MMA Training

[cam427]

Guys,

I was wondering the other day about if I should include some BJJ with a gi in our curriculum. I dropped it because we are purely an MMA club so we never train with a Gi. The assumption being that you can always grab someone by the body (or arms or whatever) whether they are wearing a gi or not while the reverse is not true.

BUT..

the other day I was reading a thread and someone was saying about how training with a gi makes you more technical and I was wondering what everyones opinion is on this. It is hard for me to judge because I did the first two or three years of BJJ with a gi on.

I am interested in knowing what other MMA clubs do.

JKD187, I am very interested in what you do at the SBG.

Cam

[blitz]

Hmm I would say include everything you can in the curriculum. People should learn things about self defense too. I personally don't like training for the ring and the ring only.

[BigRod]

Personal preference.

As for the "more technical" argument, well, that's a matter of opinion if you ask me. I've done both. Working on my gi game never made my no-gi game better and vice versa. Each style is unique with it's own benefits and challenges.

But using the gi will expose you to different aspects of grappling. You'll play around with collar chokes and other gi specific issues, which is good but I wouldn't consider gi training critical.

I think you should be asking your students nad training partners, as opposed to us.

[cam427]

Personal preference.

As for the "more technical" argument, well, that's a matter of opinion if you ask me. I've done both. Working on my gi game never made my no-gi game better and vice versa. Each style is unique with it's own benefits and challenges.

But using the gi will expose you to different aspects of grappling. You'll play around with collar chokes and other gi specific issues, which is good but I wouldn't consider gi training critical.

I think you should be asking your students nad training partners, as opposed to us.

That is kind of what I was thinking. Gi and no-gi are so different that I couldn't see how doing one would make you better at the other. In my opinion they are almost like two completely different sports.

I have asked the guys I train with (I run the classes but do not consider myself the "instructor") and they are happy to just train with no gi (and so am i) but after reading about this the other day I just wanted to ask around to make sure we were not missing out on anything. We are relatively new to MMA (less than 1 year) so I wanted opinions from people who are training at good clubs or have been at it a while.

Thanks
Cam

[OmaPlata]

Including Gi in the training cannot hurt, you still learn several different ways to pass the guard that you wouldnt without the GI, and sweeps and many things that without the GI they wouldnt show you,. Plus the bsaics are all the same, controlling the guy on the ground, mounting, etc, so most guys will tell you to mix it up. Renzo says to learn the GI first, then adapt no Gi.
No Gi is the great equalizer when you grapple though.

[danfaggella]

Those guys at Abu Dhabi are pretty technical if you ask me. I know guy who are very technical with and without the gi, just because you don't use a gi doesn't mean you are less technical or will tend to be less technical, with or without the gi, brain defeats braun and technique is respected above bruteness, and technique usually prevails over bruteness as well.

If your class would like to try the Gi, go for it. I agree with blitz in that I personally don't want to be ONLY ring-oriented, which is why I take 5 Animals Kung Fu and read books on Chin Na ect... A gi is a great way to play with other grappling techniques you could use on a clothed apponent on the street. Though a successful judo throw probably won't happen to an opponent in a t-shirt, certainly different handles andchoking options should be known, at least the principles of such technique, I think it couldn't hurt, but you have to weigh it out to see if the cost/time/effort is going ot be possitive or negative for your class.

Good luck and keep training.

[JkD187]

Guys,

I was wondering the other day about if I should include some BJJ with a gi in our curriculum. I dropped it because we are purely an MMA club so we never train with a Gi. The assumption being that you can always grab someone by the body (or arms or whatever) whether they are wearing a gi or not while the reverse is not true.

BUT..

the other day I was reading a thread and someone was saying about how training with a gi makes you more technical and I was wondering what everyones opinion is on this. It is hard for me to judge because I did the first two or three years of BJJ with a gi on.

I am interested in knowing what other MMA clubs do.

JKD187, I am very interested in what you do at the SBG.

Cam

Hello there Cam....ive been busy sorry i didn't write back sooner.In regards to GI training....it honestly depends on what you are doing.If its for MMA then there is no use for the GI.The GI Grappling will NOT make your NO-GI sharper.Its totally different.....Its like saying will training in Judo help out your Greco Roman.....it might but why not just focus on Greco since that is what you will be competeing in.At SBG in NY we do 1 day with the gi on...because we do enter gi tournys as well as NO-GI and MMA....Muay Thai....Boxing etc etc.Thanks for the interest in what i have to say.

[SamuraiGuy]

Hmmm, about the guy who said Gi wont make your No-Gi noticeably better...

I know a guy who won a fairly large competition.. a blue belt at my school...

He did train No-Gi , but primarly Gi...

He ended up winning the advanced division at his weight In No Gi, and got to the advanced gi finals...

When I asked him for No-Gi tips... he said "train with the gi, it makes your No-Gi better"...

it worked for him...

[bruceleeisfake]

SamuraiGuy is lying.

You may ask how he is lying when he seems to have a valid point. But here is the reason....

HE DOESNT KNOW ANYONE AT ALL

[OmaPlata]

my friend, when he was a blue belt(he is purple now) tapped out a brown belt on No Gi day, so next time they rolled with the Gi, the brown belt was so humiliated that when he got my friend in a kneebar he wouldnt let go and kept cranking it, putting my friend on the sideline for a couple months. what a dick

[danfaggella]

Quite a dick.

Also, gi training does not inhance your no-gi, any way you slice it. Thats like a baseball player telling his team mate "If you want to be really good at baseball, you should play softball more often." This isn't logical, why not just practice in the same way you compete? Isn't this what randori is all about? If I want to get good at making scrambled eggs I don't practice by making sunny-side up eggs over and over.

[cam427]

Everyone,

Thanks for all of your advice.

Most people seem to agree that what we are doing now is right so I will just stick to all no-gi. It does seem to make the most sense to train exactly as we will be fighting (which is why we were doing it in the first place).

Thanks
Cam

[JkD187]

Hmmm, about the guy who said Gi wont make your No-Gi noticeably better...

I know a guy who won a fairly large competition.. a blue belt at my school...

He did train No-Gi , but primarly Gi...

He ended up winning the advanced division at his weight In No Gi, and got to the advanced gi finals...

When I asked him for No-Gi tips... he said "train with the gi, it makes your No-Gi better"...

it worked for him...

IT was not the GI that made his grappling better....it was the GRAPPLING that did.Obviously if a blue belt or purple
or brown or black belt entered a no gi tourny.....obviously he would do good because hes a good/great GRAPPLER.About 90% of the people who enter no gi train most of the time with a gi.Not manny places train no-gi more then once a week...except MMA schools.Good luck with your training and coaching cam.