In last week’s concept piece, I examined the great wisdom that is held by long-time black belts. I recommended that students make opportunities to learn from multiple long-time black belts within their BJJ network a planned part of their growth strategy. This is as much about exposure to well-developed and unique styles as it is about gaining knowledge. Every grappler develops their own style by injecting their personality and mindset into their game, while adjusting to their own physical capabilities, most practiced and most successful techniques, and stylistic influences or goals. What is special about long-time black belts is that these unique styles, as widely varied as they can be, are all tried and true.
They are iron-clad and have been tested and honed for years and years against other high level black belts. There is no nuance to question, only to learn from. If there were holes in their early black belt game, as small at they may have been, they were exposed long ago and corrected. Anything they could “get away” with as an up-and-comer is a distant memory. Their default is now much closer to perfect technique than it is to anything else.
Torus Universe ©2014 Philipp Langer (Berlin/Germany)
The organization I am a part of, Robson Moura Nations United or RMNU, just completed their fourth annual camp at HQ in Tampa. Unable to make the trip, I spent the week reveling in excited jealousy of the pictures and videos of the seminars that were taking place; over twenty-five black belts, from all over the world, on the mats sharing and learning with all levels of RMNU students. Envious to miss out on what has become a pinnacle event, but excited to see how much more wisdom there is available to tap into as I continue down my path. Grateful to the instructors and teammates who bring some of that expertise back and help disseminate it throughout the family.
The Torus or the Egg?
With all of the great people I’ve met, competitors I’ve faced, and friends I’ve made throughout the entire BJJ community, I know that many have a similar experience within their organizations. Jiu-Jitsu has spread so wide that the knowledge base is not unlike the universe (or multiverse): constantly expanding and folding upon itself in some kind of incomprehensible growing living multi-dimensional shape.
Neil deGrasse Tyson explains Jiu-Jitsu and the dimensions of mastery (well, that’s what I heard)
But, I digress. That is a conversation to be had over a meal and a beer following an amazing training session. If you’re ever in Chicago, look me up and we can do just that. In the meantime, and in the spirit of keeping this week’s post a little lighter and hopefully interactive, I would love to learn about your journey in the comments below. Who are you exposed to through your training and how do they differ stylistically? Who has made memorable impact, even through minimal exposure? Please keep all comments positive. We all know that sometimes things don’t work out, but I am interested in the ones that did. Negative comments will be removed.
I also would love to see one of my RMNU teammates expand on my notes below, and include some of the many masters in our network that I have not yet had the honor to learn from (Andre Ushirobira, Bruno Bastos, Josef Manuel, Ricardo Abreu, and on, and on).
Here are a few BJJ black belts that have notably or continually shape my path, my interpretation of their style (I’ve certainly had only a glimpse), and some of the turning points of my journey that they inspired.
Robson Moura – Our President and Head Professor, 4th degree black belt, 8x World Champion, competing since age 13, 19 years as black belt. Robson is “the Magician” of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His movement leaves other long-time black belts in awe. His style is innovative and legendary. He has helped me reach so many turning points that I could not limit it to one or a few. Perhaps most impressively, his story (video below) is the absolute essence of BJJ and his humility, respect, and ability to share is that of the consummate martial artist.
Jean Rotondaro – 3rd degree black belt, training since 13, with Robson since 16, 3-0 professional MMA record, along with a multitude of BJJ accomplishments. I just recently had the privilege to train with Professor Jean, and his style blew me away. I described it to a teammate as shockingly simple variations (in the best way) that you never thought of. Not overly intricate in number of steps, there are a lot of small, tight movements that weave, twist, and roll in spaces and ways I never thought to play in. His style is disarming and fluid. You expect him to go one way, and he goes the other way with ease. It was like pouring water onto an opponent. Rolling with him felt more like trying to stop a wave from crashing. All resistance was futile. Professor Jean’s explanation of how to find the arm triangle (Brabo, D’Arce) choke is game changing. Within days of working with him, I have been catching it from all kinds of angles that I didn’t even recognize as options before.
Jeff Mitchell – Robson’s second American black belt, 15 years of experience. I’ve had the honor to train with Professor Mitchell on multiple occasions. Humble, funny, and a realist, Jeff does not beat around the bush. I think this analogy works well (if I’m not mistaken Jeff is a bit of fisherman himself); I recently described his style as reminiscent of an “improved clinch knot”. He takes the tried and true fundamentals and tweaks out all of the chinks in the armor. The technique becomes stronger, less likely to unravel, and more likely to catch the more experienced “big fish”. He tightens everything up and makes slight adjustments (adds a grip here, or a distraction there, enters a different way) that leave the opponent unable to rely on standard defenses. He changed my Half Guard game forever, and has taken many of my techniques from good to better (Knee Slice, Kimuras, Arm Bar from Full Guard). Exactly the type of instruction that will lift you from that plateau: you know the one–where your fundamentals only work on equal and lower belts, but get picked apart by higher belts. Professor Mitchell will have your catching the higher belts by surprise.
Gustavo Dantas – 17-year black belt (now 4th degree) and President of Nova Uniao USA, multiple time World Champion, and Certified Mental and Life Coach. As his moniker The BJJ Mental Coach suggests, Professor Dantas instructs from a sports psychology angle. Competition mindset and game-theory style training are hallmarks of his style. Professor Dantas was the first long-time black belt (outside of Robson) to open my eyes to this level of expertise. He set me on my path to understand how deep the network can be. Having been coached in swimming by a Hall of Fame coach known for sports psychology, Professor Dantas was the first instructor that came through as an athletic “coach” in the standard seminar format. It was not competition training, there were all levels of attendees, but Gustavo cut through everything to explain what we need to be thinking and what we need to expect our opponents to be thinking. He introduced positional game theory to me and forever changed my understanding of Back Control. After winning a Masters World title at the black belt level, Professor Dantas moved back down 3 age brackets to compete on a world-class level in the Adult black belt divisions. He inspired me to do the same over this last year. Why accept position? Why surrender to age? I switched from Masters 2 to compete in the Adult blue belt divisions, and until I can compete there no longer, I intend to prove that I can. Thank you, Sir.
Walber “Tete” – Nova Uniao black belt and professional MMA fighter. I had the pleasure of doing both a BJJ seminar and an MMA seminar with Tete. His style was strong and crushing. High level moves with the type of pressure you expect from a current MMA fighter. Easy going in personality, his game is anything but. When he wants to move you, he moves you. When you want to move him, you feel like you’re trying to uproot a tree. I have used a specific series of leg lasso technique to great success ever since.
Rob Biernacki – A three year black belt gaining notoriety for his conceptual teaching style and as a main sparring partner to Yuri Simoes during the camp that resulted in Yuri’s recent ADCC world title. Professor Rob is not a part of my direct BJJ network, however it was through connections within my network that I was able to train with him while traveling for business. I mention him here because in just one session he clarified some very specific concepts that I apply every day. Professor Rob teaches in a cerebral fashion (which meshes well with my own style) to apply ideas and tactics across the strategic game, instead of focusing on specific techniques. He effectively defined the often abstract notions of base, frames, and leverage into concrete terminology and applications that I have used ever since. If you find yourself in the B.C. area with time to visit the Island, definitely check him out.
I hope you enjoyed this read, and I look forward to reading comments offering praise to the many influencers within your own networks. Always remember to honor and water the roots. Oss!
Image credit: http://mucholderthen.tumblr.com/post/82510357141/torus-universe-big-bang-cosmos-visualizations
The post Jiu Jitsu ROI Part 2: The Wisdom (and Style) of Long-Time Black Belts appeared first on Science Of Skill.