Let me start off by saying my opinion on this popular topic.... "If you can grapple, you can grapple, regardless of what you are wearing"
My feeling for this comes from this:
I started training in NOGI years and years ago without ever putting on the GI. I always had an opinion on the topic but without ever truly wearing a GI how biased was I? So for the 2 years I've been training GI, NOGI and Wrestling 6 days a week. At first people would say that I was a natural at the GI but then I just realized that I was playing the 10th Planet game with more clothing on. I was still over and under hooking and using close body control. Of course the GI slows down some of my movement but all in all it's been almost the same. I do feel that they both have something to offer but if I was asked how I feel about it all I would say, focus more on what you are going to compete in. If you are going to fight MMA than training without the GI only makes sense. Everyone has something to offer. There are both fantastic GI and NOGI guys... has anyone ever rolled with Eric Paulson's guys..? They are amazing and mostly where NOGI, I've rolled with some of Renzo's guys that where mostly the GI and there are fantastic as well.
The one thing that 10th Planet offers that I've never experienced anywhere else is the 'flow'. Even Shoot Wrestling, which has amazing flows, doesn't put together the movement and game plan that the 10th Planet system has. There is a path that branches off to many other paths...it's allows your neurological pathways the ability to be in constant attack mood in time of stress and heavy rolling...and for this the 10th Planet System does stand alone. I train with Eddie Bravo, Chris Brennan, an Olympic Wrestler, a Megaton & Royler Black Belt and with Frank Shamrock for years and years and the 10th Planet System gives me something extra that I use in all my training. Eddie is a master of Jiu Jitsu and a forward thinking person that is changing the game in a positive way. I'm glad I opened my eyes to 10th Planet
My feeling for this comes from this:
I started training in NOGI years and years ago without ever putting on the GI. I always had an opinion on the topic but without ever truly wearing a GI how biased was I? So for the 2 years I've been training GI, NOGI and Wrestling 6 days a week. At first people would say that I was a natural at the GI but then I just realized that I was playing the 10th Planet game with more clothing on. I was still over and under hooking and using close body control. Of course the GI slows down some of my movement but all in all it's been almost the same. I do feel that they both have something to offer but if I was asked how I feel about it all I would say, focus more on what you are going to compete in. If you are going to fight MMA than training without the GI only makes sense. Everyone has something to offer. There are both fantastic GI and NOGI guys... has anyone ever rolled with Eric Paulson's guys..? They are amazing and mostly where NOGI, I've rolled with some of Renzo's guys that where mostly the GI and there are fantastic as well.
The one thing that 10th Planet offers that I've never experienced anywhere else is the 'flow'. Even Shoot Wrestling, which has amazing flows, doesn't put together the movement and game plan that the 10th Planet system has. There is a path that branches off to many other paths...it's allows your neurological pathways the ability to be in constant attack mood in time of stress and heavy rolling...and for this the 10th Planet System does stand alone. I train with Eddie Bravo, Chris Brennan, an Olympic Wrestler, a Megaton & Royler Black Belt and with Frank Shamrock for years and years and the 10th Planet System gives me something extra that I use in all my training. Eddie is a master of Jiu Jitsu and a forward thinking person that is changing the game in a positive way. I'm glad I opened my eyes to 10th Planet