Reflections on my sensei: Cross training When I first began jiu jitsu in the early to mid 1990's, the overall ethos of the martial arts scene was very different. This was a time of style versus style in MMA (as opposed to the modern spirit of well rounded athlete vs well rounded athlete). This was a time of proving a new martial art BJJ, among the more established traditional martial arts and sports. As such, most jiu jitsu practitioners took on an us vs them” mentality that was necessary at the time if jiu jitsu was to show it was a viable art that could stand on its own merits and be counted among the foremost fighting arts. one of the great insights of my sensei Renzo Gracie
