Firas Zahabi on the Watering Down of BJJ

Taken from JRE MMA show #83 w/Firas Zahabi: • Video

[@steveabraham3052]

“You harm your student by giving them a belt they can’t carry.” - Firas Zahabi 🤙🏾

[@SirFancyPantsMcee]

False confidence will injure you.

[@brighteyes7606]

🔥

[@steveabraham3052]

80% suicides are men but no one cares You mad bro? 🤣

[@1winged136]

@@steveabraham3052 he's definitely mad, bro. he's probably a dude who lives his life according to quotes said by beetle juice--the dude who appeared on the Howard Stern show.

[@74261700002770825]

I have a black belt in eating pizza and hot Cheetos.

[@Enrique-peralta]

I gotta say the war medals i ordered online truly make me proud and feel like ive served my nation hell i might even go get a purple heart

[@cavemanlovesmoke4394]

Thank u for ur service

[@davearbique4622]

😂😂😂😂

[@abdelmahmoud7329]

AnnexGroup Damn you go down there that time of the month?

[@war_rogers]

@AnnexGroup tf

[@doesntmatter5857]

That comment alone qualifies you for an Iron Cross in my book.

[@AaronS3244]

Jiu jitsu: the gentle art of folding clothing whilst people are still in them.

[@drspicy9789]

I think this is a brilliant comment.

[@alexrandell9199]

Involuntary yoga

[@DEEPMUCH]

That's too RAD:)

[@notyourdinner3446]

Whilst maintaining your toxic ego

[@alexrandell9199]

@@notyourdinner3446 ??? Care to explain yourself?

[@mariuszpudzianowski1743]

I've trained for almost 4 years now, mostly no-gi. Still a white belt, but can tap bigger blue belts, purple belts in the same weight. Belts are nice, but skills are more important.

[@Bravetowers]

Mariusz Pudzianowski si why are you still a white belt then? I’m new to the BJJ world and I have lots of questions.

[@mariuszpudzianowski1743]

@@Bravetowers It's weird but our gym tends to promote people who train and compete in gi more often and much faster. I'm not the only person in this situation but nobody really cares, most guys need their BJJ for MMA anyway and getting belts is just kind of an additional reward.

[@erasylnash6697]

Dude, you're ex strongman and a heavyweight. Which heavier opponents?

[@mariuszpudzianowski1743]

@@erasylnash6697 Only thing that is heavy are my punches when they hit someone.

[@nevermindus9352]

You can desregard the promotion and still can compete

[@117soci]

This is why i love traditional Muay Thai. There are no promotions. You train hard and you gauge your improvement through sparring or competition.

[@Saber23]

In N Out there are no black belts in Muay Thai

[@thepunishersequence291]

@@Saber23 I don't know I think he's joking or something

[@Saber23]

The Punisher Sequence yeah I got that after I wrote the comment but I’m to lazy to delete it

[@thepunishersequence291]

@@Saber23 shouldn't you be in support duty right now?

[@mrsozez]

@@Saber23 there is def belts in Thai tho, championship belts! Haha inside joke

[@Irnt01]

Got my blue belt yesterday after 3 years of being a white belt. Edit: 3 June 2022 got my purple Belt.

[@averaagelarry]

fuck yeah oss

[@rhodwilliams7258]

Congrats

[@thundercheeks1989]

Congratulations

[@Irnt01]

Thanks @ all 😊❤️

[@conormcdaddyofficialdickri312]

Keep grinding bro and don’t ever be discouraged.

[@BobasLife]

I just started BJJ and I come from striking arts like TKD and Kickboxing. I’ve never experienced anything like BJJ. Every class we roll with others at some point going 85-90%. My first class which was a trial class I got chocked out by a blue belt. My whole experience is getting my butt handed to me but I’ve learned so much. Amazing art.

[@vert619]

Nice brother 🤟🤟

[@chrisvillarreal2752]

That’s a horrible class 😂 you’re not suppose to be destroyed at 85-90% wtf you would never last to getting a black belt 😂 slow, smooth, steady, light sparring, and responsibility is what takes you the distance with martial arts. 85-90% Jesus Christ 😂

[@BobasLife]

@@chrisvillarreal2752 yea it was a very competitive gym. Nobody ever wanted to tap.

[@csyarid]

And that is the problem with BJJ. When you are not given time to learn the move you were just taught it all goes out the window minutes later when you roll. It is pointless. You can't learn anything when you are just trying to survive. A VERY ineffective teaching method.

[@MalleusIudaeorum]

@@chrisvillarreal2752 you’ve definitely never trained and if you do you’re at one of the mcdojos Firaz is talking about. You go 100% in BJJ and it’s completely safe, rolling isn’t like sparring where you go easy unless you’re strictly practicing techniques.

[@carsonsantos1154]

The belt just ties the gi. Your jiu-jítsu wil talk for you

[@OdinsHallsBrazilianJiuJitsu]

I’ve got a student who started with me about a year ago, but rarely comes. He’s only got 1 stripe on his white belt. His buddies all started at the (insert big corporate bjj place across town), and they’re all blue belts now. They’re all making fun of him for choosing “the wrong gym,” because at their gym, he would be a blue belt too. Even if he only shows up once a month. This is what Firas is talking about

[@loganmurdock4679]

That's funny considering the joke is on them..Not only are they wasting their money but they're being lied to in the process

[@amazingGrace108]

My son rarely trains but but has one stripe white belt. During the seminar the demolished one guy who started training at the same time as him. That guy has blue belt two stripes and comes /pays regularly. We pay per training. Coach said that the guy who comes regularly will get promoted faster. But he is getting his ass kicked by one stripe white belt. Where is the logic in this? Of course there is none. Bjj standards are going down fast.

[@alexkmoz]

@@amazingGrace108 There are SOOOO many variables involved there. 1) How big is your son compared to the blue belt? 2) What kind of life did your son have compared to the blue belt ? - For example, was your son very active with gymnastics, football, hockey, rugby, swimming, or any other physically demanding sport? - What kind of life did the blue belt have? was he sedentary? Does he have a mental disability? - Because I'm one of those people that takes a LOOONG time to "get it". I showed up 2-3x more than anyone else, and still get caught by white-belts (I'm a blue). 3) What kind of training partner is your son, vs the other guy? - Is your son spending hours reviewing videos and things, vs the other guy who just pisses about during training? - Also, is your son pushing himself harder against the other people, and being competitive vs the other guy who's just doing lazy rolls? 4) Is your son a natural/gifted athlete? Different people require different coaching. - A regular competitor is going to be held back, and graded based on his performance at competition. Whereas, the Sunday hacker is going to be promoted quicker, because, he has less to prove. Some coaches are measuring progress vs performance - for example, a kid with Down's Syndrome will be promoted based on his/her ability to learn just the very basics. The purpose of grading someone this way is to give them encouragement. It's the coach saying "I acknowledge how much effort you're putting in, and I'm quantifying it, so that you don't feel discouraged". BJJ standards aren't necessarily going down, it's that there are a fuck-tonne more people training BJJ, and everyone is on their own journey, and for the most part, BJJ coaches have to grade according to the wide range of variables as a result of such diversity.

