ps1

By definition, it's overwhelming. There is no counter or save. You simply lose.

Debate as you will. What I know for sure is that neither man ever defeated me.....And they never will!

I believe the title was mistaken. He was asking about BJJ or Judo in the off-season to help with wrestling. Clearly I misread his post also...or just skimmed it. Thanks for the heads up MP. The only thing that will make him better at wrestling is more wrestling.

I love Judo, but many Judo throws are used in wrestling as well. Also, wrestling includes many takedowns that are illegal in Judo. Lastly, wrestling has far more practitioners. I would go with wrestling.

I agree. But I site the change as people finally getting over their egos and learning they do have weaknesses. So they train to fix the weaknesses and now know how to fight in different conditions. A really tough Rickson Black Belt was just destroyed on TUF. Why? Because he thought BJJ alone would win. That just can't happen anymore.

I'll keep an eye out for them.

Thanks. Regarding the bold print: I post BJJ videos on youtube. I get a ton of comments. The vast majority of the comments are about how the move won't work in multiple attacker scenarios! That would be a valid point if my video was at all geared toward self defense or multiple attackers. But they are clearly videos geared toward defeating/countering other BJJ techniques. Yet these guys want to tell me that karate or boxing or martial art x will beat this. All I can think is how foolish these people are. I've never seen a BJJ practitioner demonstrate a ground move and say it's great for multiple attackers. Heck, Royler Gracie himself told a guy "jiu-jitsu doesn't work magic" in response to a ridiculous situational question. Further, Rickson Gracie is quoted as saying, "Competition in jiu-jitsu is only about 30% of the art. Without learning defensive striking, self defense, and a combat guard, you have not learned jiu-jitsu!" So, just like other arts, what is seen in competition is not the entire art. So for people to draw judgement based on competition is quite unfair. As i said before, the arrogance is on both sides. Quite frankly, any great proponent of an art will tell you what the art's weaknesses are and how to fill in those gaps. Then they will do that to the best of their ability.

Turns out I was in some pretty rare company! Cameron Knight (Ground Zero - Huntington, WV) Nick Cimmarusti (New Breed - Chicago, IL) Bill Jones (PCBJJ / Pedro Sauer - Youngstown, OH) Eric Ramsey (JG MMA - Cincinnati, OH) Josh Souder (Gracie Jiu-Jitsu - Cincinnati, OH) Jeremy Good (Strong Style / BRASA - Cleveland, OH) Rodger Ketchman (Ann Arbor Jiu- Jitsu - Ann Arbor, MI) George Oiler (WV MMA - Beckley, WV) Dan Hornbuckle (ATT - Indianapolis, IN) Anthony Crites (Triangle Club - Lima, OH) Keith Herbert (Ohio Combat Sports - Columbus, OH) Dan Head (Garra BJJ - Kokomo, IN) Darrin Branch (Evolution BJJ - Cleveland, OH) Danny Midell (New Breed - Chicago, IL) Kevin Holmes (SRJJA - Toledo, OH) AJ Agazarm (Gracie Barra - Tampa, FL) Thanks for all the words of encouragement!

Regarding Rules: I would point to the first few UFC events when there were none. The outcomes speak for themselves. Here's a great example: I do not believe MMA proved BJJ to be the most effective mode of combat. I believe it proved that, if you have a weakness in any phase of combat (free movement, clinch, or ground), it can be exposed. When MMA started, that weakness just happened to be the ground and the Gracie family capitalized very well. I could just as fairly look at typical sparring rules and say why training that way won't work on the street. But that's not its purpose, and I understand that. Regarding Attitude of BJJers: I would not let the postings of a few "this vs that" videos be the voice of all who study bjj. We also have high level black belt practitioners such as Chuck Norris and Dan Inosanto! Not everyone is closed minded. In the end, i feel the arrogance is on both sides. Afterall, years before BJJ hit American shores, we had karateka talking about how boxing is ineffective also. I'm sure many of you remember the days when people would ponder that scenario. Traditional Karateka first talked about how BJJ was too new and not at all traditional. The first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu school was opened in 1925. Heck...that's well before several karate systems commonly practiced today. As always ends up being the case, it comes down to the practitioner. The harder they are willing to train, the better a representative of their art they will be.

I don't mind. Some of it is competition based. For example, I'm not used to the long match lengths that are allowed in my division. So I tend to rush things to keep action moving when it's not necessary. Another thing is simply being mentally prepared when the ref says go. There's little to no warm up time at these things. You basically go up cold. Third, I have to learn to "let go." That is, don't over think things and just go for a the move immediately. Working my weak side butterfly guard passes. Working the reverse De Le Riva position, i turned and gave up an inside knee (knee cutter) pass. An alternative option is to work placing the hook inside and transitioning to x guard. (Will need to explore both options and see what I like best) Move through the turtle more quickly and get back to guard. No pauses there. Work on escaping the back more quickly. I tend to lay there with my students so they have a chance to train their moves. But this has clearly created a bad habit for me. I suspect the same is true of all my escapes. Because none of my students can beat me unless I let them, I need to slow down drastically to give them a chance. This is a common problem among BJJ instructors. I will rectify that. Take downs need work...but that's not really new. Some of the positions have multiple options and that makes up the rest of the list. I will compete again in June at the NAGA tournament. So we'll see how things go at that point.

