sympathy stripe?

[The Don]

It's definitely a bigger problem here. Granted, there are still some styles that I think are badass (Kyokushin)

While I understand and appreciate what you're saying, funnily enough, that's not how it worked out. I was taking a different class and my coach, who was helping instruct it, started taking me aside and teaching me BJJ during open mat because he thought I needed it
I had been doing BJJ for a year before I heard the name Royce Gracie.

So true.. and regardless of styles of Karate herre in the US there are just some real shitty schools and some that are really great.. I have a freindwho is an Ishinryu(sp?) and Tang Soo Do instructor.. 2nd degree black belt in both.. took him like 15 years to earn his 1st black and about anohter 3 or 4 to earn the 2nd level blackHe is really strict with belt promotions..


And as jits I am kinda the same way man.. while I started with Tradational Japanese Jiu jitsu... I started in it before I ever saw the UFC as judo was my first art for when I was 5 years old.. Now I did seek out BJJ.

[Insidious]

I had a friend tell me his sister just got her blackbelt in karate and I should go join her class, I asked his sis what style of karate it was and she didn't know!

How can some one get a black belt and not know the simplest thing about what they train in??

Thats just slack. Most people go out of their way to learn the history of their art so it isn't usually a big problem but don't you think people should be required to know more then the actual physical side of an art?

[Benu]

Hehe, are you sure it just wasn't a bad joke...?

[Insidious]

No she seriously got her belt and was in charge of the beginners class, Hell most McDojos try to give themselves a colorful history to make them more appealing. I got no doubt the school is sub par.

[Kyduh]

don't you think people should be required to know more then the actual physical side of an art?

I'm sorry, but what makes you think this girl knows anything about the physical side of fighting?

[Avenged]

I'm sorry, but what makes you think this girl knows anything about the physical side of fighting?

Im a little worried about where this is going, lol

[Kyduh]

[steve]

I do not believe I ever stipulated that competition should be the ONLY requirement.

I never said you did. I said that competition performance is functionally meaningless at the white belt level and only marginally less so at blue belt. And unless you are lucky enough to live in SoCal or some other area where there are lots of big tournaments, they can be meaningless at every belt level. Once again, if you win first place in a three man bracket, how much of a legitimate indication of skill is that?

And again, to be clear, I'm not saying that competition is bad or unnecessary. While you don't stipulate that it should be the only requirement, you do argue that it's critical, and then paint a picture of krotty mcdojoism and competitions as the one thing holding BJJ up as a legitimate institution. I'm really just pointing out that there are tons of places throughout the country where the tournaments mean jack. Competitions are important, but as I said before, there are a ton of legitimate purple, brown and even black belts who rarely if ever compete.

Also, like it or not, competitions or not, there are already questionable BJJ schools. Fortunately, it's pretty easy to figure out the good ones from the bad ones because the community is still pretty small. That's not always going to be the case. But that's a different discussion.

[JohnGalt]

A thought about those that may not want to compete and earning a stripe.

First off, everyone should EARN their stripe. How they earn it will vary by instructor and school, but the thought of paying for a belt is disgraceful.

I was planning on doing my first tournaments in about 3-4 months. I thought I had a great, obtainable goal to work for. As time went on I remembered two things...

1) I'm old and crippled. Training 3 days a week has been very hard on my body. I am getting in great shape and losing inches around the waist, but you just can't ignore a lifetime of previous injuries and father time.

2) When I first walked into the school I said I was there to learn, get in shape and have fun. And, I am. That's why I go 3 days a week even though I can barely walk on my way out.

I've decided (for now) to skip the tournaments. I am having a blast going to the school and working hard to learn and apply what I have learned. Some nights I can keep up with the teenagers and some nights I can barely get through the warm ups. Either way, I will still show up and do the best I can.

For this reason, I will be very proud for every stripe and belt promotion I earn. When the instructors, that I chose to train with because I respect them, want to reward me for the work I've done, That will be like winning a tournament for me.

Bottom line is, we are all at different levels and abilities and have different goals. The instructors may see things we don't always see. I will trust their judgment.

So I'm 41 and I've been doing kick boxing and grappling for around 2 years and I've been doing the BJJ thing (at a serious school) for 2 months now. I am very glad to hear that I am not the only one out there that crawls away from a 2 hour class battered. I am by no means crippled but it takes me some time to get over the soreness. Anyway, you've motivated me without even trying. Kudos.

[The Don]

LOL @ 33 I left class last night sore as all hell this morning my body is stiff. I got odd bruises but I am loving every second of it. Granted I have been off the mats about 6 months which have a lot to do with how I feel right now..