[@as-sirat-al-mustaqeem]

alexkmoz This is a very thoughtful post. Something you wouldn’t expect on youtube.

[@conanthebarbarian7223]

If your student rarely turns up well that’s his problem

[@Drakotar]

I would hate to earn a stripe or belt through this method. Actually earning a belt / stripe for my effort would be far more rewarding.

[@mikeg4490]

I don't do jui jitsu. Serra-longo is too far away from me but i can compare it to powerlifting, i would feel much more accomplished through gradual progression and benching x amount of weight on my own instead of having some bogus trainer lifting the weight for me when spotting me. That must be annoying af for guys who want to be rewarded for effort.

[@lucrative6477]

@@mikeg4490 difference being 500lbs is always 500lbs. in martial arts 1 brown belt doesnt equal another brown belt. it is all arbitrary, and at the end of the day all of these schools are open to make money. whether their selling point is our belts are easy or hard to get, it is all just marketing.

[@1990sodapop]

Sure buddy.....sure

[@odabuu]

They're made to make you feel like you earned it

[@TheJohanningsmeierfamily]

Drakotar I finished my opponent with a really nice armbar💪 please go check it out, and leave a comment, and let me know what ypu think, thank you😊🇺🇸 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJynYZWroa6cbc0

[@tribunation]

There are levels within levels. A purple belt under John Danaher or Andre Galvao would destroy a black belt at any typical average bjj school.

[@darktermi1993]

I think age and conditioning also plays a big part

[@tribunation]

@@darktermi1993 I agree. There are many things to account for. Understanding the body, control of breath, control of energy expenditure, understanding the body... its movement, structure, strength, conditioning and so forth. But most importantly... good top level instruction based on the instructors understanding these things.

[@VoltedSoldier]

@@darktermi1993 TRT is the great equalizer.

[@plcoelho]

Of course. A high level world champion blue belt would tap Joe Rogan or Zahabi 2 or 3 times in a 5 minute roll. Does that make them watered down black belts? Of course not. There are levels inside levels.

[@shrimuyopa8117]

Exactly. 99% of us do jiu-jitsu as a hobby and can't do jiu-jitsu full time or let it rule our lives. Either way, mad respect to those competitors that get out there and are killers at blue, purple, and brown that smash black belt hobbyists.

[@robertnewell4054]

“I got black belt. It hold up my pant. I don’t care about belt. I care about fight” Kru Paul ...with his Thai accent

[@Arizona9001]

Nobody could beat my mom, she has a belt that could whup anyone.

[@yomomma8972]

I sure do

[@vicn1349]

My mom was soft, I use to laugh at her when she would hit me... then my dad took over and I was fucked 😂

[@isaklevy743]

Maybe a BBC might get her

[@MichaelP-ke1tm]

@@isaklevy743 Your dirty momma knows all about that (;

[@isaklevy743]

@@MichaelP-ke1tm so a woman is considered dirty if she dates a black person????

[@thejkyle]

TKD is bad for this. I know 11 year olds who have their black belt and believe you me they do not possess the skills to justify them having it.

[@loganmurdock4679]

That is absolutely terrible..It's sad they would do that to kids

[@PreciseGameplay]

That was exactly the case at the first TKD gym I ever tried out as a kid, sad to see.

[@nukanszn8237]

Truuue, i did TKD about 8 years ago and it took me about a year to get a green belt when i was just going to practice to bullshit with my friends and thats when i realized i was essentially paying for my belt. As a kid i was proud to say i was a green belt but looking back i realized it didnt mean shit

[@CBPxXBallerxX]

Lol got mine at 12 and quit

[@parabel5437]

Yep also saw a lot of elementary school black belts on the tkd classes in my gym like wtf

[@finalcountdown3210]

Doing Jiu-Jitsu at my gym here in the Midwest has been amazing. The instructors are purple and brown belts and really good teachers. I've been going for a solid 4 months now and I don't plan on stopping

[@garybolenable]

Don't stop man. It only gets better!

[@finalcountdown3210]

@MACH WEITER Yeah, well they've since become brown and black belts. So, it doesn't really matter as long as you're a good teacher who can prove your worth on the mat. They are just as worthy to be coaches as they ever have been.

[@perfectsplit5515]

Hope your tournament opponents don't sandbag.

[@ChrisKsan]

When I was a kid, I started martial arts with my dad who was a black belt sensei in Karate Shotokan and Judo; in Africa and we were practicing martial arts for what they were meant to be and not for sports, which actually saved me in a couple of incidents back there and several others since I moved to Europe. A few years later after I moved to Europe, I was practicing my karate kicks and a buddy of mine saw me and he invited me to join his Olympic tkd gym. First off, I was quite surprised how light trainings were compared to what I was used to, but I was young, didn't think much of it, thought it's just because it's a style that I don't know and it's just different. Then I was registered for the first several belt exams, which was surprise nr. 2. Where I come from, you didn't just sign up for the exam, you had to work hard, prove yourself and earn your spot on the exam list. If you were good enough, maybe you were considered for the exam, if not, wait even years. Third surprise after I had a poor performance on my first 2 exams was that I had received my belts anyways. Again were I come from, that would have been impossible. I decided to stop at blue belt and refuse enter exams anymore. I felt ashamed for myself and it just didn't make sense to me. I felt that I am in no way to the level of a higher belt and decided that until I level up and improve my techniques and am able to hold my own with bigger opponents or at least handle myself, protect myself well enough, regardless of seniority and how good they were, I would refuse exams. Which I did for several years. My Sabonim (Sensei in Korean) would ask me twice a year to register and I kept telling him the same thing, that I can't, I am not on the level. Years later I had actually gotten so accustomed to my blue belt, that I failed to notice how much I had improved. I was now able to handle myself well and actually even beat multiple black belts. I was also one of the "examiners" for new members who either transfered from other clubs or claimed to have practiced other martial arts. I was used as a benchmark, since no one in my category could stand up to me. I was used to fighting much heavier and much more experienced guys. So that combined with my background, I would be the first several spars partner for newcomers with previous experience. Whoever could do full rounds with me or even land strikes and hold their own with me (happened only a few times), was considered good enough for our gym. So I waited many years until my Sabonim pointed out that I am at a black belt level already and need to get my belts. So I did and eventually got my black belt from a Korean master, excellent technician with great abilities despite his old age (he was in his 60s or something). That has been my path to the black belt, but even back then and sadly to this day, the standards and practices are the same in Olympic tkd... Exams are held and belts are handed for the money. Also I have never heard of a belt being revoked in TKD, although in Karate and Judo it was to be expected if you flailed to live up to your belt's standards. Which is why, in Karate and Judo, where I came from, you didn't even need to see practitioners wear their belts to know which one they were. It was obvious by looking at their skills and observing how they carried themselves and their whole attitude. You would look at a guy and know what belt he is. Sad to see that along the centuries and decades, martial arts have been watered down so much that in many cases, they are a sport at best or barely. There's a lot of fake clubs and associations which take money from students and teach them bs.

