Who's been grappling longer?
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I'd also like to throw out the idea that BJJ for self defense is a pretty unrealistic situation in America. BJJ for a one-on-one, unarmed gentlemen's agreement works awesome. That's how all of it was done in those Gracie In Action videos.
Y'all ever seen a one-on-one fight last more than about 30 seconds? His buddies usually show up with broken beer bottles and cowboy boots to stomp your skull if it goes that long. At least that's the way it is down here. Ain't no gentlemen's agreements in the south :)
Let's talk realistic scenarios. Wrestling is in schools in america. Most people don't start jiu jitsu until their mid to late 20's. Last survey i saw had the average bjj practitioner at 32-34 and blue belt. That was like 6-8 months ago so it could be different now.If you bump into a wrestler in the streets, 9 times out of 10 he has been grappling far longer.
It's all BJJ...it's all rolling...it's all family...it's all good!
Yes Brandon, I was No Gi only for years, I had a couple stints with the Gi, maybe a couple 4 to 6 months tries and hated it, lol
The last year after closing 10th planet Hartford I went to the Gi to expand my game and change it up, plus I am a huge Mendes brother fan and MBonline is amazing, anyway, first I will say do whatever makes you happy, Gi only, no Gi only, 63% Gi, whatever, lol
Anyway, to me the Gi has made me much better is in a couple areas, I won't just throw the blanket "the Gi make tight" statement, but in my personal experience it has taken my guard game and retention to the next level. You can not simulate trying to play guard No Gi, having someone grabbing your pants, leg dragging you, pinning you down, etc...is hell and it will bring up your game. Once you take the Gi off which I have just a couple times you will be more fluid, hips and legs moving, it's like training tool, like a baseball player warming up with a having bat, a runner using a parachute, etc...it's a level of resistance you can't get just training no Gi, it makes you try like a madman to retain guard
And on the flip side it gives you a mindset of passing on top, just grinding and grinding trying to get by guys who can defend. It slows the game down and you can think through stuff in positions, that's why it's huge IMO for de la riva , berimbolo, reverse de la riva players, you have time in those situations, it becomes less scrambly for the lack of a better word
Throw in defense also, it's an awareness of the neck, not relying on sweat and quick movements, always defending and watching your arms, I think it helps defense
On the flip side, No Gi gives you a lot, mostly offense IMO, trying to sub someone No Gi is tough, and you must control them or get good in transition, etc...
To me to be a complete grappler you should train both if you can and want to, all the best guys do and compete in both. You will have more opportunities to train with better guys, more guys, compete against better guys, etc...those are pretty much facts right now, you can't get the same level of comp just doing no Gi
Anyway, do your what makes you happy, and for the record, Eddie brought this debate up again :) not anyone else
I did gi pretty much exclusive my first 5 years all the way up to 4 stripe purple. My last 4 years have been mostly the opposite...90% no-gi 10% gi. I personally have noticed zero improvement in either my gi or my no-gi game because I have trained one or the other or both at times. To me they are completely different sports and styles of grappling.
But Rob...if training both works for you then do that shit. Everyone learns differently and I can definitely see how slowing down could benefit some guys. Everyone should just do what works for them without all the hate.
As far as for MMA goes I would only train no-gi with gloves and most of the guys at our gym do as well. I help train our guys on the ground at my gym and prefer to simulate a fight exactly as it would be in the cage so I think that makes the most sense to me. if training in gi helps your mma then do it. I wont judge nor do i care how other choose to train.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geVbQQDy2Rc
took him about 5 minutes before he used a gi grip. And he only used it once. I'm not convinced. I'll do more research.
I have no hate, do what makes you happy, my reason for posting in this thread was Eddie talking about Marcelo and the opinion that gets pushed that Marcelo only uses stuff that translates to no Gi and doesn't use Gi grips which is false