If you have recently started training BJJ or may be thinking of signing up to a gym you have probably heard about 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu. In this article we will explore all things 10th Planet to help you decide if this style of Jiu Jitsu is for you!
What Is 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu?
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu is the name of a BJJ system created by black belt Eddie Bravo. Bravo’s goal was to create a style of Jiu Jitsu that was highly effective in MMA. 10th Planet JJ is characterised by using innovative submissions, an aggressive submission heavy guard and being purely No Gi.
After receiving his black belt from Jean Jacques Machado in 2003, Bravo opened his first school in Los Angeles. He originally wanted to call the gym Nibiru which is known as the 10th Planet. However, after consulting with one of his best friends, Joe Rogan he decided on the name 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu.
Since opening his first gym Eddie Bravo has focused on improving BJJ’s effectiveness in MMA. Bravo has been a BJJ purist since the 90s but he grew tired of BJJ athletes getting dominated in MMA and failing to submit their opponents.
Bravo envisioned that through modifying Jiu Jitsu, BJJ athletes could once again dominate MMA and submit their opponents with ease. This modification of BJJ was to be known as the 10th Planet system.
The 10th Planet system is based on a highly attacking style. 10th Planet athletes are known for their ability to pull off unique submissions from any position. They are also famous for their aggressive guard play and are always hitting submissions from bottom.
Bravo stresses the importance of flexibility in his system. As many of his techniques require high levels of mobility. Bravo says that flexibility can help BJJ athletes attack unconventional submissions and catch opponents off guard.
Eddie Bravo himself is highly flexible and the initial 10th Planet system was based around his unique game that incorporated his unusual mobility. Eddie Bravo was famous for his lockdown guard, rubber guard and twister submission. To this day these positions are a part of the 10th Planet system and you can even see other MMA and BJJ athletes using these techniques.
What the 10th Planet system is most famous for is being purely No Gi. All training is done in rash guards and shorts or spats. When Bravo first opened his gym this proved controversial as at that time Brazilian practitioners thought it was sacrilege to train without the Gi.
Bravo came under constant attack from the Gracies and other old school BJJ athletes who thought that to master Jiu Jitsu all students needed to train in the Gi.
As the sport has matured and No Gi BJJ has taken its own direction it has become normal for BJJ athletes to train exclusively without the Gi. Bravo ultimately proved correct and today all MMA BJJ training is done without the Gi and the best No Gi gym in the world, the Danaher Death Squad do zero training in the Gi.
While Bravo’s 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu system hasn’t taken the MMA world by storm as he hoped, Bravo has still trained some top level MMA talent including Ben Saunders and UFC champion Tony Ferguson.
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu competitors are some of the best No Gi athletes in the world. Bravo’s best athletes are the Martinez brothers, Marvin Castelle, Kyle Boehm and Grace Gundrum. All of these athletes are winning major No Gi tournaments and particularly specialise in submission only tournaments.
From his original location in downtown Los Angeles Eddie Bravo has spread the 10th Planet system all over the US and the world. There are now over 100 10th Planet gyms from the US, Netherlands to Australia.
How Much Does 10th Planet Cost?
Monthly memberships at 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu gyms range from $150 per month to $275 per month depending on what option you choose and the location of your club. 10th Planet gyms in big cities are more expensive than clubs in smaller towns.
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu membership fees are about the same as normal BJJ gyms. Some 10th Planet gyms are overpriced if the instructor is not a black belt but for most clubs where there are numerous black belts on the mat the prices are justified.
How Long Does It Take To Get A 10th Planet Black Belt?
For the average student who trains 3 times a week it will take 7 to 8 years to receive a 10th Planet black belt. However, if you are dedicated and athletic you can earn it in 5 or 6 years. Geo Martinez was able to receive his 10th Planey black belt in 3.5 years.
The standards for receiving a 10th Planet black belt are similar to other BJJ academies. It is going to take you thousands of dedicated hours on the BJJ mats before Eddie Bravo awards you your 10th Planet black belt.
Eddie Bravo is less focused on the amount of time you have been training and is more interested in your skill level and ability to perform the 10th Planet system. If you have been training for 15 years but still can’t utilise the system effectively Eddie Bravo will not promote you to black belt.
However, if you are like Geo Martinez (who received his black belt in 3.5 years) an athletic freak who trained under Bravo everyday for years you too can get your black belt in less than 5 years.
Some more traditional BJJ gyms are not as focused on skill level and even if you are consistently beating higher belts they won’t promote you to black belt until you have been training for at least 7 years.
Conclusion
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu is a style of BJJ developed by Eddie Bravo. The style is characterised by being purely No Gi, focusing on innovative submissions and being extremely aggressive from the bottom position. The goal of the 10th Planet system was to improve the effectiveness of BJJ in MMA.
While this may not have succeeded Bravo’s impact on the grappling world has been immense as many of his unique submissions such as the twister can be seen on display in MMA and grappling tournaments. Eddie Bravo is a highly respected BJJ coach with many top athletes such as Tony Ferguson seeking out his coaching.