[@chrisgeronimo123]

Wow write a book 🤣🤣📚

[@ChrisKsan]

@@chrisgeronimo123 To be honest, I've considered it. But I'm too dumb to write a book.

[@chrisgeronimo123]

@@ChrisKsan you really should their are cheap courses online that will help 👍

[@ChrisKsan]

@@chrisgeronimo123 Thanks, man! I'll look into it.

[@rrivera85]

@@ChrisKsan Too dumb? nah man, maybe too modest.

[@victorsouza4554]

0:33 Jamie runs down to cancel his BJJ gym membership upon realizing that the gym was shit the entire time

[@b.g.3073]

Hahahahahahaahahhhaha

[@stefanagha3248]

For MMA insight, Zahabi has gotta be the best guest Joe has ever had on.

[@mmaforever594]

and john danaher

[@flameracer93]

For everything else, I lose braincells listening to him talk. About MMA, I can't get enough.

[@anti-derek8151]

@@flameracer93 who Joe ?

[@flameracer93]

@@anti-derek8151 Zahabi

[@MichaelH__J]

@@flameracer93 how?? He’s well educated on the topics he speaks on, and has no problem admitting he doesn’t know other things. We can learn from everyone.

[@edwardhanch4128]

I was a white belt 2.5 years & competed multiple times including the day I was promoted ( not a test, more a ceremonial in-house tournament). It was extremely frustrating but Im very grateful to have earned it that way

[@wowfrosted13]

I had a buddy of mine that went to a mcdojo for a year, got his blue belt through attendance points. I went to a different gym for 7 weeks. We rolled and I tapped him 3/3 times. Sometimes it really is about the gym you choose

[@SAMSARALIVEEEEEE]

He got his blue in a year? lmao

[@timothyjones2407]

So how does one who is new to bjj know if the gym he’s at is doing things correctly?

[@wowfrosted13]

@Timothy Jones the atmosphere. If the instructor is open to questions and affirms his methods by no bullshit rolling, that's a good sign. Avoid gyms that award stripes/belts based off of attendance as well. Promotions should always come by getting better at technique, not just showing up. Talk to other students; if you start meeting a bunch of purple belts that have only trained for a year or two, somethings up

[@stillwatercamargo9606]

He trained for a year and you tapped him 3 times after less than 2 months? Lmao

[@wowfrosted13]

@@stillwatercamargo9606 yeah, and this isn't some testament to my bjj. It was how poor his gym was actually training him

[@ffbear8078]

I just started jiu jitsu (no gi) at university at the start of October and asked them about belts and they told me they didn't hand them out which confused me cause I did Judo for 7 or 8 years when I was younger and it took me a couple of weeks to come to this realisation that you don't need a belt to verify your progress, cause if you have truly progressed to that next level, your skill should speak for itself

[@ryang9973]

Good for you bro. Where you studying?

[@ffbear8078]

@@ryang9973 In the UK

[@ThrashingBuddha]

In judo there are belts to master the throws, pins, locks, strangles, katas. You do the exam knowing everything you need to know to progress to more difficult techniques. Then you get to the black belt. For a black belt, here in Belgium, the only way to get it is to do fighting tests. You go on competition and get points for every win you get. When you get the necessary points (f.i.: 10 Ippons in competition (note: these competitions are usually only certain competition, f.i.: national competition(but yes also less hard comps)), you can go do the kata exam. You will not pass the kata exam if you don't perfect it. This is to show you have supreme control over every movement you do. Thus safewarding your opponent. It is clear to me you don't have a black belt in judo. And that's okay, i don't want to badmouth you.. The thing with BJJ is; it's based on submission only. The more people you tap out, the faster you will get to a black belt. Simple as that. Judo is so much more than BJJ, and in my opinion you can't compare it to BJJ. Ofcourse Judo is also a self defense sport and in the old days it was harder than now. But now Judo is a high competition sport with a different point system then BJJ. Hence why it's an olympic sport and BJJ isn't.

[@ffbear8078]

@@ThrashingBuddha don't worry about badmouthing me, I did it from age 5 to 13 and got to green belt and I agree that the standards for a black belt are higher than most other martial arts, but I never competed in Judo, only trained and got to a pretty high belt for my age, you have to demonstrate you can do the techniques but not in a high intensity situation so you can go through most of the belts while being able to be beaten by someone at a much lower belt that is very good at the earlier "basic" techniques

[@ThrashingBuddha]

Also the point with the grading system in Judo is the following: each color of belt has a certain age next to it. F.i.: yellow is 8 years old or so. The techniques are adapted to that. The age restriction according ti the belt is to make sure that an 8 year old does not learn a rear naked choke or a blood choke or something like that so that he in the future can not fuck things up you know. In judo there's a time for everything you learn.

[@archiehickox6518]

I took a bjj class once. We shrimped for 30 mins and learned a kimura from the bottom for 30mins. I remember thinking "ahhhh this is why it takes 10 years to get a black belt"

[@johnhughes9253]

But you’ll have that kimura in your holster always.

[@idurisu930]

My first submission was also a kimura but it was complicated because you had to break the person's posture first. It was so fun though.

[@archiehickox6518]

@@johnhughes9253 love this mentality! Thank you for that! You are correct my friend. It's been 3 years since that class and I still think I could tear the arm off a bear with it.

[@humann5682]

That's the elephant in the room with BJJ: the culture of inefficient teaching. In reality, if the teaching standards were more logical and cohesive, most people training 3 times a week could get a BJJ black belt in 6-7 years and still be just as good as they would be in 10 years under the current state of things. There's a lot more of a push now for structured learning in BJJ. It has a long long way to go, but I think it's on the right path.

[@iamawuss]

@@humann5682 Well put. I think coaches like John Danaher for example are leading the way.

[@bunkaiking]

Karate has been watered down for years. They took the grappling and throws out to make the bullshit sport karate we say today.

[@rockysingh4090]

They even dont contact

[@Jaya365]

I did it early 80s as a kid. The adults in the class were still doing full contact. Training was hard pressups on knuckles on hard floors, no mats. It took me 2 years to get yellow belt but i was beating up to brown belts in competiton - which was point sparring there were no black belts other than the sensei and hed been doing it 20 years. Saw it watered down though as i was there. It became about money. Now i see black belts in 2 years, grading every 3 months. Theres a kid in my home town who was about 8 and got his black belt nonpractical application anymore just kata and a few basic moves to get a belt.

