Tag: metamoris

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Live Technique and Perspective Videos

Podcast #17: Gianni Grippo & Joao Faria

The Science of Jiu Jitsu Podcast is back!!!!
We are better than ever, and kickoff our fall shows with a bang. Gianni Grippo and Joao Faria both stop by to share their thoughts on BJJ,Halloween costumes, and the evolution of sport jiu jitsu.
We discuss the upcoming Copa Podio and Metamoris match-ups, discuss fall jiu jitsu season, express disappointment over the current state of competition jiu jitsu, and highlight what the future of BJJ might look like.
Gianni Grippo joins us to discuss his upcoming Metamoris matchup.
Joao Faria stops by to talk about his upcoming Bellator MMA fight next month.

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"It's Science" Videos

It's Science: Royler Gracie (Legends Edition)

royler its science

 By: Tyler Bishop
(stats located below)

Foreword:

Thank you for making It’s Science one of the most popular jiu jitsu pieces on the internet and inside our little community. As many of you may already know, the full length articles, stats, etc. of all our competitor profiles are featured in every issue of Jiu Jitsu Style Magazine. This particular one will be released in the upcoming issue of JJS next month.
This particular episode kicks off our new series of statistical breakdowns featuring legends of the sport. Hopefully this new series can help us further paint a picture as to how jiu jitsu is evolving, by taking a closer look at where is has come from – competitively of course. I found no place more fitting to start than with the Gracie families most decorated sport jiu jitsu competitor, Master Royler Gracie.
This piece was of particular interest to me, as I viewed Royler’s style – from the outside to be different from many modern competition approaches, and I thought that an analysis of his game would prove to be a stark contrast to many past studies. I was both right and wrong. While his game does differ from many of past profiles, the results that he achieved were surprising in light of the results. His ability to play the top and achieve success is primarily where my attention goes in this breakdown, but I don’t think we should stop at that. Royler’s game is as clearly defined as any of the others we have observed in times past. I hope you will enjoy observing the results as much as I did collecting them.

Abstract:

All matches observed of Royler Gracie used in this small sample occurred in his respective weight division between 1994 and the present day. The sampling includes a mixture of both gi and nogi competition. Only techniques, occurrences, and outcomes that were recorded are displayed in the data below (i.e. if no butterfly sweeps occurred, there will not be a representation of that in the sample data). Matches were selected at random based on available matches – selected using a random generator from available matches. This is a limited sample, and one without many of our normal controls such as; unified rules, time limits, etc. This makes the data a little more skewed than what we would normally like to see. However, the data collected did end up accurately representing insightful trends that we can use to draw logical and rational conclusions. As jiu jitsu grows, so does that data.

Breakdown:

Royler Gracie, his name alone bears a connection to the sport itself. As the most decorated sport jiu jitsu competitor of Helio Gracie, Royler, is known for his flexibility, mysterious pressure, and fierce competitiveness. In fact, Royler recently competed once again at the age of 48 against Eddie Bravo in a thrilling match at Metamoris. It’s hard to deny the strong competitive will Royler possess. In fact, the famous picture above almost encapsulates Roylers mystique in-of-it-self. But, what techniques, strategies, and gameplans makeup the Royler Gracie style?
Let’s begin our review of the statistics below with a breakdown of the start of the match. Royler, like many of his generation, proved to be primarily a top game player. He displays a dynamic and smothering style of passing that he has leaned on heavily throughout his career, and the best way to execute that strategy is to start on top from the start. Roylers initial takedown of choice was the ankle pick and a wrestling style double or single leg attempt. It’s fair to mention that because many of these matches occurred in ADCC that many of these takedowns could have been specifically tailored to that format, thus giving them higher incidence than if this study was of only gi competition. These techniques accounted for approximately 78% of all of his initial takedowns.
Another strategy often used to arrive at the top position was a basic sacrifice throw in which he would drop his opponent down quickly into a butterfly style sweep in an attempt to gain the top position. Even if the throw did not work initially, Royler’s butterfly guard proved to be one of his “go to” assets on bottom. His flexibility, combined with his mastery of the technique, allowed him to secure quite a few sweeps from this position. In fact, nearly 42% of the sweeps we observed in the study were from butterfly guard. The nest most common position that he would sweep from was a simple collar sleeve open guard variation (best way to define it) – in which Royler would use butterfly hooks and scissor style sweeps to overtake his opponent. This style of play accounted for approximately 25% of his sweeping positions.
Once on top, there is a reason why many in the jiu jitsu community still refer to the knee through style of pass as the Royler Pass. Of all the competitors we studied, none averaged a higher pass rate than Royler Gracie. Royler passed the guard on average 1.6 times per match. Our next closest competitor was Gui Mendes with 0.78. Royler passed the guard more than twice as much as many of the modern competitors we have recently studied.
Royler’s guard pass of choice was  his signature knee through (or knee cut) style pass. 11 of the 24 guard passes we observed in the entire study were classified in this style (45.8%). However, Royler also utilized leg drag, torrendo, and reverse sitting half guard style passes with a high degree of success as well. Royler executed the majority of these passing sequences from his knees or from the half guard – which is very much juxtaposition from where we have seen it with the majority of the other competitors we have studied. In fact, no other competitor had the majority of their passes start from a kneeling position.
Royler recorded 88% of the submissions we observed from either the back or mount position. 50% of the submissions were chokes from the back while armbars and collar chokes made up the rest. 53% of the matches we observed ended with Royler finishing his opponent by submission.
In the matches we observed he was victorious in 13 of them. He has shown the type of spirit throughout the course of his career that you would expect from a decorated legend like himself. However, the numbers do reveal something very interesting. The dynamics of his style are unique qualities that – in many cases – we have yet to see replicated by any other competitor. In his last match against Eddie Bravo you could still see architecture of his proprietary game. And, while it’s likely we have seen the last of Royler Gracie in the competitive jiu jitsu world, it’s likely there is still a lot we can learn from the matches and legacy he has left behind. This is only a start.

