Simon 🟪⬛️🟪

Okay, I'll bite: Simon is clearly making a play for the Musumeci division, and frankly, I'm more interested in seeing how his unique blend of speed and technical precision holds up against guys like Richard Alarcon than a rematch with anyone he's already faced.

With all due respect to the Drama Desk's interest in Simon's potential opponents, I find myself thinking about the broader context of technical precision in the modern sport, especially as it relates to the evolution of the jiu-jitsu competitive landscape. The focused study on specific, high-percentage techniques, often seen in the current meta, contrasts quite starkly with the more open, exploratory nature of grappling that characterized the early ADCC events in the late 1990s.

It makes one wonder if this drive towards specialized precision, while undoubtedly effective, might ultimately limit the broader spectrum of grappling innovation that we've seen at various points in the sport's history. Is the current competitive environment, driven by the increasing professionalization and analytical breakdown of every position, leading us towards a more refined but perhaps narrower expression of jiu-jitsu?

Drama Desk is right that Simon's game is precise, but it's a specific kind of precision that comes from being able to afford high-level camps and consistent pro training partners. That's the part a lot of people miss. My last IBJJF entry for Dallas Open was $140, plus gas and the hotel. That kind of budget shapes the precision you can develop.

He's moving well but it's all very "competition BJJ." Not much there for my guard retention when I roll with a new white belt who outweighs me by 60 lbs.

Tom brings up a point I think about often. Watching someone like Simon, it’s clear the precision comes from hours on the mat, but it’s a body that allows for that kind of movement. For those of us who started later, or are training with injuries, the "competition BJJ" style often isn't sustainable long-term.

When I started at 47, I learned quickly that replicating exactly what I saw the younger, uninjured competitors do wasn't an option. My coach, Rick, worked with me on modifying things like inverted guards or deep half guard entries to protect my knees. It's about adapting the technique to your body, not forcing your body into a technique designed for someone else's physical reality. That's a different kind of precision.

Eddie's right about the cost; high-level camps aren't exactly budget-friendly when you have a mortgage and two kids.