Keith Owen: Bridging the GAP between gi and nogi

[mrkitanai1]

People must remember this - always try to improve, but never forget the past. Many times, we think we are "advancing", "innovating", and "progressing". However, it is possible to advance AND to regress at the same time. Take antibiotics. Antibiotics were a breakthough in modern medicine. Antibiotics have saved millions of lives. HOWEVER, antibiotic use have also resulted in problems - most notably MRSA - "super bacteria" that man has never seen before. With new advances comes new problems

[sharkfinnigan]

yeah its wicked hard to go from nogi to gi, i ate a huge piece of humble pie when i first tried a gi

[fraige2010]

I love what he preaches i never understood why rubber guard is frown down upon its amazing you can easily control your opponent

[golfrent]

Whatever "style" you train should only hav to do with what style of Competition you should do, it Would be realy stupid to train no-gi for gi competition :0)

[dangraves3031]

One time in a gi class I made a good no gi guy puke , it was his first gi class.

[ASANKramer05]

that yellow gi is hideous.... he looks like pac man....lol I love master Keith's lectures

[synthamesk]

Keith Owen is the man! All his techniques are brilliant and he's very open minded!

[sylhetypolasab]

man,this guy is really good...........

[mrmantis84]

this is the mentality a martial artist should have OPEN MIND

dont label things, dont put every thing into a box and for sure dont put your self in one ether.

[nkyryry]

Sure wish religion had this view on things. I really hate the whole "I know everything, and what I know is right" attitude.

[klion54]

awesome.

[outspokenreflex]

i have very limited experience rolling with a gi so id like to ask a question. if you grapple with a gi on a lot do you come dependent on it? for example if you land a gi choke constantly and then roll no gi and it isn't there would it mess up your whole game? thanks.

[DimaAxil]

"Guy in shorts and a tshirt wants to rock your world." Hahahahaha

[DanTheWolfman]

good views-I'm like 30% Gi, 70% No gi maybe but it's all grappling and all martial arts so bring on the wrestling, wing chun, aikido I'll take what I want ww MMA4SelfDefense com

[darktim99]

yeah your a "GRAPPLER"

[salvationwar]

The fact is with BJJ or any martial art in general, you can't think so linear,you must be a latteral thinker. Constantly explanding your knowledge in different areas so when stuck in a certain situation you can adapt, think, and find a resolve.

[Parley454]

@salvationwar Ya that is sort of like when Frank Mir beat Nogeira boxing. I thought that was one of the most interesting fights, two good ground fighters and Mir won it boxing.

[AverageAsianMe]

Learning Jiu Jitsu with a gi has been helping my no - gi grappling and catch and vice versa. I started doing traditional BJJ to help my fundamentals and i learned a lore more than I thought I would. I still hate Gi chokes...

[c23am]

A great philosophy on learning, people are always looking to take sides, when really they should be learning everything and taking in what is best for different situations and not opposing different approaches completely. People should be versatile and not rigid, if they want to be good fighters or wiser human beings in general.

[old4nhb]

i agree w/his ideas here......

[ReysWrap]

i guess this is the reason why some BJJ schools will teach only gi to new students and only allow them to do the no-gi classes later on?

[ADHYJC]

Gotta watch out for those crazy naked guys

[jaymont1984]

@ADHYJC they do crop up in california man

[DEFYtheTHOUGHTPOLICE]

If it works it works. I never understood the instructors that were so stuck up on their own style, that they refused to learn anything else.

I'll learn anything if it works.

[xc8759]

smart man

[rhdadrian]

haha keith is funny,i like how he breaks it all down

[xxstupifyedxx]

for sho

[gr00ms1]

Keith owen is a very wise man. You would be smart to soak up his wisdom so you don't come off as a douche and get pwned by ari

[Submissions101]

then you are missing a huge part of the martial arts. There is wisdom that can be found from people who know more than you.

[danpats1]

Stuff can be learned from both gi and no gi. There, I just summarized everything he said minus the long winded rambling and bad jokes. I pay money to train BJJ to become a better grappler not to attend a philosophy class. Some prefer one style to another but for a well rounded game it's better to not neglect either is all he had to say instead of eating up mat time with a sermon.

[Submissions101]

wow. the amazing thing about videos is that you don't have to watch them. Where and who are you training under buddy?

[danpats1]

I don't mean any disrespect, I'm sure he's a fine instructor. I'm just saying that is one aspect of the class I could do without.

[AKwakIsAwsome]

well then you arent training correctly. every martial art supports the belief of mental and physical unity. without knowledge of both, you will never truly excel the amount that you could.

