There are numerous flavours of BJJ and I am fine with it. There are pros and cons to be found everywhere. Same with gi vs. no-gi. It is what it is. You bear the child, give birth and then it does what it does. Things change and evolve and some people are having a hard time accepting it. Trust the process...

I want to say true and false at the same time. Let's wait for other opinions. Thanks 🤗

Being in a good shape, having sparring session with someone who want to submit you, feel that you are effective in close range fight. Those things are important for me if we look at the true application of jiujitsu in real life. Then you might had some boxing to learn striking against opposition.
Self defense jiujitsu is useless for me, just like those krav maga lies. Just commercial and for victims or weak people.

I train with global fight in mind so bjj, nogi, mma and street applications. Postural dominance, submissions, first effective than fancy moves.

Way more than 2 kinds. From Carlson's top heavy mma oriented game to the modern double guard pull footsie game. Helio and sons still desperately trying to be the inventors is sad. They never were, hell there were different kosen precursors way before. Do what fits your lifestyle but most importantly, spar.

I think there are three major curricula that are taught a BJJ schools. Some schools teach only one, while others might teach two or three of these.

(1) Self-Defense: This can be further sub-divided into civilian, military, law enforcement, and security specializations. This curriculum includes a bit of everything: grappling, striking, weapon retention/disarms, multiple attackers, awareness training, de-escalation strategies, etc. Both gi and no-gi are included, since you need to adapt to what your opponent may be wearing depending on the season and context. You have to be good in all ranges (kickboxing, clinch, and ground).

(2) Vale Tudo: This is BJJ for MMA. It’s all no-gi and striking is essential. A fighter has to be functional in all ranges (kickboxing, clinch, and ground), though they will obviously specialize in ground fighting and submissions.

(3) Sport Grappling: This can be sub-divided into gi and no gi grappling. The grappling is a lot more nuanced than self-defense or vale tudo. Striking, weapons, and other considerations are obviously not important. Specialized positions, transitions, and submissions are much more important (e.g., De La Riva guard, the Bermimbolo, collar chokes, etc.). Kickboxing is irrelevant, clinch is more-or-less optional (since guard-pulling is a viable option), and ground work is absolutely essential.

Personally, I think all three are equally valid manifestations of BJJ. Which one you train depends on your goals, and some people enjoy training in more than one. I personally like self-defense the best, but I have done a lot of work in vale tudo and sport grappling over the years, and I think it has enriched my understanding of the art. I think we sometimes get bogged down in the “street vs. sport” debate when instead we should all be saying “street AND sport.”

I'll never understand this need to label and box everything. Jiu-jitsu is jiu-jitsu, do with it what you like.

THIS!!!!

100% right, jiujitsu has multiple aspect....

If one is not training striking while grappling, and not training Gi and no Gi, then it is not Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

That is not to say that other flavors of BJJ derivatives do not have merit.