A Week at the Academy

2009-08-30T14:04:00.002-04:00

I live and train out of Norfolk Virginia, under Bill Odom at the Norfolk Karate and Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy. I was honored to be selected as one of the students to represent our school in Torrence California to participate in a 6 day instructor certification training at the Gracie Academy. It was truly an amazing experience.

Bill Odom has known Rorion and his kids for many years. The connection came as a result of Rorion's early instruction of Army personnel on using Jiu Jitsu techniques in combat as part of the initial Army Combatives program developed by Bill Odom in Korea. Their friendship spans decades.

As a result of this connection, the Norfolk Karate Academy was lucky enough to test out the very first iteration of Gracie Combatives. As part of our discipline, we had already incorporated many of the techniques within the self defense portion of our training. It was a natural fit and an effective combination of striking and ground technique. We provided a great deal of feedback over the course of 12 months, identifying many elements that may or may not be effective. Effective? Let's look at this term. As an adjective the term is defined as "adequate to accomplish a purpose; producing the intended or expected result."

After I returned from my training, I began to research other elements of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In my research, it was impossible to not get a sense there existed an air of confusion, anger and even fear focused toward Gracie Jiu Jitsu and specifically the Gracie Combatives program. As a fighter, my initial reaction was very predictable. But, as a teacher, I wanted to better understand the source of this consternation.

What I've gathered seems to be quite simple. There is a misalignment of expectations and a fundamental lack of understanding regarding the two very distinct methods of Jiu Jitsu application. What do I mean? Let me explain.

Lack of Understanding

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was not created by Carlos and Helio Gracie to put the strong in an even more advantageous position over the weak. It was, in contrast, a method by which the weak may be able to defend themselves against a bigger or stronger opponent.

"The primary objective of Jiu-Jitsu is to empower the weak who, for not having the physical attributes, are often intimidated. My Jiu-Jitsu is an art of self-defense in which rules and time limits are unacceptable" - Helio Gracie

Over time, the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has seen at its core, within many branches, a diversion from the concept of self defense to one of sport. Although sport is extremely important in honing our skills as martial artists, it can never become the focus of the art itself.

Gracie Combatives is simply a purified list of 36 moves taken from the greater than 600 cataloged within Gracie Jiu Jitsu. These 36 moves have proven over a a century of research to be the most effective and pure Gracie Jiu Jitsu moves in existence.

Make no mistake, there are multiple slices per each individual move. The details are tremendous and well documented and as a practitioner, you are expected to understand and execute each move with all variations without mistake. If someone believes promotion to a more advanced level can be accomplished 30 days (as I've seen recently posted) they are delusional at best.

But, the curriculum has been adjusted to insure the weakest among us can not only learn the techniques, but execute in a live situation as well. It is a representation of the true original intention of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Expectation Misalignment

Two distinct practitioners of Jiu Jitsu exist. The first practictioner, often a former wrestler or athlete of some kind, is driven by competition and is quite capable physically. The second practictioner is driven by the need to learn in order to defend themselves or others.

So what is the difference? Who cares about intention? Well, it is intention that often drives application. If intention is widely varied, then so will be the resulting art form. It requires a much different mindset and set of techniques to survive in a street fight than it does to succeed in a jiu jitsu tournament. There are no referees nor are there any timers or rules in a street fight. Conversely, there are no punches or weapons in a jiu jitsu tournament. When you loose a tournament, often you are disappointed. When you loose a street fight, often you are dead.

Get the picture?

There are no gi techniques taught in Gracie Combatives. Punch defense is at the core of the curriculum. Every take down takes into consideration the floor as concrete, not soft mat. Protecting yourself or someone else from a fist or weapon strike is incorporated into every move.

Summation

Gracie Combatives and the Master's Cycle is revolutionary in the manner by which they are taught. The techniques are extremely well documented, cataloged and brilliantly distributed online. But, the overriding philosophy is one of pure self defense. The teachings are as pure as Helio Gracie's original intent. Pit the weak against the strong. If the weak survies, they have won.

A Deeper Look at Gracie Combatives

A Week at the Academy

Lack of Understanding

Expectation Misalignment

Summation