Is it possible to achieve brown/black level and suck at takedowns?

[Aiseop]

I am super accessable, all anyone have to do is show up, I teach anyone willing to learn that isn't an asshole. I hold yearly training camps and other 10p seminars at my gym, not to mention the number of seminars I teach each year. Saying not enough qualified 10p instructors is an excuse for people not to put work in. I went out and made it happen. People arent happy unless shit is delivered to them. If you can't go to 10th Planet, bring it to you.

I get people that message me all the time asking me why i dont teach in Buffalo or Syracuse all the time. They are an hour away from Rochester, lazy bastids. I have students that drive 2 hrs each way to train multiple times per week. If you want it, really really want it, its accessable to everyone if you put in the effort.

Louis Ho did it, JM and Zach did it, I did it. No one brought 10p to our doors steps, we had to go out and get it.

I don't want it enough to risk my marriage, seeing I live 6 hours from Rochester, and would have to make a weekend of it, perhaps bring my wife and 2 kids, a two and three year old. That's 12 hours of driving, hotel money, gas, etc. I'm not that rich, so I can't take off work. What I am doing now, seriously studying the system, is all I can give. That's enough desire for a hobby. I bring the 10P system to me through here and to my school where I work on things with folks. But it's one thing to do that, and another to have an expert help you out. I could go the Hotbox route, but that would require a convo with my instructor, plus, as a brown belt, it takes longer to get 10 wins than a white or blue - as the tournaments I've been to this year have 1 match or maybe 2. That's another huge amount of tournament fees, gas, etc. to do a Hotbox, which doesn't answer the question of where? I have asked you about camps that you do and you kindly responded, that would be great and I look forward to it, but no, I don't want it enough for both the economic and social costs. Be well and peace, brother Zog.

[Rockanrollin]

We train takedowns one day a week during our grappling time. our fighters always win the takedown battles because we train them.
I think it would be great if Eddie put some takedowns in the warmup drills. You know single leg, double leg, high crotch, leg trip ect. Ect. Basic manuevers.

[Slick Rick]

Thinking of it as a philosophy is an excellent way of putting it, Brandon. Thank you.

To the original question: I still think that it'd be pretty hard to "suck at takedowns" and be a black belt. Compared to other black belts? Perhaps you can suck. But to the general population, no freaking way. But you wouldn't say that a top-player black belt "sucks at guard" just because their guard isn't up to par to other black belts.

Slick Rick wrote:
I think though, that specializing in 10P specific techniques give us a leg up on the competition, because we know our game and we're dissecting theirs, while they know their game but aren't giving reps to ours.

From my experience with my gym, ATT, and overall ATT schools, Liborio and the coaches welcome any and all effective jiu-jitsu. (ATT's history is as a Carlson Gracie offshoot and if you remember, Carlson did not get along too well with the Gracie's in style or philosophy. So there's no "this is real jiu-jitsu" thinking at ATT because Liborio heard that aimed at him and his instructor Carlson.) The problem with ATT (or east coast area) is lack of qualified 10th P folks to teach us, but there are those, like me, who certainly come here and are hungry for the next MTS episode.

Hi Aiseop,
True about the lack of 10p qualified guys in your area.

My conversation with a friend about east and west coast:
Friend:
Basically I feel like u guys are on a higher level then the rest of the states-plus all the nasty schools are in cali 10thpjj hq, gracie acadamy in torrence, atos, etc.....I think jt torres said something similar when he moved to cali about getting used to the style there.

Me:
Oh shoot I didn't know that. But there are so many good guys on the east coast as well:renzo, Pablo, Marcelo, cyborg, Ryan hall, Lloyd Irvin's camp.

Looking at it now, there's a good amount of schools in southern Cali that have certified beasts. I would assume that's the same in the east. I know the schools I mention in the east are killers but the fact they are far away from eachother and not concentrated makes it seem as if there aren't many. In SoCal alone these camps are all within 100 miles of eachother. I get it now

Friend:
Yeah that sounds about right.


