John Strickland is a catch wrestler who runs a blog online about martial arts, mainly focusing on catch wrestling, seeing as that’s the one he’s most proficient/has the most experience in.
Here’s what Strickland he had to say about BJJ, his thoughts on the martial art,
1. Nobody seems to know what actual Catch Wrestling is. They seem to think it’s amateur wrestling mixed with other arts. Basically creating a self made system and applying a name that’s not appropriate. (Where there’s a student there was a teacher and you can follow that evidence rather easily. Personally I don’t care who that upsets. This alone killed the comeback before it could even start.)
2. Legit catch practitioners lack an association of checks and balances. (You don’t claim a Blackbelt of any rank in JJ if it’s not true. Those who have are normally called out.)
3. There’s enough legit coaches in the world for this art to spread correctly but many start coaching way too soon and don’t even fully known the system in a competitive sense yet much less of making someone else legit.
4. Without structure there’s random chaos.
5. Having clubs and affiliates is a good thing as long as the top has a minimum of ten years training.
6. Basically as above , Catch is assumed to be ( anyone can be whoever they wish) system and thus allowing anyone to teach coach etc. It’s been a way for frauds to easily enter and idiots to follow. I was an idiot but with factual evidence found legit coaching.
7. There were far too few old timers ( experts) left when the style regained popularity. Those handful of people can’t replace thousands of Blackbelt like in JJ.
8. JJ got the early start with the Vale Tudo.
9. Ive seen some today claim Hulk Hogan as a catch guy. I’m serious and that’s sad. It’s like saying you took a class in biology and are now a doctor.
10. The early figures in the modern era turned out to be fakes and liars. Just call it submission grappling and that’s fine but their lying gave the style a very bad image. In fact I’m skeptical on most claims today. Legit coaches will produce legit players who should fairly easily walk through the scammers.
And if this hurts feelings I don’t care.
Jon Strickland
Here’s another catch wrestler, from Great Britain, who shares his thoughts of BJJ after training a bit.