Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

[twinboysdad]

My son is a 17 year old blue belt at a Gracie Barra BJJ. When I did BJJ 20 years ago, you got the blue when they gave it to you. Was not based on attendance, competition, but rather mastery of concept. I def see this school awarding belts at a higher rate than they should based on attendance more than anything. My son has competed and podiumed at every event he’s done and I still question his blue belt sometimes when I watch him roll live. He is a human woodchipper with pace and tenacity, but there are things missing from his game that would have prevented me from being a blue belt at my old school 20 years ago

Thanks for sharing.

I have heard that there have been UFC fighters with little to no BJJ background, but who come from strong wrestling backgrounds, who the commentary tells the audience are BJJ blue, purple, or black belts. Apparently because there is an agenda to promote BJJ, especially by people like Joe Rogan. Because often these wrestlers end up being so dominant, and better MMA fighters and grapplers than many of the fighters whose base art is BJJ. Some of the wrestling-based fighters are often simply awarded BJJ belt ranks without even actually training in it. Again, from what I've heard.

I'm not posting this because I'm anti-BJJ; I trained in BJJ for awhile back in my 40s. But if it is true, it needs to be known. I would post the same about ANY art I've trained in, if they were doing something similar.

Jim

My other son has wrestled folkstyle year round for 6 years and a few of those freestyle and Greco. I will say that at his ability to control and sometimes dominate another human, his path to a blue belt would be WAY shorter than someone with no grappling. Same for high level judo players

Yes, IMO amateur wrestling are among the most effective fighting methods 1 on 1, without weapons.

Judo was my first martial art. I personally prefer Judo (or at least the Judo I trained in during the 1970s) over BJJ. But that's personal preference. The Judo I learned had a lot of floor grappling and submissions, along with the throws. I was never a high-level player, but became fair at it in the time I was in it.

The problem with Judo (and a lot of competitive hard grappling arts) is that it really takes a toll on the body; it would be very difficult to continue training past a certain age. All hard training takes a toll (mine sure has), but grappling especially (IMO).

The reason I ended up leaving Judo for Karate and other striking arts back then was because I was one of those kids who felt comfortable in throwing and grappling situations, but was secretly afraid of fist fights. So I became enamored with striking, and learning how to deal with it. Then I became more comfortable at striking and stand-up fighting than grappling. Go figure.

Jim

Agree on all, BJJ seems to be the easiest on the body hence the amount of older folks training it. Wrestling ends for most at 18-19 years old, judo before 30 for sure

[James Y]

100 Men vs 1 Gorilla - The Correct Answer



Jim

[James Y]

If Someone Acts Like This, It's Time to Run Away



Jim

[James Y]

The Rare Art of Sunbin Quan, with Professor Chang Yu-Kai

This is in Taipei, Taiwan. The master shown in the footage at 11:45 was a friend of my first Mantis-style teacher in Taiwan. It was well-known that he was a master of Sunbin Quan. I saw him often having tea and talking with my teacher, but never got to see him demonstrate.



Jim

[James Y]

7 Dirty Tactics That Destroy Trained Fighters in Street Fights



Jim

[James Y]

Two important videos below discussing two different cases of open carry gone wrong, plus comments below:

Open Carrier Killed With His Own Gun at Autozone / Open Carry Gone Wrong



Man Robbed Carrying Gun in Back Pocket, Then Shot Trying to Get it Back



EXCELLENT points are made here.

This both is and isn't martial arts-related. The discussion has nothing to do with martial arts, BUT he mentions that if you're open carrying a gun and someone goes for your weapon, you'd better know how to fight to retain your weapon.

The guy whose gun was taken at the gas station in the second video was clearly not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and probably no amount of fight training would have helped him to retain it, the way he carried his gun in his back pocket.

