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My interview with the first American Black Belt, Craig Kukuk
3 year(s) ago • 13266 views • 58 replies
SCBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
well done. IM not really up for reading articles but that one was well-read and done nicely. kept engaged the whole time.
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Thanks, Shawn. I try and keep them short. It is a tough balance between making them digestible and making them comprehensive.
Josh
Josh
![Slideyfoot [jun]](userimg/5e25cf311adfd.jpg){kind=small}
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Thanks, Shawn. I try and keep them short. It is a tough balance between making them digestible and making them comprehensive. Josh
Noooo, don't keep them short! Longer is better. :D
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Nice one, Slidey. :D
It is funny though. For the Instagram posts, some people are telling me my text is too long while others say I am not including enough text. You know the deal.
Josh
It is funny though. For the Instagram posts, some people are telling me my text is too long while others say I am not including enough text. You know the deal.
Josh
DWBlue beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
I totally agree with Slidey, long is great, I'd love as much detail as possible. I've been reading through some of your posts and they're really great. Maybe you can strike a balance with a relatively brief summary on Instagram, but go full depth on the blog posts?
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Dan, thanks. Yes, I have started writing shorter summaries for Instagram (historyofbjj) and kept the longer form articles on the website. If you want to go super long form, I recommend Choque by Roberto Pedreira. Choque has three volumes and will really give you every detail.
Josh
Josh
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Dan, thanks. Yes, I have started writing shorter summaries for Instagram (historyofbjj) and kept the longer form articles on the website. If you want to go super long form, I recommend Choque by Roberto Pedreira. Choque has three volumes and will really give you every detail.
Josh
Josh
THBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Good article. Too bad he wasn’t able to keep Jiu Jitsu in his life more. I’m sure we would all benefit From him continuing to share his knowledge with the current generation.
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Tim, yeah that was my first impression as well. But after 5 hours of talking to him, I understood better. He really feels that chapter is over and he has moved on to other things.
Josh
Josh
BYBlack beltVerifiedEngland - UK
3 year(s) ago
I really loved that!
My favorite part:
"there is some guy out there (referring to the next American in line for the belt) and it would probably mean a lot to him to get the promotion, so let him get it and be the first one."
He knows he is the first, and the guy probably also knows haha. That's why he doesn't really care xD.
My favorite part:
"there is some guy out there (referring to the next American in line for the belt) and it would probably mean a lot to him to get the promotion, so let him get it and be the first one."
He knows he is the first, and the guy probably also knows haha. That's why he doesn't really care xD.
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Thanks, Bruno. It really was a humility thing with Craig. He feels that he is done with Jiu-Jitsu and that other people would be more deserving. I was really stunned by it.
Josh
Josh
JBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Thanks, Josh. That was a very interesting read. “Gracie Jiu-Jitsu A to Z” was my first BJJ instructional video. I’ll have to go back and watch it for old time’s sake.
MCBlack belt 1st 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
This was a very insightful and well written article. Enjoyed learning about this legend. Thank you for sharing.
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Thanks, guys. I am glad you enjoyed. I am working on my next interview now.
VCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Great research and article! Thanks for writing this piece and looking forwards to more
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Thanks. The next interview will be related to the spread of BJJ in the US military.
Josh
Josh
SPBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Great interview and article, Josh! Thanks for posting it.
I was training in Hawaii when his instructional with Renzo came out and I loved it!!!
Always wondered what Craig was like and how he found BJJ.
CHEERS!
I was training in Hawaii when his instructional with Renzo came out and I loved it!!!
Always wondered what Craig was like and how he found BJJ.
CHEERS!
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Thanks, Scott. I just did a follow up with Craig on what he looks for when promoting people to Black Belt. My plan is to have several famous Black Belts weigh in on the topic. Check it out: https://simonbjj.com/opin[...]cc87324728
Josh
Josh
JABlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Thanks, Scott. I just did a follow up with Craig on what he looks for when promoting people to Black Belt. My plan is to have several famous Black Belts weigh in on the topic. Check it out: https://simonbjj.com/opin[...]cc87324728 Josh
Liked it. Looking forward to more additions to this new article series sir...
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Thanks. I have a handful of Black Belts lined up. It will be interesting to see how opinions compare amongst them.
ANBlue beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
This article was great! Very informative and your writing style was engaging. Thanks for putting the legwork in to tracking him down to share his story with us. There are quite a few legends in BJJ that we know nothing about (yet).
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Annette,
Thanks. I have an interview scheduled with another legend for this Tues. Hopefully, I will get it published within the next few weeks.
Josh
Thanks. I have an interview scheduled with another legend for this Tues. Hopefully, I will get it published within the next few weeks.
Josh
ANBlue beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Annette, Thanks. I have an interview scheduled with another legend for this Tues. Hopefully, I will get it published within the next few weeks. Josh
Can't wait to read it. Do you have any plans to talk with Yvone Duarte? Or, if you don't want to say for sure yet, I'll wait in the wings.
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I would like to, but I haven't gotten a response yet. I started an Instagram account @historyofbjj and posted about her, but have not gotten anything back yet.
ANBlue beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
I would like to, but I haven't gotten a response yet. I started an Instagram account @historyofbjj and posted about her, but have not gotten anything back yet.
Would love to read that! Fingers crossed.
JTBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Hi, I just wanted to take the opportunity to say that I really enjoyed your interview with Craig as well as the rest of your scholarship on BJJ history.
As an aside, I had an opportunity to start training with Craig very early in my BJJ career. I started training in 2009 with Mitch Coats at Throwdown MMA in Boise, but after 1-2 months there I came to class and everyone was gone. The gym manager or owner, whoever, let me know that Mitch had gone his separate way from Throwdown and that they had hired Craig to start teaching there. I ultimately decided to follow Mitch to his new location, and I don't think Throwdown lasted long after that anyways.
As an aside, I had an opportunity to start training with Craig very early in my BJJ career. I started training in 2009 with Mitch Coats at Throwdown MMA in Boise, but after 1-2 months there I came to class and everyone was gone. The gym manager or owner, whoever, let me know that Mitch had gone his separate way from Throwdown and that they had hired Craig to start teaching there. I ultimately decided to follow Mitch to his new location, and I don't think Throwdown lasted long after that anyways.
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Hi, I just wanted to take the opportunity to say that I really enjoyed your interview with Craig as well as the rest of your scholarship on BJJ history. As an aside, I had an opportunity to start training with Craig very early in my BJJ career. I started training in 2009 with Mitch Coats at Throwdown MMA in Boise, but after 1-2 months there I came to class and everyone was gone. The gym manager or owner, whoever, let me know that Mitch had gone his separate way from Throwdown and that they had hired Craig to start teaching there. I ultimately decided to follow Mitch to his new location, and I don't think Throwdown lasted long after that anyways.
Thanks. I appreciate it. Publishing another interview next week.
JVBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Really interesting, thanks for doing this!
JSBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Really interesting, thanks for doing this!
Thanks. Please help me get the word out. Every little bit helps.
