Unwraping The Store Bought Box

No. This is not a new jiu jitsu move.

This is not about jiu jitsu at all!

It about that store bought item wrapped inside of a box.

The box being glued. Taped. Stappled.

Opening the box.

Items inside being glued. Taped. Stappled.

No matter how strong you are. No matter how
many kettlebells you swing.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE DAMN STUFF OUT OF THE BOX!

The only way to get it out of the box, scissors, knives,
screw drivers, grip of death, biting the plastic, one
might even consider dynamite.

Then, if you are really blessed, you need to put the thing
together.

So, you goto the directions. This is a funny one.

These are directions? They are a secret encrypted
code to a secret location for an alien landing. I think
aliens have created the packaging for the box, to frustrate
us.

And, if you are lucky enough to find the nuts and bolts, forget it.
The holes never line up. It is a cruel form of mental punishment.

Them, you get real crazed, repackage the damn thing, and
bring it back to the store. You tell them you got it as a
gift and did not even open it. The customer service rep.,
says this is common for this item. Says she can give you a refund
but recommends getting another packaged item from the store.
Looking at the customer service rep., I am convinced she is
a consultant for that alien invasion!

What do you get submitted by most often?

I am curious to see what folks are encountering out there.

When I am rolling, most folks go for the armbar like crazy.

Guillitines too. Ankle locks often.

Not much collar chokes. Not too many kimuras.

Based upon this survey and comments, I might ask my friend Sundar
to do a helpout on defending the attack and/or I might
just shot a video on how to defend the attack. Maybe, all
of you reading these posts could post a short video on how you
would defend the most popular attack from the poll? I will leave
this poll open for a period of time to see if I get enough responses
to move forward with this idea/experiment.

Brasilian Jiu Jitsu Help

Hi All,

My friend Sundar is on helpout.  I can not recommend him enough.  His

jiu jitsu is awesome.  If you need any help with your jiu jitsu, do not hesitate

to get advice.

Hey All!

 I have some exciting news: I’m one of the first people offering personalized, expert help over live video through a new Google product called Helpouts.  Helpouts makes it easier to get live, online help right when you need it, wherever you are.

 I’m offering help with:

 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Personal Defense, & Ground-Based Mobility

 I want to extend a personal invitation to each and every one of you to check out the SundarBJJ Helpout!

 

If you know anyone who you think would benefit from my expertise, please forward them this email, and, Share The SundarBJJ Helpout with them today!

 

Thank you for helping me to help others. I look forward to serving the online training community and hope to see you there soon!

 

With Kindest Regards,

Sundar 

A Conversation With Sundar – Armbars

Often, I send my friend Sundar emails asking about jiu jitsu strategy and such. I think it may help folks if I post them on here. As a coincidence, I sent him an email about defending armbars and recently Ronda fought again and of course she submitted with one of her patent atmbars.

Here is a great link showing an armbar defense from Jimmy Pedro. He claims to have
taught her that armbar attack:

I am concerned about defending armbar attacks. Since it seems most folks love
to go for them, I plan on not getting sumbitted by the arm bar.

Here is email advice with my friend, jiu jitsu philosopher Sundar, on armbar defenses:

Honestly, any defense could work, so long as you do not compromise the integrity of the joint by making it bendable/hyperextendable in the wrong direction. The critical element is to not allow the arm to be stretched beyond its normal limit. The arm becomes stretchable because the shoulder is high. So, retracting the arm begins with retracting/tucking the shoulder, like a turtle’s head into its shell. With a retracted shoulder, the elbow can be kept closer to one’s own ribcage. Once the elbow is attached to our own ribcage, we can move our whole body as a unit which is attached to the arm. That way, we move the arm by moving the body, not just by moving the arm alone; this is a much more successful and efficient method of moving. Systemically, the entire body supports the defense, rather than the arm having to fend for itself.

Conversely, when I am “armlock hunting” the first thing I want to do, the thing I want to maintain all the way through the attack, is to thoroughly and entirely isolate the arm. I want to get the arm on its own, so it has no friends around that can help it out. United, the arm stands, divided, it falls. That means I want to take the arm and move it as far away from all the other parts of my opponent’s body as possible, especially my opponent’s head, other arm, and torso. I would also like to life the arm very high so that my opponent gets no support from the ground. Once isolated, I can immobilize arm, section-by-section. Once immobilized, I can move it wherever I like.

