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My interview with the first American Black Belt, Craig Kukuk
3 year(s) ago • 13263 views • 58 replies
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Guys, I just published my article on Craig Kukuk. I tracked him down, interviewed him and then wrote the article. I hope you enjoy.
Josh
https://simonbjj.com/craig-kukuk
Josh
https://simonbjj.com/craig-kukuk
SZBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Thanks for sharing!
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Thanks. Most of the people I write about are deceased. So, this was my first attempt at interviewing a subject. I hope it came off ok.
Josh
Josh
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
That was a really interesting read. Thanks!
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Thanks. Please check out my other history articles at: https://simonbjj.com/a-mo[...]plex-story
Josh
Josh
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Thanks. Please check out my other history articles at: https://simonbjj.com/a-mo[...]plex-story Josh
Will do. This is right up my alley.
JABlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Really liked the article and felt like I got a chance to understand the man as you wrote about him.
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
John,
Thanks a lot. I was worried about that. I wanted to make it more than a list of facts, but I am glad it came through.
Josh
Thanks a lot. I was worried about that. I wanted to make it more than a list of facts, but I am glad it came through.
Josh
BWBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Thanks Josh, it was an interesting read :)
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Thanks. I appreciate it.
Josh
Josh
OHBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
nice work!!!!
thanks for sharing
i shared the url on my team FB page
thanks for sharing
i shared the url on my team FB page
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Guys, I just published my article on Craig Kukuk. I tracked him down, interviewed him and then wrote the article. I hope you enjoy. Josh https://simonbjj.com/craig-kukuk
Thanks for sharing this.
I always wondered what happened to Craig Kukuk.
His instructional with Renzo was the only resource available at the time and even then it was a copy of a copy vhs tape.
This really takes me back to when bjj was mystifying and just training it felt like you were in some secret assassin school. LOL
I always wondered what happened to Craig Kukuk.
His instructional with Renzo was the only resource available at the time and even then it was a copy of a copy vhs tape.
This really takes me back to when bjj was mystifying and just training it felt like you were in some secret assassin school. LOL
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Olivier,
Thanks. That really helps. I don't advertise or have social media, so whatever you can do to get the word out about my articles would be appreciated.
Thanks. That really helps. I don't advertise or have social media, so whatever you can do to get the word out about my articles would be appreciated.
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
David,
Yep. In talking to him, it definitely refreshed my memory of the time period. He asked why (as a Maxercise guy) I never went to go train with him in Philly. I told him it was the same answer why I did not buy the instructionals. We were not allowed to. It sounds weird now, but it was a different era back then.
Josh
Yep. In talking to him, it definitely refreshed my memory of the time period. He asked why (as a Maxercise guy) I never went to go train with him in Philly. I told him it was the same answer why I did not buy the instructionals. We were not allowed to. It sounds weird now, but it was a different era back then.
Josh
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
We were not allowed to. It sounds weird now, but it was a different era back then.
This is so true!
Completely different time and training evironment.
It was like bjj was a closely guarded secret.
Completely different time and training evironment.
It was like bjj was a closely guarded secret.
DBBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Great read, thanks for all the leg work that went into it.
I'm also very glad that we're past "you're not allowed to go to a different instructor's gym" for the most part.
I'm also very glad that we're past "you're not allowed to go to a different instructor's gym" for the most part.
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Drew,
Yep. You don't hear about that much nowadays.
Josh
Yep. You don't hear about that much nowadays.
Josh
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Drew,
Yep. You don't hear about that much nowadays.
Josh
Yep. You don't hear about that much nowadays.
Josh
CBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Hah... times haven't changed that much. Lots of insecure gym owners out there still to this day. And on the flip side, lots of people who do not buy into that blind loyalty bullshit. Seems like Craig was/is one of these people. Interesting read for sure.
MGPurple beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Very cool!
ALBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Great article. Thanks for sharing!
DBBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Guys, I just published my article on Craig Kukuk. I tracked him down, interviewed him and then wrote the article. I hope you enjoy. Josh https://simonbjj.com/craig-kukuk
That's wonderful, Sir. Hat's off to you for tracking Craig down and getting his story on paper. It was a very engaging read. I'm saying this as long time professional writer/journalist myself.
DBBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
If memory serves, there was also a fair bit of bad blood between Renzo and him after their partnerschip ended.
Craig was always portrayed as the guy who wanted "the whole pie for himself", at least by Renzo and his guys.
But knowing the BJJ shenagnigans, the truth was probably a bit more nuanced.
Craig was always portrayed as the guy who wanted "the whole pie for himself", at least by Renzo and his guys.
But knowing the BJJ shenagnigans, the truth was probably a bit more nuanced.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Daniel,
Thanks. Yes. Craig and I got into the details of that and I got his perspective. For reasons, I can't get into here, I chose to exclude that part from the article. Perhaps, if I can get Renzo to sit for an interview at some point, I can then present both sides of the story. But at the moment, I felt it was wrong to just publish one side.
Thanks. Yes. Craig and I got into the details of that and I got his perspective. For reasons, I can't get into here, I chose to exclude that part from the article. Perhaps, if I can get Renzo to sit for an interview at some point, I can then present both sides of the story. But at the moment, I felt it was wrong to just publish one side.
CBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
The Gracie side of stories have a lot of their own truths, it appears. :D
![Slideyfoot [jun]](userimg/5e25cf311adfd.jpg){kind=small}
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Cool, thanks! Kukuk is an interesting case and a pioneer: shame that the current generation aren't as aware of him as they should be.
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Slidey, yep. I am hoping my next batch of interviews/articles on what I am calling the "Globalization Era" will help get some more people interested.
Your site was a help to me as I was writing about Craig's instructionals.
Josh
Your site was a help to me as I was writing about Craig's instructionals.
Josh
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Guys,
I also just wanted to say thanks for all the support for the interview and the other articles. I did not have social media and did not publicize the articles when I published them. The positive response I got here as encouraged me to do more to get the word out. I set up an Instagram account “historyofbjj” to highlight the articles and get more people exposed to the complete history of Jiu-Jitsu. Please feel free to follow the account.
Josh
I also just wanted to say thanks for all the support for the interview and the other articles. I did not have social media and did not publicize the articles when I published them. The positive response I got here as encouraged me to do more to get the word out. I set up an Instagram account “historyofbjj” to highlight the articles and get more people exposed to the complete history of Jiu-Jitsu. Please feel free to follow the account.
Josh
BZBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Guys, I just published my article on Craig Kukuk. I tracked him down, interviewed him and then wrote the article. I hope you enjoy. Josh https://simonbjj.com/craig-kukuk
Thank you very much for sharing this article with us, it was very interesting to read, and give me some nostalgic feeling, BJJ is so different now that's it is mainstream.
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Benoit,
Yes. Times have changed. I will be writing more about the time period of the 1990's, so get ready for some more nostalgia.
Josh
Yes. Times have changed. I will be writing more about the time period of the 1990's, so get ready for some more nostalgia.
Josh
