I'm new to BJJ. I've been training GI trying to get the most out of it. But I got some very negative "Look" in class today when I asked about Eddie 'Twister' Bravo. I heard that he was a great No-GI guy. But everyone seemed to think negative of him so I just want to know what the deal is on him. Is his stuff worth learning? And why don't the BJJ guys at my gym don't like him.
He submitted Royler Gracie in ADCC a couple years ago and has been riding the wave of success ever since. It was a big deal at the time, but the time has passed. A lot of people don't like his attitude, sales tactics (i.e. referring the the Royler every chance he gets), or politics (his last BJJ book contained a large section advocating marijuana use).
He's got some very distinct techniques and different jiu jitsu game than a lot of others. I like a lot of his stuff (rubber guard, half guard). I also don't like some of his other stuff (the twister, but maybe his next book with change my mind).
His stuff is worth learning, or at least investigating. Mastering the Rubber Guard would be a good place to start. Finding someone who has been to a seminar to help you learn it would be advisable.
As for why your training partners don't like him, it's probably because of his attitude. As for why they would give you negative "looks" for bringing him up...no good reason.
Hi GoGreco,
Eddie has been to our school and put on a dozen or so seminars over the last few years. While my game is not Eddie's game, largely owing to different stature and physical attributes as well as background before BJJ, the rubber guard (and also understanding it sufficiently to defend against it) has been a good addition to my game. It seems to me there are times to push (e.g., "lazy man's guard") and times to pull in tight (e.g., rubber guard), just like there are times on your feet to attack low (e.g., single leg)(maybe you don't like to to that if your are primarily greco :-)) or high (e.g., front headlock). The rubber guard is one helpful approach when either you bring your opponent close to you, breaking his posture, or begin to get smashed by a larger or stronger opponent (the latter being no small issue for me).
His half guard lockdown techiques are quite useful, particularly for smaller statured players (not that you always would want to go lockdown in the half guard).
If you have a wrestling background, the twister is simply a slight variation from what us wrestlers call the guillotine. That seems "less sexy" because we are already familiar with the basics and have done "leg wrestling" enough in collegiate style wrestling so we can better defend the initial phases of that technique. It is a useful position to know and is difficult to defend once your opponent has progressed toward the position of attacking your head.
Eddie runs an excellent and systematic seminar with lots of repitition so you get a good feel and sense of what to do and why.
Again, my game involves alot that the rubber guard and twister do not address. (And Eddie does not assert that his rubber guard, lockdown, and twister cover all situations.) However, as with my wrestling over the years, I have found utility is developing a game that involves techniques that keep within a structure or scaffolding a number of more simple and parsimonious principles and concepts to guide my technique. The rubber guard and lockdown, I think, definitely have their place in BJJ.
As for Eddie's personality, he believes strongly in his techniques, is very much into the pot culture, (I am not), and very much marches to the tune of his own drummer (and apparently enjoys controversy) which may turn some off but I have found him to be pleasant and quite interested in teaching which he clearly enjoys and which shows at his seminars.
I say this all the time, for completeness sake, which you probably already know: videos and books will help but you will do much better if you have direct instruction/feedback from Eddie or one of his regular students.
Just my opinion for what it is worth.
Rich
i've heard nothing but great things from people who have gone to his seminars/trained with him. the technique sections of his books are top notch.
the other things he says on the internet/his books (fanning the no-gi vs gi controversy, the pot stuff, etc) can get annoying.
His jiujitsu game is good. He won the us trials using his half guard game. Even got past the the 2nd round in ADCC03. He has legit skills and anyone who questions that is just a hater. Anyone who wins the us trials imo has legit jiujitsu skills.
I think alot of people have a problem with his personality thou, he talks alot. As can be seen on his youtube rubber guard video. I think its things like that which rub people up the wrong way.
Everyone hates him because ee makes BJJ gay.
No but really, if 24/7 all you did was talk about an art contest you won way back in 3rd grade, and youre now like 40 years old, everyone would hate you too.
BJJ Guys are typically akin to religious Fanatics and feel threatened by any other "Religions".
My instructors don't even want to hear about Marcelo Garcia. much less Eddie Bravo, that danged upstart.
There's clearly a lot of rivalry between schools and NIH ("not invented here") syndrome.
The line that really cracks me up is "we already know that/do that." I'm sure if I had enough wit to "invent" a phony move and claim it was really hot, say, in Adelaide, they'd tell me "oh yeah, we already know that too."
Personally I think we'd be better off if we continually, aggressively stole the best techniques from the best schools and best players. That's what they do in business and war.
(I'm not so sure that isn't what the black belts are doing, privately, they meet from our different branch academies and roll together and share techniques. They probably pull out the instructional DVD's they tell us we shouldn't watch and learn stuff there too.)
;-)
Eddie is a good egg and keeps people on their toes.
eddie is not a no gi guy, he is half gi
The answer to the original question is that bjjers are cultists too often. Eddie Bravo is the kind of annoying that makes you smile when you hear his name, not scowl. Learn what you can from his materials since they are clearly useful to anyone.
I think his stuff is worth learning. BUT, just like with anything you have to be sensible; you can analyze, study and even absorb his techniques BUt you don't have to buy into his rhetoric nor do you have to take every thing he says as gold.
'the rubber guard (and also understanding it sufficiently to defend against it)'
This is a lie!!
With the exception of Simco, no one can defend the rubber guard! No one!