Comments by "iorekby" (@iorekby) on "Firas Zahabi on the Watering Down of BJJ" video.

It's amazing that boxers and wrestlers manage to develop highly functional fighting skill without ever getting a belt.... Almost, like the OP says, as though belts don't really mean anything.
37
@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.
29
@Dekartz Have you ever heard of sandbagging? It is an ingrained part of BJJ culture. White belts who have been training for 4 years, 5 times a week, getting put in comps against other white belts who have 12 months training who only train 2-3 times a week. They do this to allow academies to maximise their medal count and team performance in comps. And higher belts roll with lower belts in BJJ all the time. The mindset in BJJ is if you've learned a new move and need to practice it in sparring, you roll with a lower belt as you're much more likely to catch them with it. You tap lower belts out with your new sub until you perfect it well enough to try it against higher belts. Another example is Judo: I've been to comps where 1st or 2nd degree black belts, who are hobbyists and have maybe been training 4-6 years, have been put in with other 2nd degree black belts who are literal Olympians. Those Olympic level 2nd Dans have sometimes decades of training, often at an elite level. They have been so busy competing they don't do gradings to get further Dan ranks (which is largely irrelevant for an Olympian once they get their black belt). Point I'm making is that combat sports that use belt systems also frequently match up people who are vastly different in skill levels and experience, even though they may have the same coloured belt. What you initial described isn't unique to boxing or wrestling.
22
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.
13
There's another side to the coin too though. People can be very egotistical and petty. They want a cheap black belt (cheap in terms of effort). Trust me, if all people wanted was legitimate martial arts instruction McDojos would've become extinct a long time ago. It's not always naivety on the students part. Some people are completely aware they are studying something dubious, but they just want to get a "black belt" as an affectation and really don't care how legit that belt is.
7
@joys8634 Good points but would maybe throw a law or business degree in their too.
2
I've said for a long time BJJ is being watered down and heading down the road of other TMA. BJJ competition used to be used to separate those who could/could not fight, but now the rules are being exploited to create these absurd positions and point scores that in no way would be useful in an actual fight. And that's just the mainstream competitions. I'm starting to see more and more "in house" competitions where large organisations like Gracie Barra run their own in house tournament. The consequences of things like this are it can propagate dishonesty in BJJ Firas is concerned about. Once you get say, Gracie Barra students only competing with other Gracie Barra students, who are just getting belts based on attendance, it will create a false picture for students about their proficiency as they won a "Gracie Barra competition".
2
@adamlewisdrums5607 I had a friend who moved to London from Belfast, he trained at FightZone for a while (he moved back home) and had nothing but good things to say. I think that's in the east? Said Canha was a great coach and the gym rates (for London) were reasonable too.
2
What worries me is BJJ is very much heading down the same road TKD went, and most of the BJJ community are obvious to it and are walking towards the edge of the cliff.
1
@joys8634 The OP just said college graduation, they didn't say undergrad only. And numerous studies have shown that MBAs are the most lucrative degree to have in terms of earning after you leave university.
1
@joys8634 Again, no one said the discussion was limited to undergrad degrees. You keep trying to do that, but it's not what the OP said. I also haven't brought up PhDs. Additionally, you're showing ignorance of Law degrees. In the USA, sure, a Law degree can be a postgrad degree. In Europe though, it's an undergrad degree. In countries like the UK you can then apply to become a lawyer (and do the bar exams) after you get your undergrad degree.
1
@joys8634 That sort of reply makes one of us look bad, and it's not me.
1
What worries me is BJJ is very much heading down the same road TKD went, and most of the BJJ community are obvious to it and are walking towards the edge of the cliff.
1
Also there are BJJ gyms charging wayyyy more than $179 a month and all your get good at is inverted butt scooting. Compared to places like that an MMA gym and $179 is incredible value.
1