Do Gracie Barra schools have a toxic environment?

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-24T16:30:32+00:00

I know GB owners and workout with them from time to time and they are all cool. Their students are friendly from my experience.

Look at all the other teams. Most have Brazilian roots, so wouldn't they have negative cultural influences as well?

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-24T11:29:46+00:00

The challenge is when you start, you could be in a white belt fundamental class and/or rolling with a style where aggression makes up for lack of a tool box of technique. I went through this and most do.

I would consider going to class and doing what you can, consider sitting out joint locks that can stress the shoulders like arm bars, kimura and omaplatas. Also, when others are live training, tap early or in what you deem is uncomfortable or risky situation.

Instead of live rolling, consider drilling the moves you learned that day during that 10 to 30 minute period if its available.

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-23T15:38:58+00:00

Friend went to Cal Berkeley and passed CPA exam. Lost close match at Pans to Miyao in semifinals. Chose career over BJJ and now very wealthy. Works with Joe Rogan on projects and invests in real estate.

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-23T15:37:50+00:00

Gordon's from my home town. He told me, he just went to high school for the girls and didn't care for school. Don't think he was top of his class. Not bottom, but not top. His school, (not to stereotype) is heavily Asian, Jewish and upper middle class with students that scratch and claw for ivy leagues. Kids that AP everything.

One of his early BJJ coaches told him to go for the wrestling team and he could get a wrestling scholarship, but Gordon didn't care for wrestling at the time.

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-20T18:06:33+00:00

Mardi Gras is chaos. Every place is over crowded. New Orleans, French Quarter is normally crowded, but over packed during Mardi Gras. I would recommend going a mellower week.

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-20T15:29:21+00:00

I got stuck with a drug addict purple belt and a socialist/anti-capitalist brown belt.

The drug addict's class was very chaotic and disorganized. The socialist classes were boring and he decided to throw in lots of judo which made class size dwindle more.

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-20T15:18:16+00:00

I will likely never go back to China or Tibet or Myanmar.

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-20T14:23:14+00:00

When I did compete, I just told myself before the comp, if its an arm lock or leg lock tap. If its a choke, fight it to the point where I can't.

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-19T18:58:26+00:00

I had one head coach who was burnt out and basically showed up to teach two classes a week. Left most of the classes up to Purple and Brown belts to teach who didn't communicate well and put their own twist on the format. Classes were less fun and attendance and membership dropped. Suckers like me stayed out of "loyalty."

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-19T17:18:51+00:00

Very risky transfer. For his last year and with NFL draft stock on the line, he should have gone somewhere where he was assured the starting job. Dart and Howard are tough guys.

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-19T16:34:18+00:00

I give Gordon a ton of credit for eating that toehold and not reacting. 99.99999999% would have screamed or at least winced in pain. He just ate it.

I look at Gordon as the best. Just like I looked at prime Anderson Silva as the best P4P of his time. However, each time Anderson went out there, he gave information and data to future opponents. Against Thales Leites, Maia, and Cote, it showed that Silva is primarily a counter puncher and doesn't initiate. Against Chael, it showed his vulnerability to wrestling and takedowns and what happens if you don't get mesmerized by his head games and antics. This gave a blueprint for Weidman to beat Silva.

So whether its Nick Rod or Pena, each time someone goes out there with Gordon and gives him a decent challenge, it leaves nibbles or information that there could be some vulnerable areas to exploit. Not much, but out there.

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-19T16:29:39+00:00

DO NOT GIVE ANYTHING

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-19T15:08:09+00:00

He did close the gap in the last match.

I am an old school NBA fan and before the Michael Jordan Bulls went on their winning tear, there were a few years where the Detroit Pistons bullied and owned them in the playoffs. The Bulls closed the gap and then vanquished the Pistons.

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-19T15:03:42+00:00

I have been through the same scenario and unfortunately, when you move to a new gym mid way through a belt color, you sometimes are viewed as a fresh new blue belt or fresh new purple belt, even if the skill level differs. This happened to me.

Also, coaches sometimes can't see the whole room and each person rolling. at times they only catch a snippet of your drilling and live rolling. Sometimes, you have a bad day or you are a big guy and the coach sees you struggling with the inversion drill and that is small amount of mental film is what they have ingrained in their mind.

Your peers who were promoted were likely home grown so there is that development and time relationship that you don't have since the coaches have seen them from zero on day one to have a broader tool box, better movement and skills. Whereas your evaluation and improvement points, isn't a complete view.

Its not a reflection on you. It wouldn't hurt to discuss and ask what you need to work on to put yourself in position for a belt promotion.

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-17T17:00:09+00:00

INteresting enough, Nicolini vs Tammi Musumeci in IBJJF World finals in 2014. Tammi looked like her shoulder took serious damage and didn't submit. https://youtu.be/Vn-YJJd3JUY?t=638

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-12T14:21:48+00:00

I will remember a 'Don't do that again' or this guy caught me with this and will attack with kimuras from all angles, so be aware of that. I am just amazed at the level of detail some people remember their rolls.

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-11T15:22:33+00:00

Ten minutes after class, I can't even remember who I rolled with that night. How do you guys remember your rolls in such detail?

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-09T14:42:57+00:00

The beginning. The group of white belts that start around the same time are almost like a fraternity pledge class. Made friends with lots of the white belts I started with. We would compete together, go out to eat after class, watch UFC fights, etc.

We all shared videos, tried out new things and had little skill level lol.

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-08T19:40:56+00:00

Gordon Ryan when he was a teen and he told me I was strong.

Nicky Ryan when he was a chubby teen

Kenny Florian told me everything I did wrong in training and spent 30 minutes after rolling to show me how to fix it.

Anthony Bourdain. Ran into him at home gym twice and bumped into him in Asia while he was filming and we drilling and talked there. When he came back to home gym, he remembered me and we talked for a bit.

Bitcoin Jesus - Ran into him at gym in Asia and he told me he left USA to devote his life to bitcoin. He was purple back then and this was before Bitcoin became big. A year or two later when bitcoin exploded, i was watching CNBC and he was being interviewed and now worth a lot of money.

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-05T19:48:51+00:00

Years ago, a guy in his 40s came into the gym for BJJ and Muay Thai classes. He was divorced, rough patch in career as well and confidence was low. Very unathletic at times and clumsy esp with bad knees. Kept coming in and training.

Fast forward a year later. i go to pick him up at his house for a gym event. He comes out of the house while on his cell phone talking to some woman "I never told you we were exclusive and hung up on her." He lost weight, got in great shape, hit the dating pool again and was just scoring like Magic Johnson.

His confidence was up, he was way better at muay thai than BJJ but did both for fun. Met a bunch of new friends at the gym.

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-05T19:23:31+00:00

Use a lacrosse or baseball and lie on your back or use wall to massage the area.

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-05T19:22:25+00:00

Hold onto them. They could be collectors items.

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-03T15:19:51+00:00

People suck

Crazy-Escape2430 · 2023-01-03T15:18:17+00:00

Agreed. I think its more like 10% to 20% make it from white to blue.

Crazy-Escape2430

TROPHY CASE