[danpats1]

he's just talking about gi vs no gi, not mental/physical unity.

[ihavenousername1112]

Total JJ in warsaw under Jason Fox

[rondlopez]

@Submissions101 Wow this guy @danpats needs a role model, a hug, or something. So much anger. Imagine have to role with him everyday. Thats would be boring... Anyways I like all your videos. Not all of them are ment for me and I think most people understand and feel that way except for this guy. Keep up the good work.

[tcgodzarmy]

its very important to teach respect in martial art schools and what hes trying to say is respect other arts.thats all.dont judge beacause every martial arts has its....im sure u know what i mean.philosophy is also very important to set the mind right. and erase things like anger or revenge.martial arts are not only to fight..1

[702decatur]

@Submissions101 well said..

[feaster01]

Keith Owen Is great!!!

[sorz123]

hes absolutely right

[Ruiso1]

screw nogi, im a gi guy

[alliancejokerjitsu]

still, it would take minutes of holding the choke to kill someone, or even cause serious brain damage.

[nudemonkeys]

i really like this guy's little lecture videos. good stuff.

[jyakin]

AMEN.

[thestormne]

It is interesting that Mr. Keith brought up his position as an instructor and that bridging the gap between the gi and no gi best served his students. As an MMA program based school I tend to focus exclusively on no gi and wrestling w/ gnp when grappling, however I support Mr. Keith's position as a jujitsu practioner and coach.

[thursday414]

Amen brotha

[kingkongtiger]

Well I just start to think of brabo hold on a jacket guy

Jiu Jitsu is so amazing that it accepts all kind of techniques, if the technique survives, it works!

BJJ guys will not said that oh this new thing sucks, throw it away, traditional technique rules. Just creat the techniques, all other BJJ-ers will test it all the way.

[SuperEzekial19]

KEITH OWEN speaks the truth

[johnfetu]

awesome philosophy....

[howljs]

this is awesome. i practice gi and very little no gi but i like both and there are different things for both. i had a friend who has done no gi for 2 years and now he said in a month or so he will finally put on the gi after being anti-gi. he said it was to slow, but now i guess he's comin around. this is beautiful. the more integrated and dynamic your jiu jitsu is, the better it is.

[moelicious416]

keith owen, you speak wisdom!! thank u for the lecture sensei..

[csi402]

Gi training offers real world applications. I lived in Youngstown, Ohio where it was cold and ppl wore jackets, hoodies ect. I was a cop and used a lot of gi chokes and arm locks by grabbing the jackets and cloths. Its all good, man.

[RoderickBorst]

You say you were a cop, did you quite or were you asked to leave after choking to meany people out. Not to be funny but i live in Holland and over here if you're a police officer (or in my case security) and you use techniques like that or other fighting techniques you get a lot of complaints.

[csi402]

Neither, I found another Police job in another state. I don't know about Holland, but here in America if someone is trying to cause you serious physical harm or death. You are allowed to used what ever meathods possable to stop them. Including lethal force, if needed.

[cmizzletrizzle]

Not to detract from the video topic, but I wish that more Police here in canada we trained properly. I see so many video's of "police brutality" and its because the cops don't know proper techniques so the just stat kneeing or punching the person to get them t comply. All that should be happening is you choke a guy out and he wakes up in handcuffs. My sister is a cop and she's told me that they are told never to use a choke technique...it makes NO sense to me.

thats my piece.

[moelicious416]

i agree with you. police forces in japan, korea and russia are huge into judo and sambo to train their law enforcement forces. training for law enforcement in canada is crap.

[csi402]

Now I will say, you arn't taught the chokes in the actual police academy. Each state in the US decides what the officers are taught and its usually the generic pressure point strikes and straight arm-bar take down stuff. However, cadets are strongly recomended to get continous outside training on their own. Chokes are only permitted in EXTREAME situations where Serious injury or Death to you or another is present. Because u can kill with a choke, its a last resort move, like using your pistol.

[SuperEzekial19]

PLEASE? r u serious? police r taught to use wot ever means necessary to bring down a criminal chokes included,

[csi402]

Obviously you have never been through a police academy. Please READ ALL of my comments on here! You're misunderstanding what I'm saying. In a police academy there are only certain state approved Defensive Tactics in the ciriculum they can teach. It's always generic PPCT, straight arm-bar take downs, ect. If you don't beleve me call your local police academy and ask them if they teach cadets to choke someone out in the Defensive Tactics training curiculum. Believe me they'll say "No".

