A discussion on the Joe Rogan Experience about Royce Gracie competing in the early UFC and the role the gi played in introducing jiu-jitsu to the world led to Dustin Poirier recounting his own history with the gi. During the conversation, he talked about a full run of IBJJF competition from white belt through brown belt.
“From white belt to brown belt, I competed IBJJF every tournament,” Poirier said. “I would do my weight class, would do absolute, get the reps. I love jiu-jitsu, but like probably around 2011, 2012, I stopped putting the gi on.”
He continued: “It was all in mixed martial arts training. Before, I would use jiu-jitsu to prepare for matches at a small school I was at. But when I went to American Top Team, I didn’t need it anymore because I had such high level guys on the mats at all times. I was doing jiu-jitsu no gi every day. But it’s been so many years since I’ve put on a gi and had like a jiu-jitsu practice, man. And even the practices I do now are all no gi. It’s fun. I want to get back into gi.”
Rogan brought up Eddie Bravo’s longstanding position on the subject, comparing gi training for MMA to a professional tennis player preparing by playing racquetball.
Poirier agreed with the core idea while still giving the gi its due. “Gi definitely helps as well, but you got to do no gi,” he said.
Rogan replied: “What gi does is it teaches you that you have to be technical with your defense because you can’t muscle out of things.”
Rogan noted that technical defense should simply be the standard in no-gi as well. The conversation then moved to who the best teachers of jiu-jitsu are.
“I always say that the best jiu-jitsu is to learn jiu-jitsu from a small guy,” Rogan said. “Like a Baret Yoshida, Royler Gracie, Eddie Bravo. Learn jiu-jitsu from small people. Because they’re all technique. They can’t muscle out of things. You learn Brazilian jiu-jitsu from some big giant guy, their game is going to be so different because they’re so strong.”
Rogan also pointed to Dagestani contenders as the clearest example of where no-gi jiu-jitsu currently stands.
He stated: “Look at the Makachevs and Khabibs. That’s the game of no gi. Their no gi game is finely polished. Their game wouldn’t be better. Like Khabib’s game wouldn’t have been better on top.”
Poirier agreed, saying: “You never see these guys on their back in guard. It’s a different speed. It’s jiu-jitsu, but it’s a different game.”
He continued: “Small changes on the locks, like we were saying with the D’Arce choke, grabbing your forearm. They do things a little bit different, man. Even their wrestling is different. It’s not collegiate fundamental wrestling that you would teach at a wrestling camp. It’s just chain wrestling that they kind of developed and have their own style.”
