It seems like in every interview lately Rickson Gracie has been hammering the point that grips slow down the game, advantages are killing competitions and unsavory moves that have nothing in common with self defense are causing extraordinary drop out rates.
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While the case could be made for some of it Robert Drysdale has one very significant point of contention with the living legend Rickson – he believes that some of the moves Rickson teaches are just as impractical in real life as the ‘bolo and other sport jiu-jitsu principles.
“For arguments sake, let us ignore the fact that much of what we all teach in JJ, including what Rickson teaches (such as collar chokes) is impractical in the real situations he describes. So, in this regard at least, berimbolo is no different from many of the techniques he practices, and teaches, himself. Instead, lets focus on the practicality of these moves in competition.” Drysdale writes to Global Training Report.
On Rickson’s blacklist are plenty of moves including 50-50 which was one of the most common sweeping positions in just concluded IBJJF worlds. Further an arguement can be made that most positions in jiu-jitsu can be used for stalling.
But is it really all so simple, that the older generation is critiquing new methods and dissmissing the rules that don’t favor them?
Still Drysdale doesn’t intend to attack Rickson as his legacy is innumerable to bjj. Indeed Drysdale has been known for an assortment of outspoken attitudes. But is he onto something or is it just stirring the pot?
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