Gracie Barra Review

[DutchMafia]

This isn't a troll job. There are GB schools like this.

A troll is "one who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument."

How is this not a troll?

Deliberately provocative message - Check

Maximum disruption and argument - Check

Sounds like a troll to me...

 

[ozyabbas]

I don't know how you could do a review of Gracie Barra. Its too big and has many styles.

You can review individual gyms and instructors but not an organisation as big as Gracie Barra.

 

[eastcounty]

i think the green belt idea for kids is great. anybody over 16 im not so sure about.

 

[Calibur]

A troll is "one who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument."

How is this not a troll?

Deliberately provocative message - Check

Maximum disruption and argument - Check

Sounds like a troll to me...

You realize that you can take ANY subject worthy of discussion on ANY forum and this criteria fits. Listen, just because someone is talking about an aspect that you don't like about something you apprently love doesn't make that person a troll.

 

[Vector_X]

i think the green belt idea for kids is great. anybody over 16 im not so sure about.

See I dunno the drop out rate for BJJ is ridiculously high and if including another belt level helps people over that hump from white to blue I can kinda see it especially if they don't use stripes. I'm not saying that this idea isn't a bit TKD'ish because it is, but if it helps the school stay in business by keeping people then I support it.

To the people saying troll I completely disagree. The person was just calling it like how he saw it and there are plenty of schools out there that seem to be going a bit more commercial.

 

[bjjaz]

So are you one of the guys who would rather have crappier blue belts? The green belt keeps the standard of blue belt high, while acknowledging that someone with a little practice is better than a guy who is just starting out, but doennt have the fundamentals down, like a blue belt should.

The fact that green belts compete in white belt tourneys is more an incident of the fact that tournaments can't accomodate their rank, not that they are sandbagging.

I understand your point, I was just making the point if they are over 16 why not push them to become better at blue. Staying white is fine, I just hope they are promoted when necessary, but I understand what ya mean.

 

[BruceLeeMMA]

A troll is "one who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument."

How is this not a troll?

Deliberately provocative message - Check

Maximum disruption and argument - Check

Sounds like a troll to me...

Not to mention the original poster had exactly zero posts and then specifically registered to create a troll thread.

 

[Aesopian]

Don't see how this guy is trolling. It's pretty widely known that GB America is handing out new rules like dojo etiquette (no cursing, etc.), bowing, mandatory GB branded gis, etc. The green belt thing is new to me though (for adults, not kids) and I've only seen that in American Top Team for adults. Charging for belts and scheduled tests isn't something I've seen yet, but like people have said, no two GB schools are exactly alike. His review wasn't even too negative but he voiced his complaints about the changes and honestly I've heard them from other people too.

 

[Aesopian]

If you really want to look for inaccuracies in his story, the main one I see is that Atama doesn't make the Gracie Barra gis any more. They are produced by some Chinese company now from what I can tell.

 

[KahleyTriangles]

I guess I'm old school, but bowing and showing respect are big in my book. Yeah there's a place for being informal and being laid back, but since BJJ is a martial art that teaches us not only how to defend ourselves, but if we choose to can really hurt other people, simple acts as bowing and shaking hands with everyone in class I feel fosters humility, good sportsmanship, and respect.

Anyway, as for my school, its very different from the original poster. We are encouraged to wear GB gi's, and if we don't to try and have patches on. Even if you don't have patches (I don't even think they sell them anymore), its fine. I know people that have even competed without GB gis but for me, I'm proud to be a Gracie Barra student so I wear my GB gi when I compete (I have 2 korals that I use along with 2 GB gis).

The rash guard/tshirt is for hygiene purposes. As Padlock mentioned earlier, not swearing/cussing is just common sense, especially when you have younger kids around (also another simple act that promotes humility/respect). When we get belt promotions we are given the belt for free.

Really I think the reason why GB America wants everyone to have a GB gi is to promote team spirit rather than as some sort of money scheme.

To be honest, I looked at the stuff the TS posted, and if the head of the school was worth learning under then really what's the big deal? Its their school and they can enforce what they want. As others have said, if you don't like it then you can go to a different school.

Another thing, people need to realize that although we are all under the GB flag, not every GB school is run the same way. I think the only thing the TS should be faulted for is making it seem like EVERY GB school is run like this as opposed to just their school.

