Many players nowadays specialize in certain moves and as such there’s a big clash of generations in bjj today. This is one of the possible explanations for why bjj just doesn’t translate as well to mma as it used to. Of course there’s a variety of other factors but a rounded game is not to be overlooked.
Demian Maia recently spoke about it to galerr:
” I think since when I started to train, I always taught. From the blue belt I gave lessons. And that is a tradition in Jiu-Jitsu. The athlete, he is first teacher. He starts to train and teach all at the same time… And for a long time I heard people speaking that it is very difficult to be an athlete and teacher at the same time. And for a long time I stopped giving classes because of this. After my second fight at UFC, I already almost not give more classes, only seminars and spared classes. In 2014 we opened the “Vila da Luta” and, then, I feel that I back again with that part of giving lesson. And I started teaching again and I saw that in truth it was good and helped me how you always help me evolve also my athlete side.”
Maia acknowledges that much of running the academy is also a matter of emotional investment.
“It was a very big investment – not only money but time and emotional also. And I started teaching again and I saw that in truth it was hood and helped me evolve my athlete side. And I realized that it’s a mission for me. “
