Is Rickson Gracie even relevant any more?

[pheonix5]

Originally Posted by kintana

Bjj has changed quite a bit. Before it was all Gracie now it isn't. Rickson still has a lot of respect but it isn't the same Jiu Jitsu style he lived in today.

In respect to tournaments,yes. In respect to self defense and real fighting it is very relevent.

[lowdown1]

kids these days.......no respect

[lechien]

Originally Posted by pheonix5

Kron, Roger and Xande don't use half the tournament techs used today and seem to be doing ok.

Rickson should release some DVD or books. Even if it is not for sport, it is still valuable.

[Spoonman7]

Of course he is still relevant, as a competitor, obviously not, but his understanding and knowledge are likely second to none. There is a reason that even at $300 per person, his seminars sell out quickly and often.

[Ninjamurf]

Originally Posted by georgwilhelm

I always wonder why there are no relevant BBs under Rickson. If he has got the magic tricks he surely would have taught some people. And Kron doesn't count, he's really good but by no means above everybody else. And he has been doing this for much longer than 99% of people including world champions. The lack of successful students (in BJJ or MMA) makes me wonder if Rickson is really what most of us believe of him (like invisible JJ, technique beyond anything else).

Love this. "Kron doesn't count" Why? Because he's actually "relevant"? Or because he is "by no means above everybody else." How ridiculous is that statement? Kron is above 99.999999% of "everybody else." Add a couple 9's, take a couple away, whatever. The point is that Kron is one of THE BEST right now. Period. Here's an OLD partial listing from bjj.org...

6th Black Pedro Sauer
5th Black Octávio de Almeida, Marcelo Behring, Luiz Palhares, Fabio Santos, Carlos Valente
3rd Black Leandro Almeida, Wellington "Megaton" Dias, Rodrigo Vaghi
2nd Black Luiz Claudio Augusto Goncalves, Jorge Pereira
Black Henry Akins, Romolo Barros, Mauricio Costa, Luis "Limao" Heredia, David Kama, Chris Saunders, Leandro Sotero, David Terry, Takamasa Watanabe

Very old actually as Fabio and Pedro have gotten red and blacks already. Not sure about the rest but just looking at THAT list should tell you something. Another thing you need to realize is that MOST of these guys got their black before the Mundials even freaking existed. It was NEVER a part of their "goals."

[artesuavesam]

Rickson is totally relevant. When you talk about jiu jitsu legends his name is always pretty much the first to be brought up. :-)

[Half Boston Crab]

Originally Posted by luckyshot

He's not "relevant" if you define relevant as being on the cutting edge of sport BJJ. That's a pretty lame definition of relevant in my opinion, though.

I agree. The only real "development" of BJJ I see today is people coming up with a lot of funky moves and guard variations, that work great in BJJ competition, but would likely get your head beaten in or smashed against the pavement in a street assault.

[Waldorf]

Originally Posted by lechien

So basically, he cannot teach JJ for competition. His JJ is more for fighting.

I wasn't my intent to say that. I specullated he wasn't interested in doing what it takes to produce a top flight competition team which involves a way of teaching, but also a lot more then that. To be honest since I never trained that I can only speculate what he does or doesn't emphasis. The majority of what is publicly available on him and his comments do seem fight focused but it seems to me he wants to teach jiu jitsu that is perfect jiu jitsu.

[mj12]

No hespect my friend.

[NateTx4112]

So I was reading a baseball article on this Babe Ruth guy.

Don't hear much about him on ESPN. Is he relevant in baseball?