I think this is the most common evolution in our world even though it's almost the reverse for me.

When I signed up to train with Mario Yamasaki back in 1998 I just wanted to learn what I saw Royce doing. I had no idea that I was walking into a gym that trained for competitive purposes. I was training with animals right from the start and had to compete. It's the only way I've ever done BJJ. I didn't really start worrying about the other elements of my game and start working with MMA fighters until well into my purple belt. I still shy away from teaching "self defense" but am working on firearms instructor certifications which I think will make me feel a little better about that part.

So almost like dog brothers then. Sounds painful but fun!

So almost like dog brothers then. Sounds painful but fun!

Yeah was pretty inspired by them, although we did wear a bit more protection and some softer sticks :)

It was all just hormones and trial and error back then :D

My game... I sucked, I sucked less and now I don't suck so bad.. Hopefully by the time I die I will no longer suck..

I prefer to think this way as it keeps me evolving..

In reality my game has been evolving now more than ever as I age I go back to the smallest nuances of technique and attempt to make things as simple and slow as possible

In my initial years of training, white and blue, I played a lot of guard, finishing almost exclusively with the triangle. After eventually being promoted to purple, I noticed my game becoming more balanced, working from the top more and using kimuras and lapel chokes from side. It’s from this point I started experimenting more, and began to enter into trends of transitions and finishes that I’ll keep doing until my training partners begin to wisen up to them, then I switch it up to something else, just trying to better improvise, so my game, as well as everyone else’s, isn’t stagnant with limited dimensions.

My original school was very top game based. When I switched schools, I felt it was a better mix of top and bottom. Of course, their bottom game was submit or sweep to get on top, but I feel my guard game improved dramatically. After my 2nd and 3rd knee scope, I was happy that my bottom game improved to the point where I didn't have to be on my knees all the time. I feel I have a decent mix now. Now, I've been working on my wrestling both stand-up and grinding down opponents from the top, which is tough at 42, but hey, whatever.