
Originally Posted by
Martin Campbell
Have to admit I like Rener Gracie he seems like the most open minded Gracie.
The music on clips like that drives me crazy. What's the point?
As for Rener, I don't know if "open minded" is the right word. I'm pretty sure "Gracie Jiu Jitsu" will be the exactly the same 100 years from now as it is today. That's not really open minded. That branch of the Gracies believe Helio Gracie figured out everything we need to know about self defense jiu jitsu, and I personally wouldn't be expecting to them to add anything ever to their curriclumn. I know Rener knows every new innovation in sport jiu jitsu but I'm not sure how much of that is actually taught at his academy. Eddie is a far more open minded martial artist in my view.
I give Rener credit for keeping the foundation of authentic self defense jiu jitsu alive, and his academy is probably the best place to learn a foundation of guard, side control, mount and the classic submissions (triangle, armbar, mate leao, etc) but I don't picture that when you are training there you are surrounded by open minded instructors who are open to "new" ways of doing things.