DoQ1

This is long overdue and biased.

I went to a video store in the early ninties and seen a tape (yes a tape) called UFC. I rented it and was engulfed. Some little 135-140 lb foreign pencil-necked geek (like me except the foreign part) was kicking the **** out of guys anywhere up to 2 times his size in NHB matches. At the time I played basketball and wrestled in high school. I wasn't a very good wrestler but I did it because I loved the 1 on 1 competition. I found a guy that taught Jiu-Jitsu in his basement. His name was Juan Bastillo he never wore a colored belt and never really told me much about his life except he left Brazil in 1995 to live with his christian missionary wife. He was all of 125 lbs and maybe 5'7" tall. I went to his house 4 times a week and loved every session. I joined the U.S. Army in 1999 and arrived in Germany in Feb. of 2000 my second platoon leader was 2nd LT Root, a college wrestler and 5 year veteran of BJJ. We rolled a few times a week for about 2 years. I got promoted to SGT (which lead to a change of units so I could run my own team) in 2002 and went to IRAQ in Feb. of 03. I participated in gloved "fights" in the desert with fellow soldiers from the U.S., Aus, Ger, and the UK, as well as one mean Canadian (thank you to all the guys who banded together and passed the time while helping me cope). We used the four tattered boxing cloves we had and took off our boots. No kicking to the head and grappling was allowed. I was fairly good and had a 5-2 record. Those 182 days in Iraq were passed all the more quickly b/c I had something to do (other than stay alive and keep my team alive).

So all that said, Thank you Royce for showing me the true meaning of Martial arts and the fact that technique when used properly overcomes strength. Since then I have watched countless MMA competitions and PPV's (primarily Pride and UFC). Long live MMA and Long live Martial arts no matter the discipline.

No need to bash or burn, just move on if you are going to be negative.

T-Bone

yeah, no Marc Laimon crap here!

DoQ1

Exactly.

TY Bone

basslogic4003

I'll drink to that

Seeing Royce dominating people twice his size has helped my confidence on the mat incalculably.

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www.serrajitsu.com

"I have always said that if you need steroids to compete you are not a fighter. Fighting is all about heart, technique and capitalizing upon your opponents mistakes. It is not about putting something into your body and walking around with big muscles saying look at me. In my book if you are on steroids you are a loser."

Bas Rutten

MTKrav911

I agree and overall a good thread. However please put into context that at the time Royce was dominating what was then the "Average" Martial Arts expert.

Yes he defeated men twice his size and strength with some good BJJ. But that was vs good to above average TMA practioners. NOt necessarily fighters.

Today you have Athlete fighters. Men who train 24/7 full time in every aspect of fighting all the time. It would be virtually impossible for the same type of thing to happen again with the athletic level from all areas of fighting professionally in MMA today.

Vs the average man, anybody with solid technique and conditioning plus the psychological mindset could defeat someone bigger and stronger.

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"I may not break your spirit, but I sure as hell can break your back! Last Stop MeatbalL!" - Thunderlips (Rocky III)

GSPALLTHEWAY

royce really showed what fighting is about... not just the biggest or strongest will win.. and i like that!

the steroid thing bothers me a ton though... although watching him dominate the old UFCs are fun

DoQ1

Well to be fair Wilt Chamberlain and Jabar were playing lesser athletes when they played but are still two of the greatest. You can only compete with who is there.

BCguy

I to got into MMA because of Royce. A friend told me he had got a hold of a video where this thin brazillian guy was beating guys twice his size (UFC 1 and 2). I watched them both like 30 times in a week and was hooked.

Although i still wonder what would of happened if Kimo didn't have that damned ponytail.

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This sig is a perpetual testament to the greatness of Ryduce. Like so many misguided souls before me, I dared to soar to his heights and like Icarus failed before such brilliance. Before any even think of betting against him, please heed this warning. Also, I want Brock's chest against mine and for him to ride me like Herring.

Crashsti

Royce certainly is one reason for the UFC's popularity early on. However i never looked on him as an someone i wanted to be like. For one reason or another i have never taken a liking to BJJ. i appreciate the skill and commitment required to reach high rank within the art but have no desire to train it. I took more of a liking to Kimo in his fight with Royce. There is something to be said for overpowering the art that is supposed to be able to deal with an opponent of any size and strength. I feel it was that fight that exposed many of the early weaknesses of BJJ.

DoQ1

No doubt but he (KIMO) did not win. After you overpower the opponent then what? Every technique has its downsides, but remember the premise of the UFC back then "Which style/guy would win? Boxer? no Wrestler? no Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu YES

lwbfl

I got into BJJ as an extension of my high school wrestling and natural fighting style. I'm only 5' 3" so I always fought bigger guys and learned early to get them on the ground and keep it there. BJJ taught me more control techniques and finishing moves. It has helped me many times in my Law Enforcement Career.

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DoQ1

I agree, as I stated I wrestled some in HS. The BJJ let me make up for my lack of mass/strength. Learning technique to substitute was extremely valuable.

Crashsti

Yes, BJJ has gone on to be a cornerstone of MMA. I don't doubt that at all. As i said, i appreciate the art. No MMA practitioner is complete without an understanding of it, even if its only from a defensive standpoint.

DoQ1

Ok, misunderstood you then I thought you were saying the reason Kimo had any success was because Royce was strictly BJJ. I see BJJ/JJ as a great basic foundation, like in a house you can add many features but if it cracks you eventually lose your house. See CC if he had actually trained in no gi caged BJJ before his GG fight we would be talking about CC versus Randy the new superbowl of MMA. agree??

marnold

Good thread. In part this forum exists due to Royce. I imagine he has inspired an infinite number of people. Meaning he inspires the man who has a child and tells the child who tell his child etc.

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Crashsti

i'm not about to go this far. CroCop had actually spent considerable time with Fabricio Werdum training BJJ while in Pride. He needed it when his takedown defense failed him. Gonzaga on the other hand just mauled CroCop in that fight. There is very little you can do when a 240+ lb fighter is in your guard dropping elbows on your face. Also, BJJ does'nt teach you how to not get hit with a high kick to the side of the head. Mirko lost in the one fighting range where he is supposed to be the best.

Grrr

The Kimo fight has always bothered me. What if Kimo had shaved off that ridiculous top-knot or if they simply had a no hair pulling rule? Royce would have been finished.

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Battered but not beaten

DoQ1

What if they took out the armbar and said you can't punch?


Moot point

DoQ1

Well in theory an active guard for a 225 lb man would have not only avoided the BOWS but also the fight would not have been stood up so quickly. Lets not forget the stand-up was to SAVE CC from GG. So that stand-up would have never happened if CC kept his hips alive and rotated away from the cage and controlled at least one arm............... and the list goes on.

YES BJJ would have helped him a ton.

Grrr

Not really, Kimo was well in control of the fight was trying to get to create distance between himself and Gracie. Gracie grabbed the topknot and held on to it for all he was worth for over 5 min it seemed. He had nothing else to go on until Kimo got frustrated and made a mistake. Had he shaved off that topknot prerfight, he would have GnP'ed Gracie into a pulp.
Even so, Kimo wore out Gracie so bad that he feigned injury and failed to answer the call for the next fight.

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Battered but not beaten