BJJ and Bullshido (taken from my Blog)

[Ari Bolden]

Nov 13 2007: Bullshido's Bullshit

The site really cracks me up. I remember when it was launched years back and now its grown into this HUGE forum. When the site started, it had a lot of great stuff on it but now it's so big, the moderators have one hell of a time keeping things civil. That's why I think the BJG forum is so good.

So, I was reading a post on Bullshido about Submissions 101. I understand that everyone has an opinion and we might not all agree on stuff (techniques). Some guys love the vids, and other just want to question lineage (and nope, I've never claimed to be a BJJ black belt but I don't think that means I don't have anything to offer). My videos were created as a helping hand for people who love Jiu Jitsu.

What MANY people miss is that I cover many aspects of jj, both traditional and modern. What I think is even MORE funny is that some guys will say " He isn't a BJJ blackbelt so he doesn't know how to do an armbar." Really? I better tell my judo buddies that. Or my Japanese Jujutsu pals. Or my Sambo friends. What I loved the most was some guy saying that I had black belts in some weird styles. That made me laugh really hard. When someone hasn't heard of a style, it doesn't make it illegitimate (the styles/art he was referring to was Daito Ryu JJ and Aikido! Last time I checked, these were legit styles and practiced by thousands of people world wide). My instructor even had a bb in Kosen Judo where BJJ comes from. Much of my ground game came from him and now I am honored to say that Eddie Bravo is the guy that I learn from.

Some people miss the boat on what we are trying to do (provide help in Jiu Jitsu, whatever style you practice).You can't please all the people all the time but I've got many more fans than detractors.

I will continue to learn from those around me and as Eddie Bravo told me " When I started my 10th Planet JJ, the Brazilian's were pissed and publicly said I had nothing to offer. Then, in the back rooms of their gyms, they were trying out my shit."

I love Jiu Jitsu and not the country it came from. JJJ, BJJ, AJJ....they all have GREAT guys and gals in them. I'd never pass up an opportunity to learn from anyone. To me, we are one family..that's the bottom line.

And to the Bullshido guys...I still love ya...let's work together rather than against what we love....

[Ryan]

I agree. I think it has gotten to the point where someone teaches JJJ and then a student says "no, I don't want to learn that.... its not BJJ." JJJ or BJJ an arm bar is an arm bar.

[Ari Bolden]

It's funny because the system I teach my students is a modern hybrid: JJJ, BJJ, wrestling, 10th palnet, modern self defense. It's kinda the MMA of Jiu Jitsu :p

[Ryan]

You can NEVER be too well rounded. Do you think you could make a dvd or vids that puts a move from 1 style into transition into another style? Karo Parisyan has vids for instance on youtube where he does a Judo throw and transitions into an JJ armbar.

How about a duck under, German suplex into a RNC.

[Dannicus]

Just remember what Mr Miyagi says....A Belt is to hold your pants up, what ever the color.
I know it's on your school's website, but what style do you teach up there in BC again? I'm too damned lazy to look it up myself again.

Thanks buddy,

Dan

[Tom Gavrilos]

:D Nov 13 2007: Bullshido's Bullshit

The site really cracks me up. I remember when it was launched years back and now its grown into this HUGE forum. When the site started, it had a lot of great stuff on it but now it's so big, the moderators have one hell of a time keeping things civil. That's why I think the BJG forum is so good.

So, I was reading a post on Bullshido about Submissions 101. I understand that everyone has an opinion and we might not all agree on stuff (techniques). Some guys love the vids, and other just want to question lineage (and nope, I've never claimed to be a BJJ black belt but I don't think that means I don't have anything to offer). My videos were created as a helping hand for people who love Jiu Jitsu.

What MANY people miss is that I cover many aspects of jj, both traditional and modern. What I think is even MORE funny is that some guys will say " He isn't a BJJ blackbelt so he doesn't know how to do an armbar." Really? I better tell my judo buddies that. Or my Japanese Jujutsu pals. Or my Sambo friends. What I loved the most was some guy saying that I had black belts in some weird styles. That made me laugh really hard. When someone hasn't heard of a style, it doesn't make it illegitimate (the styles/art he was referring to was Daito Ryu JJ and Aikido! Last time I checked, these were legit styles and practiced by thousands of people world wide). My instructor even had a bb in Kosen Judo where BJJ comes from. Much of my ground game came from him and now I am honored to say that Eddie Bravo is the guy that I learn from.