Notable Stats

  • Highest average pass rate per match of any competitor studied so far (1.6 per match)
    • Passed the guard twice as much as the next closest in this category (Gui Mendes)
  • 88% of submissions came from the back or mount
  • Knee through style of pass was used to pass in 46.8% of successful attempts
  • 1/2 of total submissions he secured were chokes from the back
  • Scored first points (when applicable) in every single victory
  • 45% successful passes started from opponents half guard

royler stats graphic

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"It's Science" Videos

Jiu Jitsu Submissions Reference Chart

By: Tyler Bishop
One of the reasons BishopBjj.com exists today in it’s current form is to bring some structure to the internal debates about jiu jitsu competition. Recently, the discussion around jiu jitsu competition formats has reached an apex. What is the truest form of jiu jitsu? Which type of format is most exciting? What rules should be applied?
All of this talk is healthy for the sport to grow and evolve. However, one of the biggest problems people fail to bring into the conversation is empirical data.  Jiu jitsu was built on the scientific principle of testing a hypothesis. If you think a move works, why not try it against a resisting opponent? Collect the data and try again. This is the foundation of science. Unfortunately, often the arguments that we are hearing around the rules and tournament formats are based in personal perception, not reality.
It’s not easy to compile data on jiu jitsu competition, nor is there much available outside of what our site has produced. Therefore these arguments are hard to be won on facts alone, so there will always be a level of personal bias inflicted upon these discussions until that changes. But I encourage everyone involved in these debates to continue to ask the tough questions, and always ask for proof. Below is a chart that highlights several major events and their submission history in the last 2 years. It is far from a study like we have done in the past, but it’s some basic info that I encourage you to share so that we all can at least have this as a starting point in these discussions.
Jiu Jitsu is deepy personal and we all enjoy it. We all want the best for the sport-side of things, that’s why everyone has a strong opinion about it.  As long as there is a demand to know the facts we will continue to work on providing it. #jiujitsuscience
jiu jitsu sub breakdown
 

