Originally Posted by
Amir Allam
"In that context, it sounds ridiculous. Yet in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, this climate is quite common."
I find the above statement appalling, and I can scarcely bring myself to accept that it is common. I've never experienced firsthand the close-minded jealous-ex-girlfriend instructor mentality, and I haven't heard any direct accounts of it from close friends. Of course, I began grappling as a Midwestern wrestler, where the mentality is to achieve victory at any cost whatsoever. My jiu-jitsu journey has been overseen by Eddie from the beginning, so it was never even a question that I would be free to go train with Josh Barnett or Jeff Glover or whoever the hell else could improve my effectiveness qua grappling. Eddie appreciates when his students learn effective techniques from other schools; he knows that we all grow stronger as a result.