Gi is preferred to be trained-in the most, I reckon, despite no gi being pushed as the sport's spectator flagship. The nature of the two formats is so different that either can be a fun and unique challenge to master.
@Milton Arbogast Spoken like a true philosopher king 👑 Unless you're combatting with a greasy, naked homeless man (in which case, I'd advise you avoid such a fight), people wear shirts and jackets and vests, not to mention pants or shorts, which are undoubtedly fitted with a waist band or belt, and so *training with a mind for gi grips becomes paramount for the student with a mind for self-defense* . As for transitioning to MMA, I'd say you're overlooking the effectiveness of gi training even still. MMA matches are fought without wearing gi's, but, nonetheless, the gi remains an excellent training tool for BJJ specialists under both the rules of MMA and Nogi grappling. *Why is this? Two reasons* . *The first is that the scope of the practitioner's knowledge of BJJ is broadened when he experiences grappling from multiple perspectives* . As with any skill, lasting knowledge becomes more prevalent in the athlete that *discovers* his technique by himself, as opposed to merely being given it, superficially, by a lesson from his coach. Adapting to and from either gi and Nogi is to give the aspiring BJJ student a chance at this discovery, and so it was, up until recently, primarily gi competitors dominated both formats of sport BJJ. The reasons for their decline as top competitors is because Nogi specialists emerged from a style of grappling which encourages leglocks and wrestle-ups from the bottom position, which is cheekily done without concern of being battered by a top opponent who remains in punching range. This is, by all accounts, a niche skill belonging only to these sort of competitors, and does not translate to MMA at the extent that you think it does. Which brings me to my second reason as to why Gi training is useful, or perhaps as useful, or better than, gi training... *Gi grappling encourages top dominant positions, with respect to the "hierarchy of pins" which, incrementally, increase the effectiveness of the top person's punches* . Favoring the top position, also, is more condusive to back-takes and submissions, which, if you didn't already know, are a statistical truth across both submission grappling tournaments and MMA contests. Conversely, bottom BJJ in the gi is practiced with a mind for MMA, because the emphasis of the submission grappling meta of leglocks have been removed, and their popular emphasis on closed guard, as well as utilizing outside leg position generally, better translates into a sport of MMA. Why is this approach better for when punches are allowed? Posture control, of which becomes unreliable when a bottom person instead employs guards like butterfly with underhooks vs closed guard with overhooks. If a top person can maneuver in MMA competition, then the bottom person risks taking the full-powered shots of the former. Outside leg positions, like the muscle sweep, or any side-on dynamic, will angle your face away from the punches of the top person, and maintain your feet and legs inbetween you, as the bottom person, and your opponent on top, which means upkicks and effective distance control. Rolling through on these positions is commonplace, and so the fighter who was once on bottom can now stand if this approach is taken. If Nogi specialists were actually the best for MMA, then why doesn't Gordon Ryan or Craig Jones fight in MMA competition as of yet? And *why do practitioners of their kind not engage in MMA with competition other than random cans from Japan is shady organizations that allow for no shortage of steroid use* ? Because the leglock approach, of which modern Nogi specialists are primarily known for, is unreliable when punches are being used against them. Navigating a cheeky leg entanglement can become a delayed process, and is dampened severely when the faces of those attempting such a move are being pummeled. *Now where are the great takedown artists in Nogi competition? I've yet to see it under that format* . Leg grabs and tackles, which are akin to wrestling takedowns, have long been a part of the gi game, and the ferocity of those takedowns, under that format, reflect the frequency that they are attempted, which is plentiful and often, unlike the habitual standing neckslaps that are typical for any Nogi contest. *All in all, it's the dominance and control that gi grapplers have over Nogi grapplers that make them better suited for MMA competition* . And if I've yet to be convincing, then cough up the names of any high-profile Nogi BJJ'r who's made waves as a BJJ specialist in MMA who didn't learn the sport, first and foremost, in the Gi. I'll give you examples which favor my point of view: Damian Maia, Roger Gracie, Charles Oliveira, Gilbert Burns, Andre Galvao, Ryan Hall, Jacare, the Diaz brothers, Mackenzie Dern, Brian Ortega, Fabricio Werdum, BJ Penn, Gunnar Nelson, Kron Gracie, Lovato Jr, Rodolfo, Reis, the Nog brothers, and on and on... All of whom had some participation, and succes, in Gi competitions, of varying levels, prior to their MMA careers. This does not account for athletes who trained and used Gi jiu-jitsu as their primary jiu-jitsu study tool in preparing for their MMA matches, such as a the goat Anderson Silva, who is a black belt in Gi jiu-jitsu. I needn't spend much time on this, because it's been addressed somewhat already, but