,” said a candid Jason.

He also let fans in on the fact that a few of his acquaintances have helped him take the first step toward realizing his dream. “I’ve always wanted to compete in Jiu-Jitsu and um I know the promoter down there the guy that runs the gym and he asked me if I want to do this match and um I’m like sure,” shed light on how his ambitions are working out.

“Got to start somewhere,” Nolf stated about how baby steps are the way forward. Nolf will possibly make his jiu-jitsu debut at the Paradigm Open 3 on June 9th. However, considering his wrestling track record, his fans won’t be disheartened even if his grand plans don’t work out.

Nolf’s recent debacle

Nolf has been a driving force behind the NLWC and Cael Sanderson’s success over the past few years. Even in April this year at the Olympic team Trials, Jason made fans brace with hopes of seeing him make it to Team USA for his maiden Olympic Games. In the 74kg bracket, Nolf defeated Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs with an impressive 3-0 victory, sending out a strong message to his opponent for the final match: Kyle Dake. While the Olympian exerted his superiority over Nolf at the final match by winning two straight sets, nothing could be taken away from Nolf for the sheer display of grit throughout the entire tournament.

And yet, the three-time national champion remains a heartthrob among wrestling connoisseurs of the country, who believe Jason is easily one of the most dominant collegiate stars at the moment. Now, as his latest ambition awaits fruition, it remains to be seen if he can excel in jiu-jitsu like he has made his wrestling stats a thing of envy among his peers.