Looks like the latter part of this conversation has been carried over over to the 'nogi vs gi' thread. Going back to the original post, where do y'all see bjj in 20 years? I've been involved with bjj for almost 20 years now, and have witnessed some significant changes over the past few years: an evolution? Devolution? When I first started training, there wasn't much of a difference between how one might train for self defense, vale tudo or competition bjj. Nowadays, you're more or less expected to specialize in one or the other. I personally don't think that nogi is a flash in the pan. I expect to see nogi grappling to continue to increase in popularity, and inevitably become more of its own thing. I feel like vale tudo (mma) will eventually decrease in popularity, due mostly to the inherent risk of brain trauma. But also I wouldn't count it out completely. This is obviously just my opinion. I think that gi bjj will have to reconcile its differences with judo (and vice versa) in order to stay relevant. Already at judo competitions in my area, they are allowing for more ground grappling, and I'm expecting this trend to continue for the foreseeable future, until it's successfully attracted and absorbed what's left of competition gi bjj enthusiasts. What do y'all think? What will the landscape of grappling look like in 20 years?

Just wondering what y'all see is trending. I'm forecasting that nogi will start to catch up and surpass the gi in popularity. What do y'all think? Am I the only one in this boat?

One day in the Olympics I hope.

Personally, I see no gi as a fad, something the trendy, in shape, instagram young'uns are doing :) If they train long enough, they will come back to the gi. You don't exactly see many 40 plus year olds still doing no gi. No gi training makes sense for mma fighters or pro competitors, but for average joe, gi is still the king. Safer, less slippery, fewer skin infections (i.e. less gross) and more technical.

As to what is better or more technical honestly that is an argument like can super man beat bat man in my opinions.

I suppose the counter argument to that is that whilst, technically, yes you can do every nogi technique in the gi, that relies on a compliant partner. Many moves you would do in nogi could be prevented by a strong gi grip. Whilst the technique is still possible if your opponent doesn't respond, rolling with a competent opponent will result in the number of techniques available to you being less than the sum of all gi and nogi techniques. Related to that, nogi does have the added difficulty of control - because you can't make gi grips in nogi, it is much more difficult to control someone. Escapes are easier in nogi, requiring more advanced control and pinning skills to prevent. And then I suppose the final point, is that a significant percentage of the leg lock game is not available in the gi, either due to rules, or safety concerns. I think all of those would probably balance out the increased number of techniques available in the gi ;) I quite enjoy both, but generally I do prefer watching nogi.

Just wondering what y'all see is trending. I'm forecasting that nogi will start to catch up and surpass the gi in popularity. What do y'all think? Am I the only one in this boat?

Hmm. If I'm being cheeky, I would argue gi is technically more technical (DOUBLE TECHNICAL! :P ), given that the gi results in more techniques. E.g., zillions of collar chokes, lapel guards, attacks wrapping limbs with gi tails on top of side control, belt grips, etc. Everything you can do in nogi, you can also do in gi (though the friction means some stuff will be much more effective in nogi). Not the case in terms of transferring techniques from gi to nogi.

fortunately nobody can force me to train nogi. ;)

Depends on your definition of technical. But yeah, the actual question behind all the nogi vs gi stuff is very simple: which one do you like better? That's the answer that matters. I don't like nogi, lots of people don't like gi. The sport is big enough for both, fortunately nobody can force me to train nogi. ;)

*note to self, ALWAYS shower in your gi* :D

110% I love the gi but I play more nogi these days because of very arthritic hands and wrists.

I play more nogi these days because of very arthritic hands and wrists.