Do you think BJJ is gaining, or losing

[Dr. Octopus]

bjj popularity

bjj popularity is plateauing..... as in everything in life the general interest in something drops considerably after its first initial presentation/exposure. Also... the price that is generally charged for lessons is still rather high. This affects the participation level also. Many people are priced out and cannot participate due to this. And as stated here by other forum members.... it is a art that requires alot of time and sweat!!!! One cannot just parade around in a gi and hit a bag a few times and call that a practice. You must bust your butt in order to progress. Period. This is something that most individuals are just not ready to handle.

[keithws]

Lmao Ronin!

I predict the next great martial art phase will be Japanese professional wrestling. Sak and Kondo are Pummelling those Bjj practioners and showing the world the effectiveness of JPW.

It sadly reminds me of Royce's dominance in the early Ufc's.

[david a]

Hawk,

Agreed. TKD sucks. I can safely say this because I practiced it for nearly 4 years and it didn't help me one ioda when I was mounted and being punched repeatedly in a fight I was in at the time.( The guy didn't know any thing either, but he still took me down and mounted me like nothing. If only you could go back in time...

What a false sense of security...

John B.
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The conventional martial arts wisdom at that time completely discounted groundfighting. 99% of the MA instructors in this country would have laughed in your face had you told them that a grappler could usually beat a striker. Seriously. The very idea was considered ridiculous
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That is so true. It's ironic that I remember pulling out one of my old (10yrs)karate/blackbelt magazines and sure enough- there was a small picture of the Gracie clan with there promo of "95% of all fights go to the ground; learn to defend yourself with our system that has been undefeated for 65 years..." I would have never quessed the impact they would make on martial arts at that time.

I get the notion (from many people I talk to about this) that most people still don't believe BJJ works, usually because they have never tried it. They still think that the perfect punch or kick will stop the grappler, and they always seem to use the Tyson analogy(as if everyone punches like Tyson.lol.) Anytime I spar with these people, even when I take them down with ease, they make up some dumb excuse like-"I could have punched you etc." even though I tell them not to hold back.

One time, I remember sparring with my friend who is a boxing coach, and fought at the time, who told me I would get hit before I took him down, so I told him not to hold back. He didn't. All I felt was a big right hand graze the top of my head as I took him down and submitted him.
He still calls me to ask for grappling instruction at his gym.

[Americana]

I don't think bjj will ever have the popularity of "traditional" martial arts.

First, the training is too physical for most people, i.e. too much physical contact. Most people want an aerobic work out, which you can get from TKD (it's really a form of aerobics). They don't want some gorilla trying to neck crank them.

Second, there are two many injuries from bjj. Go to bjj class for a solid year and you're lucky if you don't have a serious injury, i.e., one requiring rehab. Examples include: separated shoulder, tendinitis in the elbow, strained neck, fractured vertebrae, ACL, etc. Most people do not want to participate in activities with a serious risk of injury. You're not going to rack up these injuries doing katas.

Third, there is very limited bjj in other than major metroplitan areas and even there, outside of California, there's not much.

Fourth, the influx of potential nhb fighters has greatly slowed. In the early days, guys thinking of becoming nhb fighters jumped on the bjj band wagon (guys like Matt Sera or Joe Pardo) Now that the nhb game has changed so much (striking being so important; takedowns being so crucial), being a pure bjj fighter is not the ticket for success. You need to learn it, but its only one aspect of the game. (you would rather train with Frank Shamrock or Royce/Rorion?)

There are some other reasons but these are the main ones.

[Ground Effect]

Thai-jitsu,
FYI....Ground Effect BJJ in Burien became a Ralph Gracie Academy on Monday (Ralph Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Seattle). The instructor is Sergio Silva.

http://www.ralphgracieseattle.cjb.net

Originally posted by Thai-jitsu
or staying the same in popularity? I haven't keep up with things in a while so I was curious. I know here in the Seattle area some have gone in the last few years. I think there are some new ones but its hard to figure out since they are not in the yellow pages. I don't know, what do you think?


Thai-jitsu
http://www.everythingoldschool.com

[whaledog]

I think that the popularity is bjj growing, but the growth curve is hitting a plateau.

The sport went from one school in Torrance to the many schools we have today in a matter of just 7 years. We are not likely to see that type of exponential growth again.

However, I continue to hear about new black belts coming over from Brazil, and there is an ever increasing number of dedicated black belts being produced within the United States. I think the sport will continue to grow while these black belts move to areas where there is a lack of quality instructors.

Plus, the legitimization of MMA and (what I believe is ) its iminent return to cable T.V. mean that bjj is poised for a whole new round of exposure, and the growth that will accompany it.

-Jeff

[Ryu (non-working password]

I guess I have only one thing to say here. I don't WANT BJJ to become marketable, and popular so that every streetfighter and jerkoff, and their dog knows BJJ.
I want people to continue thinking the kicks and punches of kung fu theatre will save them. I want them to laugh at the grappler, make funny faces, do WWF impersonations. I don't want them to understand. I want to have that edge against people. Any of you who have fought people who know nothing of grappling, and then go to class to get tapped out by your buddies will understand

At one hand you have the frusteration of trying to let people know that this is the basis of real fighting...but on the other hand....I'd rather keep the "secret" to myself.
I don't want the murderer or rapist to know BJJ if you know what I mean...

Ryu