i'd like to bitch about people slamming on the RG

[gene k]

I would find a different school. I wouldn't give up rubber guard or other unorthodox techniques in my game. Part of the fun is the freedom to explore and express, moment to moment. You should be able to decide what does or doesn't work for you, through your own logic and experience.

[brianspinaltap]

I don't train in a 10p school - I occasionally put a bit of rubber guard or lockdown into my rolls - my instructor notices, but is happy to let me experiment. BJJ should be about finding your own style of rolling, and he knows that. That's why I stay with my gym!

[Chris Odell (Datsusara)]

Thanks all for the support and good advice y'all. This shit really kills me and it's good to hear from others that feel like I do just to be sure I'm not crazy. Looks like I'll be switching schools, maybe just do some drop ins at the old one to say hi to the students which are a good bunch guys.

[jaywatkins67]

I agree with all of the above, it's haters and of course what Eddie said, a lot of ignorance out there (many times stupidity) that just does not want to learn anything new or different. I always hear the arguement, "it doesn't work because you can defeat it with this or counter with that". Shit if that were the case, I guess they'd never use a triangle, either. There is a counter for everything but in my opinion rubber guard minimizes the counter options, sets up a variety of paths you can take if countered, and increases your %'s for a submission or sweep. I'd just listen to their hype, smile, and master the system. Then smile even bigger when you tap his boys out with RG. No better way to shut 'em up than show them, not tell them!

[Rockanrollin]

I hang out online at some music blogs for pedal steel guitar and country music in general. Lots of old timer country player wonder if Robert Randolph can even play country music on pedal steel guitar. I just chuckle under my breath and think why would he , he is making a killing playing rock music on the dang thing. Seems similar to me about the people who write off the rg. Why waste time bringing it up over and over again.

[AKRhino]

Well folks I've been working without Rubberguard and lockdown for a few months now. I've basically been told that I can't get my blue at this gym if I'm going to use those techniques. So I thought I'd try just going without it for awhile. It did help open me up to other parts of my game at first, like more open guard. But it fucking kills me when I have a guy broken down in guard and I can't use my RG to Oma or when I have someone in half guard and I really need that lockdown to keep them off me.

I think I'm about to just snap and drive a lot further to go train at another gym that won't be so ignorant. It's breaking my heart a little since this issue aside I like the gym, it's a few blocks away (which makes it easy to get in often) and the students are a good bunch of guys that I would miss. I have improved greatly in my short time there but I have also lost a big part of my game that I love.

It came to head today when I asked my coach if it would at least be ok if I used all my techniques in a tournament setting even if not at the gym. I could just feel the frustration and annoyance that I even asked the question. He more or less said he's rather have me compete then not but that if I use those techniques he'll be yelling at me to stop doing them. Oh yes and along with all the usual that shit doesn't work, why would you do that etc.

I feel like I'm betraying myself if I just give in and give up on things I love. Would you guys let it go?

Dude, you have to remember, you are a customer. If you're not happy with your experience, stop paying for it. This guy sounds like a dick. I can understand if, for example, he teaches a specific system. In that case he wants you to learn that system, and if you're using RG, etc, than you're not using and advancing in his system. To a point, I can understand that he would want you to be using the system that he's going to be ranking you on. But that only goes so far.

Imagine, you've been training jits for years, and you've learned a different style. You move and find a new gym, and it just so happens it's 10th P HQ! I would be willing to bet, though I could be wrong, that Eddie would want you learning, and using his system. I would HOPE that he wouldn't bash your old system, but would encourage you to play with RG and the new path, lockdown, etc.

I've had my coach tell me I'm not allowed to play guard, because my top game was way behind my guard game. But that limitation was directly aimed at addressing a deficiency in my game. And it was temporary. If your coach isn't limiting you for a specific reason (like what I've mentioned), then he sounds like he's a dick. I don't think I would be willing to pay him for his services much longer if I were you. Especially with him telling you that he doesn't want you using your game in tourneys, that shows that he's not as much interested in fixing what he thinks is a deficiency in your game (by encouraging you to avoid those things that you're already good at in favor of newer things that you've not worked as much and haven't developed), and is instead just being closed minded.

[Chris Odell (Datsusara)]

AKRhino, yep I agree completely. There was a time when I focused too much on RG and my closed guard game in general and I should have listened to my teacher back then and eased off for awhile, that I get. But I hardly ever pull RG these days, I really just use it to control guys and setup the omoplata because that's the one path I have put in the rep time for to be very good at. I was incorporating all this guys stuff into game and all I was asking was to not abandon a useful tool, especially in comps. Oh and when I have gone to any 10th Planet gym no one has ever told me to stop using techs that worked, 10th Planet is always cool like that

I've had it now, moving on to go train at Kaijin for awhile where they don't discriminate. This will set me back once again for my blue, which is almost comedic at this point but oh well, having fun is way more important. Thanks all for the input.

P.S. What's the etiquette about competing as a new member of a gym. I was just about to go for it but I'm only just starting at Kaijin so it's not like I know them well enough to compete under their flag, nor do they know me well enough. How long do you think one should wait for that?

[sean applegate]

Everyone knows that all you need to shut the 10th planet system down is a basic knowledge of bjj.

[Peter Silva]

They hate us cuz they ain't us!

[Chris Odell (Datsusara)]

Everyone knows that all you need to shut the 10th planet system down is a basic knowledge of bjj.

yeah, just posture up lol