What is your Jiu Jitsu animal?
Awhile back, I did a camp with Leo Vieira. As an inside joke sorta thing, I told him that my jiu jitsu animal is the Electric Eel, given that I like to live underwater, consider the Electric Chair as a go-to move, and move much like the Eel in every position. A Shark lives under water, what's dope about the Eel though is that it lives under the sand beneath the ocean. We're talking deep water. It has become an identity of sorts. What caught me by surprise is that when I asked Leo what his animal was, he replied, without an OUNCE of hesitation:
"Octopus"
This made a lot of sense based off our earlier roll. He seemed to have more points of contact than the average person. He seemed to control me in ways that I didn't normally feel. His legs were like extra arms, like tentacles. Playing in the gi made it worse for me. The fact that he knew his animal right away indicates that he has an identity on the mats. What blew things up is that everyone at the camp wanted me to give them an animal. It became too much, not knowing their games/tendencies/body movements. Only the beholder of their own skills can truly know their animal. A lower belt may still be figuring it out. No worries. Keep training, it will come.
When considering your animal, evaluate if you are a top or a bottom player. Evaluate if you are a takedown guy or a guard puller, if you like to pass, smash, and submit from mount, or if you prefer to swim under a guy and enter the lower body submissions. If you had to choose one way to catch someone, gauge your animal around that. Imagine if you were an animal, whether you would live in the Sky, the Land, or the Sea. If you live on one terrain or are amphibious. Below I am posting animals that have been suspected or confirmed, amongst the Jiu Jitsu community...some I have confirmed first-hand, some are second-hand, some are suspected.
Feel free to add your name to the list, and give your reasons! :) Also, feel free to make an argument for someone on this list or not on this list, exception being for someone that has claimed an animal of their own. Nothing trumps a person identifying with their own animal, no matter what anyone says. If I say someone is one thing, but someone else confirms by first hand account that that person claims to be a different animal, then they are that different animal. You are what is in your heart, not what others tell you you are. Also, non-black belts are barred from using Lion or Shark as theres, as I believe they are reserved strictly for those at the Top of the Food Chain.
Forget not about the subtleties of the animal kingdom: the cat will chase the mouse, the dog will chase the cat, the elephant will smash the dog, yet if cartoons have taught us anything, the mouse will terrorize the elephant. :0
** = confirmed first hand and on record
Rickson Gracie-Lion**
Buchecha-Lion**
Leandro Lo-Tiger**
Mackenzie Dern-Koala**
Eddie Bravo-Sloth**
John Danaher-Sloth**
Joe Rogan-Tyrannosaurus Rex
Jean Jacque Machado-Dragon
Jeff Curran-Big Frog**
Marvin Castelle-Viper
Nathan Orchard-Mountain Lion
Lucas Leite-Coyote**
Jeff Glover-Spider Monkey**
Royler Gracie-Spider Monkey
Eddie Cummings-Shark
Geo Martinez-Anaconda
Pedro Sauer-Cobra**
Lucio Lagarto-Lizard**
Marcelo Garcia-Triceratops
Ralph Gracie-Pitbull**
Arash Dibazar-Pitbull**
Tom DeBlass-Gorilla**
Robert Drysdale-Colt
Ronaldo Souza-Crocodile**
Romero Cavalcanti-Crocodile**
Brendan Schaub-Brown bear (Update: dolphin)
***Subject to change***
