Rickson Gracie Talks About The State Of Modern Jiu-Jitsu: “The Dilution Is Already Beginning”
Rickson Gracie recently shared his thoughts on the state of modern BJJ…And how it has changed in comparison to what it used to be “back in his day”.
Specifically, Rickson feels that Jiu-Jitsu is growing away from what its original purpose was supposed to be – self defense:
The dilution is already beginning because it’s becoming a very athletic sport.You know, it doesn’t favor the weak the way it’s supposed to favor them.
The core of jiu-jitsu, in my vision, is self-defense, not competition.
Competition is great for people who like to compete, but for everyone, you’d love to learn how to survive…Gow to defend yourself from an attacker, how to protect someone you love.
To Rickson, it is about what BJJ teaches you off the mats as well:
The idea of being prepared for the unpredictable is what has always given me the passion.It’s about increasing your knowledge to stay safe, comfortable, and prepared.
I love teaching this to an average person who’s just walking around, to a police officer who needs to arrest someone, or to women who might feel threatened by a larger man…
I want to empower people with the knowledge they need to feel safe and secure.
Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: you can be slow and unathletic and still kick butt in Jiu-Jitsu.
