The Mendes Bros on Self Defense [Video]

[deadlizard]

Yes, Henry Akins is a TMA dude. He sucks and won no competitions (and is to big of a coward to even try) so he is just trying to leach of the Rickson myth in a traditional TMA bullshit manner.

I wouldn't say that he "sucks", he's a blackbelt under Rickson and that accounts for something.

However, I would say that the Helio's side of the Gracies are trying to differentiate themselves to stay relevant in BJJ. It's not news to anyone to know that their jiu jitsu is not the best anymore.

If Ryron and Rener are winning double golds in IBJJF tournaments they'd be singing a different tune.

 

[SBJ]

^^^

 

[SBJ]

Yes, Henry Akins is a TMA dude. He sucks and won no competitions (and is to big of a coward to even try) so he is just trying to leach of the Rickson myth in a traditional TMA bullshit manner.

Forum Rules

[*]Fighter Bashing (including refs, promoters and the like) won't be tolerated anywhere on the board. Criticism is fine, flaming isn't. Minor bashing such as "so and so sucks, is a dick, etc." is a double yellow, while extreme bashing like "so and so is a pile of shit, etc." will result in a ban.

 

[Alex88]

^^^ lol

 

[LocalNmass]

Thanks Budojake for continuingly stirring the pot and getting such a wide range of guys from the BJJ world to sit and chat.

 

[TheHereticJay]

Since Atkins has not competed, he is not a fighter. So, by way of loopholes... bash on, my friends. It's the same as bashing a random black belt that no one has heard of, but because he is part of the Gracie incrowd you instantly jump on his nuts.

I have no opinion of Atkins, but the tattle tale nonsense you just spewed was shenanigans and needs to stop right meow.

 

[Chinaboxer]

just to clear the air about Henry Akins, he competed all the way up to purple belt. it was during this time that he went into an open division and ended up tearing both knees during the competition. He went on to have several surgeries to correct it and was out of practice for a very long time until he recovered enough to get back into training and teaching. He still has issues with his knees and doesn't want to push it too far. He has nothing to prove to anyone. And his philosophy of BJJ comes from Rickson Gracie, so bashing his view is ridiculous.

 

[Ice 9 Cobra]

I've always found it weird that jiujitsu uses lineage so much to determine how good someone is.

 

[JohnSouth]

Well it never hurts to learn disarms in situations like Hebdo. Sneak up on the guy surprise him and take it away, then take out his buddies.

I think most people that complain about self defense never did it and never rolled with some guys at a decent place.

It's not that sport BJJ can not be modified to leave out this or that, it's simply incomplete and not right for combat.

You need the stand up, rolling around on the ground doesn't cut it and you should not be there at all in a fight if you can help it.

And yes it does work. When you have a guy who's got black belt level in sport jiu-jitsu and knows the self defense curriculum it works. The techniques are sound, you just need to have some balls.

I found the Gracie places in my area the guys had way better sport defense and submissions as well. They were more hobbiests but damn were they good compared to the cardio machines with shit technique.

They won't teach you about sport guards except how to pass them but you don't really need that shit anyway.

It's like Osiander said, "you just do really old jiu-jitsu to it".

 

[brendan raedy]

just to clear the air about Henry Akins, he competed all the way up to purple belt. it was during this time that he went into an open division and ended up tearing both knees during the competition. He went on to have several surgeries to correct it and was out of practice for a very long time until he recovered enough to get back into training and teaching. He still has issues with his knees and doesn't want to push it too far. He has nothing to prove to anyone. And his philosophy of BJJ comes from Rickson Gracie, so bashing his view is ridiculous.

Lots of us have had multiple injuries and surgeries, been out for long periods of time to recover, yet have still found a way to compete again.

If you are writing essays on the "sad state of BJJ" you very clearly have an agenda or something to prove, whether that be advocating for self defense in BJJ or simply selling seats at your seminar or instructionals.

Rickson is a legend in our sport, but there are those even within his family that disagree with parts of his philosophy. And when you start removing yourself from the immediate family, it's a slippery slope. Lots of BJJ players and even black belts trace their lineage directly to Rickson or Helio, often removed by one or two people. To claim that because of this these folks can spout off whatever high and mighty musings they want with no argument or disagreement is ludicrous.

 

[Matsukaze]

This is where I miss ModernRonin and his rant about how he kicked his ass in their academy.. haha... the good old times

 

[MitsuyoMaeda]

Who could forget that thread! The Jose Higino black belt...what was his name? Fatuda?


Well...I agree with some points that the Mendes brothers state. I also agree with the comments from Henry. However when you look at the video...the purple belt took no significant damage. He could have ended the fight with a nasty inverted heel hook.

Both sides have their points.

 

[BJJ_Rage]

I agree on some points, and dont in others.

 

[BJJ_Rage]

This is where I miss ModernRonin and his rant about how he kicked his ass in their academy.. haha... the good old times

old times? I dont think that happened longer than 6 months ago...

 

[Zankou]

This is where I miss ModernRonin and his rant about how he kicked his ass in their academy.. haha... the good old times

This is the point in the thread where I invariably point out that I swept Rafa Mendes once during a seminar and took side control against him.

In RL, I am sure that is the point at which I would've unleashed hellish GNP.

 

[Balto]

old times? I dont think that happened longer than 6 months ago...

Also it was just a random troll story, not actual events.

 

[BJJ_Rage]

Also it was just a random troll story, not actual events.

Dude, im actually not sure about that... I think the dude provided lots of hard evidence on his favor.. I dont know, but if it was a troll job, was the best Ive seen...

 

[SBJ]

From:

Henry Akins

Wow!

So I had no idea the post yesterday would get so much attention. My Intention in posting it was not to criticize the individual but explain what could have been done differently in that situation to keep the BJJ practitioner "safe".

IT IS NOT HIS FAULT for how he reacted, he reacted how he normally trains at the gym. Thankfully he did not get hurt and that is the most important thing. BUT, also he was in a lot of danger, and watching the video there were several times I was really scared for him.. like when he got picked up and slammed, and when he lost the back and the guy ended up on top in his guard.

What it comes down to is the strategy and mindset you use when you train. I will be posting some videos in the next few weeks to help those that are interested in understanding the mindset and strategy I use to train the students at my gym wwwDynamixMMA.com

Here is a video to start things off, and again my intention here is to help the community, to pass on some of the knowledge I was blessed with. We are all brothers and sisters who share the same passion.

​

Also I'll be releasing more upcoming videos here: http://hiddenjiujitsu.com/

 

[Matsukaze]

old times? I dont think that happened longer than 6 months ago...

I know... but I looked forward to his ranting and his very detailed account of the "fight"... It was awesome

 

[Balto]

Dude, im actually not sure about that... I think the dude provided lots of hard evidence on his favor.. I dont know, but if it was a troll job, was the best Ive seen...

What hard evidence?

Hard evidence would be anybody who actually trains at AOJ confirming such events. Or even secondhand confirmation -- someone who knows someone who trains there.

There was nothing like that.

Just assuming someone obscure guy's identity (who conveniently lives in Brazil so probably can't read English to figure out what is going on) is not hard evidence.