
Originally Posted by
scottross
According to Brian Jones, in addition to skill on the mat, jiu-jitsu involves: terminology (Mission Control, Zombie to New York, Clear the Neck to Chill Dog; seems like we've got terminology covered), lineage (Carlos Gracie/Jean Jacques Machado, Eddie Bravo...lineage, check), that promotional thing (???), and philosophy (choking people out is a good thing/ getting choked out is a bad thing; check).
I guess the only question is, what is "that promotional thing?" Is it a buy two private lessons, get a third free promotion? Is it a for a limited time only, sign a one-year contract and receive a free T-shirt promotion? Is it posting dogmatic videos about antiquated modes of training in hopes that people who already agree with you view you as a soldier in the conservative movement?
Or is "that promotional thing" a reference to the practice of receiving a belt promotion from someone who holds a high enough belt to award that promotion. In that case, see lineage. Checkmate.
That is a BJJ lineage. When he says you don't have a belt in no gi, I agree, you have a BJJ belt rank. Even if you don't wear a gi or belt. The way I see it is the 10th planet system is just another BJJ curriculum. It has different requirements for rank than other BJJ gyms. But guess what? So do all the other BJJ gyms. The curriculum requirements for Roy Dean blue belt are different than the blue belt requirements from the Gracie Academy, which are different from the requirements at Gracie Barra, which are different from the requirements of MABJJ, which are different from the requirements at Renzo's school, which are different from the requirements at Rickson's school. It's all BJJ, and if your lineage is legit (which Eddie's and by extension, all 10th Planet ranks are), then who cares. At that point it boils down to BJJ politics, which, to my knowledge, are mostly stupid.
Also, there are different belts for different people. You got competitors whose rank, ideally should reflect their performance in tournaments. You've also got people who don't compete, who's ranks (in my mind) should ideally reflect their general knowledge, technical ability, and experience, rather than wins and losses.
He's also right about self promotions, but then, none of us here are doing that (I hope). Unless by self promotion you mean marketing, but then, all the major gyms do that too *cough* Rener *cough*...