Brazilian jiu-jitsu is used as a self-defense system, as a combat sport, and as a fundamental building block in the construction of a MMA fighter.
While there are genres of painting such as romanticism, abstract, and impressionism, the grappling community has their own too.
Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu, CGJJ, commissioned by Dave Camarillo, and the entire rubber guard system, lovingly created by Eddie Bravo, are but just two of the styles employed today by elite fighters around the globe.
The result of having more students and teachers adding their techniques? Evolution.
Having black belts in both Judo and Jiu-Jitsu, Dave Camarillo of Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu combines the rare abilities to launch a human into an Earth-orbiting ippon while then closing the deal by hyper-extending their elbow.
As a student and teacher, he recognized the value of adapting grappling systems to suit current needs and to address perceived shortcomings.
Assuming a traditional technique utilized in CGJJ no longer is applicable, or simply requires some minor tweaking, the student owns the ability to remodel it.
How can any revolutionary evolution occur if there is no outside knowledge filtering back in? He believes that if a student is isolated to solely one instructor, that student will not reach their full potential, there is a CGJJ shirt that reads “Train With Everyone.” Another modification that Dave saw as necessary was to instill a killer instinct into his trainees.
He feels as though fighters are mentally and physically tougher than your ordinary grappler is, “BJJ players focus on the technique. Most of the time technique is not enough; a participant has to have developed their attributes adequately to push their technique in stressful situations. Points are not a desirable focus in the combative arts.” Mr. Camarillo wanted “Competent grapplers, not tournament savvy competitors.” He doesn’t mind when students don’t win grappling contests, but he finds it unacceptable if one of his trainees struggles in subduing a violent opponent should they ever have to.
“CGJJ is not compounded with the idea that points are a desirable focus for combative arts.” While Dave combined portions of judo, MMA grappling, and submission wrestling into his successful formula, Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch can attest to that, Eddie Bravo invented a system that relied primarily on the combatants and their skills rather than the uniform being worn.
If you discuss evolutionary grappling styles boisterously enough, chances are someone will mention Eddie Bravo, beloved master of the rubber guard, twister side control, and thetwister Records label Love him or hate him, don’t know how anyone can hate him, his visionary take on grappling has revolutionized the process of evolution.
While watching some of the earlier UFC events, Bravo noticed a vastly different success rate between BJJ tournament participants and octagon fighters.
At first he expected the experienced grapplers to be victorious, but soon he realized that without their familiar gi handles, most BJJ practitioners were floundering on the ground, they were no longer sharks in a grounded ocean.
Asked what he would call his style of grappling, Mr. Bravo responded with Greco-Roman jiu-jitsu but not because attacking the legs was to be off limits.
Even in his own system, he encourages modification; it is practically inevitable as his student’s train heavily applying the rubber guard.
With so many pupils attempting to master the style, the students must adapt and come up with new ways to launch attacks and defend sweeps and submissions, otherwise rolling sessions would end in stalemates.
Of the last five UFC events, only 11 of 50 matches have ended via submission, an average of 22%. Hazelett and Aoki combined? 71%. The percentage of Hazelett and Aoki is slightly misrepresentative because perhaps the rubber guard wasn’t employed to administer the submissions but one can’t ignore the massive difference in the rate of success.
Lacking development in BJJ can only lead to stagnation, use your own grappling game as a comparison, what happens when you only administer your game in a certain manner? Take the Rousimar Palhares fight against Dan Henderson.
Asked to come up with one word for grappling, Dave Camarillo opted for flow, Eddie Bravo chose fun.
With reality TV showcasing MMA, the fan base will only continue to expand thereby creating more potential students.
Find Blocking in your local area