Too many gun enthusiasts (and even martial artists) treat guns as magical talismans that impart invulnerability upon the carriers. Revisit the video "The Death of the Martial Arts," which was posted in this thread back on May 4th, where the older "Sensei Bill" claims that martial arts, other than for aesthetics and sport are obsolete, and that the only effective self-defense is firearms. Or at least that's the impression he gives. But if you carry any weapon, IMO, you'd better not only know how to carry and use it; but you'd better have the situational awareness, and at least some practical fighting ability to retain it, if and when somebody decides to take it from you.

It's obvious that the newscasters reporting the Autozone story are following the agenda to influence the public to turn against the legal right to carry a firearm. And don't use that tired excuse of, "Because people who come here from California might feel uncomfortable seeing people open carrying." What a load of BS, at least in my case, and in the case of many people I know here in California. There are plenty of Californians who do not fit that overused wussy stereotype. In the vast majority of cases, the person who's open carrying is NOT the person you need to worry about. And if any wussified people from Cali do go to other states where open carry is legal and feel uncomfortable seeing it, too bad.

Jim

[James Y]

"Do This to Win Every Fight"



Jim

[James Y]

"13 Year-Old Jiu-Jitsu Girl Breaks Attacker's Ankle? I'm Not Convinced"



Do I believe the girl's story? I don't know. It does sound to me like a story that a young teenager would make up to gain attention. If she had broken the man's ankle, then he wouldn't have been able to escape the scene and be "still at large." He would require hospitalization.

As he reads the article, it refers to BJJ as "The Brazilian martial art." BJJ is not a Brazilian martial art; it's a variant of a Japanese martial art as practiced in Brazil. Even Rickson Gracie in an interview has stated that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a Japanese martial art. Sure, there have been some modifications added in, but the core of it is from Kano's Jiu-Jitsu (AKA, old-style Judo).

Nowadays, there are some people who will say that BJJ is different from Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. And I am sure that there are other lineages of traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu/Jujutsu that are practiced in Brazil. But when people say "BJJ," they are specifically talking about Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and its offshoots (although I have heard that the Gracie Family does not refer to their art as BJJ).

Jim

[twinboysdad]

"13 Year-Old Jiu-Jitsu Girl Breaks Attacker's Ankle? I'm Not Convinced"



Do I believe the girl's story? I don't know. It does sound to me like a story that a young teenager would make up to gain attention. If she had broken the man's ankle, then he wouldn't have been able to escape the scene and be "still at large." He would require hospitalization.

As he reads the article, it refers to BJJ as "The Brazilian martial art." BJJ is not a Brazilian martial art; it's a variant of a Japanese martial art as practiced in Brazil. Even Rickson Gracie in an interview has stated that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a Japanese martial art. Sure, there have been some modifications added in, but the core of it is from Kano's Jiu-Jitsu (AKA, old-style Judo).

Nowadays, there are some people who will say that BJJ is different from Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. And I am sure that there are other lineages of traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu/Jujutsu that are practiced in Brazil. But when people say "BJJ," they are specifically talking about Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and its offshoots (although I have heard that the Gracie Family does not refer to their art as BJJ).

Jim

She wouldn’t know she broke it. I locked up a straight ankle lock on a firefighter at a friendly garage roll 20 years ago. Was trying to be nice and he wouldn’t tap. Ended up cranking it and heard a few pops and he said something wasn’t right. Was a friend of friend so always hoped he ended up being fine. I was always an early tapper and acknowledged if it was locked I submitted before much pressure. Son has a tournament this weekend!

[twinboysdad]

"13 Year-Old Jiu-Jitsu Girl Breaks Attacker's Ankle? I'm Not Convinced"



Do I believe the girl's story? I don't know. It does sound to me like a story that a young teenager would make up to gain attention. If she had broken the man's ankle, then he wouldn't have been able to escape the scene and be "still at large." He would require hospitalization.

