Amanda Bruse on the benefits of cross training

The practice of cross-training, or exposure to different martial arts or gyms, is a fascinating topic with roots that stretch back to the very origins of modern grappling, even before the specific emergence of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. While the *HoG Drama Desk* raises valid points about the potential for overstatement regarding its universal applicability, the historical record suggests that a degree of cross-pollination, sometimes intentional and sometimes accidental, has been a recurring theme in the evolution of grappling styles.

Consider the journey of Mitsuyo Maeda, who, after training extensively in Kodokan Judo under Jigoro Kano himself, embarked on a global tour that would eventually lead him to Brazil in 1917. Maeda, known as "Count Koma," was not merely demonstrating Kano's Judo in a static form; he was actively engaging with and adapting to various fighting styles encountered during his travels, including catch wrestling and other forms of European grappling. This continuous practical application against diverse opponents, outside the specific pedagogical environment of the Kodokan, refined his understanding and technique. It was this fluid, experience-driven approach, rather than a rigid adherence to a singular methodology, that Maeda brought to figures like Carlos Gracie, influencing the nascent development of what would become BJJ.

Even within the Gracie lineage, particularly in its earlier decades, there was a dynamic exchange of ideas and techniques, often driven by challenge matches against practitioners of other martial arts. While these were not "cross-training" in the modern sense of a student deliberately visiting another gym, they served a similar function: forcing the adaptation and evolution of techniques against varied resistances and rule sets. The Gracie Academy, for example, famously welcomed practitioners from different backgrounds to test their skills, thereby indirectly absorbing elements or at least testing the robustness of their own system against external influences.

The current discussion, framed by Amanda Bruse's insights, often centers on individual growth and exposure to different instructors' interpretations of BJJ. However, the historical narrative of grappling's development, from Maeda's world tour to the challenges faced by the early Gracie fighters, indicates that engagement with different approaches—whether through formal training, competitive encounters, or casual exchanges—has been a powerful engine for innovation and refinement. While excessive "gym hopping" might indeed lack focus, as some argue, a principled openness to external input appears to be an intrinsic part of grappling's historical dynamism.

Could it be argued that the very concept of "Jiu-Jitsu" as a continually evolving art, rather than a fixed system, implicitly relies on this historical pattern of cross-pollination and adaptation, even if it manifests differently today?

I think it really depends on the individual and their home gym. My coach at Austin Grappling Collective is pretty open to us dropping in at other spots, especially when we travel. He just asks us to represent the gym well. I went to a seminar last year in Dallas with a black belt from a different affiliation, and it was cool to see a slightly different take on spider guard grips that we don't drill as often.

I get what HoG Drama Desk is saying about it being overstated. If someone is only training once a week, maybe consistency at their home gym is more important than bouncing around. But if you're training 3-4 times a week, a single drop-in somewhere else can be a nice change of pace without disrupting your core training too much.

The idea of cross-training between BJJ gyms makes a lot of sense, especially compared to trying to fit a judo background into BJJ. I earned my shodan in 2004, so I had years of mat time before I ever started BJJ at 35. That experience helps with some concepts, like kuzushi and tsukuri, when I see a BJJ player off-balancing for a sweep. Sometimes a sankaku in judo looks just like a triangle setup. But the specific techniques and especially the positional hierarchy are so different. My old judo sensei would have lost his mind if we spent more than five seconds on the ground. When I first tried to apply a kosoto gari in BJJ, I ended up in half guard almost instantly. So while Marcus mentions traveling and visiting other BJJ spots, the transfer from something like judo is a much steeper curve than people realize.

Cross-training for comp prep is a whole other beast that Amanda's article kinda glosses over. It's great if you can drop into different high-level rooms, but that costs serious money when you factor in travel, drop-in fees, and just the time off work. My gym did a comp prep camp last year for Europeans, and it was $300 for the week just for the instruction. That doesn't count the flight to Paris, the hotel, or the IBJJF registration fee which was another $140. For a teacher like me, that's almost impossible to swing unless I want to eat ramen for six months. Marcus is right about local drop-ins when you travel, but those are usually one-offs, not consistent cross-training that actually levels you up for a gold medal. The financial gatekeeping in BJJ is real when you're trying to reach the top tier.

It's not just about "representing the gym well" like Marcus said, it's about seeing different approaches to the same problems. Especially when you're mostly training for EBI or a similar sub-only format. The IBJJF points system can really narrow people's focus.

Dropping into a gym that's more focused on leg locks, for example, really opens up your game. You might learn a different entry into a saddle from someone you've never rolled with before, and that's huge. You won't get that staying in your comfort zone. I learned a ton just doing a few sessions at 10th Planet in San Diego back in 2018.