It's a Sad Day - Gracie University

**migo** · Posted On: 3/11/2009 4:40pm

I read about this on the UG and came here to see what was being discussed. I'm surprised it's only 3 pages. This is looking exactly like the Bujinkan program, where you can test up to black belt through video, but Black Belt has to be done in person.

I'm also not so sure that Helio would have actually been against this. I remember reading a couple interviews with/about him that contradicted themselves. In the early days of the UFC, Rickson refused to fight unless he gets paid $1million. Helio apparently bitched him out for that, saying it wasn't about money, yadda, yadda, yadda. Then in an interview 2003 or something around there, Helio said that he tells his sons only to fight if it's for a lot of money, because they've already proven Gracie Jiu Jitsu. He's changed his tune once, he might have changed it again. Perhaps he thought that BJJ was getting too sport oriented and he wanted to bring the self defense aspect back in, and figured that an online instructional program would be a valuable way of doing this. (Or Rorion convinced him in this fashion).

Doesn't matter much either way though, and it is suspicious that this happened only after he died. I'm also wondering how quick did Rener and Ryron and Ralek advance in rank? I thought you had to be a Black Belt for something like 6 years before you could get your 2nd stripe. That would be 3 years/stripe, putting them at black belt for 9-15 years. I'm sure they were all brown belts less than 9 years ago, so it would seem Rorion's getting into some nepotism and/or thinks that he can easily promote people now that self defense is being promoted rather than winning in competition.

I don't see a big problem with video instructionals, plenty of fighters have used them and gotten use out of them, but I think most of them just went into MMA and didn't claim any sort of rank.

**Cango** · Posted On: 3/11/2009 4:41pm

Originally Posted by GracieU website

John, who owns a traditional Karate dojo in Williamsburg, Virginia along with his brother Mike, estimated his total amount of accumulated training time to be just over 220 hours at the time he took the test, not including the time he spent viewing and absorbing the techniques from Gracie University

I train 3 times a week. 2.5 hours Tuesday/thursday, and 1.5 hours (nogi) on wednesday.

This doesnt count open mat on saturdays.

So I train for 6.5 hours a week

220 hours/6.5 hours a week=33.8 weeks, rounded to 34.

34 weeks/4 weeks in a month = 8.5 months.

8.5 months to get a bluebelt.
Ill be waiting for him to compete at NAGA

**Angrydog** · Posted On: 3/11/2009 4:47pm

this isnt honoring helios memory this is spitting in his face, the only techniques that should be taught on video are the bare minimum most basic stuff, and even thats risky because often times you,r core baisics are the most important part of how you fight and how you will do If you compete.

**lionknight** · Posted On: 3/11/2009 4:59pm

Originally Posted by migo

I read about this on the UG and came here to see what was being discussed. I'm surprised it's only 3 pages. This is looking exactly like the Bujinkan program, where you can test up to black belt through video, but Black Belt has to be done in person...

Thier is another thread going in YMAS:
BJJ Blackbelts Online! - No BS Martial Arts

Originally Posted by Angrydog

this isnt honoring helios memory this is spitting in his face, the only techniques that should be taught on video are the bare minimum most basic stuff, and even thats risky because often times you,r core baisics are the most important part of how you fight and how you will do If you compete.

Video is fine, but it should be treated like a notebook. Great for those with proper instruction to review what they already know, but as an actual teaching tool it will always be severely lacking.

**Snake Plissken** · Posted On: 3/11/2009 5:08pm

Originally Posted by Angrydog

this isnt honoring helios memory this is spitting in his face, the only techniques that should be taught on video are the bare minimum most basic stuff, and even thats risky because often times you,r core baisics are the most important part of how you fight and how you will do If you compete.

No BS Martial Arts - View Single Post - BJJ Blackbelts Online!

**Petter** · Posted On: 3/11/2009 5:24pm

Originally Posted by SuperGuido

Is this a standard held by all Gracie Barra schools?

Where did this come from? What standard?

Just in case, I'll note that this isn't Gracie Barra. Neither Ryron nor Pedro are Gracie Barra blackbelts. In fact, since Gracie Jiu-jitsu is trademarked by whatever-branch of Helio's family, and the Gracie Barra lineage comes from Carlos Gracie Sr. rather than Helio, it's technically "BJJ" rather than "GJJ".

Right now, that gives me some measure of relief.

**nogicrappler** · Posted On: 3/11/2009 6:00pm

Originally Posted by It is Fake

You know there are TMAers laughing their asses off right now.

As much as I hate to admit it as a freestyle fighter who crosstrains in bjj. As much **** as they've gotten I guess it's only right. I am losing so much respect for the Gracie family(what little I had left anyway).

Dear Gjj practitioners, you are becoming what you always stood against.

This actually saddens me so much. From this point on I will avoid anything with the name Gracie attached to it.

**TEA** · Posted On: 3/11/2009 6:01pm

Originally Posted by lionknight

Video is fine, but it should be treated like a notebook. Great for those with proper instruction to review what they already know, but as an actual teaching tool it will always be severely lacking.

Exactly. Video is an instructional aid, not a replacement for face to face instruction. How can you "feel" the difference between doing a technique right and doing it wrong via video?