Im making this post because I'd like to see if I have the right train of thought when it comes to training the material from your instructionals. Quite often i've read (and heard for that matter) many things about your new system, and the differences between the new system, and the system you used on your instructionals. Now let me hurry and make the point that I am not asking for you to describe your new system, nor am I trying to learn it at this moment.
With that being said, i've made an observation. The system that you use on your instructional DVDs has been VERY helpful to me. What I would like to know is if you still find those methods useful? I think that if the system that you taught on your DVDs are valid, then there is no real point behind harrassing you to learn the new system, when there is alot to be gained from learning the old system.
I've applied reference points to practically every area of my training. Its taken the approach of learning thousands of techniques, and has just simplified it to adding things I like to certain reference points, and adding methods to getting to those reference points. That is WAY easier then having a "kata" collection.
Lastly, what are your thoughts on the old system, in terms of application, and do you think it will sprout independent thinking in terms of a persons individual growth in BJJ?
The thing you need to understand is that there is no clear definition between "old" and "new". It is simply evolution. Everyone improves and/or their game as they progress over time. The BJJ I was doing in 1991 is different than the BJJ I was doing in 2001. The BJJ I was doing in 2001 was different than what I was doing in 2006.
These changes did not occur overnight at some exact defining moment, but rather, like anything else in this world that evolves, it was a very slow and gradual process. It was one little thing here and one little thing there. Then all these little things added up over time and gave the appearance of a big change. What you see in my instructional videos is a snapshot of what I was doing at that moment in time.
Yes, the information on the DVD's are still useful. Just because I don't use certain things anymore doesn't make something invalid. Heck, I don't really take lessons from my instructors anymore, but that doesn't mean what they teach is not useful. Remember that your journey in BJJ will not be exactly the same as mine.
M.G. What exactly do you mean by common sense? Where in my thread did you find a question that I asked Michael that would Merrit that comment? I asked what I felt to be a valid question, that honestly didnt need a sarcastic "Common Sense" reply. What are you referrencing this thread to (in conjunction with an older thread) that would imply that if I were to use this "common sense", I could've gotten the answer to the main question I was asking without having to post something that I felt would delve a little deeper into the method Bolo used on his instructionals?
I stated Bolo's statement is another beautiful example of common sense because it was. It follows practical logic. I wasn't being sarastic but truthful.
When Bolo said: "Everyone improves and/or their game as they progress over time. The BJJ I was doing in 1991 is different than the BJJ I was doing in 2001. The BJJ I was doing in 2001 was different than what I was doing in 2006."
it follows the logical prinicple that people grow and mature over time (assuming that one continues in the activity or thing their doing and continues with all due diligence) and become better (as well as understand more) in that process of time.
You said may comment implied: "that if I were to use this "common sense", I could've gotten the answer to the main question I was asking without having to post something that I felt would delve a little deeper into the method Bolo used on his instructionals?"
Well...my comment didn't mean your question was stupid or anything of that nature. BUT given the very answer, in and if itself, and how "common sense" it appears, I do think you would have reached such a conclusion on your own if you thought about it logically for a while.
My main question was how he felt about his Jiu Jitsu that he taught on his tapes, and if he thought it was still a great system in comparison to the system he teaches now, it wasnt about his growing and maturing over time. However, I do appreciate Michael's words.
The reason I felt you came off sarcastic is because the nature of my question really was just wanting to know how he felt about the things he taught, and how he taught them on his DVDs, which is why I felt it was out of context. However, looking at it from the view that you were observing a totally different portion of Michael's post, I could see the conclusion you drew that made you say it was common sense.
In the past few weeks, I made an addition break through and evolutionary change in the way that I teach my pin escape system. It is very different from how I taught it in the past. So I feel the way I teach it now is better than the way I taught it in Feb. 2007. Anyone who evolves will feel that what they are doing currently is better than what they were doing in the past. That's why it's called evolution, not de-evolution. But my point was that my evolution should not discourage you from examining the validity of the techniques I taught in the past. No one should look at anything I teach or anyone else teaches as the end all solution. If what I taught in my videos works for you then that is great. View it as the beginning of thing that starts with my instruction, but will eventually turn into something bigger and better for yourself.
Bolo is right...I have watched tapes and the instruction introduced a move or escape but then once I tried it, I had to make some modifications...
for instance, on gustavo machado's recent "great escapes tape" he teaches a counter to the common cross lapel choke from the guard.
He pinches the elbows of the guy on bottom applying the guard...he postures, then he weaves one of his hands through his oppts and breaks the grip.
Now, what I noticed, is that when he pinched the elbows of his oppts he was grabbing his wrist. I experimented with my workout partner and get a better "squeeze" by grabbing my forearms.
I also noticed that when he postured, he seemed to shake up and down a little. He didn't say anything but I postured and sort of jerked/nodded my head and it put a lot of strain on my partners grips. It made the final step easier.
So, if I was teaching his valid and good move, I would show it with my modifications...making it for me...better.
Michael has great tapes and by drilling the moves, you'll find some work great for you as are, some you'll abandon and some you'll modify and improve, maybe going the same route as michael or changing the move to a certain extent.
I am curious what your pin escapes improvements are Bolo. I know almost everybody in BJJ (including myself) is going to their knees much more these days than they did a few years ago. I have your pin escapes set, and was curious what you think could be improved.
I find that I pull guard or sit up the most. I go to the knees somtimes, but I do the other two. I often have to tell my bigger students that they are not allow to go to their knees when training pin escapes because I find that is much easier to "power" into. It's not as easy to power into pulling guard and it is near impossible to power into sitting up.
No, I'm not making any new videos. I haven't created a new system, I've just changed the way I teach it and then refined it. Actually, just I used my knowledge of biomechanics and body alignment from being a MBF practitioner to make everything stronger more effecient.