The Evolution of Metamoris

June 9th

Metamoris II, wrapped up over the weekend and although an amazing and prestigious venue with incredibly talented athletes, many viewers (and certainly many tournament-goers) were left in a state of melancholy.  While I believe most people felt this, I believe that even those people that held the greatest of sadness still feel the same;

The no points, “submission-or-decision” version is a platform to showcase jiu-jitsu skill at the highest level – and we are all glad to have the opportunity to experience it.

Does the ‘Bad’ Overshadow the ‘Good’?

There were some great jiu-jitsu matches: Rafeal Lovato Jr vs. Andre Galvao, Brualio Estima vs. Rodolfo Vieira, and Kron Gracie vs. Shinya Aoki (despite a prolonged “feeling out” process in the beginning).  Things took a turn for the worst in the highly-talked-about match between Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu and Brendan Schaub (video).

Abeu, who did just about everything he could to engage in the fight, was highly disappointed afterwards (despite winning by decision).  Athletes come to an event like this to both test and showcase their skill in grappling.  Abreu wasn’t truly given the opportunity, and Schaub’s “nullification” of Abreu’s jiu-jitsu was borderline disrespectful and his strategy, confusing.

The Will To Survive

Ralek Gracie said, “I founded Metamoris to create a tournament where submissions are the only goal, not points.  With the introduction of judges, we will avoid judges… Someone in a fight is always sharper (link).”

As a student of Gracie Jiujitsu (Joyce) and who has had the opportunity to speak and train with both Ryron & Rener Gracie (Schaub’s jiujitsu trainers), I can say I understand what the Gracie system is all about.  Obviously Gracie Jiujitsu works and is a highly-refined martial art, however when you put a brown belt (Schaub) up against a 12-time Grappler’s quest, 3-time World Nogi Champion (and many more accolades) back belt (Abreu), you can only hope for one thing in my opinion, to survive.

In addition, the thought somewhere in Schaub’s brain, were UFC President Dana White’s one condition for taking this contest, “Don’t get hurt.”  Fortunately or unfortunately for Schaub, it was just his reputation that got hurt.

What Needs To Be Done

The only problem that I see in the Metamoris Tournament is in casting.  I believe that the matches should only be performed by players of black belt level or higher.  Furthermore, the black belt must be in a grappling-based system of martial art.  Metamoris does not need to be in the game to bring in “big names” (such as those in the UFC).  Audiences around the world wish to be riveted by high-level, submission-only grappling and while some competitors can be found in the UFC, Pride, etc, the focus should remain on those whose grappling game holds a high degree of depth and intelligence.

In that light, I am very pleased of the announcement of:

Royler Gracie vs. Eddie Bravo for Metamoris III

Eddie Bravo: “..they want to find out if I got lucky that time.” (Full 1st Fight video)

Royler Gracie: “He got lucky.”

Combative Corner: “We shall see won’t we? Either way, it should be a best outta 3, don’tcha think?”

MICHAEL JOYCE

Why Is 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Important To Your Game? By: Ari Knazan

10th Planet Jiu Jitsu is a system of Jiu Jitsu created by Eddie Bravo. Many people confuse this statement in meaning “Eddie has created a new martial art form of twisting and attacking the body.” This article is just one of many that exist on setting the record straight.

As a long time student of Eddie’s and a teacher of the 10th Planet system since 2007, I understand the importance of knowing this system. I am somewhat of an oddity because I am also a practitioner of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (gi) and Japanese Jujutsu. Internet forums often go off about “gi vs nogi” or “complex moves vs basics”. These arguments have nothing to do with the effectiveness of the 10th Planet Style.

I am not here to tell you which style of grappling is the best. None are. They all have merit and all practitioners can benefit from knowing something from the other. I know a lot of BJJ black belts that study Eddie Bravo’s approach to grappling and have incorporated his ‘moves’ into their study. Some do it in secret others are up front about it.

No one teacher has answers to everything. I remember hearing Professor Pedro Sauer (8th Degree Red and Black belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu) once say “ You can learn a lot from a white, blue or purple belt. They will often come up with solutions you’ve never thought of.” I asked the Professor one day “What do you think of Eddie Sir?” He responded “He is a talented kid and actually has done a lot for jiu jitsu.” Pretty nice words from one of the world’s most respected and technical instructors.

Those who don’t understand the system will simply say “ its all about rubber guard and twister.” That’s like saying Sambo is only leg locks or Catch Wrestling is only about neck cranks and crushes. If you really look at 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu, it is a well thought out system of attacks and defenses from a variety of positions. It uses unusual positions (from the traditionalists point of view) to set up submissions. It is very offensive in its approachBeing flexible certainly helps to do some of the moves, but not all. But this goes for any art form. In time, you develop very good squeezing power and attacks from all positions. To be honest, one of the greatest gifts the 10th Planet system has and that Eddie has give the world, is his view of the half guard. He explored that position in crazy detail and came up with sweeps and attacks that traditionally weren’t there.

There are counter arguments to any point. I’ve heard everything from “rubber guard will hurt your knees” to “10th Planet moves will only confuse people” to “ that stuff will never work”. I’ve used it more times that I can count. I’ve seen people much better in jiu jitsu use it as well successfully while rolling and competing.

10th Planet Jiu Jitsu is not a stop gap measure. It isn’t the final solution. It isn’t the anti jiu jitsu. What it is-it’s a fantastic style of jiu jitsu that will teach you some amazing moves not found in traditional avenues. Add to your tool box and discover what it has to offer. That doesn’t mean leaving traditional BJJ behind. In fact, if you look at the new breed of Jiu Jitsu players now, they are just like Eddie. They are coming up with new positions and attacks that weren’t around 20 years ago. What Eddie did was set the ball in motion years before anyone else with his out of the box thinking. Now, it is common place.