[@Ge.no.va13]

@@rockysingh4090 Kyokushin karate is better

[@CLOUD316]

man i need Firas as a coach seems super chill and so knowledgeable

[@meaty220]

I love McDojo's. So many of their "fighters" get eaten alive by guys in the dank "hole in the wall" gyms.

[@BorisBidjanSaberi11]

There's a TINY Bjj gym nearby me, turned my cousin into a killer under 1 year

[@INSanITyProductionz]

@@BorisBidjanSaberi11 natural talent probably has a lot to do with that. Good training can do a lot but becoming "a killer" in under a year is near impossible for the average person regardless of whose training them

[@Twobarpsi]

@@INSanITyProductionz a "killer" against an untrained Tough Guy....

[@INSanITyProductionz]

@@Twobarpsi fair enough but to me "killer" means a lot more than beating an untrained opponent. A "killer" would beat people who has trained much longer than they have. I've seen guys with natural talent come in and beat guys with four or five years more experience, no problem. when I say natural talent I don't mean someone who can beat someone with no training at all, but with a few months of good training and a lot of natural talent, it is clear that natural talent has a great effect

[@Twobarpsi]

@@INSanITyProductionz yes! Well said!!

[@artemlobov3685]

I noticed this a lot when I did Tae Kwon Do, so much emphasis on gaining a black belt rather than focusing on getting better.

[@loganmurdock4679]

People are in such a rush to gain a belt instead of gaining the knowledge that should be associated with that belt

[@Steven-cq1eq]

Wise words from the undefeated goat.

[@realjaytruth]

I do tae kwon do for fun with my daughter before I go to kickboxing class lol

[@getonwithit.2847]

Karate schools and TKD schools in the US are all about 1 thing: take your money and give you a false sense that you know how to fight.

[@nathanblades3395]

I noticed that too i have no respect for belts i dropped black belts didnt even get to yellow belt yet😂 I had more of a kick boxing style This was in the 80s I went into boxing after that

[@IrishCaesar]

The best experience I ever had rolling was with a guy about 100lbs heavier than me, brown belt, on my first day. He was built like the mountain from GoT and was terrified going in. But he was super nice and chill, and he told me what I was doing wrong and how to fix it, and he never used a single ounce of force. If that man wanted to he could have crushed my skull with one hand, and he didnt even use his muscle. It was amazing. He just flowed and did everything with utmost ease. Since rolling with him I've been hooked

[@mre_man]

Sounds like you made love with a bear.

[@grahamchandler8028]

so true and so informative. Thanks for the motivation to keep pushing Firas!

[@jopo7996]

The belt system is how martial arts gyms make money. This just in, that's the business model

[@iorekby]

The other issue is that a belt, outside of a martial arts club, has zero value or meaning. It's not like getting a driving license or a Bachelors Degree. Those things have value in society and can be used and recognised outside of the confines of the DVA or a university. Black belts have no meaning outside of martial arts, so the value of them is much more subjective.

[@dr.lyleevans6915]

bob morane China didn’t accomplish anything (other than the largest genocide in known history) until America entered then into the WTO and Hooked them up with the World Bank under Clinton. They turned into a pseudo-capitalist nation and suddenly began to succeed. This was due to its large workforce and the assets of the capitalist West.

[@andrewmurphy8154]

My experience with judo in Japan is that 'blackbelt' - shodan (初段) - simply denotes that you are a serious student who has learnt the basics. My wife always says that shodan is nothing, but non-Japanese seem to revere the 'blackbelt' as some sign of high-level mastery. In Japan (depending on the art (whether shogi, shodo, kendo. or jujutsu), I think yondan (四段; '4th degree blackbelt') or godan (五段; '5th degree blackbelt') is closer to what most Westerners think of when they think of 'blackbelt'.

[@rohansprenger6902]

@@lazydayB2B I think he meant socialism, but he is more or less correct anyway..... Socialist states usually operate a system of communism as a basis of economic management, as do all countries (including 'merica) that present themselves as capitalist.... Tax collection that does not go to an individual or oligarchy, but is spent on any kind of public infrastructure or service is a literal demonstration of a degree of communism and it can be found in any overarching form of governance (even something like a monarchy). I'm not sure how you can throw Cuba into there anywhere - they are crippled (rightly or wrongly) by the embargoes set to them by the US - which other nations tend to adhere to also to avoid the political tit-for-tat which would come from trading with them.... Oh and I assure you, ANYONE can butcher the (cough) Queen's English....

[@rohansprenger6902]

@@dr.lyleevans6915 China didn't accomplish anything. If you believe the world began in 1776....

[@SKgyebaek]

Shame this happened to Karate and Taekwondo. Both were legit martial arts up til the late 70s 80s.

[@kp8444]

I think that also has a lot do with other martial arts becoming popular and exposing how inefficient those limited styles can be overall.

[@k-dog495]

Unfortunately a lot of Karate styles seem to focus on point sparring. A legit Kyokushin school should still train you hard with proper contact sparring. It's not known as the hardest style of Karate for no reason!

[@yomomma8972]

Thank the karate kid movie for that

[@nomaanalwi9495]

Karl Murphy I would argue that to be goju ryu

[@BeachSamuraiStudios]

Kyokushin still has full contact sparring.

[@thecommonkid3110]

I have to say my piece on this, from experience. I am a student at a CTC for Gracie University in the UK, YES there is stripe promotions based on how many sessions you attend. The criteria is 1 stripe per 20 sessions attended, but as far as I know it in no way gives you actual belt promotions. Before you even get to touch or test for a Blue belt you have to demonstrate the 23 techniques to get a Gracie combative belt, then you move onto Master cycle where you will do live sparring with a partner, practice the techniques you have learned and then the more advanced moves are added. You carry on training, then you test for your Blue belt. Anything beyond that I am not sure as I am only a white belt. I sort of understand the people who say you have to roll to earn your belts but a lot of injuries and incorrect movements happen when being thrown in at the deep end. Gracie combative teaches you the techniques, allows you to drill them, then once you have demonstrated you can do these then you move into rolling/ sparring.

[@jeromeinthehousesowatchyam4237]

Watched the clip...leaving to go watch the full interview💯

[@MasterMalrubius]

“There’s just nothing you can do”. Yup. Embarrassing when someone can just submit you at will.

[@grahamvandyke]

It's the worst feeling in the world.

[@Johnny-ke3qu]

And that’s why you train more and more

[@loganmurdock4679]

I used to get smoked as a white belt but it is an amazing learning experience

[@parabel5437]

Got submitted 3 times by a girl on my first day. Weird feeling

[@MichaelP-ke1tm]

BJJ guys would get their ass kicked by boxers and kickboxers on the streets. BJJ is not suitable for street fights or self defense.

[@erictko85]

THIS GUY GETS IT. Firas just gets it

[@loganmurdock4679]

He's gonna turn Kevin Lee into the fighter he was supposed to be

[@chrismason6796]

So true! Trying to teach my young son this lesson now. He enjoys training tae kwon do and is 11. But I really stress him knowing his forms and trying to be perfect with his technique. Good video.

