Jiu Jitsu Community

[member 603]

So I'm sitting in the airport, getting ready to travel to Denver from Orlando and I'm wearing a Phalanx t-shirt. I've been approached by 4 different people asking if I train, and how long.... It's led to a few good conversations (and hopefully a few more members to this place).

What stories of meeting people through BJJ do you guys have? Any random run ins where BJJ has been a bonding experience?

 

[Report]

My brother in law has a jj gym. So outside of hot topic for game of thrones and dragon ball tees/tanks, I get all my tees from the gym

For about 2 years before training, it would start a lot of convos, and I unfortunately had to say that I am just a poser lol

On a serious note, even though that was technically a true statement, the same shirts do spark up a lot of convos. Walking across the street, a cop walking by stopped me to chat. Good dude. He apparently use to roll with them at AMA fight club before they opened their own gym

And then he discussed where he currently rolls, which is with the Main brother at Pure MMA. Told me to swing by. I still haven't bc I want to improve a Lil before I start venturing around. But I've run into a lot of similar situations where dudes are FRIENDLY AND INVITE ME TO THEIR GYMS (I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S CAPS ALL OF A SUDDEN BUT I'VE TRIED AND I CAN'T STOP it)

 

[HEATH VON DOOM]

I was visiting the Zoo in my hometown wearing a shirt from my BJJ club when I was approached by one of the local BB. After he felt me out to see if I was bullshitting about actually training we had a good conversation.

He invited me to come train and I actually ended up going and having a couple privates with him. He added alot to my game in those few hours since his style and mine were alot alike. I dont train much anymore but I still make it a point to stop in and say hi when I am in town. It amazes me how he still remembers my name every time I stop in.

 

[HEATH VON DOOM]

I have some good stories but probably not appropriate to tell on a open forum.

 

[member 603]

Man today is a day to bump the old threads here..... So I was at this food and wine event tonight and it was pretty busy (as those things tend to get), well I was waiting on this long line (from the only food I could eat at this overpriced event..... I digress). One of the workers at the place comes up to me and asked if I trained, I said yes and asked how he knew, he said that he recognized me from the tournaments around Florida and Georgia where he's competed (he's a blue belt around Central Florida). He then escorted me and the three other people I was with to the side of his food tent and hooks us up..... Even gave me an oss as I walked away.

I love this community

 

[SAJ]

So I made a Facebook account because all my jiu jitsu friends are on there. (I know who the hell still uses facebook)

Anyway I start receiving friend request from people I used to know, school friends, college friends etc. One guy who I was pretty close to in school comments 'oss' on my video. So I asked him if he trained too and he replied yeah.

I took his number we met up and rolled for about an hour straight. I showed him some stuff that we learn at our place and he was showing me some of his techniques too.

Even though it's not a completely random person I still only met him again through jiu jitsu. It was fun rolling with an old friend that you didn't even know rolled lol. I wish all my friends did this.

 

[jasonhightower]

So I made a Facebook account because all my jiu jitsu friends are on there. (I know who the hell still uses facebook)

Anyway I start receiving friend request from people I used to know, school friends, college friends etc. One guy who I was pretty close to in school comments 'oss' on my video. So I asked him if he trained too and he replied yeah.

I took his number we met up and rolled for about an hour straight. I showed him some stuff that we learn at our place and he was showing me some of his techniques too.

Even though it's not a completely random person I still only met him again through jiu jitsu. It was fun rolling with an old friend that you didn't even know rolled lol. I wish all my friends did this.

It really is amazing how the sport brings people together. The best in the sport are even accessible at worst by a simple seminar fee. Not too many professional sports you can do that.

 

[SAJ]

It really is amazing how the sport brings people together. The best in the sport are even accessible at worst by a simple seminar fee. Not too many professional sports you can do that.

Exactly. Met so many great people through BJJ.

Yep you are right, you can literally roll with the best grapplers alive when the opportunity comes about or at least have a seminar where they can teach you a lot of cool shit.

 

[member 603]

That's what I'm saying, this community of BJJ practitioners has really changed and become a world community. I remember the days of academy storms, and blood rivalries.... While that still exists on a political level, I feel with the rising popularity of MMA, the BJJ stars from any school are celebrated by fellow practitioners (I know I do), and whenever we see other practitioners, it's like we're in an exclusive family.... An unless you've been twisted up like a pretzel, or choked unconscious, you can't understand

 

[Tuc Ouiner]

What is the general consensus among Brazilians about Craig Kukuk?

 

[SAJ]

That's what I'm saying, this community of BJJ practitioners has really changed and become a world community. I remember the days of academy storms, and blood rivalries.... While that still exists on a political level, I feel with the rising popularity of MMA, the BJJ stars from any school are celebrated by fellow practitioners (I know I do), and whenever we see other practitioners, it's like we're in an exclusive family.... An unless you've been twisted up like a pretzel, or choked unconscious, you can't understand

Another thing I've noticed is how closely the mma community and bjj community are related for obvious reasons. Yet it still doesn't encourage that hard-core mma fan to get off is ass and train. Frank mir came to my home town last month and gave a seminar. How cool would it be if you were lifelong mma fan and you get to spend the day, rolling and learning with/from Frank Mir? These guys don't know what they are missing out on

 

[member 603]

Another thing I've noticed is how closely the mma community and bjj community are related for obvious reasons. Yet it still doesn't encourage that hard-core mma fan to get off is ass and train. Frank mir came to my home town last month and gave a seminar. How cool would it be if you were lifelong mma fan and you get to spend the day, rolling and learning with/from Frank Mir? These guys don't know what they are missing out on

It's easier to be an armchair quarterback.... The amount of times I've sat in places listening to guys say what they would do, or how fighter A needed to do this to fighter B, yet have never stepped foot on a mat, is too numerous to remember. (If you've spoken with these people, apparently they all have wrestled, and have trained Muay Thai, and all have that same shoulder injury that has them on the shelf for "just one more month").

 

[member 603]

What is the general consensus among Brazilians about Craig Kukuk?

Dirty Dozen Craig? He's legit.... The days of Brazilians hating on the American guys getting black belts in their art has long passed (unless you're at a tournament and it's ref decision.... The Brazilians get the nod always LOL)

 

[Tuc Ouiner]

thanks, always wondered- not being a BJJ guy myself.

 

[SAJ]

Dirty Dozen Craig? He's legit.... The days of Brazilians hating on the American guys getting black belts in their art has long passed (unless you're at a tournament and it's ref decision.... The Brazilians get the nod always LOL)

You ever watch the jiu jitsu in soCal documentary?

 

[Tuc Ouiner]

No, sounds like I need to though- huh?

 

[hankstevenson]

I have heard BJJ communities are usually pretty tight but i never had any encounter with BJJers like that.

 

[Darqnezz]

 

[Filthy]

couple years ago a guy recognized my Studio 540 shirt in Tel Aviv, thought I trained with Garry Tonon.

but for the most part, I don't wear BJJ shirts anywhere but BJJ places. I'm usually not looking to make new friends when I'm out and about.

 

[lamarclark09]

Yes, this is damn true BJJ players and practitioners just change the environment through their presence. This is the raising martial art. JJ even in japan and Belgium have the same fan base. Most people love BJJ. One day BJJ worth is just like MMA and this day is coming soon.