[mmastylez]

police training is dependent on the country your in and the state/province/territory

[alliancejokerjitsu]

Yea you could kill them if you hold it for to long, but it only takes 3-5 seconds to make someone black out with a proper blood choke.

[vginawhisperer]

LOL, nobody from Submissions 101 knows what the 50/50 guard is? Come on....that's Ryan Hall's shit!

[Submissions101]

Yes, Ryan Hall is great....Keith was talking about when the 50/50 came out and getting information about it.

[J0hnFreeman]

Yeah i love both, more training more better even training in gi will help nogi

[RaynardAlcampor]

I completely agree. Love both styles.

[valetudo333]

This is how all people should look at BJJ. Professor Owen is right on.

[joenobody13]

and that's why jiu-jitsu will always be one of the best grappling systems.

[KingCrimson1982]

I whole heartedly agree with what Keith is saying. I think nowadays people forget the principles of martial arts such as ridding yourself of ignorance and bettering yourself physically and mentally. I consider myself a traditional martial artist and as such I embrace other styles and philosophies not ridicule them.

[tracerp]

All he is trying to explain is that when you wear a gi you end up learning more technique and fundamentals. At GB we are taught in the gi and once we reach a certain level we can learn no-gi. Personally I like them both and I can do most of the same moves, chokes, submissions in no-gi that I can do wih my gi. But you need some type of solid foundation and that is what the gi gives you the foundation to understand no-gi better. Just my .02!!!

[SakoYo]

I might not be as familiar with a lot of collar chokes, but I'm pretty sure that the typical gi practitioner is not as proficient in as many no-gi chokes as I am. Believe me, there is huge variety of no-gi chokes and you can develop a highly specialized game in just the choking department, not to mention leg locks, rubber guard, and the half-guard lockdown. I did rather be highly specialized in no-gi then divide half my training time with gi training.

[fatguyonthc]

Anything you can do with no gi you can do with a gi on. So who is going to end up with the more well rounded game? Also, what no gi only guy has won a world championship?

[vginawhisperer]

easy...Denny Prokopos.

[lucubration808]

not to take anything from denny,hes a badass but it never counts until its black belt division, its just another level thats the level where 10th planet needs to be proven, i like elements of 10th planet but i like traditional strategies too, just take the best, it doesnt need to be one or the other. why predjudice? if it works do it.

train hard train safe

[G0dspelronin]

Filho is a perfect example of the old school and how well it works. His style doesn't demand our limbs to be placed around our own heads and works quite well!

[vginawhisperer]

yes, i agree. but you have to remember, Denny is 10th Planet's FIRST black belt. and when did he receive his black belt? like a month ago. 10th planet is a relatively young system. Give it a few years...i have faith that a nogi only guy will eventually win the world championships.

[G0dspelronin]

true, but I have seen many no gi only people get stuck when they put on the gi and have no idea how to break the grips nor do they understand whats happening while people are setting up chokes. I say better to know them both than to only know how to fight under certain circumstances.

[Spitterkat]

the reason i prefer no gi, is because its more realistic, no gi in real life, and you fight like you train

[Wickedywack]

Thank you! Thank you for voicing a sentiment that I've held for years. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that way.

[matsonit]

Royce Gracie comment, "if I ware the gi, my opponent wants to grab me rather than hit me"... The man who changed the World!!!!!!!!!! The evolution is breath taking and truly, the cutting edge.

Big up Red, rapid Dude.

[eezyozy]

hey keith, fancy sorting out the middle east while ur at it. keith owen for president! lol

[191601916]

HAHA If a naked guy came at me I would run!

[Archol88]

I prefer no gi because its for me more natural (main reason), faster and cheaper :) I dont like situations where i can get choked more easily than my oponent because he has better gi which suits him very well.

[lucubration808]

you have a good point with its faster and cheaper, but getting choked more easily is kind of just an excuse, thats a good thing, i started no gi cuz its cheaper (i didnt have any money to buy a gi lol) but when i got the gi and started training i noticed my technique got wayy better and my thinking got quicker as opposed to just your body being faster. i think everyone should try both

[Archol88]

I find bjj in gi more developing too (fast thinking and choosing trchniques) but i like when my fight depends on my body only - it's just my feeling :)

[lucubration808]

i can respect that, train hard, train safe

[harmmoney]

jiu jitsu is about evolving and growth. it couldn't exist without tradition and those refusing to change and adapt will be left behind. those without basics would have no starting point. we study this because it makes us happy and better people.