[@normancompton3014]

Just watched this for the first time. Great job!

[@tennisjiujitsu]

Firas is a MMA genius. His KZbin live streams are very informative. He’s good at answering everyone’s questions.

[@doom8274]

he's an average coach lmao

[@tennisjiujitsu]

@@doom8274 k

[@PosyLubelak]

100%. True coach, philosopher that like old school !

[@tjo1984]

Firas is being kind and not naming names. There's a big name school in Montreal that uses a punch card to promote students, all the way to black!

[@rustyshackelford9942]

The same way people earn free coffees and pizzas.... Nice... Stamp me up sensei

[@treroney4720]

James Wagner I wouldn’t be nice about it. Those frauds are gonna get someone killed!!!

[@chilibilly18]

Doesn't the Gracie school of Rener and Ryron do that?

[@greenwood-1426]

Chilibilly Yo they do worse. They let blue belts run schools following an online system here in Europe 🙄

[@iorekby]

@@greenwood-1426 In fairness, many legit schools in Europe were started by blue belts who attended some seminars and worked with some friends back in the late 90's or early 00's. And some of those schools would augment their training with VHS or DVDs. I'm not defending the Gracie University thing, I'm just pointing out how some of what we now consider legitimate BJJ schools in Europe today started that way. There's nothing that terrible about a sound blue belt running a class so long as they regularly check in with a more senior teacher.

[@JohnOpheim]

I trained kung-fu very intensely for four years, had one situation in that time where I stiffened up and could not bring myself to throw a punch. What Joe says at 4:00 is exactly what I thought when I got my daughter started in ju-jitsu. Hearing him saying it here has really inspired me to start myself.

[@Reizermo]

This guy always speaks sense. He described my karate experience as a teen. After a while, there is a grading....everyone gets to do it regardless. Doesn't mean we could really have done shit. Got to early 20s and realised it was horse manure in reality. This was the time when karate was starting to come undone from it's 70-90s hayday. God when I think back to doing kata!! Didn't know any better as a teen

[@asceticsceptic6192]

The "watering down" of anything can easily become unattractive.

[@BURRDAWG_]

It's happening everywhere tho martial arts video games movies everything is just a cash grab now

[@MoooseBlood]

Once I got a watered down Sprite, it still hurts when I think about it.

[@suf1an658]

PaseoDeLaEstrella the worst thing about those is that you can’t even tell because sprite is clear.

[@ruggerREL]

Been a blue for 5-7 years it be like that at times

[@tookurjaerbs]

You know, it ain't so bad. I've been a blue for a while now and I'm in no rush to get promoted. I'm skilled enough that I can concentrate on having fun rolling AND enjoy not being a white belt anymore. 😋😁

[@darthkek1953]

Blue means you should be able to toast anyone who is not trained. Better to have that belt and mean it than have a brown belt and blood on your face.

[@jairbear619]

tookurjaerbs How long have you been a blue belt for? And do you train regularly? Just curious.

[@tookurjaerbs]

@@jairbear619 About a year and four months, now that I think about it. Felt longer than that. 🤔 lol I'd say I was training an average of three days per week before I injured my knee two weeks ago

[@returnfreedom]

sandbagging

[@nickchrappa]

The art of folding clothes with people still in them. Or, involuntary yoga.

[@drspicy9789]

Nice!

[@thisismyname8627]

Murder hugs.

[@Shoegazebasedgenre0.]

Meanwhile at wrestling clubs...

[@ruthlessinu626]

chaos lord Haha. Wrestlers just grind. One of the best stamina and strongest around. Respect.

[@Sultan-lv8sj]

toughest martial art

[@jamietherooster]

@Luke Brown been doing bjj for 2 years and you are right. I am now considering quitting for judo+wrestling+boxing. I can count on one hand the amount of sessions we've looked at take downs. Instead, we spend 25 minutes at the start on a circuit training warm up because 'it's what we do'. Nothing within that first 25 minutes is revenant to bjj, it's half hearted press ups and sit ups. Martial art should not be confused with unnecessary rigmarole.

[@tassmh7080]

@Luke Brown From this comment I can understand why wrestling is a fighting style, but still having a hard time understanding what makes in a martial art. I guess it's because I've always understood martial arts to necessarily include mental training, and not necessarily be confined only to sparring or fighting. It's not that it needs to include a gi and a lot of bowing, but that's kind of the difference between just showing up and wrestling with your boys, which I would argue is not a martial art. This may just be me showing my pure ignorance of wrestling, but it seems to lack the consistent structure that would be important to me if I was going to consider it a martial art, even if it does seem like a useful fighting style.

[@jonlong1269]

🤣

[@clacicle]

I laughed when they talked about their first times rolling and getting crushed. That’s exactly how I felt (probably most people), but then I wanted more. I was so blown away by how I was being controlled. Every class just got better and better even though I was getting my ass handed to me every time. I just wish I’d started years ago. The body can only handle so much.

[@perfectsplit5515]

When I started, I was demoralized and tempted to quit. Every class was a new bruise. I had to wait for the wounds to heal before attending another class. (I later won 8 tournaments and accumulated 18 years of training)

[@vert619]

Nice dude how old are u?

[@jamesleach6438]

Excellent discussion on the state of martial arts school today! It’s all about fundamentals and understanding the psychology of the fighting...Great discussion Gentlemen!

[@nothing-to7iy]

Hes speaking about Gracie Barra. It only applies for the first year, and its for stripes to keep newbies engaged and give them things to strive for. When you enter most gyms without curriculums, or any real idea of where things are going thats why soooo many people start and quit before learning anything. Theres still gradings and just because you get to the end of the first year doesnt mean youre getting the blue belt.

[@keentan2896]

Belts are just the icing on the cake: a reward for displaying a certain level of skill, they are not the actual reward themselves which is to acquire and develop new skills. With the commercialisation of martial arts, belts lost their intended purpose now, and it's really sad. This is true for both traditional martial arts like tkd and karate and mordern martial arts like bjj alike.

[@drewjohn6847]

I took my 8yr old kids to a karate class and half the class was a black belt, including the knuckle-dragging 300lb "instructor", I don't understand why you would go back a second time..

[@henryautumn37]

My kickboxing class is half black belt. All the rest leave. Also my Shihan died, so we lost most students. The new Sensei is hardcore, and only has the real hardcore students left I love it. Sadly I'm moving and won't train Kickboxing again. After 8 years I want some mma.

[@TheJohanningsmeierfamily]

Drew james I finished my opponent with a really nice armbar💪 please go check it out, and leave a comment, and let me know what ypu think, thank you😊🇺🇸 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJynYZWroa6cbc0

[@Powd3r81]

Karate has always been like that

[@MichaelP-ke1tm]

Put them through Wrestling or Boxing.

[@What7641]

Just get rid of belts. In wrestling the baddest guys in the room dont need a belt to let everyone know how good they are.

