Most of us have that one true pal that all the time has our again, and others have an in depth sibling who share a powerful household connection, however solely a choose few members of the inhabitants have a twin that’s experiencing the identical ups and downs as we’re, in actual time. For the Ruotolo Twins Kade and Tye, their bond couldn’t be extra unbreakable.
Since hitting the Brazilian jiujitsu mat collectively on the age of three, the dynamic duo is now dominating the grappling scene in ONE Championship. So, with maybe a very powerful matches of each their respective careers simply days away, the boys say down with M&F to open up on life as a twin their ideas forward of ONE Combat Night time 21.
Born in Maui, HI, of Italian and Puerto Rican heritage, the twins grew up in Huntington Seaside, California, the place they have been enrolled into jiu-jitsu lessons by their father. “We’ve been doing it since earlier than we will even bear in mind,” says Kade who’s now the ONE Light-weight Submission World Champion and is undefeated there with 5 victories to this point. “Our dad, on the time was a blue belt,” explains Tye, who holds ONE’s Welterweight Submission World Championship. As you possibly can think about, the race for each brothers to realize that preliminary black belt was intense.
“As a lot as we hate to confess it, we’re just about simply clones of one another,” jokes Kade (he has the longer hair). “In the best way that we now have gotten all of our belts collectively, even all of our stripes collectively. I don’t suppose there’s a stripe, and even one promotion that I’ve received on a unique day to my brother.”
Tye remembers that the competitiveness between them was all the time so sturdy that though they’d all the time each get promoted on the identical day, Kade would get known as up first, so when it turned time to obtain the black belt, Tye put his hand up first, to lastly get forward of his bro. (They received their black belts on the age of 18.)
After all, it’s in all probability for the very best that these sensible brothers obtain nice issues on the identical time or their relationship may need a very totally different dynamic. In the event that they weren’t twins, would the Ruotolo Twins every stand earlier than us because the fighters that they’re right now? “No manner,” says Tye. “Not even shut,” says Kade.
Elite Athletes Like The Ruotolo Twins Require a Trusted Assist System
Kade feels that every one athletes want a help system, twins or not. “The one different factor that may evaluate near having a twin … is (having) a very finest pal who can be a teammate in no matter sport that you simply do. You probably have a very strong teammate, that’s principally like a brother to you.”
Like all brothers, they’ve their very own ups and downs with one another. The Ruotolo’s clarify to me that their very own dynamic is consistently shifting so far as who’s perceived because the dominant or ‘older’ brother. “We nonetheless undergo that pendulum shift right here and there,” shares Tye. “We all the time maintain one another in verify.”
“It’s robust love, plenty of the time,” provides Kade. When one bro is sore and doesn’t need to face one other day of coaching, the opposite bro pulls them up and motivates them to proceed. Kade admits that’s sucks at time, as a result of he is aware of his brother is telling him precisely what he wants to listen to, however that’s how champions just like the Ruotolo’s roll. “Its not all the time what you need to hear, however what you’ll want to hear,” explains Kade. It’s this shared angle that helps to clarify the insane record of accolades that already lie on the twins’ 4 toes. Tye is at the moment the youngest IBJJF World champion within the historical past of the game whereas Kade is an IBJJF World, Pan Am, and European Open champion. Having signed with ONE Championship, the boys say they’re now in a position to help themselves financially, one thing that’s notoriously tough on this sport, plus they can deal with one specific rule set, that means much less adjustment from competitors to competitors.
Champions Should Have Supreme Confidence in Themselves
The brothers agree that their dad and mom early and unwavering religion in them has helped to make these boys the lads that we see earlier than us right now. From a younger age, the Ruotolo twins have been instructed that they have been unstoppable. “Though we have been little children, simply beginning off, we genuinely thought ‘okay, we’re the very best then.’” shares Kade. “Each time we’d go to a comp, we’d go searching and see the hundred different children, ‘like, alright, we’re the very best,’” concurs Tye.
Removed from cocky, the twins are heat and simple to speak to. It’s exhausting to think about that they may tear this interviewer limb from limb as soon as the bell rings. Fortuitously, the requirement to show themselves as the very best gained’t be examined by me. True competitors will come knocking days away at ONE Combat Night time 21. This would be the first time that the twins have appeared on the identical card since their ONE debuts in 2022.
Curiously, and considerably out of the norm for twins, the 2 warriors struggle in numerous weight divisions. “We have been all the time about the identical weight, our complete lives,” says Tye. “Up till ADCC 2019, and I minimize about 27 kilos on the time. I used to be solely 16, I didn’t have a lot weight to lose. I ended up doing it however at a price, to say the least. After (the ADCC) I gained like 40 kilos in two days or three days (laughs), and ever since, I’ve been about 5 or 10 kilos heavier than Kade.”
Tye will probably be defending his welterweight submission grappling world title in opposition to Izaak Michell at Combat Night time 21. “Izaak Michell, you recognize he’s a tricky man,” says the champ. “He’s a beast for certain. I do know he’s received good wrestling. I like to wrestle, you recognize? So, its gonna be a barnburner. I do know he needs to scrap, and I like scrapping, so it’s on.”
Kade will probably be examined in a catchweight bout in opposition to Brazil’s Francisco Lo. “Very difficult man, has some massive wins,” he explains. “Completed lately some high-rank guys like Jacob Sofa, and another robust guys, so once more, has some very slick submissions, so I gotta maintain my ‘A’ recreation sturdy and keep alert and discover his weaknesses.”
The Ruotolo Twins are additionally big MMA followers. Anticipate one or each brothers to make an announcement very quickly about the potential of getting into that area. “It’s on the bucket record, and we have to verify it off,” says Tye. For now, ONE Combat Night time 21 is all consuming, however they’re additionally trying ahead to finishing a brand new gymnasium in Costa Rica the place they hope to supply jiu-jitsu coaching camps that additionally provide yoga, browsing, and an opportunity to benefit from the hotter local weather. For these athletes, the possibility to spend a while within the solar and meet with family and friends is simply as rewarding as dominating their respective grappling divisions. Proper now, they’re attaining each goals.
Kade and Tye Ruotolo will each compete at ONE Combat Night time 21 this Friday, April 5. The occasion will air stay on Prime Video within the U.S./Canada starting at 8pm ET.
For more information on the Ruotolo Twins click on right here!