[mmagamer4life]

i 100% adgree

[frost310]

I have a question: Wouldnt the Gi be more useful to simulate a street fight? Like I know the fights I've ever been on out in the street the guys werent wearing rash guards and small shorts. They had pants, some of them hoodies/jckets or baggy T shirts...similar to the Gi. Where as I have yet to find a guy I hafto defend myself against who is wearing something similar to what No Gi dudes wear. I know they're both great sports. My question is which one is better to simulate a real fight? Thanks!

[chushinryoku]

Gi is because of the the way you'll get stopped when people grab your clothing. People can choke you even if you just have a tshirt on and if you live in a colder region (I live in Canada) you'll want to know how to use someone's jacket and how they can grab yours.

[olicc]

I think its more practical to train in street clothes which is what we mostly did in our gym back when I was practicing. We were given gis but we also had the option of wearing rashgaurds,or street clothes. I went though quite a bit of tshits that ended up getting ripped from chokes but since I was mostly interested in defense instead of competing in the sport that worked best for me.

I don't think anyone from 10PJJ is anti gi, they just want to add nogi training as standard.

[djb12030]

"a nogi guy can't put a gi on and be good" 100% not true. I never wore a gi other than to compete once every six months. Walked away middleweight absolute winner. Gi gives you MORE to work with not less, its easier.

[ilovenri]

WOW!!! Keith you are the man!!!!!

[bicyclethief]

His philosophy makes all the sense in the world. Any system that is static and insular is doomed in the long run.

[GrandeDC]

I like his tutorial pep talk...it basically said to train and be as well rounded as much as you can.

[Submissions101]

Yes, he sure did!

[diamondd11]

At the end of the video in the credits...."taugh" is not a word. I think you mean "taught"

[Submissions101]

oopss...thanks bud...quick fingers ;-)

[bamboocha923]

I don't know what is the fuss about gi and nogi. I train nogi only because it takes me about 30-40 mins to nearest jiu-jitsu school by car and 5-10 mins to grappling school on foot, and if I had the time I would train both. For those who say that this or that martial art or style is better: Just stfu and train! And then prove yourself on the mat or in the ring...

[IrishRhavin]

I agree with you 100%

[EvanChaim]

I hadn't heard of Keith Owen until you guys became affiliated with him. He seems like an instructors instructor. Very intelligent and cerebral and wise beyond his years.

[technetadmin]

I'll admit I'm a gi guy. I'm also a Judo guy, and much of Judo can be translated into nogi. I don't like getting other guy's sweat on me. Even in TKD, Hapkido or Shotokan, I always wear a long sleeve constrictive shirt and a long sleeve rugby shirt under my gi.

[maofas]

Agree 100%. I don't need other people's sweat on me! Give me my p.j.s!

[LUESoldat]

heads up Ari, you keep spelling "Taught" as "Taugh" at the end of the video.

Great philosophy by Professor Owen.

[Antti79]

Wise words.

[JustaEropeanGuy]

Point of martial arts: fighting

most of the world wears clothes>gi makes sence

some of the world doesn't wear clothes> no gi makes sence too...

[goofy775]

a lot of the things you do with gi would tear normal clothes

[JustaEropeanGuy]

I've done throws with T-shirts and I've seen someone tear kurtkas like they were paper napkins... it's very relevant.

[goofy775]

I wasn't saying anything against gi.. just didn't like your examples :P

[JustaEropeanGuy]

What was wrong about my examples? I didn't favor any of them. It's fact that people need clothing. Clothing was what got us out of Africa. Most common is the jacket variety.

[Jebman1]

idk about you but my t shit isnt exactly like a gi

[JustaEropeanGuy]

You can pull off a lot of cool stuff if you bunch it up real good, besides that's not what I meant.

[magicmatthaze]

the point of martial arts is not fighting, that was not the sole intent of jigoro kano... your are forgetting about martial arts as sport, physical training, and most importantly, life philosophy

[miggyruru]

hey! this guy is all talk! ahahahahahaa. just joking, but you have to admit this video of this guy is all talk..lol

he has some good advice.

[reafdaw01]

"the naked guy attacks you" made me laugh so hard.

Great vid, very good point.

[JustaEropeanGuy]

the words "rear naked choke" come to mind

[MartialArtsJunky2011]

Thanks for posting all these useful videos Ari

[evildotcom]

Keith Owen brings up some good points. There should be a unification of grappling arts. I try to add everything I can to my BJJ game. Sambo,CACC, and 10th Planet. Good shit!

[ProElite15]

Nice vid

[schufflerbot]

amen, Keith. great advice, very valid points and well spoken - as always.