In short, think about all the things a person has to do to stretch your arm to the point of damage. Then, piece by piece, reverse engineer that process so that stretching the arm isn’t possible. Never allow the arm to be isolated. Keep it with its friends.

——————————————————————————–
From: GracieGarage .
Sent: 30/12/2013 14:10
To: Sundar J.M. Brown
Subject: Armbar Escape Strategy

.

Time to think about jiu jitsu. What you talked about. The strategy of surprising the guy and meeting
him half way to the journey.

I am going to apply this to my armbar defense. Next roll, I am going to give up the arm. I have
been giving up to Jon, but he won’t take it LOL Charlie, man he goes for it like a tiger going
after a rabbit for dinner.

Anyhow, I am going to clasp my arms to resist a little. Create a struggle/conflict.

Then, I am going to do what is unexpected. Do what many nations seem to unwilling to do.

I am going to shock my opponent. End the conflict.

I am going to put my arm on their chest. Of course, turning palm down.
Then, I am going to go under the leg farthest from the supposedly trapped arm.
Connect my hip and then turn/roll over to the other side into side control.

I will try this Sat.

Do you think this has a chance of working?

Of course, I am ready to tap in case it does not work.

Another thing I have noticed and started playing with.

I used to go north/south to go under then over a leg.

They used to have a saying back in the day in the US, “Go West young man to find your fortune in Gold”.

So, I now am trying to turn my body parallel to the attacker. From there, a few escape routes, depending
upon the position of my arm and what I feel like doing.

I just want to become more comfortable defending the armbar and moving around in all directions.

Lastly, I do not just want to defend/escape. I want to defend/escape to an advantageous position, side
control or mount. I am not just satisfied just surviving. I used to be happy just surviving and defending
attack after attack. I am now in better shape, I am ready to move much more. I am ready to
advance my position from the defense. I want to survive then thrive!

—
Are you ready for the Challenge?

—
Are you ready for the Challenge? Reply Reply to all Forward

GracieGarage .
12/30/13 (3 days ago)

to Sundar

Welcome to corporate america!

Daily Workout Routine

Here is my daily workout routine that I have been trying to stick with:

12 min of battling ropes. 1 min waves. 1 min active rest. The past
two days I have been going to the park at lunch time to get this workout
in. I love going to the park. These ropes are a great conversation
starter. Everyone comes over to look at and talk to me when I am doing the waves.

At night, it is simple and sinister with the KB (Kettlebell)
10 min warmup. Wall Squats. Hallos. Pumps.
100 alternating arm swings. 10 swings. 1 min. active rest (usually just walking around n circles in my living room).
10 TG (Turkish Getups). Alternating 1 on each side.
If I feel like I have the energy, I finish with some snatch and clean and press practice.
Then, 5 min of stretching.

Currentlly, I am challenging myself. Last night I added the 55 lb KB. I did 40 swings with the 55 lbr. Over several workouts, I hope to eliminate the 35 lb KB and just be swinging with the 55 lb. KB. For the TGs, I did six 1/4 TGs with the 55 lb. Then, I did 4 full TGs with the 35 lb KB. Same goes for TGs, I hope to eventually do all of my TG with 55 KB.

I have a goal this year. Do Simple and Sinister with the 73 lb. KB.

Now, one day a week, I will try to get in bench pressing 3 reps for 3 sets. Currently, I am using 275 lbs. And, body weight rows from hanging from the bar; 3 x 3 also. And, I end it with some roman chair situps.

Every third day or so, I am doing specialized grip training. Pinching the 16lb. KB. Strong man grippers. Hanging from a bar.

Lastly, of course, I am training in jiu jitsu. I like to train jiu jitsu atleast 2 times a week.

My total workout time (not including jiu jitsu) averages I would say, between 1 and 1.5 hours a day. I would estimate, between 2 – 4 hrs. of jiu jitsu training a week.

Stop Being Vain

It is vain to do with more what can be done with fewer

— William of Occam

I am drawing a line in the sand!