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Conclusion:
Pretty much, the schools that are doing well have guys that regularly compete and travel to see what new stuff is out there. Schools that get complacent end up falling behind. Because, in the west and in SoCal in particular we have so many schools, technique is being pushed further and further. It's very cutting edge. I would say Southern California is the Silicon Valley of Jiu Jitsu because there's so much innovation and knowledge within a small radius. Students at every school these days can tap a shoulder of a friend from 10th Planet and get valuable information that isn't readily accessible in other areas of the country.

Since you are a practitioner and lover of jiu jitsu and 10th Planet and we are so open minded, we'd love to help you in your journey even if it's via 1's and 0's. The beauty of technology!!

[Aiseop]

Thanks, Slick . Appreciate the note. I look forward to continuing this journey and getting together at Zog's in the future and with other Ronin's up here in the NYC and New England area.

[Slick Rick]

Thanks, Slick . Appreciate the note. I look forward to continuing this journey and getting together at Zog's in the future and with other Ronin's up here in the NYC and New England area.

You're very welcome. I have a friend at ATT Atlanta if you're ever out that way. He's really into the 10p stuff as well.

[TaylorWolf]

You're very welcome. I have a friend at ATT Atlanta if you're ever out that way. He's really into the 10p stuff as well.

Hell yeah Rick, thanks for the shoutout! ATT Atlanta is also my home base and a sick spot. Lots of 10P action here every day. I am absolutely obsessed with the system, and bring it HARD every day. George has brought so much to the table, he has created some rubber guard monsters. He was just showing us the Dead Orchard last week. Lots of truck stuff, lockdown and lockdown defense (to my dismay lol) He is always bragging to me about training with guys like you lol.

The head coach definitely encourages people to use whatever techniques they like best. A good coach knows that the more diversity on the mat, the better off everyone is as a whole. I occasionally train at the HQ in Coconut Creek and they are the same way. When I was doing electric chairs the black belts were cheering "Eddie Bravo!" at me and smiling. This among other things is what makes ATT one of the best in the biz.

[Slick Rick]

Hell yeah Rick, thanks for the shoutout! ATT Atlanta is also my home base and a sick spot. Lots of 10P action here every day. I am absolutely obsessed with the system, and bring it HARD every day. George has brought so much to the table, he has created some rubber guard monsters. He was just showing us the Dead Orchard last week. Lots of truck stuff, lockdown and lockdown defense (to my dismay lol) He is always bragging to me about training with guys like you lol.

The head coach definitely encourages people to use whatever techniques they like best. A good coach knows that the more diversity on the mat, the better off everyone is as a whole. I occasionally train at the HQ in Coconut Creek and they are the same way. When I was doing electric chairs the black belts were cheering "Eddie Bravo!" at me and smiling. This among other things is what makes ATT one of the best in the biz.

Badass Taylor! George is my guy. He's always telling me about the wars he gets in and asks a lot of detailed questions about different techs. He loves jits as much as I do. I plan on getting there to ATL possibly this month so if you are there I'll see you there for sure. Definitely George has expressed how open-minded Jucao is about all the 10P tech, so I'm always super excited to give him the latest and greatest. Trust me, whenever someone puts me in the rubber guard at a non-10P school, they start to say, "Oh oh! Eddie Bravo!!".. I laugh it off and "stamp" the crap out of em though. LOL!

Cool man can't wait to meet you someday!
Rick

[Aiseop]

Hahaha. Funny. my name is E.drik Lopez and when I pull something from 10th P in class, i get a "Eddie Lopez" shout! ahaha

[Ariel Nunez]

I wrestle just to get my necktie game D'arce and anaconda game sharp.

[Mike Nall]

Not only is it possible but I would say it's the norm. I'm not even excusing myself. My stand up should be much better at this point. It's pretty rare to see good stand up just because the rules don't make it important. Judo has more throws than groundwork because you start on the feet and it's easier to just win with a solid throw. Jiu Jitsu starts on the feet but you can't win from a throw so obviously everyone got really good at ground fighting.

That's all it is. To be a complete grappler then should be good at both. But realistically Judo guys don't have great ground fighting and most Jiu Jitsu guys don't have great stand up. It's just how it goes most of the time. Dave camarillo does a great job making sure that all of his students are really competent in Judo and wrestling. I'm sure there are some others but he really comes to mind.