In the end, it’s all Jiu Jitsu.

Ari Bolden Knazan

President of Submissions 101

STAY TUNED :.. Next 10th Planet article, Mission Control Plus+

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Guest author Ari (Bolden) Knazan is the founder and president of the most popular Jiu-Jitsu video channel on the planet, Submissions 101 (YouTube) and the owner of Fierce Studio in Victoria, British Columbia.  Starting his channel in 2007, Submissions 101 (as of Jan. 2012) #50 most viewed (all-time. Canada) and is nearing its 90,000th subscriber.  Ari is an amazing martial artist, teacher and friend.  He has also been a bouncer since 1995 and has written two books on the subject; Doorman’s Credo (2001) and Headlocks and Haymakers (2004). 

Click on his picture (above, left) to visit his website.

10 Questions with Ari Bolden Knazan

Ari Bolden Knazan runs a little website,… you might have heard about it.  It’s called Submissions 101.  If you haven’t, we at the CombativeCorner are not really sure what planet you’re from (we can assume it’s not Earth).  Besides running his website, Ari teaches jiu-jitsu at his school, Victoria JuJitsu Academy in Victoria, British Columbia.

– Website –   –YouTube Channel–

(1) When did you start your martial art training (in what styles) and did you always want to teach professionally?

I started martial arts training when I was a kid (at age 10. I got serious about the martial arts at 14 when I saw Above the Law with Steven Seagal. I was amazed at Aikido because it was so different than the chop em sock em movies of the 80’s (karate/kung fu/ninjustu). I moved from judo to Aikido to Jujutsu (Japanese Jujutsu: Daito Ryu and Goshin) to nogi 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

I had always wanted to teach but I never saw myself as martial arts teacher. I thought I was going to teach high school at one point. I’ve always had a passion, and I think, a gift, for instruction. I kind of fell into teaching martial arts in 2003 when a bouncer I worked with suggested I open up a school.

(2)  You currently have almost 56,000 subscribers on youtube and are #58 most Subscribed (Canada).  Was there success right away? Or did it take a good while before viewers-equaled-students?

You Tube is a funny thing. I just started putting up a few videos and didn’t think anything of it at the time. I just wanted to share some on my Japanese Jujutsu with ‘people’. It took about 6 months and I started getting requests and more people joining up. I was kind of surprised to be honest but I soon realized that there was a major lack of instructions (martial arts) on the internet. I also found a niche in doing submission videos. My style of teaching really seemed to appeal to people and I just kept going on from there.

(3)  What is the hardest part about running your business?

If you are talking about Submissions 101, it probably is the insane amount of time I have spent recording video, editing and emails. I have (thank goodness) stream lined it down to a fine science now and I also have many people doing videos for us. This is a GREAT thing as my vision was to have many different people bring their flavor to teaching jiu jitsu. I get over 100 emails a day ranging from you tube comments, to request to general emails to people joining our mailing list. Its a lot.

(4)  As an avid follower of professional mixed martial art competition, who do you most enjoy watching and why?

I always cheer for the grappler. I can’t help it. If a BJJ guy is fighting, that is the guy I want to win. However, there are some really exciting guys that I like watching such as Aoki, Guida, Cro Cop, and Wanderlei (to name a few).

(5)  Who was your martial art idol growing up and who’s your idol now (if different)?

As a kid, Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris were my big ones. I actually met Chuck Norris is Vegas at age 8 and told him how much I liked him. I was also a HUGE Sho Kosugi fan (Enter the Ninja!). Later on, Steven Seagal was the guy who pushed me in a strong martial art direction. I don’t think I have idols anymore…but I certainly have mentors and people I admire.

(6)  What is your least favorite chore/errand/task that you have to do? (either daily or weekly)

(laugh) My wife and I call them “Blue Jobs and Pink Jobs”. Taking out the trash, emptying the liter box, mowing the lawn…those are all blue (male) jobs in my household but those don’t really get to me. I really don’t like to empty the dish washer. I do like doing laundry and vaccuuming though (strange, huh?).

(7)  What is Mr. Bolden passionate about outside of the martial arts and why?

Film (dark intellectual stuff) is one. I also LOVE listening to music. My music of choice is ambeint, dark wave, 80’s new wave, house and moden hard rock. I am also big on writting.

(8)   Does Mr. Bolden teach his wife ju-jitsu or is this too dangerous?

I used too! But she does yoga full time so she doesn’t have time. She has a NO JIU JITSU rule at our house. I will start to play wrestle with her and she drops the “NO MOVES” line. Oh well…

(9)  If you had to pick one or two of your favorite ground techniques what would they be?  or if that is too hard…. an alternate question could be “What are one or two of your most used techniques”?

My favorite moves change from year-to-year, but if I had to pick, I would say the triangle arm bar from side control, the heel hook and the peruvian necktie. My most used techniques though? Collar chokes. I find my self choking people out about 80% of the time.

(10)  What’s on the plate for Mr. Ari Bolden/10th Planet/Submissions101? Any big news, events, products, etc that you’d like to unveil… or (as an alternative question), “what’s one big, future aspiration for you and your business?”

Submissions 101 is going to get a face lift. We are adding more videos from BIG names and I want to reach 100,000 members by 2012. We have several side projects going on and an iphone app in the works. I have a DVD that I will start filming in a few months on “street Jiu Jitsu and self defense” that I am looking forward too.

But my main goal is the one I have had since the get go: Build bridges and bring jiu jitsu to those who don’t have access to it or just spread the word of it. It is a WONDERFUL art – be it nogi, gi or traditional. I also want to share my philosohy that there are many ways to do the same techniques. Don’t get too narrow in you view of the world or you will “miss all the heavenly glory” (to quote Bruce Lee!).

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