Ok peeps... I've got a chance to do a lengthy in person interview with a world class Brazilian BJJ black belt competitor. I'm looking for a wide range of questions to ask him... is there anything that you've always wanted to ask a top BJJ competitor? Post them up... and I'll try to work them into the interview. When the interview is done I'm hoping to post it up with photos and all here at MAP. cheers, Slip
Where do you see BJJ in 100 years time? If you had to choose an additional art to complement BJJ what would it be and why? Do you fear the popularity of BJJ will ever send it down the McDojo path (even if only a few dojo)? What, if any, outside perceptions of BJJ do you take issue with?
How do you think BJJ training can broaden its appeal to the public? When have you made the biggest breakthroughs in your training? What is your favourite conditioning exercise? Do you drink alcohol? Have you ever trained in yoga or gynastica natural? How important do you think flexibility is in BJJ? How much flexibility work do you do? What part of training do you think you benefit most from, e.g. drilling, rolling, targeted rolling, conditioning... Do you think that you owe your success to having really long legs?
I'd like to hear form a smaller competitor... how big is this guy? The reaosn I ask is because we hear a lot about how "size isn't as big of an issue in grappling", and I'd like to hear more about it from a world-class competitor! I'd even take an answer form a bigger guy with lots of years in. I also want to hear how, if your subject knows, the original inner circle of BJJ feels about the current popularity of BJJ both as sport and self-defense.
1) Do you feel that BJJ is The Greatest Martial Art in the World TM? 2) What are your opinions on takedowns in BJJ and do you feel that this is an area that potentially needs more work in the average class? 3) Gi or no-Gi? 4) What has helped you get to the level you are at in the sport? 5) Will BJJ change and evolve over time (As it already has to some extent)
A variation of one of Slindsays: Is Gi training important for MMA? As a coach, how do you overcome the ego that many 'big men' have? It's the final of the world absolute, your 4 pts up with 5 seconds to go, your opponent catches you in an armbar. Tap or snap?
And related to that -- does BJJ favor a certain body type? If one guy is long and lean, and the other guy of a shorter, stockier build, does one of them have a physical advantage? In a word, how much truth is there is "size does not matter" ?
With so many different instructors and associations out there, we end up with different approaches to training - what has worked best for you from a student's perspective and also a teacher's perspective? (ie is it better to focus on one position and all the possibilities for submission or is it better to focus on a series of moves, etc) When you compete, how do you break down your opponent's weaknesses and strengths - what do you look for and do you set up a game plan specific to each person or do you follow your own preset strategy and go off his responses?
2 questions i would ask the following for his examples: #1 the 6 best ways he could quickly get out of a rear naked choke #2 in his opinion, gi or no gi, or practice both.
This could be interesting. I'd like to compare his answer's to my new instructor for certain questions.