Nogi standup is not as as translatable under pure wrestling rules as you may think. *The stances and postures, as well as overall strategy, is entirely different between the sports* . This obvious by watching any of these high-profile Nogi matches and witnessing them slap each other's necks to the extent that they do. Their takedowns aren't at all similar because of the threat of submissions in attempting them. *Name me any takedown artist who exclusively practices and competes in Nogi* . As for the conditioning element, which you claim is harder in the gi, I, too, would disagree. Appealing to Judo for a moment, the throws that they implement, and at the pace that they try them at, is indicative of an athlete who's VO2 max is high, and most definitely higher than that of either a Gi or Nogi BJJ player. Why is this? Because the rules encourage large-amplitude throwing of your opponent in quick succession, which, in technical terms, means making an explosive maneuver to move not just yourself but the opponent, and all of his weight, in the most dramatic fashion possible, and doing so over and over again, until victory is achieved. This simply isn't possible in Nogi BJJ. Without the control of the sleeves and lapel, you aren't able to safely or reliably explode on your opponent in the same way, or at the frequency which is like that of Judo. You may try various double legs, but they are skittishly tried, as mentioned previously, and may result in probable submission or loss of position, such as a guillotine or backtake, if done explosively without concern for perfect technique. *BJJ under gi rules makes use of these explosive movements, as well as a constant isometric strength which is applied throughout the match, for it is that either competitor remain latched to one another, by way of their gi grips, until the match ends* . In Nogi, there are moments of rest, where either athlete is fully disengaged from the other, panting to catch their breath, and at several points in the match. *In Gi, it is the athlete who is sufficiently conditioned in both anaerobic and isometric form that wins the match, which can't be said to exist in high amounts while grappling/competing in Nogi* . Gi is more approachable to people of all ages, and, as a guy in his mid twenties who has trained for almost a decade, I welcome more people in the door to get fit and learn the art that we all love. *I've noticed that gym culture also suffers when it exclusively trains Nogi, and that attitudes like yours are a turnoff for potential students who want to sign up* . I can't say the longevity of the student's membership is at all hopeful for Nogi gyms either. I've noticed a great deal of bravado from that side of the sport which indicates to me that such people aren't as battle-hardened and merely fake it with what little skills they do have. And that's about as thorough of a response as you're going to get, I think.
Craig Jones in shambles
Thank you Sir !! I feel like i am stealing when i watch your channel
As a white belt, I get stuck in this conundrum every time I roll with a purple belt! This is great stuff! Thank you
Got stuck in Z guard tonight! Thanks!
very helpful, thanks heaps for sharing.
0:52 that easy flip to bottom guys left, hold the gi with the left keeping your head in, and scooping his bottom hip in to his right.
G guard
What the hell are u doing with a gi 🧐
Have a look at the videos in this channel. There is years of content in the Gi.
Gi is preferred to be trained-in the most, I reckon, despite no gi being pushed as the sport's spectator flagship. The nature of the two formats is so different that either can be a fun and unique challenge to master.
@Milton Arbogast Spoken like a true philosopher king 👑
Unless you're combatting with a greasy, naked homeless man (in which case, I'd advise you avoid such a fight), people wear shirts and jackets and vests, not to mention pants or shorts, which are undoubtedly fitted with a waist band or belt, and so *training with a mind for gi grips becomes paramount for the student with a mind for self-defense* .
As for transitioning to MMA, I'd say you're overlooking the effectiveness of gi training even still. MMA matches are fought without wearing gi's, but, nonetheless, the gi remains an excellent training tool for BJJ specialists under both the rules of MMA and Nogi grappling.
*Why is this? Two reasons* .
*The first is that the scope of the practitioner's knowledge of BJJ is broadened when he experiences grappling from multiple perspectives* . As with any skill, lasting knowledge becomes more prevalent in the athlete that *discovers* his technique by himself, as opposed to merely being given it, superficially, by a lesson from his coach. Adapting to and from either gi and Nogi is to give the aspiring BJJ student a chance at this discovery, and so it was, up until recently, primarily gi competitors dominated both formats of sport BJJ. The reasons for their decline as top competitors is because Nogi specialists emerged from a style of grappling which encourages leglocks and wrestle-ups from the bottom position, which is cheekily done without concern of being battered by a top opponent who remains in punching range. This is, by all accounts, a niche skill belonging only to these sort of competitors, and does not translate to MMA at the extent that you think it does.
Which brings me to my second reason as to why Gi training is useful, or perhaps as useful, or better than, gi training...