As he reads the article, it refers to BJJ as "The Brazilian martial art." BJJ is not a Brazilian martial art; it's a variant of a Japanese martial art as practiced in Brazil. Even Rickson Gracie in an interview has stated that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a Japanese martial art. Sure, there have been some modifications added in, but the core of it is from Kano's Jiu-Jitsu (AKA, old-style Judo).

Nowadays, there are some people who will say that BJJ is different from Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. And I am sure that there are other lineages of traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu/Jujutsu that are practiced in Brazil. But when people say "BJJ," they are specifically talking about Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and its offshoots (although I have heard that the Gracie Family does not refer to their art as BJJ).

Jim

Son goes to a Gracie Barra school. There are also Gracie JJ schools, saw one in Destin FL 2 weeks ago. All are primarily Gi training. We have a 10th Planet here now and considering checking it out if son decides to move to no Gi. The community at our Gracie Barra is great and rarely do I see an injury. Most are guys 20-40 who need to be at work the next day. Very respectful group so would have to see same at 10th Planet to switch. I do think it’s ridiculous that our school requires a Gracie Barra gi to train

[James Y]

"13 Year-Old Jiu-Jitsu Girl Breaks Attacker's Ankle? I'm Not Convinced"



Do I believe the girl's story? I don't know. It does sound to me like a story that a young teenager would make up to gain attention. If she had broken the man's ankle, then he wouldn't have been able to escape the scene and be "still at large." He would require hospitalization.

As he reads the article, it refers to BJJ as "The Brazilian martial art." BJJ is not a Brazilian martial art; it's a variant of a Japanese martial art as practiced in Brazil. Even Rickson Gracie in an interview has stated that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a Japanese martial art. Sure, there have been some modifications added in, but the core of it is from Kano's Jiu-Jitsu (AKA, old-style Judo).

Nowadays, there are some people who will say that BJJ is different from Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. And I am sure that there are other lineages of traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu/Jujutsu that are practiced in Brazil. But when people say "BJJ," they are specifically talking about Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and its offshoots (although I have heard that the Gracie Family does not refer to their art as BJJ).

Jim

Son goes to a Gracie Barra school. There are also Gracie JJ schools, saw one in Destin FL 2 weeks ago. All are primarily Gi training. We have a 10th Planet here now and considering checking it out if son decides to move to no Gi. The community at our Gracie Barra is great and rarely do I see an injury. Most are guys 20-40 who need to be at work the next day. Very respectful group so would have to see same at 10th Planet to switch. I do think it’s ridiculous that our school requires a Gracie Barra gi to train

Thank you for sharing. And good luck to your son in the tournament.

Yeah, a good, positive training environment is very important.

Jim

[James Y]

Benny Urquidez abd Rigan Machado Speak About Their Hero, Bruce Lee

Benny Urquidez was and still is my favorite fighter.



Jim

[James Y]

Grappling Fight in Berkeley Shows Us the Priorities in Self-Defense on the Ground

The subject begins at 1:00 in.



I've mentioned in this thread multiple times the incident that happened here locally of the MMA practitioner who was stabbed over a dozen times (more like 15 or 16 times) while mounting and grappling with another patron in the parking lot of a bar. He died from his wounds; but he had taken so many stabs, because he obviously hadn't felt them during the heat of the fight, or had thought they were just punching attempts.

I've also mentioned another local incident involving Dusty Harless, the amateur wrestling champion who was known to get into many street fights; and in his last street fight he was stabbed once, severing his aorta, and he, too, died.

It's vital to understand that if you go around getting into street brawls, the other person, and/or their friend(s), are not necessarily going to adhere to some type of "fair play" rule set.

Jim

[Skywalker]

My son is a 17 year old blue belt at a Gracie Barra BJJ. When I did BJJ 20 years ago, you got the blue when they gave it to you. Was not based on attendance, competition, but rather mastery of concept. I def see this school awarding belts at a higher rate than they should based on attendance more than anything. My son has competed and podiumed at every event he’s done and I still question his blue belt sometimes when I watch him roll live. He is a human woodchipper with pace and tenacity, but there are things missing from his game that would have prevented me from being a blue belt at my old school 20 years ago

Just curious, what do you think is missing from his game that would have been required?