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BishopBjj News

Winners and Losers – Post-Metamoris III

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By: Tyler Bishop
So the latest installment of Metamoris has finally happened, and the promotion delivered their largest and most anticipated event to date. The event was hyped from the beginning, selling out live attendance on the first day tickets were publically available. But did it live up to the hype?
The events success  depends on who you ask, and what their opinion is about jiu jitsu competition. The facts are as follows; the live experience, stream, and production were more successful and more dynamic than the previous two shows, even though Jeff Glover had many moments that likely had audience members burying their hands in their faces. The updated and streamlined production with little filler between matches provided a well-organized, no-nonsense display for fans. The event appeared professional and provided an adequate stage for top competitors while allowing true fan to appreciate the performance.
While only 2 of the 6 matches on the card finished in submission, many of the matches maintained a high-level of excitement despite the matches finishing in a draw. In fact, the most exciting match of the entire night, the headliner, resulted in a draw; however, it is now being heralded as one the most exciting matches in recent history online. The rule set itself is still not perfect. Some of the  competitors still have not adjusted to the proper way to compete in these matches, and the end result is often a strange series of events (see Lister/Sobral). However, quite subjectively, I can say that this card was more exciting than the past two, and that seems to be the general consensus among popular online jiu jitsu destinations as well.
To improve future shows, Metamoris will likely need to improve the rule set and evolve and build upon current models, but all-in-all Metamoris III appears to have been a success (in terms of execution). Once stream purchase numbers are tallied, I’m sure the organizers will be able to tell you one way or the other if the show was truly a success.
To improve action in the future, perhaps future events should consider four 5 minute rounds, or perhaps two 10 minute rounds. I often advocate this approach based on the success of the old Rickson Budo Challenge event (one of the greatest ever held). Many have never heard or seen of this event, but it provided some the most exciting matches in history. Metamoris and others would be smart to evaluate this extraordinary past event for future ideas.
Using staggered criteria, I think it’s fair to say Metamoris and the fans watching were winners on Saturday evening, but among the other parties involved, who were winners and who were losers? I do my best below to breakdown the events beneficiaries below. Enjoy!
 

Winner: Zak Maxwell, and Guard Passing in Sub-Only events

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While the Sean Roberts/Zak Maxwell match ended in a draw, the last 10 minutes were a great display of cat and mouse between Zak and Sean. With so many lighter competitors developing dangerously dynamic guards, it has become difficult for those with a guard passing-style in those lighter weight classes. While the start of this match was a reflection of this construct – with both competitors attempting guard work – Zak made the decision to play the top position about halfway through the match. What was so interesting about this was the strategy that I believe he revealed to all future Metamoris competitors.
Although Zak had to weather the early storm of guard attacks from Sean – fending off multiple omoplatas and armlocks – he was eventually able to find his stride and pass the guard and secure several dominant positions and very close submissions. The final minutes were all Maxwell. What future competitors should glean from this is the flexibility that the Metamoris rule set allows. Typically competitors fear playing against another top guard player due to the threat of being swept or submitted; however if the you can get past the fear of being submitted – under Metamoris rules, competitors can gain a new level of comfort. Let me explain. Let’s say Zak determined that he could avoid the guard submissions. If that’s the case, then all he has to fear are sweeps. Well, there are no points for sweeps and if the opponent wants to play guard it’s likely they will not follow-up on the sweep if they land it. Basically, if you can stay out of submissions you are granted unlimited guard passing attempts. Zak exposed this in the rules and the current dynamic, and almost secured several submissions for his efforts.
It will be interesting to see if others employ this method of attack in the future. In my opinion, both Sean and Zak come out looking very well in this match, but Zak’s display of jiu jitsu exemplified an interesting dynamic about guard passing under these unique circumstances.
 

Loser: Rafeal Mendes

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Rafael Mendes is anything but a loser. However, in this event he did not grow the brand of the Rafa Mendes legend.  Our site has routinely featured Mendes for his dynamic style and dominance, but his performance in this event was a little uninspired.
Although Rafa displayed just how smooth and beautiful his berimbolo attack can be, he was unable to get it to find it’s mark against a very skilled Clark Gracie. It is not my intention to take away from Clark’s performance in my critique of Mendes, rather a critique of Rafa’s approach to the match. Even after 15 minutes of solid berimbolo defense from Gracie, Mendes refused to try a different strategy. Now, I realize I am now calling for a top competitor to play outside his game (something against our scientific analysis’), but Rafa is being debated as one of the best grapplers on the planet. Surely, he could have tried to showcase himself in another area in which he is dominant. Those that watch his AOJ rolling videos were waiting for those flashes of pure domination seen on film. But Mendes seemed determined to stick to a plan that was doomed from the start. The frustration from many seems to really stem form the conservative approach this seems to be from someone who is being debated as one of the best in the game right now. Fair or unfair, a draw wasn’t good enough for Rafael Mendes.