I am going to focus on GM Helio Gracie Jiu Jitsu

No fancy moves No spider guards No bermibolo No tornado guard

No complicated moves which require massive amounts of strength and/or flexibility

Just basic smash mouth jiu jitsu The kind Rickson trains

The kind Saulo Ribeiro uses to win many championships

The Saulo/Xande techniques from bjjlibrary.com

The kind Kron just used to win in the ADCC

The techniques Rener/Ryron show on GracieUniversity.com

Learn GM Helio Gracie jiu jitsu with my friends at Verbenke Martial Arts in Easton, PA

Train and discuss strategy with my friend, Royler Gracie Black Belt Sundar

Train in my garage with my good friend Jeff

Forget these fancy sport moves

If the move is complicated, I am not interested

If it is a move Rickson would not do, not interested

Someone selling a DVD series and/or system, not interested

I am going to master defending

I am going to be deadly with simple collar chokes

I am going to be elusive on the bottom and heavy on the top

I am going to spend time in superior positions, mount, taking the back, side control

I am going to become more comfortable in uncomfortable positions

When on the bottom, I will be hunting for the guard

I will be relentless with my pursuit of GM Helio Gracie Jiu Jitsu!

This is my mindset and jiu jitsu goals for all of 2014

Power vs. Strength

I have been training with kettlebells. Last week I started
Pavels Progarm Minumum. Kettlebell swings one workout, the
next workout, turkish getups. Next day rest. Repeat the
sequence all over again.

My friend is following more of a barbell powerlifting routine.
Squats, deadlifts 5 x 5 scheme.

Saulo Ribeiro, “If you use strength you get tired.
When you get tired, you die”.

So, what is strength? I would say strength is the ability
to use you muscles to lift or move something. You are considered
strong if you can lift something heavy.

Power, I think, is the ability to apply your strength in a quick
or athletic fashion. For example, A football player is powerful.
Strong and fast. For example, when you see Adrian Peterson run,
you would say that guy is powerful.

So, strength and power are related. You can not have power without
strength. If you moved quickly, but had no power, then you
would simply be sprinting running sort of. If Adrian Peterson did
not have power, as soon as he hit the line, he would fall back or be haulted.
A big thing in football, is yards afetr the catch. In many instances,
this requires power. Breaking thru a tackle requires power.

So, using strength is no good for jiu jitsu. I think, because you only
have a finite amount of it and if you are using it, you will gas out
quickly. But, I think power is something different.

Using your strength in a powerful way. Quickly. Over a short period
of time. I think, this might be OK with jiu jitsu. The reason, in a
short strength burst, you have many more of them in a roll as compared
to just using, lets ay, one long strength. Also, with power, you
can conserve strength and maybe even build it back up. Power. Stop.
Relaxe. When you need to Power up. Relaxe. ….

For example, I think when you pass a guard, you may use power. A quick
burst to get the knee slide pass or x pass. Or, how about defending
side control? Connect your knee to your elbow with power, run away,
regain guard and relaxe. If you used strength to defend side control,
you get knee to elbow, move slowly powerful with run away and guess what,
the opponent is able to avoid being put in the guard. Now, you are tired
and discouraged. Just my opinion and experiences.

I used to train 2x a week with a HIT stle workout. Lifting the weights
slowly to muscular failure. I wanted to be strong. I wanted my jiu jitsu
to be strong. Boy what a mistake.

What I wanted, was to be powerful. Be able to apply my strength briefly in
an athletic and brief fashion. I think, this slow way of lifting weights,
is counter productive to trying to become powerful. I even think, this
barbell/powerlifting routines can also be counter productive to generating
power. I think a powerlifting routine, ie deadlifts/squats, are done
in a slow and controlled manner to generate strength, not power.

I think, you need to be very careful when training for power. Olympic
Lifting (cleand, presses, jerks) are all about power. But, they require
lots of training and technique. I only have a finite time to train and
if I trained the Olympic lifts, then I would not have time to train
in jiu jitsu. And, without putting in adequat time to the proper
form of these olympic lifts, I believe you will be heading down a path
of injuries. Lots of shoulder injuries. Back injuries. ….

I have really found Pavels Progam Minimum great for training power and
strength. One day, two handed kettlebell swings. I feel, that two
handed kettlebell swings are a safe way to practcie power. Just hold
on with two hands and use simple form to swing it. No fancy movements.
No swinging over your head with one arm, risking shoulder injuries.

The other workout, turkish gets. Performed in a slow and controlled
manner. Lay your back flat on the ground. Press the kettlebell up
with one arm, then manage to get to standing. Then, reverse the whole
process and get back on the ground. This is the strength component. I
do feel this is a little more risky for shoulder injury than the two handed
swings, so you must go slow, forget about doing a high number of reps
with them, concentrate on form, be patient and use a KB weight that
is reasonable for you to handle.

