Extending BJJ With No Tap Outs: The End of Conflict and Competition

Tapping is a fact of life in Jiu Jitsu. You will tap. You have to tap to learn. You will tap to someone better or quicker or more clever than you right up until the day you hang up your coral belt. You’ll tap to folks that you consider less talented than you. Eventually you’ll even give up a tap to the noobs here and there to help them learn. There’s no shame in tapping. Never. I can’t say this enough and any more firmly; There is no shame in tapping!~https://torontonogi.wordpress.com/2015/02/02/lessons-ive-learned-studying-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-lesson-3-ego-isnt-your-bro-theres-no-shame-on-tapping/

When I discuss the principles and effects behind Brazilian Ju Jitsu with no Tap Outs with other MMA or BJJ practitioners the general sentiment is usually some form of disapproval. The consensus of the practitioners of the sports is that competition between peers (and eventually other dojos) is what fosters learning and creates better and more practical fighters.

I think in many ways, especially “practically”, this is true. I would at least admit I present my perspective without trying to argue that students that train without tap outs would win more UFC fights or BJJ style tournaments.

What I DO argue is that winning competitions or even winning street fights is not the optimal goal we as individuals or society could be setting for ourselves.

Furthermore, we need to remember that while possibly being useful or effective in attaining certain goals, training with a tap out/competitive style vigor is the means to the end-not the end itself.

What the possibility of training with the the method/system I describe does is bring into the discussion a possible approach to problem solving or living in which conflict is not seen as the primary mechanism for achieving mastery or success.

I am arguing then that conflict, and our belief in its superiority, is a mistaken conclusion mostly born out of the observation that it “works”.

The issue I take with this is that we haven't shown that it is optimal.

This mistake maybe be a bi-product of our training methods as much as the cause.

The basic point here is that the question of whether the approach I describe will help one win more competitions or street fights is in itself a wrong question. And this wrong question or perspective can be alleviated by training different, in the way I describe.