Some people miss the boat on what we are trying to do (provide help in Jiu Jitsu, whatever style you practice).You can't please all the people all the time but I've got many more fans than detractors.

I will continue to learn from those around me and as Eddie Bravo told me " When I started my 10th Planet JJ, the Brazilian's were pissed and publicly said I had nothing to offer. Then, in the back rooms of their gyms, they were trying out my shit."

I love Jiu Jitsu and not the country it came from. JJJ, BJJ, AJJ....they all have GREAT guys and gals in them. I'd never pass up an opportunity to learn from anyone. To me, we are one family..that's the bottom line.


There is alot of animosity among practicioners of MMA & regular fans as well.
People would always tell me that "just cause I know some BJJ dosent mean I could fight?" Then after the fight I put up on youtube I get "Need to work on your striking"

To be honest both look like they need some work watching the video but the point is people will judge you if they are not "what they think you should look like"

Ari is not a black belt in BJJ and since most instructional vids on the are done by certain people and look a certain way people will judge Ari against them. Truth is that it is 10 times harder to incorporate teachings of Marcelo Garcia than it is to absorb Aris teaching style in my opinion.

Im all for credentials don't get me wrong; but they are just a means to an end. Aris videos are popular because they DO WHAT THEY ARE MEANT TO DO...Teach in an effective manner and provide useful info. You dont see NEARLY as many of Marcelos teaching instructionals floating around and he is by many arguably the best BJJ player in the world.

My fight: Means to an end. Was the technique perfect...hell no! Did I win my fight....YES...means to an end. :)

There is always room for improvement but if you get caught up in all the hype you lose track of the basics goals. Aris is to teach and I think hes doing a hell of a job. So while that thread on bushido and this one here will be read and then forgotted Aris vids will still be all over youtube and my Win will still be listed as such on Sherdog.

[Ari Bolden]

Tom:

Couldn't have said it better myself!

Dan:

Ryu Bu Kan Jujitsu (House of the fighting/martial Dragon). Hence the reason I call my gym the "dragon's lair."

[Ryan]

:D


There is alot of animosity among practicioners of MMA & regular fans as well.
People would always tell me that "just cause I know some BJJ dosent mean I could fight?" Then after the fight I put up on youtube I get "Need to work on your striking"

To be honest both look like they need some work watching the video but the point is people will judge you if they are not "what they think you should look like"

Ari is not a black belt in BJJ and since most instructional vids on the are done by certain people and look a certain way people will judge Ari against them. Truth is that it is 10 times harder to incorporate teachings of Marcelo Garcia than it is to absorb Aris teaching style in my opinion.

Im all for credentials don't get me wrong; but they are just a means to an end. Aris videos are popular because they DO WHAT THEY ARE MEANT TO DO...Teach in an effective manner and provide useful info. You dont see NEARLY as many of Marcelos teaching instructionals floating around and he is by many arguably the best BJJ player in the world.

My fight: Means to an end. Was the technique perfect...hell no! Did I win my fight....YES...means to an end. :)

There is always room for improvement but if you get caught up in all the hype you lose track of the basics goals. Aris is to teach and I think hes doing a hell of a job. So while that thread on bushido and this one here will be read and then forgotted Aris vids will still be all over youtube and my Win will still be listed as such on Sherdog.

Also, I have noticed that more people pick up "Microsoft Excel for Dummies" than the microsoft excel manual. Why? Microsoft Excel for Dummies is easier to understand, it explains things in terms that normal folk would understand and it is less discouraging. Same with Ari's videos. I like them because he is well spoken, a good teacher and he understands the best way to tell someone to get them to understand it. Honestly, I could watch his video and then drill it whereas with someone else I may have to have them present to go through it and make sure I am doing it right.

[Equilibrium]

I love the videos, especially for a noob like me, it gives me something new to try out that I can attempt every class. Sometimes they work for me, sometimes they don't, but I love to see things that I can try. Since I'm the only white belt in class, I need to learn lots of defenses to submissions and it's awesome when you get away from an attack and a blue belt wonders where it came from..lol :D
I don't care who I learned it from, as long at it works!

Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.-Bruce Lee :cool:

[jamesc]

I'm still a beginner, but I can proudly say that Submissions 101 helped me GREATLY in the beginning. Don't bother getting worked up about haters, because I can assure you it's probably just like... 1 guy. Just putting that out there, thanks Submissions 101!