Gi vs. No-gi... In the Str33t!

[Necroth]

The assumption that everyone on the street is a "clueless punk" in s/d situations is, in itself, like all those TMA's assuming their sloppy techniques will work simply because they are using sloppy versus nonexistent technique. There are an awful lot of clued-in punks nowadays on the streets, since MMA is such a hot "fad" for the trendy. But again, s/d should not be the main focus or reason you train w/ or w/o gi. Hell, I hate the idiots who claim no-gi for that reason too, since it makes those of us who have trained primarily no-gi look like a bunch of country bumpkins/rednecks/yahoos, swilling beer and eating Tostito's while we watch Wrasslin'. I do not mean to offend those who train w/ the gi, nor do I slight it in the least. It's two different games, with some overlap. We use most of the same subs, excepting of course gi based subs (unless fighting a post-liposuction, pre-skin tuck grappler, at which point neck flaps could be used for Ezekiel/Cross choke, wherein I would not be prepared).

Anyway, we all agree that training both is really the best possible outcome. And I think we all agree that if you fight MMA or no-gi comps, training no-gi is best for you, and if you do NAGAs/Mundials/etc. that training w/ gi is best. And I know we can all agree that SFire must be ghey, as evinced by his obvious slighting of the picture linked in El Macho's sig. So. There we are.

[twKoxinga]

i like your post, but you have to remember that clue-ed in punks don't necessarily mean that their skilled, they might try to do some stupid shit like a sloppy doubleleg or a guillotine or whatever, but a trained grappler should be able to take them.

[GoldenJonas]

I was having this conversation with my instructor on Monday because I noticed one thing about his teaching. He typically teaches the same techniques in the gi class that he teaches in the no-gi class and visa-versa.

I usually train 3-4 days a week with Friday night being a toss up to my wife she makes the call whether or not I can go train on Fridays. Otherwise its Monday 2 hours (gi and no-gi), Wednesday 2 hours (gi and no-gi), Fridays 2 hours (gi and no-gi) Saturday 2 hours (MMA and no-gi).

My instructor, a Marcio Simas brown belt and Pan-Am's vet, stated gi/no-gi is all relative and really all comes down to mat time. The more time you spend on the mat the sharper your game will get whether you roll with or without the gi. However, training at Orlando ATT we have a VERY HEAVY MMA fighter pool both pro and amature so he tries to teach techs, not all but many, that translate both with and without the gi.

You can get an ezekiel choke in no-gi. Granted it is harder, but you can get it (I'll explain it if you don't know). The stuff that really does not translate well or at all are the lapel techs (wrapping the guys own lapel around his shoulder to break his posture or trap his arm or control his hips) BUT most of the gi stuff, with some modification and adjustment, works no-gi as well.

The gi/no-gi argument has been played to death with good and bad arguments on either side. The argument that one or the other is better in a "street", sorry "5tr33t", confrontation is pointless and is entirely dependent on the very specific facts and circumstances surrounding the particular confrontation; generalizing about this or that being better for all street fights is logically flawed and useless.

The answer to the debate is simple, as is typically the case with such things, in the gi/no-gi debate it is all a matter of how the techs are presented and taught and in the end it is all about mat time.

[Ryno]

The gi/no-gi argument has been played to death with good and bad arguments on either side. The argument that one or the other is better in a "street", sorry "5tr33t", confrontation is pointless and is entirely dependent on the very specific facts and circumstances surrounding the particular confrontation; generalizing about this or that being better for all street fights is logically flawed and useless.

Agreed. It just seems to be a common argument for many newbs dismissal of gi training. I presented a counter-point to this ridiculous and flawed argument which is admittedly laughable when seen in the context of the whole debate.

[Necroth]

Agreed. Done and done. Now let's get back to grappling.