Winner: Eddie Bravo (and his No-Gi techniques), Royler, and the fans

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Most fans, myself included, saw the Royler-Bravo matchup as a one-sided affair waiting to happen. As the match began, it looked like that was exactly what it was going to be. However, Bravo showed a lot of heart dealing with the unrelenting pressure passing of Royler early on (someone who made that style of passing famous). Bravo was then successfully able to execute several of his patented sweeps and submission attempts to one of the greatest of all time. The match was back and forth, and ultimately Bravo proved to be more than just a  game opponent. He showed that he belonged in that environment, and that many of the techniques he has often been criticized for hold legitimate application. Bravo did exactly what he was trying to do for years, prove that he could compete with Royler, and that his first win wasn’t some kind of fluke.
Royler and Bravo both come out looking very good after such a great fight. It was the most exciting of the night and included two competitors with a combined age of 90! Both should inspire the next generation on a series of different levels. While I think everyone on the planet would be excited to see a third match, I am quite sure that will be the last time either fighter competes ever again.

Loser: Those that didn’t purchase the live stream

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I’m sure many will now complain that we are schilling for Metamoris, but the truth is we’re not…at all. For those that are podcast listeners, you know that Jena and I have never advocated sub-only events. We have also both criticized past events as well. However, this event was a great event to watch, and ended up being a very entertaining production. It was far from perfect in just about every faucet, but it was good enough for anyone that is a fan of jiu jitsu to enjoy. As the rules and production quality evolve, it should be expected that this type of entertainment should continue. It still isn;t to level that the average person could enjoy, but we are fast approaching that era in my opinion.
Most of all, those that missed out on Gracie-Bravo II will never be able to duplicate the intensity of watching that match live. Although the video is widely available online right now, watching the event live felt historical. It was a throwback to the early legendary matches of jiu jitsu that live in todays history books. If you missed it, you truly missed out.

Winner: Kevin Casey

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Many only know Kevin Casey by reputation only. Casey is famous for several jiu jitsu controversy’s, including but not limited to; the Spencer Pratt fiasco. However, to take a grappling match on that huge stage against one of the best in the world on only a few hours notice is incredible. It showed true bravery and very little ego. Kevin performed very admirable at the start of the match, and although he faded in the second half, he showcased good technique and was able execute some initiatives against Keenan that few others would have had success with.
Ultimately, I’m not sure it was simply a win-win opportunity by choosing to take the match. Had Casey gone out there and gotten tapped in 2 minutes or less, the crowd would have felt cheated, and Casey himself would have looked like a chump for thinking he could compete with someone of Keenan’s caliber on short notice. However, he competed very well and ended up looking as good as anyone else on the card.
 
What are your thoughts on M3?
 

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BishopBjj News

BishopBjj.com Podcast #6: Worlds, Metamoris, and Jena Bishop

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Check out the latest edition of the BishopBjj.com podcast. We share untold stories of the Worlds and Metamoris, and interview World Champion Jena Bishop. She talks about training in the middle of the U.S, why she wondered if it was ever possible if she could be a World Champion, and how her training has changed over the last few years.

Listen:

 

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Uncategorized

How To Evaluate Metamoris II

metamoris art II
By: Tyler Bishop
Metamoris has completed it’s second foray into premium jiu jitsu cards. There were some slight changes to the rules and procedures this time. Unfortunately, many of the results fell short of expectations.
On a positive note, the hype and fanfare prior to this event seemed significantly more intense than from the first installment of Metamoris. This is great news for jiu jitsu. Metamoris is great idea. It is a premium event that allows access to spectators all over the world, pays it’s competitors, and provides a first class experience for both.
On a negative note, there are always birthing pains with new and innovative ideas. While the idea of submission-only isn’t new – in fact it is an old idea – the implementation of a  Metamoris-style event is quite new. The drawbacks so far have been creating a tournament environment that is truly the most competitive, effective, and exciting format to watch. This seems to be the initial mission. To create a tournament that provides the best competitors with the optimum environment to showcase there talents and abilities. So far, the event is missing the mark – as many matches become as stalemated – and with no points to influence urgency the matches have tendency to become somewhat passive at times. I believe the judges were added this time to do just that; however, this seemed to have little effect on the competitors and actually seemed to just disenfranchise the audience a little bit.
Don’t kid yourself, the rules, setup, or coordination of an tournament will never be able to manufacture an exciting event. In an op-ed we wrote last year we discussed why the competitor is the sole one responsible for excitement. However, there is little debate here that things could improve to create a more optimal environment. So how should we evaluate this event looking back, and what should our expectations be for the future?

