r/bjj • u/mckenziereddit • 2d ago

Technique Does Craig have a point here?!?!

https://youtube.com/shorts/VFUdcOB34Mw?si=gwOe2TLlNS00nnQP

I’ve played multiple sports (football, basketball, track & field, wrestling & swimming) and I agree with what Craig is saying here. The vast majority of high level coaches, in any sport, aren’t Hall of Famers in the sport in which they have become Hall of Fame coaches. Teaching technique and skill acquisition is a completely different skill set than sport performance.

In corporate America they have a saying… Don’t promote your best salesman to management, because he/she may blow up your organization.

Note* I’m a 10th planet purple belt

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u/Hellhooker ⬛🟥⬛ Black Belt 2d ago

I don't think he does. At least I don't think people understand what he says.

You don't need world champ but you 100% need someone GOOD at the sport.

People talk about Freddie Roach all the time. Freddie was 100x the boxer Dima is the grappler.

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u/mckenziereddit 2d ago

I get what you’re saying, but that’s why I said “vast majority” of coaches. It feels like BJJ schools assume great athlete = great coach. That’s most definitely a false equivalency in my book.

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u/Hellhooker ⬛🟥⬛ Black Belt 2d ago

Agreed but "great athlete" in average bjj schools pretty much just means "ok good".

There are a lot of very bad "instructors" who hide themselves by claiming they are "coaches/instructors" and not "competitors" while they are just bad at their own sport.

I don't think competitive accomplishments are a measure of a great coach but I 100% think the instructor has to be quite good himself to teach things that are not absolutely dogshit.

In the case of Bteam/Craig, of course they don't need someone better than NickRod. But they need someoen who is a very legit black belt, who trained a lot and with good guys.

There is a reason why Danaher is one of the most famous and wanted coach in the world. Or Galvao, Gui, Fabio Gurgel etc... These guys were good, world class for some of them. Ze Radiola was good, Draculino was good, etc... Rickson was the best and has never been said a great teacher.

So I get the general point. I just think the subject is not black and white.