*Gi grappling encourages top dominant positions, with respect to the "hierarchy of pins" which, incrementally, increase the effectiveness of the top person's punches* . Favoring the top position, also, is more condusive to back-takes and submissions, which, if you didn't already know, are a statistical truth across both submission grappling tournaments and MMA contests. Conversely, bottom BJJ in the gi is practiced with a mind for MMA, because the emphasis of the submission grappling meta of leglocks have been removed, and their popular emphasis on closed guard, as well as utilizing outside leg position generally, better translates into a sport of MMA. Why is this approach better for when punches are allowed? Posture control, of which becomes unreliable when a bottom person instead employs guards like butterfly with underhooks vs closed guard with overhooks. If a top person can maneuver in MMA competition, then the bottom person risks taking the full-powered shots of the former. Outside leg positions, like the muscle sweep, or any side-on dynamic, will angle your face away from the punches of the top person, and maintain your feet and legs inbetween you, as the bottom person, and your opponent on top, which means upkicks and effective distance control. Rolling through on these positions is commonplace, and so the fighter who was once on bottom can now stand if this approach is taken.
If Nogi specialists were actually the best for MMA, then why doesn't Gordon Ryan or Craig Jones fight in MMA competition as of yet? And *why do practitioners of their kind not engage in MMA with competition other than random cans from Japan is shady organizations that allow for no shortage of steroid use* ? Because the leglock approach, of which modern Nogi specialists are primarily known for, is unreliable when punches are being used against them. Navigating a cheeky leg entanglement can become a delayed process, and is dampened severely when the faces of those attempting such a move are being pummeled.
*Now where are the great takedown artists in Nogi competition? I've yet to see it under that format* . Leg grabs and tackles, which are akin to wrestling takedowns, have long been a part of the gi game, and the ferocity of those takedowns, under that format, reflect the frequency that they are attempted, which is plentiful and often, unlike the habitual standing neckslaps that are typical for any Nogi contest.
*All in all, it's the dominance and control that gi grapplers have over Nogi grapplers that make them better suited for MMA competition* . And if I've yet to be convincing, then cough up the names of any high-profile Nogi BJJ'r who's made waves as a BJJ specialist in MMA who didn't learn the sport, first and foremost, in the Gi. I'll give you examples which favor my point of view: Damian Maia, Roger Gracie, Charles Oliveira, Gilbert Burns, Andre Galvao, Ryan Hall, Jacare, the Diaz brothers, Mackenzie Dern, Brian Ortega, Fabricio Werdum, BJ Penn, Gunnar Nelson, Kron Gracie, Lovato Jr, Rodolfo, Reis, the Nog brothers, and on and on... All of whom had some participation, and succes, in Gi competitions, of varying levels, prior to their MMA careers. This does not account for athletes who trained and used Gi jiu-jitsu as their primary jiu-jitsu study tool in preparing for their MMA matches, such as a the goat Anderson Silva, who is a black belt in Gi jiu-jitsu.
I needn't spend much time on this, because it's been addressed somewhat already, but Nogi standup is not as as translatable under pure wrestling rules as you may think. *The stances and postures, as well as overall strategy, is entirely different between the sports* . This obvious by watching any of these high-profile Nogi matches and witnessing them slap each other's necks to the extent that they do. Their takedowns aren't at all similar because of the threat of submissions in attempting them. *Name me any takedown artist who exclusively practices and competes in Nogi* .
As for the conditioning element, which you claim is harder in the gi, I, too, would disagree. Appealing to Judo for a moment, the throws that they implement, and at the pace that they try them at, is indicative of an athlete who's VO2 max is high, and most definitely higher than that of either a Gi or Nogi BJJ player. Why is this? Because the rules encourage large-amplitude throwing of your opponent in quick succession, which, in technical terms, means making an explosive maneuver to move not just yourself but the opponent, and all of his weight, in the most dramatic fashion possible, and doing so over and over again, until victory is achieved. This simply isn't possible in Nogi BJJ. Without the control of the sleeves and lapel, you aren't able to safely or reliably explode on your opponent in the same way, or at the frequency which is like that of Judo. You may try various double legs, but they are skittishly tried, as mentioned previously, and may result in probable submission or loss of position, such as a guillotine or backtake, if done explosively without concern for perfect technique. *BJJ under gi rules makes use of these explosive movements, as well as a constant isometric strength which is applied throughout the match, for it is that either competitor remain latched to one another, by way of their gi grips, until the match ends* . In Nogi, there are moments of rest, where either athlete is fully disengaged from the other, panting to catch their breath, and at several points in the match. *In Gi, it is the athlete who is sufficiently conditioned in both anaerobic and isometric form that wins the match, which can't be said to exist in high amounts while grappling/competing in Nogi* .
Gi is more approachable to people of all ages, and, as a guy in his mid twenties who has trained for almost a decade, I welcome more people in the door to get fit and learn the art that we all love. *I've noticed that gym culture also suffers when it exclusively trains Nogi, and that attitudes like yours are a turnoff for potential students who want to sign up* . I can't say the longevity of the student's membership is at all hopeful for Nogi gyms either. I've noticed a great deal of bravado from that side of the sport which indicates to me that such people aren't as battle-hardened and merely fake it with what little skills they do have.
And that's about as thorough of a response as you're going to get, I think.
@Milton Arbogast 💋
Aren't you exposing your arm to a Kimura?