Here are three popular opinions we have seen since the the completion of the event…

  1. This style of event is the best, and it is only missing further incentives for the fighters to become more exciting.
    I have seen this opinion written a lot. It obviously is a very popular way to look at the event – knowing what we do now, and what we would like to see in the future. It makes sense too. As discussed above, the broadcast, professionalism, and organization is top-notch – and one can only assume it will get better. The only thing missing is a more exciting array of matches, right? I’m not so sure.
    Incenting fighters to perform one way or another seems like it could be the right way to go – and who knows maybe it is – but you have to consider what that actually does to the competition. At what point do you create an environment in which the competitive spirit has left? Paying fighters or penalizing them for being effective (whether on offense or defense) has a direct result on the fighters performance. You could essentially be incenting a fighter to not fight there best. That goes against the spirit of competition. Let me give you an example in a different context. If you were deer hunting and sat alone in the woods for days with no deer walking past you, at what point would you say that buying deer to stock in the woods is fair game? I would argue that it is never sporting to do this. You have manufactured a kill. While you can take the meat home to the dinner table, you can’t necessarily feel great about the process by which you have acquired said meat.So while I do appreciate this sentiment, and would realize the need for it’s institution, I would strongly hope we could explore all other avenues before jumping into this boat. If for no other reason to simply keep the event pure and sporting. One of the best things about the event is the lack of a true mediator in the process. By instituting penalties and rewards we insert an arbitrator that I’m not sure does the sport justice.
  2. Institute the Rickson Budo Challenge Rules.

    Now we are talking! I will conceal any bias that long time readers know I have towards this particular format. I have long-time been a fan of this scoring format, and am somewhat baffled as to why after a brief acceptance years ago this style of tournament disappeared. Much like Rickson himself, this style of tournament produced some fantastic fights and matches that will be remembered forever, and then simply left us wanting more.
    This type of tournament does have it’s downfall though. The point-based rewards for submission attempts over positions is wildly objective, and doesn’t always reward the most effective grapplers. It has a tendency to reward those who are most aggressive over those who are most technical. The affinity for this even likely comes from the old Rickson Budo Challenge events in which many of the matches produced a fever-pitch of excitement even when there was no submission. Adding rounds to the tournament format certainly could help break up the action, and allow fighters to re-evaluate their gameplans though. There is a lot to be considered here; however the amount of objectively in the scoring likely leaves this approach on the outside looking in.
    While the merits of this style of format are far and long-reaching it is likely not a great fit for the current promoters and their ideals. It would be a dramatic 180 from their current format, and would provide a level of objectivity that many audiences might not appreciate. Furthermore, it is possible that this style of tournament even flies in the face of what the promotors are attempting to produce (it’s hard to say). Ultimately, there are elements of this style of tournament that deserve some serious consideration, but it’s unlikely that we see this exact format at Metamoris anytime soon.
  3. The event is perfect…. more Schaub, MORE SCHAUB……MORE SCHAAAUUUBB!!!!!!!
    All jokes aside, is there a little birdy in the back of your mind that wonders if the boring defensive struggles of Ryron vs. Galvao, and  Cyborg vs. Schaub are secretly what the young Gracie brothers may have wanted from the Metmoris events? Almost in a rare tribute to Andy Kaufman, perhaps they are the only ones in on the joke.I know, it seems crazy right. Who wants to create a boring event that frustrates it’s audience? In all likelihood this sentiment is simply unfounded. However, the Gracie academy does espouse many of these defensive techniques, and spends a strong amount of time emphasizing defense over offense. It does seem possible that an agenda inside of these events is to showcase a personal point they wish to make as to the true merits of real jiu jitsu competition.Perhaps much of this is just as much about anti-competitive jiu jitsu as it is the ultimate showcase for jiu jitsu competition. It’s hard to say really, and you would have to have a strong affinity for conspiracy theories to believe it whole-heatedly. However, I can say one thing for sure. Whoever draws a grappler from the Gracie academy in the next event better be prepared for some serious defense, and a possible non-fight. This is two events in a row in which the most disenchanting match included a Gracie Academy fighter.

All in all, Metamoris is a revelation that needs to quickly continue to evolve. The addition of Royler Gracie vs Eddie Bravo to the next event will ensure record sales and attendance. It is up to the event to deliver what the fans want to see.
Osss