[@ek7404]

It’s a tradition thing. Something as trivial as going no gi to make BJJ more applicable in a real confrontation was seen as taboo by some BJJ guys. Removing the belt system won’t happen, even though it should

[@JokerL1000]

Facts

[@ButterBallTheOpossum]

they should but guys have too much pride for that happen

[@ChristopherRockhill]

OG IT just go for it. Wrestling is a great sport to experience first hand. I wrestled for three years and loved it.

[@preventablesuffering6239]

dont be discouraged! experienced wrestlers are chill and are ideal training partners, as their control will enable them to give you just enough work to make you earn everything. If they see you are committed to training, they wont mind helping. ya, when you go live, you might get styled on a bit, but most wont straight ragdoll you the whole time. and even if they do, atleast you are feeling what you are trying to work up to. most important is that you wont get injured training with an experienced wrestler. the collective goal in any wrestling room is to improve and be good partners for eachother. the more experienced wrestlers understand that on a deep level. actual live wrestling is a small portion of training, especially for beginners. you will mostly be drilling takedowns, first focusing on form then working on intensity and endurance as you start to get comfortable with your form. good luck! and prepare to get mat-burn on your knees that will be kinda painful the first few weeks, but your knees get used to it :)

[@-CrampedStyle-]

I loved this segment, but it also made me super self conscious about my belt rank in BJJ.

[@joshuabrant3487]

What it would it would take to genuinely revive karate as a combative form is something with a full contact format that doesn't end up looking indistinguishable from kick boxing, while also allowing punches to the face unlike kyokushin. Basically, if you could come up with a system of training that would mass produce Kyoji Horoguchis or Lyoto Machidas then we could generally say that old school karate is back. Full contact, knees, low kicks and elbows allowed, but fighters who move in and out in the blitzing style, sideways stances, sidekicks, front snap kicks over push kicks, old school karate style sweeps etc. You look at someone like Stephen Thompson and its not exactly it either. You can tell he has a karate background, but its in the same way Benny the Jet Urquidez has a karate background. The old long pants kickboxing style of the 1960s, which is fine, but is also distinctly its own thing imo. Kyokushin is also great, but it lacks punches to the face and tbh there is very little you can point to in a kyokushin competition and say hey that was karate. The other component is that you would have to actively acknowledge that alot of what is in katas is not actually practical and if you continued to practice it you would have to both bring back legitimate bunkai from how Okinawans try to apply it today, while also admitting that you are mostly keeping this in out of tradition. Remove things like the bunny hops added to shotokan katas, just so they can finish at the spot they started at and also remove kata as a competitive category entirely. Kata should be a means to an end not the end it self. Imagine if boxers had shadow boxing competitions ahahah. Then finely a lot of the old school conditioning stuff like makiwara training can and should be a part of it, but never done to such an extreme that it ruins people's dexterity. Something like karate combat is a step in the right direction, but the quality of fighters right now is very low imo. Also its a mistake to ban low kicks, knees and elbows. These are all techniques found in traditional karate kata and the distinction to muay thai should come from how people train and fight not through artificial restrictions on what techniques can be used.

[@jacobfarrell7171]

This guy has endless knowledge! And Joe and him have great chemistry. Very good interview

[@fabiors10]

So It's like college graduation

[@DStabs720]

Fabio Rodrigues da Silva no kidding haha. So many people with useless degrees

[@joys8634]

@@DStabs720 what was your degree? unless you're majoring in stem or nursing, you're a bum clown wasting loans lmao

[@treroney4720]

Fabio Rodrigues da Silva imagine having a useless degree and black belt! lol

[@iorekby]

@@joys8634 Good points but would maybe throw a law or business degree in their too.

[@richardpanini971]

How could you say something so controversial, yet so brave?

[@Eagle1349]

I agree wholeheartedly with Firas, as one who was a Black Belt in a traditional martial arts in the 70s I have seen the ugly cheapened of many of the arts. I had to learn grappling etc, but this same martial art form today has been turned into a fancy sport, with no elements of the training that were used to teach soldiers hand to hand combat years ago. My first day of training was a test to see how close the instructor can get you to the breaking point. It was brutal, this concept is very foreign to most martial arts training these days

[@richdome1]

Old man BJJ still Rocking and Rolling at 62 as a Black belt you never stop learning.Be like water my friends!

[@andrewcoates4952]

Thé problem is that newcomers to the martial art won’t know whether the place is good or not

[@greenwood-1426]

Andrew Coates French keyboard ⌨️

[@loganmurdock4679]

You have to make sure you do your research cause they're telling the truth with these gyms and their money grabbing

[@greenwood-1426]

Logan Murdock as long as you train under a legit black belt you can get good anywhere. It’s a mentality thing keep coming be super motivated don’t miss training you will get your teacher attention no matter what id say

[@John-xi1pt]

Most practitioners are quick to self assessment and whether the teachings are beneficial or bullshit. Karate, TKD, BJJ etc are the long drawn out clubs, to see progress its time consuming. Boxing and muay Thai regarding fitness will produce results so much quicker.

[@greenwood-1426]

@Silviu Florin what belt are you brother? You should be careful with learning from KZbin you can really waste your time and slow your progress without a coach to supervise

[@showtime1235]

Firas is right The same thing happened to karate and it looks like BJJ is going down the same road

[@nawan4650]

Judo teacher told me 3 years in a row i wasn't at a brown belt level yet, when in competitions i saw all these brown and even blackbelts that i could take without too much to worry about. In retrospect i'm really grateful because damn that brownbelt actually meant something for me afterwards, i felt pride knowing i earned it. It's gotten to a point where in judo competitions i'd never get worried about a guy's belt because depending on the club it was just them starting katas at 16 to get their black belt asap at small regional competitions without too much effort.

[@tomboombo113]

I’m a black belt in karate and I can say as well that the journey to black belt has been watered down. When I tested everyone passed and when I found out everyone passed I felt insulted. This was because I trained so hard for 8 years and I saw people there who couldn’t be bothered and took breaks over stitches. So I agree when this guy says it’s watered down and I think the achievement isn’t worth the same anymore.

[@PhysicsXL]

Lmao Jamie running out for a piss knowing his pay getting docked😂

[@TheJohanningsmeierfamily]

James Gorden I finished my opponent with a really nice armbar💪 please go check it out, and leave a comment, and let me know what ypu think, thank you😊🇺🇸 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJynYZWroa6cbc0

[@biggeneral1628]

About time Firas Zahabi was brought back on

[@jacesaces15]

i got a blue belt curriculum 9 months into my white belt, i could have test for my blue belt 3 months later because i knew all the technique. That was a year ago and we havent tested for Blue again. I'm REALLY thankful i didn't get my blue belt a year ago, because i have learned so much since then and i feel like i have so much more to learn before i get my blue.