 

[shaftoe]

I take no issue with these topics being discussed here. However, they have been done to death, and green belt threads and belt fee threads always ignite a shitstorm. Now an anonymous member posts, as their first post, a "review" of some unnamed school in some unnamed place, referencing these hot-button issues? Seriously, some of you think that this post was made in good faith? Does not compute.

 

[Aesopian]

Just seems like there are much more entertaining ways to troll a topic like this.

 

[BruceLeeMMA]

Just seems like there are much more entertaining ways to troll a topic like this.

Well, if he is part of a competing organization, then he would have an incentive to trash his competitor and perhaps draw people to his own place. So entertainment isn't necessarily the goal always.

I mean even in this thread, there are posters who are in the process of deciding between Gracie Barra and somewhere else.

 

[Vector_X]

Well, if he is part of a competing organization, then he would have an incentive to trash his competitor and perhaps draw people to his own place. So entertainment isn't necessarily the goal always.

I mean even in this thread, there are posters who are in the process of deciding between Gracie Barra and somewhere else.

But really the review wasn't that bad. I mean in the end he admitted that the instruction was top notch. You have to wear your teams gi? who gives a fuck. I mean if you already had a nice gi I'd just ask the instructor if I could throw some patches on but really your going to need a gi anyway. No cursing? well that is common curtesy. Green belt? Umm i've already said my peace on this and am kinda mixed about it but it isn't too god awful.

Out of his review all I took away is that they are going a bit more traditional and have a sort of dress code, but in the end they offer great instruction.

 

[BruceLeeMMA]

But really the review wasn't that bad. I mean in the end he admitted that the instruction was top notch. You have to wear your teams gi? who gives a fuck. I mean if you already had a nice gi I'd just ask the instructor if I could throw some patches on but really your going to need a gi anyway. No cursing? well that is common curtesy. Green belt? Umm i've already said my peace on this and am kinda mixed about it but it isn't too god awful.

Out of his review all I took away is that they are going a bit more traditional and have a sort of dress code, but in the end they offer great instruction.

Well if I read his post and I was deciding where to go, the impression I would get is that you had all these strict rules, had to pay all this money for belt promtions, etc, etc if you went to any Gracie Barra club which is simply not true.

I also find it suspicious that the poster basically just disappears after creating his thread.

 

[Aesopian]

We still don't even know what specific gym or area this guy is talking about so I don't see how this could be a ploy to drive people to another gym. I didn't even get that it was a negative review since it sounds like he really likes the instruction. I get that belt testing, bowing, etc. are all hot buttons for the forum but they are also real things that are happening so I don't see how it is trolling to complain about them. When I started at my gym we had no bowing and very few formal rules but now every class I teach has everyone lining up and bowing. Do I like it? Honestly, not really since it's not how it was when I started BJJ and I'm not Japanese. But it also doesn't effect the quality of the training and it does make the classes run smoother surprisingly enough.

 

[BruceLeeMMA]

When I started at my gym we had no bowing and very few formal rules but now every class I teach has everyone lining up and bowing. Do I like it? Honestly, not really since it's not how it was when I started BJJ and I'm not Japanese. But it also doesn't effect the quality of the training and it does make the classes run smoother surprisingly enough.

As a tangent. I really don't get why people get so upset about the bowing. It's not really a big deal to me either way.

I mean nobody seems to complain that they have to do the Wai Khru dance (honoring the Gods) in Muay Thai. Which is much more time consuming and effort then a small bow. Or lining up and shaking hands after a soccer or basketball game.

Nobody says, why do I have to do Wai Khru, that's stupid.

 

[Brolic]

First Page Updated with replies and clarifications.

 

[hustles]

Good updates to your first post. The thing that really confuses me is the Green belts and testing fees. I am pretty confident those are a product of your gyms owners and not Gracie Barra America. The Gracie Barra America school is not doing adult green belts, doesn't have testing fees and doesn't even charge for the belt itself when you are promoted. I have a hard time believing Marcio Feitosa would require schools outside of Orange County and the HQ in Irvine to charge for things he doesn't charge for himself at his main school.

 

[Aesopian]

Thanks for the clarifications. The green belts for adults and requiring payments to get belt tests is something I haven't seen at any Gracie Barras yet (and I've read the official agreements that GB schools sign to be a member of the association and they're not in there) so I would be interested to find out where you gym got the idea they have to do that.