To round out my conditioning, which I really don’t need to do since the KB’s
are challending in themselves, I do 4 min. of battle ropes. I bought
these things before I started Program Minimum, and I am determined to get
my monies worth. They are fun to do. Good cardio finisher.

With all of this said, any physical activity that you enjoy you should do.
If you like slow and controlled lifting, great. Running, great.
Relaxing on the couch and watching a movie, that is kewl too.

Jiu Jitsu is for everyone — GM Helio Gracie. Jiu Jitsu could be your workout
and you do not need to do any other physical training.

Shoes and Turtles

I have not posted much lately. I have been training consistently.
But, honestly, I have not had much to write about. I have been
doing a lot of reading, though.

I was putting on my shoes, looking down at them and they
motivated me to write about them.

They are black. Leather. About two years old. Well worn
in. They are a casual shoe, not a dress shoe. Laces up
shoes.

I have done a lot of walking in these shoes. Walked all over
the place with them. Been many places in them. I have
traveled in Canada in them. I go to work in them. I do
my daily walk in them.

I have not thought about my shoes much. I just put them on and go.

I do think they are OK as shoes go, but I do want a new pair of more
comfortable walking shoes, maybe after Christmas.

I started to think about how important these shoes are. They are
with me most of the time. Could I go to work without them? Only,
if I had another pair. Could I go for a walk without them? I could
go for a walk barefoot, but I do not think I would get that far.
In the rain/snow, forget it, I need shoes. Basically, many important
tasks I perfrom, require me to wear these plain old basic shoes
I have worn in.

I feel sorry for the poor folks of this world who do not have a good
pair of shoes or shoes at all. I can only imagine how difficult
it makes their lives. How can they walk in the woods without shoes?
How do they get around? How difficult it must be, to have no shoes
or a bad pair of fitting shoes, shoes with holes in them …..

My heart goes out to the poor people of the world who cannot afford
a pair of shoes!

Reflecting upon my shoes, has made me more thankful for my shoes
and the comfort and life they are helping me achieve. Without
them, I think my life would be much more harsh and I think I
would become much more immobile.

In jiu jitsu, the turtle guard has become my shoes. I have trained
it so much and have gone to it so much, that I get into the turtle
very often. This turtle guard allows me the freedom of movement that
I have been looking for, when rolling in jiu jitsu.

It seems, when folks are smashing on me in side control, I am trying
to regain guard (connecting knee to elbow and running away) but
when they defend I have been going into the turtle. When I pull
guard and my opponent smash passes, I just go back into the turtle.
There are many more times/situations, when I go into the turtle.

It seems the turtle is with me always. It is allowing me to get
movement when I seem to be stuck in a position. Just like my shoes,
it is providing me the freedom of movement. Making my roll easier.
To be honest with you, without being able to get into the turtle,
I do not think I would have been able to enjoy my rolls. Especially,
in the beginning of the year, I was about 45 lbs heavier and I was
gasing out pretty early in the roll. I went to this turtle. I
went into the shell. To catch my breathe.

In the beginning the turtle was great. Folks were not used to
attacking the turtle. I did not feel that threatened. Also, I was not
that skilled either. It was usually a see-saw batlle with me getting
the turtle and then getting flipped over to my side and then defending
side control, going back to the turtle, back in bottom of side control …

Over time, I got more crafty. Started landing the peterson sweep. Then,
my opponents started getting smart and were defending it. Then, I started
pulling guard from the turtle. The learned to avoid that. They started
submitting me with the guillitine and I learned the wrestler sit out.
They have now gone for ankle locks and now I am focused on defending the
ankle lock.

This turtle has become like my pair of shoes. I have been wearing this turtle for a
good 10 mos. or so. Just like my worn shoes, my turtle seems to be getting
a little worn out. It is time for a new pair of shoes. I feel, it is time
for a new jiu jitsu strategy. Now, I feel in much better shape. I feel
my skill has improved. I am going to get guard more, execute guard sweeps and
then try to get the mount. For the next few months, focus on getting the mount.
I want to live in the mount.

But, just like having a great pair of shoes, I am not throwing my turtle away.
I am developing a new strategy with my turtle, but the turtle will not be my
first option. I am going to focus on connecting my elbow to knees and from
there try to get guard or even go to half/deep half guard. I will go to the
turtle less often and when I go to the turtle it is not to relaxe. I must
attack with my turtle.

Lastly, I am glad I spent so much time in the turtle this year. I learned
alot about myself and jiu jitsu from that position. If you do not go to the
turtle, I recomment going to it once in a while. It will increase your
defending skills and make you think about ways to attack while being in
an unadvantageous position.

