Eddie Bravo, the legendary founder of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu and pioneer of no-gi grappling, recently revealed that he’s contemplating a return to gi training to help manage his mounting injuries and extend his time on the mats. During an appearance on The Grapplers Perspective Podcast Podcast, the 55-year-old innovator opened up about his physical struggles and the difficult reality of aging in a sport that demands so much from the body.
“I’m teaching more than ever, but you know, I got some nagging injuries, man. I’m 55 years old,”
Bravo explained candidly.
“I’m almost done rolling. I’m, you know, sorry to say, but I’m trying to rehab my shoulder. I reinjured my shoulder again. I had back surgery like seven years ago, and it’s like they’re telling me I need another back surgery. So, I’m a mess.”
The admission comes as a significant revelation from someone who has spent over two decades championing no-gi BJJ. Bravo’s 10th Planet system revolutionized grappling by focusing entirely on techniques without the traditional gi developing innovative positions like the rubber guard, lockdown, and electric chair that have become staples in modern BJJ.
When the podcast hosts suggested he consider returning to the gi to slow down the pace and reduce injury risk, Bravo’s response was surprisingly thoughtful.
“You know what? Maybe that might be the thing. I get I go back to the gi,”
he said.
“I thought about it and you guys bringing it up is making me think about it again. I might have to do that. I’ll just go back to Jean Jacques, you know, he’s really close to me. So, you know, he’s like 10 minutes away, so I might just maybe maybe I will. Maybe I’ll just rededicate myself to the gi. That might be the only way I can get rolling in and stay injury-free.”
The irony isn’t lost on anyone familiar with Bravo’s journey. He originally moved away from gi training because he found it too slow-paced preferring the faster more dynamic nature of no-gi BJJ that better translated to mixed martial arts.
“I just didn’t like the whole yanking and pulling and playing tug-of-war with the gi. I liked nogi better right from the start,”
he reflected on his early training days.
Bravo’s potential return to the gi represents more than just a training adjustment—it’s a pragmatic acknowledgment of the aging process in combat sports. Despite maintaining his fitness through daily yoga and weight training, the accumulated wear and tear from decades of high-level BJJ has taken its toll.
“My body could barely handle it. So, I want to roll so bad. It sucks,”
he admitted.