Is it missing in the sense of not knowing what to do or having even one go-to (attack or defense) from certain positions? Or missing in the sense of not consistently applying some fundamental principle (e.g., keeps his elbows too loose and keeps getting kimura'd or armbarred as a result)?

[twinboysdad]

My son is a 17 year old blue belt at a Gracie Barra BJJ. When I did BJJ 20 years ago, you got the blue when they gave it to you. Was not based on attendance, competition, but rather mastery of concept. I def see this school awarding belts at a higher rate than they should based on attendance more than anything. My son has competed and podiumed at every event he’s done and I still question his blue belt sometimes when I watch him roll live. He is a human woodchipper with pace and tenacity, but there are things missing from his game that would have prevented me from being a blue belt at my old school 20 years ago

Just curious, what do you think is missing from his game that would have been required?

Is it missing in the sense of not knowing what to do or having even one go-to (attack or defense) from certain positions? Or missing in the sense of not consistently applying some fundamental principle (e.g., keeps his elbows too loose and keeps getting kimura'd or armbarred as a result)?

Not having certain basics attacks mastered. The kimura is my favorite submission and can be applied from guard, mount, north south, and side mount and even top half guard. They have only drilled it from guard which isn’t his fault. Also the position before submission thing isn’t well taught there either. I could always get back to a better position and knew how to get there. But I also was obsessed with BJJ at the time and this was pre internet so I read everything book wise I could. One thing I had that neither my BJJ son nor wrestling son have is I can watch a YouTube video and immediately be able to be very close to the technique the very next training session. I realized this and understand now why they don’t watch all the videos I spam them with. My son who wrestles has received hundreds of videos from me but rarely tries any of the moves. I digress

[James Y]

"Why Would You Do That?"



Jim

[James Y]

The Most Dangerous Street Fighting Move They Never Teach You



Jim

[Naperville]

The Most Dangerous Street Fighting Move They Never Teach You



Jim

The only art that I studied that everyone likes to say was fake covered all of these and more in the 1970's and early 1980's before it was shut down for tax evasion and other crimes. Chung Mo Quan was a mixed bag, like all martial arts. I think some of the leadership were nutz!

Maybe Franco covers the backhand strike - eye rake too. Chung Mo Quan taught all of this within the first year.

[Naperville]

It had to be because it was the 70's, I cannot think of anything else.

Now that I think of it Chung Mo Quan was just violent. I saw people pass out from holding stances and have to be carried off the mat, bloody noses and lips and black eyes of all the time. They had target mits, but they usually struck to the opponents body to teach them how to take a punch, hahahahaha. The only other equipment that was in the dojo were swords, staves, and poles that they would hook buckets of sand onto for walking in circles in the dark, so as to build up thighs/calves for kicks and jumps.

They were nutty. Militaristic. Violent. Brutal. Effective.

[James Y]

It had to be because it was the 70's, I cannot think of anything else.

Now that I think of it Chung Mo Quan was just violent. I saw people pass out from holding stances and have to be carried off the mat, bloody noses and lips and black eyes of all the time. They had target mits, but they usually struck to the opponents body to teach them how to take a punch, hahahahaha. The only other equipment that was in the dojo were swords, staves, and poles that they would hook buckets of sand onto for walking in circles in the dark, so as to build up thighs/calves for kicks and jumps.

They were nutty. Militaristic. Violent. Brutal. Effective.

This kind of stuff is also in my Choy Lee Fut; of course, not his exact method and not his program, but the skills themselves are there.

Nowadays, the way society is now, a lot of really hard-core training risks lawsuits. I also feel that some hard-core training methods can end up being more damaging to the trainee, in the long run. The idea of learning self-defense is to preserve life; I also assume that includes quality of life.

Jim