"Why I Don't Train in the Gi" by Marcos Avellan

[Chris Herzog]

David, you'll be missed greatly. I wish you and your family the best! I could definitely see you running a hotbox in the future!

[David Rosado]

David, you'll be missed greatly. I wish you and your family the best! I could definitely see you running a hotbox in the future!

Thanks coach! That means a lot to me. See you tonight.

[Liquidrob]

Hey David, 10th Planet Hartford is here for you when you want to come down, Coach Mike is originally from Mass so he can also teach you about that Boston accent

[Liquidrob]

As for the topic, for me I just get too bored when I wear the gi, I have been to a couple gi schools and every time I'm bored with it in a month, I prefer a fast paced, transitional style of grappling, once guys stop moving and stall I can't take it, no gi just cuts down on a lot of holding and stalling

Plus I have no use for collar chokes and wrapping the a round someone's head

[Brandon Mccaghren]

Marcos just sent out a follow up email:

In yesterday's email, in the opening paragraph, I warned that
sparking the whole argument about training exclusively no-gi
would piss people off... and I was right!

GI LOVERS, give me a chance and hear me out! I feel that
yesterday's email was misunderstood or I didn't do a good
enough job explaining my view.

I'm not saying that no-gi is better than gi. Training gi
is an art form. I'm saying that if your intention is to
get better for no-gi competition or self defense, that the
gi can be a great tool or a creator of bad habits - depending
on what approach you take when training with the gi.

If you are one of the gi lovers that was upset with my last
email, please go back and re-read it. I respect the gi
and the art of traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tremendously!

Furthermore, if you simply love the art of training with the
gi and enjoy all the grip fighting, lapel chokes, and
utilization of the gi for sweeps and submissions - that is
fine as well!

My point was simply that if your focus is for no-gi
competition or street fighting, that one should have the
appropriate mindset when training with the gi if they want
to get the full benefits.

And although I am a no-gi guy (I train in t-shirt and shorts),
I also gave examples of how training no-gi can hurt your
MMA and self defense abilities.

For the those that wrote me back angry, please take a moment
to read the entire email and to understand that I was not
trying to insult anyone I was simply trying to share
my perspective on why I do not train with a gi and trying
to help those get the most out of their training (gi or no-gi).

Sincerely,
Marcos Avellan
www.MarcosAvellan.com
1-888-FFA-GYMS

P.S. I did enjoy a lot of the emails I got though! I got
some cool feedback and enjoyed some of the explanations and
arguments I got. Thanks to those of both the gi and no-gi
schools that shared their feedback.

P.P.S. To those that wrote back insults and were deeply
offended, understand that I was only trying to share my
philosophy.

[rock d]

We should change the argument to sambo boot vs. noboot.

[Brandon Mccaghren]

Sounds like some folks got rowdy with Marcos about his philosophy!

[stlnl]

Sounds like some folks got rowdy with Marcos about his philosophy!

I have a feeling he sent it out to get a few people rowdy. He and Lloyd are believers in the no such thing as bad publicity moniker.

[bobby rivers]

I practice gi soley for the purpose of beating them at their own game. Many will avoid me nogi at all costs, and I ain't scurred.

[David Rosado]

I practice gi soley for the purpose of beating them at their own game. Many will avoid me nogi at all costs, and I ain't scurred.

haha you're definitely a G in a gi.