The game has definitely changed a lot since 1996. Back then, a purple belt would take forever to get especially compared to today. So a new purple in 1996 would have probably been training longer than a new purple in 2005. However, the level and depth of the teaching and training available today is miles ahead of what one could get in 1996, and a 2005 purple would probably be much more well versed in wrestling, leglocks, etc.
So who wins the head to head, a new purple from 1996 or a new purple from 2005.
I think the purples, in general, are better now than they were in 96. With the excption of a few badasses back then, there wasnt the overall level that we see today at any of the belt levels.
These days, thanks to more instructors (especially more OPEN instructors who dont hide anything), more seminars, instructional videos, and written resources, plus more guys to train with and competitions to enter, we have a much higher level than ever before.
But we are still far from Brazil's general level, even though we have some guys at each belt who are the exceptions.
Both purples are american. The ref. is American. It's a go to a tap kind of match so points don't matter.
A few other things to consider. Back in the 90's, you usually had several legendary ju-jitsu instructors under one roof. Gracie Torrence had Pedro Sauer, Jacare, Royce, Rickson, and Rolyer (part time) all under one roof plus lesser known blacks. The Machado Bros. all taught together (more or less) out of a handful of main schools. On the other hand, there were not a whole lot of places to go and get ju-jitsu training (FL, Cali., TX, NY).
My bad. I was under the impression that Jacare Calavacanti, the one who got his black from Rolls, was at GT for some time. If not, I apologize for the missinformation.
It might be easier to get a purple now, but I think the level of the top purples who compete right now is WAY better than the level of them back in the mid 90's.
Jacare is a BB under Rolls. He was the last person to get a BB from Rolls before he died. I think Jacare got it a couple weeks before Rolls died. After Rolls died he trained at Ricksons for a while then left. Not sure where he went after that, but a couple years later he started Master BJJ.
LOL. In the 90's instructors didn't teach everything, they hid techniques and alot still do. Now there is alot more instructors and more of them show everything.
I dont think people are really that much better today.....
Actually, if ya look at the skill of the few who had rank back then compared to a lot of the sorry asses that have rank today... i'd say...percentage wise.... they were much better then!
(Going by basics...im sure there are alot of thing we focus on today they didnt.... but I find alot of good moves i use off tapes from like 10 years ago that work sweet and no one remembers them so....)
I have to reason that the purple belts now are of better quality to individuals of 1996. I suppose that those of 1996 may be more "fundamentally" sound in terms of original modus operandi, which in fact, the nuts and bolts have a tendency to succeed, even in our "progressive" 21st century of BJJ. On the other hand, the game of BJJ has undergone such a spectacular evolutionary progression that has spanned the "world over". As a result, tournaments are far and wide and the mutual troupe is far more plentiful. As a result, tournament attendees have added complementary skills to the mix i.e. wrestling-freestyle/Greco, Sambo, Judo or whatever they bring to the table...This has elevated the sport of BJJ/Submission grappling to the degree that it no longer takes years of understanding to efficaciously out-maneuver neither an art nor a challenger of high rank. Moreover, these insights ensuing from freshly acquired competition accomplished techniques, subsequently, limit the time of rank advancement, whereas, it took forever in the past or around the years preceding or circa 1996. Not bad for a dummy? But then again I just coughed up this tune in a minute! "Holla at a playa when you hear him spit-tin
KNOWLEDGE"!
Purples of old I think had better basics, I don?t know for sure I started training jits in 97 but that is how it felt, The Purples today know more techniques but I feel are weaker in the basics, its hard to say it is just a generalisation, I have been a purple for 3.5 years and I now just train basics, things like balance base timing leverage in a live situation.
I suppose it is like anything else if you train the basics with your mat time you will have a good foundation but if you train 1001 techniques you may be spreading yourself to thin and weaknesses may appear in your basics which is where it is at.
truemanc1:
I agree with you bro. they had better basics it's just that the tournaments weren't as numerous nor the competitors as well rounded as they are today so the P. belt of yesteryear wouldn't have had the level nor depth of competition today. Great points everyone!