[@moronicpancake8291]

0:33 here we see young Jamie trying to escape captivity

[@Effect360]

I learned more rolling with former competition grapplers than I ever did in a class. I saw someone post this as well, you don’t need a belt when your skill speaks for itself.

[@loganmurdock4679]

You'd be surprised at the level some people are on when no one has a belt on

[@Effect360]

Yeah I think that the belt system is great if you’re looking to be part of a team or to meet people. Although I think that they should use a different color system to set them apart.

[@katherinewolfert1714]

Saw the transition happen in my old dojos. It went from running a gym for fighters to training kids for pay.

[@glc670]

I know a teammate that experienced this. He told me at his last gym promotions and stripes were more based on attendance and the class would only roll once a week. Rank should be based on rolling because yes you can grasp a technique when your partner isn’t resisting but the testament of progress is being able to use these techniques while rolling.

[@garybolenable]

I'm a 51 white belt. Between mandatory overtime and taking girls to soccer practice, I finally got a free Saturday not too long ago, so I thought I would get an extra day in learning technique at my gym, but my instructor decided that day was to be a conditioning day. I managed to hold on up until the very end, when we started doing the knee on belly drill. As I was gassing out doing the knee on belly drill, Professor Ruff was there to motivate me. "Come on Gary, don't stop. I'll call 911 for you. You need to eat less rice and pizza. It's the carbs that are killing you. Only 30 more seconds, Gary. Keep going Gary! I'll call 911 for you!". Professor Ruff knows that I'm 51, but he doesn't let me slack. Just recently, while doing guard break/passing "king of the hill" drills while getting ready for the Portland Open, I was physically exhausted trying to pass a blue belt's guard and prevent him from sweeping me (which he finally did). Professor Ruff was right there... "Get up Gary! Don't let them see you be tired Gary!" He promotes twice a year, in conjunction with a seminar. He will say "If you show up, some of you might get promoted, but all of you will get a hug." This is from Ruffhouse Jiu-Jitsu's Q&A page: "How long does it take to get a black belt?" Minimum of 10 years. With Professor Arthur, it will take closer to 20. Now that's legit. I've been at Ruffhouse for about 16 months now and there are purple belts, who help teach, that haven't gotten a stripe in that time.

[@michealklee8844]

Firas keeps it 100 and that’s he we roll in Chicago no giveaway belts at mission Mma

[@thewarrior6784]

The JJGF, Gracie University and Gracie Humaita are there to preserve jiu-jjtsu the way it is supposed to be.

[@gigolokano1917]

Idk, giving someone a belt based on how long and how consistently they've been training honestly makes more sense to me than the arbitrary way they do it now. I mean, a 64 year old who just got their black belt is probably gonna get crushed by a 22 year old purple belt. So it's not like the belts are based of your ability to win. As it is now, I feel like people view belts the same way I do anyways: if you're a black belt you've probably been training for a long time, and if you've been training for a long time then you're probably pretty good. I don't see the issue with a time based system of belt progression.

[@yoitsdan]

Firas Zahabi is a true great. What an inspirational man he is. He is one of the most important people, not just in MMA as a coach but in the arts of combat and self defence. We love you Firas!

[@edwardcrane7520]

I remember when a blue belt was something. I remember when we first met pedro sauer in va. I remember when Gustavo Machado first came to va as a brown belt.

[@gordonstewart8897]

It's the same for Taekwondo. I took Olympic style taekwondo for three years. I managed to attain a brown belt, but I never felt like I deserved it. I never talk about or brag about it because all I had to do is memorize and perform certain forms, go to class two days per week, broke some boards and never, ever had to spar.

[@2kmichaeljordan438]

I was a black belt in tkd when I was 11 after doing it for 6 years. All we did was exercise, spar, then forms for 2 hours. I think I advanced too quickly, but I was keeping up with adult black belts, I never felt my age was a problem. I’m glad I did tkd in that dojo, but I was disappointed to find out there was so many fake dojos

[@rayciannello2268]

I train at a “Mcdojo” and I love it! Love all my coaches and teammates, 60 a month plus striking classes and regular gym equipment. UFC gym fam!! Plus get to watch all the pay per views there

[@Atom.Storm.]

I did Aikido and Japanese JuJutsu for years. The week we started the club added two new belts that the organisation didn't approve of. After a few years attendace started dropping so they started throwing away belts. We saw guys there 9 months having the same grade as it took us four years to get. One guy was TERRIBLE at everything and ended up being a brown belt and he could barely do the basics. Got there by being a nice, polite guy and showing up regularly. If we couldn't make training due to work commitments we were told that we had skipped a grading weeked and now had to wait another year.

[@ICMFX]

Im a BJJ blue belt, with 3 stripes. I’m 21 years old…. Been training BJJ on a competitive level since 12 years old, train daily And also do interval workouts on the local track, for cardio… I once had to compete against a Brown belt, and that guy was absolute TRASH. So you’re right….. Some gyms don’t demand much from the students anymore, and they will still promote you to another belt. I hope BJJ will remain the way it’s always been

[@daleweymark9476]

Gracie Barra does it with the dots on the calendar you need to do min 2 times a week on your attendance card.. it doesn’t always mean you got it on the due date but it’s a decent chance if you attend

[@JPMMAPicks]

Currently a white belt been training for about six months, my gym is very strict on stripes and belts I mean I know guys who at other gyms could possibly be 3 stripes or even blue belts who are only on their first stripe. Our coach is big on earning belts the hard way and the traditional way, which is how he got his black belt.

[@damienholland8103]

I tried a lot of different martial arts styles but Jujitsu was my favorite so I stayed there for 10 years. Was great. I was the unhappiest with Stephen K. Hayes and Steven Seagal's dojos.

[@fretbuzz6893]

its a great shame what has happen to Karate these days. I trained at a Shotokan club during the '70's and 80's where Kumite was hard and fast but with controlled contact. Had a few years off due to work and family commitments, went back 15 years later with my son who was very keen to learn. I was very surprised at the changes in attitude to contact during Kumite. Though training was still at a high standard, and the introduction of sport science in warming up and stretching more controlled with emphasis on relaxation during stretches was and is a good thing. Kumite in competitions back in the '90's had got softer, just point scoring who can hit without being hit. These days it's even worse than ever, pads and mits compulsory. In the '70's and '80's even in comps you would expect to receive 'a dig or two' during a fight, often the local hospital A&E would have a few patients for treatment for broken noses or other injuries. No pads or mits permitted, gumshields were your only protection that and you own skills. To witness Karate competitions since 2000 is crap, just bouncy, bounce, bounce very few attacks made in a bout, nobody really goes out to win by going in hard, it looks a complete embarrassment to the Traditional Art. (just in case anyone says anything about Karate is about defence and counter attack, yes I am aware of that but that's not how comps were back then) Just check out youtube, for Kumite from the '70's and see real Kumite and compare it with todays version. Anyone learning today can be led into a false sense of security if they are training this way for self defence oss

[@Bigburt-]

Thats why I like boxing, no belts, only hands

[@gussstavo]

You can get a belt but you need to win against a champ

[@Bigburt-]

@@gussstavo true true true, forgot about that because i'll never have one

[@gussstavo]

@ricky gore thats not a belt you idiot

[@lovelife1867]

it is not watering down. It is the distinction between becoming a pro fighter and just exercising for fun. Coaches that train pros always see everything subpar as watering down, but all I want for my kid is to socialize and learn how to fight to win. Even a little bit, kid will grow to understand the world.