Rolling week ending 9-22-2013

I trained three times this week. Two times in my garage and once with
Sundar and a few folks.

On Tues, I trained with Dominic. He is a newbie. His Second workout.
Both times, we are focusing on bridging, shrimping and getting the
guard back from the side control. Then, for my sake, we briefly trained
getting the situp guard from the closed guard and then getting the
butterfly sweep from the situp guard. We trained mostly the side control
defense and briefly the buttterfly sweep stuff.

On Thurs., I trained with Jeff. We trained getting the situp guard from
closed guard and then different butterfly grips. Of course, we did the
butterfly sweep to get side control. Then, we practiced getting real simple
toe hold submissions when ontop in side control. Jeff had been training for almost
1 1/2 years.

So, on Tuesday, we will do mostly defending. We will spend several more weeks
exploring defending from side control. Go look on youtube. Just look at where you train.
How many folks are comfortable defending from side control? How many people
can you say are efficient and proficient at defending and getting the guard or
some other position from the bottom of side control. All too often, when someone
is on the bottom of side control, their defenses are horrible. They either get submitted
or just flattened out/dominated for a long time and never get an escape. I think
this is bas jiu jitsu. I think this happens as a reuslt fo a few things:

1. Not enough time is being spent defending. Everyone wants to train submissions

2. Not enough comfort. On the bottom, the person is uncomfortable. They
are missing their opportunioties.

3. Willingness to get better at the side control defenses. Most folks, just do not
want to be on the bottom in side control. How often, have you rolled with someone, and they
puprposely put themselves on the bottom to practice defending and escaping? Most folks,
moslty everyone, tries to get ontop or if that does not work, pull guard.

4. Training philosphy. Many places train like this. A real intense warm up. Calesthics.
Then, the instructor shows a technique. You drill it for a while. During the drilling, more
often than not, you have a resisting opponent. Then, you move onto free rolling with a
crazed totally resistant partner that is trying to rip your arm off. It is like, no way can I
even remeber the move we brifly practiced while this guy is trying to choke the life out of me.

In the garage, not only are we going to invest being in the bottom of the side control and learning to defend and escape it, but we are going to train in a very passive/calm way until we progress into more resistance until we roll with full resistance.

Here is going to be our training method:

1. For the next several months, we are going to peractice side control defense and
different variations with no resistance. We are going to cycle thru several techniques
several times. Our training partner will give presence but little resistance. The goal
here, just to get comfortable with the movements.

2. After one cycle, we will come up with a rolling simulation. A little more complicated
with moves intertwined. But, again, presence from your training partner but no resistance.

3. As we go into the next cycle, a little more resistence.

4. Once we have gone thru three cycles, then we will just go thru some free flow rolling
with little resistance but presence.

5. We will cycle thru again, and at the end of each lesson/technique, we will do positional
rolling, with no submissions, but with resistance higher but not totally resistant.

6. Next cycle, positional sparring with resistance.

7. Last cycle. Recviewing the techniques, then rolling with defense and submission.

I think we will have seven cycles of training, gradually building upto free rolling with resistance. Between each cycle, we will be doing a rolling simulation drill. Training this way, it will require lots of patience. It will take atleast 6 mos. in this position. When done, we should be very comfortable in the uncomfortable bottom of the side control.

I do not think most jiu jitsu folks training in an effective or smart way. Same goes for MMA. I have been researching/studying and from person experience, trying to mimic the training for sports that where the training really matters with the big $$$$$ on the line.

Consider how a professional Basketball player/team would train. I am not going to comment on thephsical conditioning part, just the backetball skills part. You usually warm up with a shot around.You spend hours just shoting a basketball, with no one guarding you. Getting your shot down. Then, a coach, will draw up a play, maybe on a blackboard and explain it. Then, the offensive play is execute without anyone guarding you. Then, they move into a phase where the defense just stands there for little to no resistance and just for presence. Then, maybe, try the play on the B squad, players with a lower level of skill. Then, they may even split up the A team and try the play again skilled players. Then, when all is good and confident, they use the play for real in competition.

Culture Matters

Did you ever wonder how GM Helio Gracie was able to change the traditional
JuJitsu into Gracie Jiu Jitsu and why the traditional Japaenese Jujitsu
did not contain his efficient techniques already? Considering that Japanese
JuJitsu was centuries old, you would have thought it would have evolved
into these efficient techniques.

