Here are a few differences I see in both theory and application from Sak's style and GJJ ("Pure Water")
- Cartwheel guard passes (yes, I know other BJJ guys do
this)
- Jumping stomps over the open guard
- Giving the back in order to work other submissions
Also, there are very few BJJ techniques that weren't/aren't found in Kodokan Judo. The difference is in the fighting strategy (focus on ne-waza rather than tachi-waza), not application (armbars, chokes, positions are identical).
In the same manner, Sak doesn't pull a lot of different techniques, but the focus (not being afraid to "turtle", the focus on the Kimura lock, etc.) I think seperate him, markedly, from BJJ.
I totally agree though, the original stregth of BJJ (being open to combining the best aspects of Judo, JJ, Freestyle and GrecoRoman wrestling) made it a great art. Once visited by greatness, they (whether through marketing themselves into a corner, or arrogance) have now shut themselves off.
This has put them in the original boat of the arts they surpassed. The fighters that beat the gracies are beating them the same way that the gracies beat everyone before. Being open, and growing.
- Cartwheel guard passes (yes, I know other BJJ guys do
this)
- Jumping stomps over the open guard
- Giving the back in order to work other submissions
Also, there are very few BJJ techniques that weren't/aren't found in Kodokan Judo. The difference is in the fighting strategy (focus on ne-waza rather than tachi-waza), not application (armbars, chokes, positions are identical).
In the same manner, Sak doesn't pull a lot of different techniques, but the focus (not being afraid to "turtle", the focus on the Kimura lock, etc.) I think seperate him, markedly, from BJJ.
I totally agree though, the original stregth of BJJ (being open to combining the best aspects of Judo, JJ, Freestyle and GrecoRoman wrestling) made it a great art. Once visited by greatness, they (whether through marketing themselves into a corner, or arrogance) have now shut themselves off.
This has put them in the original boat of the arts they surpassed. The fighters that beat the gracies are beating them the same way that the gracies beat everyone before. Being open, and growing.
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