Athlete transition for No-Gi to Gi focus…
I’ve seen lots of content over the years of tips being given to an athlete going from Gi to No-Gi, but not much on the mindset and tactics to switch to more Gi focus… I’m not talking about a wrestler that is trying Jiu-Jitsu now. I’m referring more to athletes that have had a pretty good No-Gi run and now want to play more “traditional”. I know it’s less common but it still exist. Can you guys think of any examples of No-Gi monsters that later on went on a tear in the Gi? Not many right?
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I personally can't think of any no-gi purists transitioning from no-gi to gi at all, to be honest. If they had, not well.
Many of the people who do go from no-gi and possibly transition back to the gi already had some sort of gi background, either earlier in their grappling or for a good portion of their grappling, and they ended up coming back to the gi.
For example, if we take someone like Craig Jones, who now is considered primarily a no-gi guy, he has extensive gi experience. He could jump in some gi competitions, most likely, and beat some decent people, because I'm sure he can still use much of what he's learned, and it hasn't gone anywhere.
But I don't really recall anybody, for example, from 10th Planet who decided to jump into the gi and then do well, or anybody who started basically no-gi from zero, training no-gi and competing in no-gi for a long time, and then transitioning to the gi.
Even if you take someone like Garry Tonon, if he decided to start training in the gi, I think he would do well because a very large portion of his beginning was in the gi. I remember Garry competing a lot around the same time that I competed a lot, and from what I recall, it was purely in the gi.
@Jason_Scully I agree that’s along the lines of what I’ve been thinking. The only semi example I can think of as far as a modern grappler switching from No-Gi dominance in any shape way or form to heavy Gi focus is arguably Demetrius Johnson. I guess what I’m getting at is that we all(I believe anyways) have either been inspired by or aspire to be like a certain example or examples of how something is done. My personal journey has taken me through heavier No Gi focus with time in the Gi only being around in certain seasons and moments(long story), so now I have opportunity to roll more in the Gi and often feel like I’m rolling in the mud due to pacing lol. I appreciate all grappling and I am down to shift mindset and strategies a little to accommodate the “different way” to play the game. I’m just hoping to find examples of guys that can be studied and emulated to see how they adapted. I think it would be interesting to see that process and growth in an athlete.