Some state that it is a bunch of BS that Helio modified the juJitsu to be more
efficient. They do not beleieve it is true. I do believe it is true, that
Helio modified the jujitsu into jiu-jitsu and did morph the techniques
to be efficient. To understand how he was able to modify the techniques
and the Japanese did not, is to understand culture.

Lets consider the Japanese culture. Specifically, related to jujitsu training.
There are many different “ryus” or schools of jujitsu. Many of the ryu are
old and date back centuries. These ryus usually contain a scroll/board of
techniques that are required. Breaking it down as simply as possible, they
usually have a board(s) for techniques for the beginner, intermediate and
then advanced student. Also, special/secret scrolls exist.

A student may join in different ways. Some are paying students. Other students
are accepted as a students being referenced from other students. Some students
have to go thru an interview. Even, some sign a blood oath. There are many ways
a student was accepted.

For the “ryu” and the instructors, it was unacceptable for the student to challenge
the teacher. They were there to obey the teacher. If the teacher explained this
technique started by moving you to the right, you did not resist and moved to the
right, regardless of, truly, the technique caused you to move that way. You were
there to train in the techniques of the scroll/board and resistence to these techniques
was not allowed. Actually, if you resisted, you were likely to get kicked out.

Not only was resistence unacceptable, but so was veering from the scroll. You trained
the techniques from the scroll. You did not veer from how the teacher taught the technqiue
and you did the techniques listed right on that scroll. These scrolls were centuries
old and did not change for centuries. These scrolls/boards were handed down from
master to master, with little to no changes to them. Also, many times, a ryu discouraged
you from training with another ryu. They wanted to keep their scroll techniques to
themselves and not share. Over time, I would imagine, the techniques started to be
shared just to the sheer number of folks who learned them. It is very hard to keep
a secret when more and more folks know that secret.

I have read many stories of OSensei and how you joined his training and you never questioned
the technique and never resisted. You moved in the direction he wanted you to go in. I
am sure alot had to do with technique but also alot had to do with this no resisting and
cooperating mentality. No wonder, OSensei did not believe in tournaments.

Now, I am not bashing the old ryu way of training and I am not here to judge. I am just
stating what I have learned over the years of my training.

Now, lets just talk a little bit about JUDO. If you think about it, Prof. Kano was a
real maverick and genius! He discovered Kuzushi in an environment, where you just followed
the scroll. He discovered a principle where it was discouraged to experiment. The learning
was very regimented. And, he recognized the importance of free training, randori, with
resistence. At the time, there were very few ryu who trained free form with resistence.

Onto GM Helio Gracie. He did not study JuJitsu at all. He never studied with Count Koma Maeda.
He never ever learned a jujitsu/judo technique from him. All of his techniques come from
GM Carlos, who trained with the Koma.

So, I think you have to consider the Brazilian culture and Carlos/Helio interaction with
ech other and their students. What would the atmosphere be like when they trained.

Now, I have never trained with GM Helio Gracie and I have never been to Brazil. But,
I have seen lots of media on Brazil and I have trained with people who have trained
with GM Helio Gracie and who have spent a consider time in Brazil:
Ryron Gracie, Rener Gracie, Sundar Brown.

First off, the Brazilians seem to love the beach. They love surfing. They seem to be
much more free spirited and less regimented, as compared to a Japanese “Budo” society.
When you train with GJJ folks, you laugh, crack jokes, the training has more of a fun
vibe to it than a regimented “Budo” military feel. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying
it is a haphazzard way of training or easier. It is just has a different feel.

And, I believe this “Brazilian” feel allows for much more freedom. They did not stick
to any scroll. GM Helio, probably, was not training sticking to any techniques from a
scroll. He had the freedom to train and try the techniques in many ways. And, along
the way he started to discover more principles with this freedom. By trying different
ways, failing, succeeding, discovering, and having the freedom, he discovered “jiu-jitsu”
stuff. Without this freedom, it would be virtually impossible to discover what he discovered
and it would have been impossible for Rickson to discover what he discovered and
What Marcelo has discovered and so on.

To conclude, I believe that GM Helio Gracie did discover and modify the traditional
JuJitsu to become Gracie Jiu Jitsu. He did find efficient techniques for leverage
and such. He found this “Jiu Jitsu” stuff by the freedom he had to train as compared
to traditional Japanese JuJitsu which requires you to follow techniques handed down
over centuries, regardless being efficient/effective or not.