The GI is dead?

[Joseph Hachey]

For me the whole appeal of training BJJ was that the Gracie's made a really good case for BJJ being the most effective way to win a fight in the early UFC days.

to do things that aren't the most effective way to prepare you for a real fight seems counter productive to me. Obviously you have to balance that with not doing techniques that make it impossible to spar everynight....i.e. not slamming, not training on concrete, not grabbing the balls b/c frequent live rolling is one of the most important things in preparing for a fight.

To me, gi bjj relies to heavily on grabbing the sleeve and collar, i think the clinching style is much more effective for avoiding strikes and controlling an opponent without a japanese kimono

I've heard this argument and completely disagree. To think a seasoned jiu jitsu practitioner wouldn't be able to defend himself against an untrained assailant just because he trains solely in a gi is ridiculous.

You're gym should have punch defence and other self defence-specific techniques as part of their curriculum regardless of whether you wear a gi or not.

[sean applegate]

Why cant people just do whatever style of bjj suits them without getting shit? In most cases they are paying customers so they have the right to train in whatever style they want. I don't like gi...its too slow for me and i trained gi for 5 years, i choose not to anymore. I like no-gi better so i choose to train no-gi only now. Why do people care how i choose to train, or what i wear to class, or how i position my legs in guard or half guard? Never understood this debate....

Its not really about that VJ. although I do agree with what you are saying. Its about mma and self defense. Eddie has very real points. Most of the GI guys don't like hearing that what they are doing isn't that applicable for mma or self defense. That is where the argument is. If people would just sit back and look at the real points being made here. There wouldn't be an argument. That's what Eddie is saying.

[ohio2berlin]

How about doing what makes you happy and allowing people to do what makes them happy?

It is so easy to stand outside and say what others are doing is wrong, but that is their decision to make. I agree training in the gi doesn't make sense when it comes to MMA, but who am I to tell someone how they should do things? Personally I train more gi than no gi, but that is just me. I like the 10P system because I like BJJ. I like how it is progressive, aggressive and innovative. I like the ins and outs and I like learning. Being closed minded about BJJ in anyway takes away potential tools you might have.

Free to be you, free to be me. I just like rolling and taking my BJJ path...where ever that might lead me.

[Brandon Mccaghren]

Why cant people just do whatever style of bjj suits them without getting shit? In most cases they are paying customers so they have the right to train in whatever style they want. I don't like gi...its too slow for me and i trained gi for 5 years, i choose not to anymore. I like no-gi better so i choose to train no-gi only now. Why do people care how i choose to train, or what i wear to class, or how i position my legs in guard or half guard? Never understood this debate....

You just enjoy training, right VJ? Wear whatever you like. I have guys that wear the gi in our classes all the time. They like the gi. No problem. If they were training for a fight I think it would be a different matter.

I also make the guys wear gloves when they are preparing for a fight, and they roll with punches, too. Doesn't make sense to train any other way to me.

[BIBIANO]

Why cant people just do whatever style of bjj suits them without getting shit? In most cases they are paying customers so they have the right to train in whatever style they want. I don't like gi...its too slow for me and i trained gi for 5 years, i choose not to anymore. I like no-gi better so i choose to train no-gi only now. Why do people care how i choose to train, or what i wear to class, or how i position my legs in guard or half guard? Never understood this debate....

my argument would be that BJJ schools benefit tremendously from the claim that "this is the most effective style" as proven in MMA....if there is something that is more effective for mma, they are obligated to do it (i.e. not training in the gi)

[Brandon Mccaghren]

How about doing what makes you happy and allowing people to do what makes them happy?

It is so easy to stand outside and say what others are doing is wrong, but that is their decision to make. I agree training in the gi doesn't make sense when it comes to MMA, but who am I to tell someone how they should do things? Personally I train more gi than no gi, but that is just me. I like the 10P system because I like BJJ. I like how it is progressive, aggressive and innovative. I like the ins and outs and I like learning. Being closed minded about BJJ in anyway takes away potential tools you might have.

Free to be you, free to be me. I just like rolling and taking my BJJ path...where ever that might lead me.

That's a good post and a nice way to look at things.

[Joseph Hachey]

Now, I know Rob did only no gi for quite a while (correct me if I'm wrong, Rob) and is now doing pretty much gi only. So he is qualified to speak on the subject.

I'm curious to hear how much exclusive no-gi you've done that qualifies your opinion on what exclusive no-gi training does to hinder your overall grappling ability.

I'm excited to hear all views on the subject

I trained my first two and half years exclusively at 10th Planet Peterborough before taking up other training opportunities. I've actually got quite a bit more mat time without a gi on vs. with a gi.

[Brandon Mccaghren]

I trained my first two and half years exclusively at 10th Planet Peterborough before taking up other training opportunities. I've actually got quite a bit more mat time without a gi on vs. with a gi.

Carry on, friend

[sean applegate]

How about doing what makes you happy and allowing people to do what makes them happy?

It is so easy to stand outside and say what others are doing is wrong, but that is their decision to make. I agree training in the gi doesn't make sense when it comes to MMA, but who am I to tell someone how they should do things? Personally I train more gi than no gi, but that is just me. I like the 10P system because I like BJJ. I like how it is progressive, aggressive and innovative. I like the ins and outs and I like learning. Being closed minded about BJJ in anyway takes away potential tools you might have.

Free to be you, free to be me. I just like rolling and taking my BJJ path...where ever that might lead me.

Again. This isn't about what you like to train. Its about what is more effective for mma or self defense. That's all. Eddie never said don't train in the GI. He simply said its better to train nogi for mma and self defense. I really don't understand how there is an argument there.

[BIBIANO]

I've heard this argument and completely disagree. To think a seasoned jiu jitsu practitioner wouldn't be able to defend himself against an untrained assailant just because he trains solely in a gi is ridiculous.

You're gym should have punch defence and other self defence-specific techniques as part of their curriculum regardless of whether you wear a gi or not.

completely agree that a gi bjj guy would destroy any untrained opponent, but what happens when you have beef with a guy from the wrestling team