The Difference Between 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

The biggest difference between 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu and BJJ is that they do not wear the gi in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu. The 10th planted system created by Eddie Bravo was originally focused on jiu-jitsu for MMA. Since you do not wear a gi in MMA it did not make sense to him to train in the gi. 

Today training exclusively no-gi is common amongst Jiu Jitsu gyms today. However, this was not always the case. When Eddie Bravo removed the gi and opened 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu it rubbed many BJJ practitioners the wrong way.

However, as you can now see, no-gi jiu-jitsu is not only here to stay, but it is also one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. We can thank Eddie Bravo and 10th Planet in part for spearheading no-gi jiu jitsu to what it is today.

BJJ Before 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu

Of course, I should note that 10th Planet was not the first place where people practiced jiu-jitsu without the Gi. It was however the first jiu-jitsu gym to completely remove the Gi.

It was common for even the Gracies to train without the Gi before 10th Planet. So I am by no means implying that 10th Planet invented No-Gi Jiu Jitsu.

In fact, Eddie Bravo became popular in part by defeating Royler Gracie in a no-gi ADCC submission grappling match before starting 10th Planet.

But to open a gym that did not use the Gi was not only unheard of, but It even upset many people who felt it was disrespectful to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Thankfully, the dust has mostly settled from those days and many gyms now train exclusively no-gi.

Of course, there are many other differences this is certainly the biggest difference. Later in the post, we will review some of the other differences between 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu and BJJ.

But first, let’s look at the reasons Eddie Bravo decided to drop the gi altogether. Check out this video of Eddie explaining why he does not use the GI.

Why 10th Planet Dropped The Traditional BJJ Gi

The original reason Eddie Bravo chose to drop the gi is that he wanted to focus on jiu-jitsu for MMA. Since you do not wear a gi in MMA he chose to adapt his jiu-jitsu to a more clinch-based art. In many ways, it is similar to the differences between judo and Greco-Roman wrestling.

Both judo and Greco Roman wrestling have a heavy focus on throws and takedowns, however, one does not use a gi, and the other is heavily focused on the gi.

In the same way, BJJ focuses heavily on the gi whereas 10th Planet does not use a gi at all. Of course, as mentioned earlier there are now plenty of jiu-jitsu gyms that are 100 percent no-gi but still are not part of the 10th planet system

BJJ Culture Vs 1oth Planet Jiu-Jitsu Culture

Though it may be exaggerated by some people, my experience was that 10th Planet does have a different culture than most BJJ schools. The most common stereotype for people who go to 10th planet is that there are stoners and conspiracy theorists.

If I am being 100 percent honest from my experience at 10th Planet I would say that there is certainly some truth behind this. Of course, I only went to one school but it seems to be part of the culture.

That said, I am not saying this is a bad thing or a good thing. Or that everyone who trains at 10th planet is the same. I’m simply saying it is at least a part of their culture.

If you know anything about Eddie Bravo these things probably do not surprise you. Whether you like it or hate it Eddie is very open about his thoughts and opinions. Many people would say that many of his thoughts are conspiracy theories. So it is not surprising that many of his students might think similarly.

Of course, as I said this is not a requirement to get along at 1oth Planet. I never felt that I needed to think in a certain way to get along with people in the class.  All in all, they have a welcoming and relaxed culture along with some solid jiu-jitsu.

Traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Culture

BJJ on the other hand can be much more traditional. Of course, every school is different from the other but many schools are this way. At many BJJ schools, it is common etiquette to bow to your professor before class to give respect. 

There might also be more emphasis on the lineage of your teacher. Or it might not be considered respectful to ask a higher belt to roll. Again not every gym is the same.

Today I train at Fight Factory Jiu Jitsu which focuses on both Gi and No-Gi Jiu Jitsu. Our motto is No Ego, No Drama, Just Jiu Jitsu. So I go to a very relaxed and friendly BJJ that loves to train both in and out of the Gi.

Another potential difference is that some but not all BJJ schools have a bigger focus on self-defense. This is certainly true for many of the schools run by the Gracies.

Since no-gi grappling is becoming so popular as a sport it is more common today for schools like 10th Planet to focus less on self-defense.

Many Gracie Jiu-Jitsu gyms on the other hand would consider self-defense to be the foundation of their martial art.

10th Planet Techniques Vs BJJ Techniques

10th Planet is a form of jiu-jitsu. After all, Eddie Bravo was a student of the famous Jean Jacques Machado. So to some degree, a lot of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu is simply what you would see in any BJJ gym.

However, there are a large number of techniques that have been popularized by 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu that you did not find at other BJJ gyms. Of course, today people who do not train at 10th Planet gyms have adopted many of these techniques into their arsenal.

That said, 10th Planet has truly created its unique system of jiu-jitsu. Whether it is a better system that you will find at other gyms is hard to say. However, one thing I can say is there are certainly some things any grappler can learn from the 10th Planet system.

Notable Techniques 10th Planet Is Known For Include:

• The Rubber Guard
• The Truck
• The Lockdown
• The Twister

10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Vs BJJ: Which One Is Right For You?

Obviously, this is a matter of opinion and preference. 1oth Planet is a good place to learn no-gi jiu-jitsu but there are many other great schools as well.

I prefer no-gi over gi jiu-jitsu. However, I still love traditional BJJ as well. This is the main reason I switched to an academy that taught both gi and no-gi.

At the end of the day, there are benefits to training both in the gi and without the gi. That said if your only goal is to compete in MMA it might make more sense for you to only focus on no-gi.

After all, you have plenty of other skills outside of jiu-jitsu to develop. If this is you then learning collar chokes might not be the best use of your time. But again, today there are plenty

In Conclusion

There are many differences between BJJ and 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu. The main difference is simply that 10th Planet is completely focused on jiu-jitsu without the gi. In addition, they have a different culture and techniques than other schools

If you want to focus on no-gi jiu-jitsu then 10th Planet is a solid option. But if you are like me and want to learn both gi and no-gi, then, of course, you will need to find a school that teaches both.