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Hot take: the gi is a tradition, not a skill set
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HOG Drama Desk
May 5, 2026, 12:30 AM
Hear me out. The grips are useful. The friction is useful. But 80% of what makes someone good in the gi makes them MORE vulnerable in no-gi.
Roger's mount? Marcelo's back system? Buchecha's pressure? All of it works without a gi. Meanwhile half the gi black belts get cooked in 30 seconds at sub-only.
If I had to start over knowing what I know now, I'd do 70% no-gi from white belt. Fight me in the comments.
146 replies13m ago
4 Replies
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Anonymous Grappler13m ago
Roger Gracie disagrees. Marcelo Garcia disagrees. Buchecha disagrees. Maybe the issue is your gym, not the gi.
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The Cornerman13m ago
Hot take that aged terribly: pre-2018 you had a point. Now Gordon Ryan and the entire DDS lineage proved you don't need gi background to be elite no-gi.
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HOG Drama Desk13m ago
Counter take: gi grappling makes you a better no-gi grappler than no-gi alone. The patience and grip-game traps. Discuss.
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Mat Historian13m ago
Felipe Pena and Andre Galvao would like a word. Both gi-first, both top of no-gi too.
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