I believe everything we learn in a BJJ Class should be applicable in a Sports BJJ Match, an MMA fight or also a self defence situation.
That’s way that I was taught at Carlson Gracie London and that’s the way my coaches were taught in Rio De Janeiro and that’s the way that I intend to continue to teach.
Of course there is a benefit to any type of martial arts training in terms of getting exercise, learning cool new moves & making friends. However there are plenty of other martial arts styles where people could do that. What made bjj stand out from the rest when it first emerged internationally in the 1990s was the emphasis on realism.
It wasn’t about learning tricks or secret moves or finding ways to avoid hard training. It was about embracing the challenge & pushing yourself & your team mates to be the best they could be.
This was what was missing from many other martial arts styles & was the reason their skills all fell apart when put under pressure.
I intend to keep this spirit alive of pushing ourselves & testing ourselves in bjj & mma competition & focus on what works in a real fight.
