George St. Pierres was awarded his brown belt from Renzo Gracie recently. Wow, to think a top level MMA fighter, who is the coach of the upcoming TUF show, still has something to learn in pajamas. I love it!
Youre never too old or too good to learn jiu-jitsu
point of my thread is how everyone praises GSP as the best MMA fighter ever and even HE goes and puts the gi on. Dont turn it into something else. I was just trying to clarify that Gi training must be important if the #1 ranked fighter in UFC is doing it still
What makes you guys so sure that he trained with the gi???
Just because he got his belt?? There are lots of guys who are awarded higher belts with little or no gi training.
Totally agreed with forreal here.
We all fondly remember (especially me LOL)the internet drama in which Spider was awarded a black belt despite having not trained with the gi in X years.
The problem lies in the marketability of the belts in BJJ thats gonna make BJJ look like karate again IMO. So before eveyone freaks out by misreading again, let me state the obvious: Im saying that even if they (GSP and Spider) havent or dont train with the gi, they have been awarded/given belts simply because people view belts as this token of invincibility and quality in instruction...etc.. A belt of high rank will then give them this marketability/credibility.
I can see people going :'WOW, he got a belt from Renzo!! He must be fantastic!! etc...
IMO, those guys shouldnt have been awarded belts period. Why? Because they dont train with the gi and not because I think theyre not the 'black belt level' and all the crap people make a drama of. Thats all!
Yep Forreal is right.
Good advertising for sure providing the UFC says he's one which I
doubt as the UFC wouldnt like to give free ad time to a guy fighting for
the IFL...so me thinks..
george's success isn't based on his gi training, although it may contribute to his success. being a gi-guy myself, i will of course argue the relevance of gi-based training for improvement in any grappling....
however, it does seem rather fortunate, and convenient (although i'm sure well deseved!) that these two names can now be linked together....considering the brand-orientation that the UFC has apparently adopted....and given Mr. St.Pierre particular shot for the title.....very economically savy...
or...perhaps...and i know this might be a stretched....perhaps he actually trained in the gi...and maybe Renzo, as a great bjj instructor, thinks that he deserves this rank...??? Maybe....
in general though, as a point of argument, i agree....no gi = no (need for) rank!
or...perhaps...and i know this might be a stretched....perhaps he actually trained in the gi...and maybe Renzo, as a great bjj instructor, thinks that he deserves this rank...??? Maybe...."
Seeing as how Renzo has never been in the practice of handing out belts, I'd say your maybe is a certainty.
I don't know what he has done since, but GSP trained BJJ at my club in
Montreal (GAMMA) untill last December and regularly participated in Gi
training and seminars. He trained here under both Wagnney Fabiano and
Fabio Holanda.
When he earned his purple belt here, it was after a real exam. He was
already on track to get his brown when he left here.
His gi knowledge is real.
As far as the marketing thing, it goes both ways. There actually might be
problems for GSP at the UFC as Renzo is coaching a team at the "rival" IFL.