Rener and Ryron's latest Jiu Jitsu Blue belt training philosophy

[David Cornbleth]

I found this discussion to be very interesting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgb1Attfm-0&sns=em

[HerbChao]

I agreed with them on several points as well; I went through a period where I didn't feel like I was a blue belt because of all the other blues beating up on me and not being able to "dominate" all the whites and "be the savage". I liked what Rener said about at the end it's up to the instructor to determine what defines a blue belt under them (and beyond) and no instructor has to answer to another about why they do things the way they do. I worked hard to be finally officially promoted this year, but I personally wouldn't "get mad" or "feel gipped" because someone else got their rank sooner or "did less work". the avg time to black is 10 years, and it evens out both in terms of time or struggle.

My quick 2 cents, curious to hear where other folks related (or have a differing perspective).

[Mojoplata]

I almost agree about the not sparring right away thing, even though it's not how I learned. I just remember a few times where being mounted or side mounted by a good white belt would make me feel a little claustrophobic. I got through it because I didn't want to be a pussy, but that's why I started BJJ, to not be a pussy anymore. That's not everyone's reason for starting, and I've watched enough of those "3 month" guys they were talking about strangle 1st timers senseless and then never see those 1st timers again to know that it's not how everyone should start.

[Andrew Sarasin]

A goalie coach in a hockey school once told me, "dont worry about the others, worry about how you can improve yourself". It's probably one of the best advice someone has ever givin me.

I agreed with them on several points as well; I went through a period where I didn't feel like I was a blue belt because of all the other blues beating up on me and not being able to "dominate" all the whites and "be the savage". I liked what Rener said about at the end it's up to the instructor to determine what defines a blue belt under them (and beyond) and no instructor has to answer to another about why they do things the way they do. I worked hard to be finally officially promoted this year, but I personally wouldn't "get mad" or "feel gipped" because someone else got their rank sooner or "did less work". the avg time to black is 10 years, and it evens out both in terms of time or struggle.

My quick 2 cents, curious to hear where other folks related (or have a differing perspective).

[Joshua Jarboe]

Loved this video. Almost shared.

It got me thinking that the difference in the way we approach BJJ might be part of why BJJ doesn't do that well in MMA.

I'd sure love to try combat sparring with somebody with gloves, aggro and little skill. Sounds like fun.

Granted, some of their fears etc. are ...pretty overwrought. It's a bit of a sales job as well.

But a lot of the ideas seem reasonable to me.

[Nick Paul]

Loved this video. Almost shared.

It got me thinking that the difference in the way we approach BJJ might be part of why BJJ doesn't do that well in MMA.

I'd sure love to try combat sparring with somebody with gloves, aggro and little skill. Sounds like fun.

Granted, some of their fears etc. are ...pretty overwrought. It's a bit of a sales job as well.

But a lot of the ideas seem reasonable to me.

I have a couple training partners getting ready for fights so we've been hot and heavy on the MMA sparring over the last 5 weeks. I love the effect it's had on my view of jiu jitsu, it reinforces the "clinch and squeeze" 10p philosophy as well as getting the positions that could get you lit up out of your game. I think it filters the "sport" element out of your grappling like a dog on a shock collar

[David Rosado]

What are the titles we give our BJJ teachers? Instructor. Professor. In Portuguese mestre means teacher. In Spanish maestro means teacher.

My point is this: BJJ is a form of education. Every teacher will have his/her cirriculum. Each teacher will have their expectations. So let's think in terms of education. Is a bachelors from Harvard the same as a Bachelors from a state college? They're similar. They both look similar. They both say the same thing. You learned the same coursework for the most part. But why does the Harvard bachelors carry more weight? Because you know that the coursework is more intense. You know the expectations are higher. You know the competition is more feirce.

Rener and Ryron's blue belt is akin to getting a degree from community college. It's like, sure, you got a blue belt, but we all know you really didn't have to work as hard as others for that. So I'm not mad at it, but it doesn't command the same respect as a 3 stripe white belt from Marcelo.

So I say let Ryron and Rener operate their business as they see fit. Let them enforce their rules and cirriculum as they see fit. In the end, all you gotta do is ask, "hey, who are you ranked under? Oh, you got a TV belt? Cool." And you move on with your life.

Personally, I'm more proud to be an unranked student under Coach Herzog than a TV blue belt under the Gracies. But it's all a matter of preference I suppose.



BTW: I mean no disrespect to anyone who's earned their degree from community college. I attended a CC for my first two years. I don't knock it. But I breezed through CC like it was high school because the coursework was fairly light and easy for the most part. It still takes work and dedication to achieve it, but it's not comparable to other colleges with higher expectations. That was the point. Please don't take offense.

[Joshua Jarboe]

What are the titles we give our BJJ teachers? Instructor. Professor. In Portuguese mestre means teacher. In Spanish maestro means teacher.

My point is this: BJJ is a form of education. Every teacher will have his/her cirriculum. Each teacher will have their expectations. So let's think in terms of education. Is a bachelors from Harvard the same as a Bachelors from a state college? They're similar. They both look similar. They both say the same thing. You learned the same coursework for the most part. But why does the Harvard bachelors carry more weight? Because you know that the coursework is more intense. You know the expectations are higher. You know the competition is more feirce.

Rener and Ryron's blue belt is akin to getting a degree from community college. It's like, sure, you got a blue belt, but we all know you really didn't have to work as hard as others for that. So I'm not mad at it, but it doesn't command the same respect as a 3 stripe white belt from Marcelo.

So I say let Ryron and Rener operate their business as they see fit. Let them enforce their rules and cirriculum as they see fit. In the end, all you gotta do is ask, "hey, who are you ranked under? Oh, you got a TV belt? Cool." And you move on with your life.

Personally, I'm more proud to be an unranked student under Coach Herzog than a TV blue belt under the Gracies. But it's all a matter of preference I suppose.



BTW: I mean no disrespect to anyone who's earned their degree from community college. I attended a CC for my first two years. I don't knock it. But I breezed through CC like it was high school because the coursework was fairly light and easy for the most part. It still takes work and dedication to achieve it, but it's not comparable to other colleges with higher expectations. That was the point. Please don't take offense.

Right.

I'm not so sure about the technical blue belt. Could be silly.

But the idea of sparring with someone who is going to try to be a "good bad guy" and get you down and hit you and headlock you and do rather unsophisticated things...

...that's a decent fight simulation for your trouble.

But I'm unlikely to get in a street fight where my enemy pulls guard and starts playing spider guard and lassoing my arms....

[Enrique "Kiko"]

But I'm unlikely to get in a street fight where my enemy pulls guard and starts playing spider guard and lassoing my arms....

Until this becomes a thing....

[Nicolas Sanchez]

I mean personally I rolled my second class, obviously got killed but it wasn't like everyone was making it the hardest thing. I mean it prolly also comes down to your class and the people who are in it but for the most part I notice the blues and especially purple belts will tone it down and actually talk me through mistakes I'm making as we're rolling, let me know sweep options, submission options, and just basics like not letting you get your arm isolated. Their not giving me wins as I have only tapped maybe 2-3 guys since I started(who were other newer white belts like me) but my defense game is way improving, and you definitely have to be able to defend before you can submit, most importantlyit's always fun. Idk I think it's the people you train wither egos are a huge part of it. Big egos = no fun. 2 cents from my beginning experience.

Also side note that berimbolo videos is comedy! Lol