Wow. I was totally outclassed at this tournament! We had a bellator champ, 2 pan am champs, and several very experienced competitors come from as far as Florida (tourney was in ohio). I lost my first match in less than 5 minutes via bow and arrow choke. On the bright side, I learned at least 10 things I need to work on. Thanks for the well wishes everyone.

This weekend I was invited to compete in the OGC 26 brown belt 16 man invitational tournament. Basically, the OGC (ohio grappling challenge) puts on large tournaments all over Ohio. At each tournament they have a "main event" so to speak. I am going to be in that event. I only compete a few times per year and was ill the entire month of Feburary (even spent a week in the hospital). This will also be my first competition as a brown belt...and it's an invitational with a cash prize. Just thought I'd share my nervousness/anxiety. I'll let you guys know how I do once it's over. My bracket starts on Saturday at noon! Wish me luck.

First, congratulations. Second, you're only 23. You should have no problem keeping up with teenagers. You haven't even reached your physical prime (between 27 and 30 yrs). Barring any physical barriers you may have, start working on this sooner rather than later. Good luck and good training.

Go to an actual jiu-jitsu school before someone gets hurt. I will play no part in your foolish endeavor. Good luck.

I respond by saying that you're a moral person who wants another person to give you a black belt, not just give it to yourself. That's respectable. But it does not change the fact that, if we are to believe the story, the kid was of black belt skill in sparring (of some sort). He didn't like kata, but there are plenty of arts without kata. So it's his art and, therefore, his ranking system. If he had put on a pink belt, claiming it the highest in his art, would we still be having this conversation? Probably not. But because it's "Black Belt" it matters. The way I see it, we have 2nd and 3rd degree black belts out there learning two or three styles and suddenly making up their own and giving themselves 10th degree BBs in them. Happens all the time. People don't make a fuss about it. If the kid can do what he says is necessary for earning a black belt in his system, than he's a black belt. It's up to everyone else to sort out the bull crud from the facts. Again I state, the story is a bit far fetched. But i take it at face value because I have no evidence to the contrary. Plus it makes for interesting conversation...as evidenced by 16 pages of content.

Strange that he would just vanish. Did he vanish before or after they tried to get rid of you?

That clears up alot of things. Especially the info about Iwao Takahashi. I was under the false understanding that he was in charge. Turns out he just thought he could take over. He was just a jerk. This is why I hate politics in martial arts. They were never meant to go together. Glad everything worked out for you.

In all actuality, Newton's 3rd law will lead you to understand that the board hits you as hard as you hit it. Breaking it is more a matter of density and leverage than force.

How many potential people are there that meet the requirements you've set? Seems like a pretty exclusive group. Also, since you're running your art like a business, it may be prudent to require knowledge other than martial when electing the board (business and accounting degrees). Since they are to represent the student body, have you considered having a junior yudansha as a member of the board? A sandan or nidan would certainly be more in touch with the needs and esprit decorp of your student body. I guess my last word would be one of caution. You have a great love of what you do and for your student body. That's evident. But don't get so caught up in creating laws and regulations designed to protect them that you lose sight of the needs of real people. It's a fine line and easily crossed. Afterall, you've said it yourself, "it's just martial arts." Good luck Bob. Keep us posted.

Agree

Bruce Lee NEVER earned a black belt or any certification stating he was of high level of skill. Yet he his almost worshiped in his own right. Moreover, people create styles all the time. Who are we to say they are or are not a black belt. All I can say is he isn't a black belt under me.

To answer your question above in bold type.... To honor my students as well as my Soke and Dai-Soke. My Dai-Soke honored me by making me Kaicho. It's the few that didn't want me, and now they're gone! To answer your other question...The Hombu is not mine to do with as I please. The Hombu belongs to the Shindokan Karate-do Association, I just work there. I guess I'm confused about how things happened after the legal suggestions. Did you fire the people who wanted you out or did they resign ect...Either way, are they actually out of the organization? Is the Dai-Soke's son not still in charge? I thought you said it was his idea to move everything overseas. I can't imagine the grandson of the founder leaving the organization. Did they not move the Hombu to Okinawa (thus making the American an affiliate or embassy of sorts). Lastly, it seems to me that it is your duty to voice your opinions of what your Soke & Dai Soke wanted. However, since they are not here to voice them, your opinions hold the same weight as the other who worked closely with them. It's a matter of perspective. Each side will see their beliefs as valid. I suppose that's what all the by laws are meant to address however.

These are the types of problems that will occur when attempting to turn a martial way into a business. In the past, honor and respect were all that was necessary to do the right thing. There was too much bloodshed and fighting to give time for such things. But times have changed. And, as is often the case, the goal of a person in power is to gain more power. I worry that your "victory" will be short lived. Where there is a will, there is a way. My question to you is the same as it has been in the past: Why do you want to be the president of an organization that neither wants you or respects your opinions? Why don't you simply keep your school (former hombu) and grow it on your own? I would suggest your students train because they believe in you, they respect you, and they enjoy you. Being part of some organization that wants nothing to do with them is not a concern to them. Not really anyway. Good luck.

Jason Scully has the best "solo" drills you can do for BJJ:

Isometrics used to be very popular in the 60s and 70s. That's probably why Lee was a fan of it. However, research has shown that isometrics only give strength benefits and gains in the angle being trained. So if I'm holding a bench press with my arms at 90degrees, that's the only angle that will have strength gains. It's important to move through a full range of motion in strength training in order to reap maximum benefits.