10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu is a relatively new school in comparison to other BJJ brands that have been around since the late 80’s and early 90’s. The school was created by Eddie Bravo who is a Jean Jacques Machado black belt. Bravo is famous for innovating and changing various no gi positions and techniques. Perhaps his most widely used and famous position is the rubber guard. The rubber guard position is a staple of 10th planet jiu-jitsu and is also commonly used in MMA. More information on Bravo’s system can be found in his book, Mastering Jiu Jitsu.
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Does 10th Planet do gi?
10th planet gyms do not train in the kimono at all. This is one of their unique selling points and what separates them from other brands. All of their classes are no-gi.
How is 10th Planet jiu jitsu different to normal bjj?
Following on from the last question, the first difference is outlined above, they only train no-gi. Not only this but their culture is somewhat different from a normal BJJ gym and you will find a lot of zany personalities and characters in a 10p gym. The brand specializes in flexible hip and knee movements to perform positions such as rubber guard and the electric chair. Eddie Bravo has given almost every position a name, so you will often hear things referred to by these phrases that an outsider would not understand.
In short, it is just a very fast paced modern, leg lock specialized, no-gi gym. However, this differs from gym to gym.
Is 10th Planet a franchise?
Yes, 10th planet is a franchise in the same way that Gracie Barra or KFC is a franchise. All of the schools will have an individual style but be based on a set way of teaching and learning. 10th planet warmups for example are quite different from most other gyms, as are their interpretation of positions such as the lockdown and the truck.
Is 10th Planet jiu jitsu effective?
Yes, whilst it is not the best competition gym in the world, it is still relatively young and has produced a decent number of professional grapplers such as Geo Martinez & Nathan Orchard. They have not won anything at the very top level but are still excellent and well-respected grapplers. The 10th planet style might not be for everyone but those who train there really love it.
10th Planet is not the most effective style as it is quite one-dimensional in the way in which it approaches BJJ. With that being said it is obviously effective, otherwise, it wouldn’t produce successful athletes.
If you really want to delve into the 10th Planet system, then this DVD is a good place to start. It features some of the best 10th Planet athletes and shows the most common moves that they use.
How much does 10th Planet cost?
Much like other franchises, this will vary from location to location. As of now, I’ve seen prices anywhere between $120 and $200. It is certainly not the cheapest school around but you won’t really find another gym like it. The way in which it is structured is somewhat unique to jiu-jitsu so you could argue that paying a bit extra for this is a reasonable price to pay.
Why is it called 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu?
As Eddie Bravo is obsessed with conspiracy theories, he decided to name his school after one. According to some, there is a mystical 12th planet in the solar system. This is named Nibiru and supposedly explains how humans came to be. In a nod to this idea, Bravo decided to name his gym 10th Planet to pay homage.
Does 10th Planet give belts?
Yes, 10th Planet will give belts at promotions (although they will not be worn because it is a no-gi gym). So the belt will be given, but it is more symbolic than anything else. There are ranked rashguards that are available so you can see what rank someone is without wearing a belt. 10th Planet has the same belt system as other normal BJJ gyms. Famous comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan earnt his 10th planet black belt from Eddie Bravo in 2012.
Is 10th planet legit?
Yes, Eddie Bravo is a black belt under Jean Jaques Machado who is a highly respected teacher and competitor. Eddie Bravo also gained fame from beating Royler Gracie at ADCC, with Royler being regarded as one of the greatest of all time at this weight category.
With the gym system being a franchise, Bravo has to protect his brand. He would not allow 10th Planet schools to operate if the instructors and teachings were not legitimate, otherwise the brand would disappear.
10th planet for MMA
10th Planet has strong applications for MMA. Whilst it is not for all MMA fighters, many will use rubber guard to stop strikes to the head, lockdown to recover a smashed half guard and many other positions. There are various other attacking and defensive options as BJJ has many positions to master.
If you are a flexible fighter who is athletic, has an aggressive guard and are a not a heavyweight, 10th planet is probably going to appeal to your style of fighting. If we think of other fighters who rely on pressure and power, 10th planet will be less useful to this style.
Well known UFC fighter and former champion Tony Ferguson is a well known 10th Planet black belt under Eddie Bravo.
