Originally Posted by
Arman Fathi
Cerebral response. It had me thinking of a quote that I heard Gui Mendes say a while back. First lemme paint the picture: this was the video that gained some controversy from the Gracies since the Mendes brothers were asked about how sport bjj would fare in a streetfight. Gui's response was something along the lines of "Well if you do jiu jitsu the right way in the street, it doesn't matter what technique you use. If it is jiu jitsu done properly, you will be safe." It was something like that. I'm paraphrasing. But the quote was interpreted as people saying "Oh the Mendes bros are morons cuz they think a berimbolo would work in a street fight."
Lemme tell you something. I bet Gui or Rafa could berimbolo the shit out of guys in a street fight and live to get away with it. Why? Because they've broken that position down to the point that they could catch it on the highest level. They're professional athletes. Notwithstanding, I would never recommend someone use that type of technique with such variable consideration for the clinch in a streetfight. If you watch though, their reflexes and distance management as they attack the berimbolo is immaculate. They're beyond exceptional. Gui may have spoken for himself and his brother, and maybe some of their black belts I'd bet, but who else? Hence the controversy.
I think Gui's quote was taken out of context, and I can appreciate where his point of view is coming from. The problem I have with it however is that some may not look too deeply into the quote with his broken English and decipher what he meant by "Jiu jitsu the right way". That means perpetual consideration for distance management, points of contact, elbows, hips, knees, timing patience all of what bmac said etc. etc. It's jiu jitsu principles upon principles. And then principles upon that. Go on youtube and watch Rafa whoop Jake Shields' ASS and you'll know what I'm talking about. That video is the Da Vinci code, I swear to God. He didn't berimbolo in it, but my overall point is that if the principles are understood, considered, and applied, there's virtually no technique that can't receive further refinement. So basically echoing Bmac