The Bullshidofication of Brazillian Jiujitsu

**Sam Browning** · Posted On: 11/17/2005 11:11am

<div class=info>This is not a joke, folks. For years people have been saying this day would come and now it's here. The email pasted below is from a marketing campaign for a program to allow neighborhood McDojos to cash in on the grappling craze by teaching Brazillian Jiujitsu with barely any verification of an instructor's ability.

One of the main things that seperates "BJJ" from many other arts is the fact that the black belt instructors have only been granted their rank after proving their skills in competitions, tournaments, and full contact sparring. This program is a 180 degree shift from the thing that's made BJJ a respected combat art and must be a slap in the face to anyone who required their students to actually become proficient at the art before teaching it to others.

This is just disgusting. Shame on you, Jerry Laurita.
</div>

"I just got this from Jerry Laurita over at the IBJJA, and figured that our subscribers would benefit from hearing about this program. I've had the DVDs for over a week now, and I have to say that Jerry has put together one of the most structured and logical grappling curriculums I have ever seen on video. I'd suggest that you call Jerry up if you're not currently offering a BJJ program and you'd like to add 50-100 adult students in your studio.

- Mike Massie

School Owners:

"Would you like to offer a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program at your school?"

And, do you want to add 50-100 new adult students to your school?

How about earning your Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

Now Is Your Chance!

Ever since the first UFC, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has proven itself as the premier grappling art and an essential part of an effective self-defense program.

Now you can offer a comprehensive, turn-key BJJ program in your school when you join the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association.

Why Offer A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Program At Your School?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a great martial art for attracting adult male students between the ages of 18-50 years old. Every week I have a prospective student come in and say they want to learn to be like that "Gracie Guy". This market wants to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Now you can fill that need, make more money, expand your knowledge and earn your Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

But I've Never Done Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

That's O.K., our systematic turn-key program is designed for school owners like yourself with little or no experience to learn and teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at your school. Our program is so easy, you can start teaching it within 1 week. Now, I am not saying you will be awesome at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu within 1 week, but you will be able to teach your first class with confidence.

How Do I Learn And Get Certified?

You will learn from the video and practice the techniques everyday with a partner. Also, we are available for private lessons and seminars to help speed up your learning process. In order to earn rank, you need to meet the minimum requirements and pass each belt test set forth by the IBJJA.

<div class="google"><script type="text/javascript"></script>
<script src="http://scripts.chitika.net/eminimalls/mm.js" type="text/javascript">
</script></div>Who Are You?

My name is Jerry Laurita, I am a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Master Joe Moreira and founder of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association. I have been using this program since 1999 to train everyday students and competitors. (Many became champions.)

Why Should I Choose Your Program?

Because we know what busy school owners like you need! Simply look at the class calendar, see what section you need to teach, look in the Instructor Handbook at the specific techniques you need to teach and practice the techniques on the video. It is that easy.

What Does Your Program Include?

Beginner/Intermediate Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Curriculum DVD
IBJJA Instructor Certificate (must qualify)
Belt Testing Requirements
Instructor Handbook
Class plans for 1 year
Attendance Cards (Master copies)
IBJJA School Affiliate Membership
IBJJA School Certificate
IBJJA Patch
For more information on our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructor Training Program:
Call Today!
623-582-3153
(remember to mention you heard about it from Mike Massie's newsletter)
or visit us online at
http://www.ibjja.org/

MD Marketing LLC
550 FM 1660 South
Hutto
Texas 78634
United States"

**Sam Browning** · Posted On: 11/17/2005 11:15am

I just got this e-mail from "Small Dojo-Big Profits" which is a service that advises martial arts school owners.

I am reprinting this e-mail because of its newsworthyness, its encouraging people who are self taught off a dvd to start teaching BJJ in their schools. The suckage that will result from this approach will be awe-inspiring.

Years ago one of my former martial arts collegues pointed out that people who learned this way, from a bad teacher, or from a book often developed bad habits that plagued them for the rest of their time in MA.

And if someone asked me, how much rolling time under instruction someone should actually have before teaching BJJ in their school under such a franchise system, I'd say they would need a low blue belt, up to a year of experience, or alternately, several of the 40 hour week long training camps that the Gracies used to run. the only defense would be a legit black belt in Judo which has transferable skills.

**babo78** · Posted On: 11/17/2005 11:15am

Isn't it just matter of time and popularity for this to happen to any style?

EDIT: ie. TKD, kungfu, karate, etc.

EDIT: Do you hear that, Mr. Anderson? That is the sound of inevitability.

**Shrfu_Eric** · Posted On: 11/17/2005 11:18am

OOOHHHH my ... another one eh?

I wouldn't do this **** !!

But some will.

all for the mighty $$$

Eric

**Feryk** · Posted On: 11/17/2005 11:18am

And thus BJJ has become fully evolved to become just like every other MA out there...

**AikidoDeadlines** · Posted On: 11/17/2005 11:27am

I hope that the BJJ community will take it upon itself to send good white belts to all such "academies", and have them dominate the instrutors. The fact that a legit BJJ black belt is marketing his videos this way is truely disgusting. You can roll around on the floor all you want, with no idea what you are doing, just don't call it BJJ.

**Multitask** · Posted On: 11/17/2005 11:27am

Everyone must realize that this sort of thing is inevitable. As always, the real instructors will continue to teach the real deal, it will just be harder to sort them out from the phonies.

**1bad65** · Posted On: 11/17/2005 11:37am

I honestly think this is the main reason Rorion owns the rights to 'Gracie jiu-jitsu'. People give the guy alot of flak, but he really does have respect for his families art and does not want to see it get watered down like many other arts have been once they achieved popularity in the USA. I'd love to see how guys who train under one of these guys would do at any BJJ tournament (if they even compete).

**lawdog** · Posted On: 11/17/2005 11:39am

This has been going on for years, not necessarily bogus training packages geared to enable schools to add a particular style to their own, but instructors who are wholly unqualified to teach a style doing so anyway because it's the style du jour.

I remember in the late eighties/early nineties when Segal made his Hollywood debut, Aikido was popping up all over the place, especially in TKD schools. I know a few instructors who were claiming to teach Aikido despite having ANY training in it. I'm sure they were learning from videotapes and/or the occasional seminar.

While I've never seen it, I'm sure this happens a lot with BJJ.

I think that a lot of schools attempt to integrate the style du jour into their own style so as to disguise the instructor's obvious lack of knowledge.