[@davidcrawford7550]

Hey Rogan how do I find out if a gym is good? My first day was today, it’s a lot of fun. So a place that does membership is no good?

[@John-xi1pt]

This is so fucking true, Pretty sad to put in the effort weeks before a grading and only have 20-40% of it utilized in the lesson. Basically show up and be handed a new stripe/belt. To be a couple of gradings away from black belt and personally feel the hypocrisy from my sensei regarding my skill set was too much and is a main reason why I quit my karate club.

[@ERIK31351]

I started karate at 8 years old, I made it to 2nd Kyu (2 belts from black) by age 16 advancing at the minimum time required by my sensei for each belt as I put full effort into every class. I quit when I left for college but just moved home and should have my black belt in 2 years. When I do earn my black belt I have no doubt in MY mind that I'll have earned it and I'm proud of what I have accomplished and that's all that matters. That mindset is huge part of what martial arts should teach you. Granted my sensei was the coach of the national team and I've seen first hand the quality of teaching that other schools receive when competing in tournaments and it's disappointing. I hesitate to mention I train karate as by this point people think it's about as useful as tai chi but it really just comes down to your instructor and the effort you put in.

[@milospavlovic9512]

This guy is right about karate at the beginning of the video. It's so hard to find good karate gym today

[@miguelbarajas9876]

I started training Muay Thai about 3 months ago and goddamn I’m hooked. Can’t sleep at night sometimes cause I just wanna get up and kick the pads. I really wanna get into jiu jitsu but I’m not sure what the best route is. I live near a 10th Planet gym in Oakland CA as well as a Ralph Gracie gym in Berkeley CA. 10th Planet is no gi while the Gracie gym is. What would be the better option?

[@supersaiyanjohn3012]

Watered down martial arts is a huge problem which is why I love judo so much , in judo your black belt isn’t awarded to you by your own Sensei or dojo , when you have your brown belt and you are going for your black belt grading you have to go in front of a small panel of judges and they ask you to perform random techniques throughout the belt classes in which you have to show and perform proper technique , it erases any scenario in which your Sensei hands out a belt in which you haven’t earned , so if you see someone with their black belt in judo it’s safe to say he is a legit martial artist and worked his way to the top , it’s unfortunate because I woulda really loved to have taken up karate or kung fu but nowadays you simply can’t find a legit dojo

[@hogansheroes2793]

I went to a club where all they did was spar. I really didn't learn anything in three years. That is the other extreme. I got a blue belt. I was tapping out blue, purple and brown belts when I was a white belt. WTF over! They would not let you learn from your mistakes either. You were not allowed to ask people what they just did to you. The instructor wanted the glory, I guess. I quit, I just kept getting injured, all they did was spar, and I really learned nothing new that I hadn't already learned from watching DVDs of jiu-jitsu.

[@AlGhazali505]

One of the main appeals of MMA gyms for me is that it had no belts or pristige. It's only your skill and experience and matches you won.

[@ironmikehallowween]

Very true. When training is hard, very few people will keep coming back.

[@musiclocate9357]

Gracie Barra that's what he's talking about it's bs.

[@TheGodfather101]

I think its more the pedro sauer, gracie university guys

[@derekbk9093]

No its gracie barra montreal hes talking about

[@Kosme88]

Yes, it's GB and they do this on their gyms around the world.

[@clovisguillier7372]

Kosme88 exactly, I’m French and they do this

[@Accion_y_Pasion]

Ik Gracie barras are sort of like a cult I’m a gb student but it also depends on the coaches cuz Ik white belts that have been white belts for almost 12 years at gb whenever other people go to my gym they do say it is different than other schools. It depends on the people running the schools

[@jackreacher4297]

I think No GI BJJ needs become more of a thing. Do away with belts all together and just have it be about the training!

[@treiberTV]

Put belts away, and no one goes to this Dojo. All these people in the commentary section are lying. Everyone says "belts are not important" Blabla. OK then throw your belt into the trash and wear a white one! Nobody does that, because belts are super important to people. Belts are about power, respect, showing off. And for teachers/dojos, to make money.

[@riandunneleavy4161]

Belts are important but they should be earned

[@robcubed9557]

Eh, I find the GI is actually pretty useful in teaching defense. I've rolled with and without GI and I notice that it's much easier for my opponent to grab me and drag me around (I'm a small guy) when I've got a GI so training with my GI has really helped my defense.

[@theboiwhokraveskrave3416]

As a white belt in BJJ I can see why you I would say that but I think it's important to have belts as a marker of where you stand if you're a blue belt you're an escape artist if you're a white belly you're learning the movement you're learning the basics these things are important because overtime this helps create a steady curriculum

[@cahallo5964]

so luta livre? it's a dying art because the Gracies hated it

[@berniekatzroy]

The early years of shotokan and kyokushin were serious times.

[@BiggieSmalls946]

@therainman777 lyoto machida knew shotokan

[@andyrrafaelthebeastemperor8709]

I come here every year to reflect on this thought and unfortunately he's right. It's not coming, it's already here. I left my former gym because they were giving purples and brown belts to people who didn't even had frequency in training because they wanted to showoff how diverse and full of talent their school is. The fact that a man that was two years away from the mat got his brown belt was the icing on the cake. Good thing is, we still have a "passive agressive visits" and you can see how empty is the talent pool.

[@jrtien]

I actually did feel like every stripe on my belt had meaning as a white belt. As a blue belt the striping thing has disappeared after two. I know I have vastly improved since the last stripe, but mostly in movement, escapes and maintaining dominant positions. My submissions are slowly improving and I think that's where I lack. I want to feel like I deserve my purple belt (when I get one) and this video has given me a better insight about it. I think that submissions are tricky because I could be forcing them on people, but I want to actually have the finesse, savvy, trickiness and technique to get submissions smoothly without actually being in danger of hurting my sparring partner. To me that is the next level and I am there in some areas whereas other area's require a bit too much struggle for me to feel like I am safely attacking so I give up on the submissions to be safe.

[@MarcillaSmith]

Sad to hear it's like this now. So glad I studied the art back in the 90's when you could still order the Carlson Gracie Jr Black Belt Course of VHS tapes out of the back of the martial arts magazines, the way God intended

[@Habibob-bp2ji]

my gym literally never give out stipes and belts , gotta work for that

[@andrewpalacios1363]

As a white belt in BJJ, please keep BJJ competitive and difficult! I would NEVER want to carry a belt I did not earn.