This week Off the Mat with a Bjj Black Belt features Brent Littell aka “Checkuroil” who has the rare distinction of being both an Eddie Bravo 10th Planet black belt and a Black belt in bjj from Gracie Barra.
The Bjjosphere contains many great instructors who are lesser known than the Mundials Champions, but are very articulate and able to offer some keen insights into jiu-jitsu.
Brent has some unique things to say about gi and no-gi grappling and shares his philosophy of training.
“…do the right technique for the right situation, and it’s unstoppable.”
Brent Littell
Jiu-jitsu Times: To give the Jiu-jitsu Times readers some idea of your background, can you tell us how and why you got started in Brazilian jiu-jitsu?
Brent Littell: I had been a lifelong martial artist, so I was always interested in combat sports. I grew up near Rickson and his son Rockson was my age, so I got exposed to the art through friends who were training with them.
However, I did not start right away because I was a little uncomfortable with the idea of grappling; I didn’t like that amount of close contact.
Then, in college, a friend of mine invited me to go to a class with them at a small academy. Following that I decided that this was the martial art for me.
Jiu-jitsu Times: What got you addicted to Bjj?
Brent Littell: The ability to actually demonstrate the effectiveness on a daily basis through sparring was probably the most the alluring part. Coming from a traditional martial arts background, I often had to have faith that my strike would disable my opponent.
There was always this seed of doubt in my mind about whether I would
be effective under stress. With bjj, I got to immediately test the full effectiveness of the movements against 100 percent resistance under stress.
It stole that seed of doubt, which put a fire in me to keep training. Then, as time went on, it just became a part of my life.
Jiu-jitsu Times: Who have been your main instructors and how did they influence your jiu-jitsu game?
Brent Littell: My first instructor was Rey Diogo from Carlson Gracie team. He gave me my blue belt in the gi.
The thing that stuck with me about his philosophy was “sweep and finish from the top”. To this day, I don’t go for many submissions from the bottom
I then trained with Eddie Bravo, who gave me my purple, brown, and black in no gi. Working with him, I learned the importance of the half guard.
It became the hub from which all of the spokes of my game were joined.
Following a move due to work, I began to train at Gracie Barra headquarters, where I am now. I put my gi blue belt back on and worked my way back through purple, brown, and black.
My main instructors there have been Philipe Della Monica, Otavio Sousa, Marco “piu piu” Joca, and Marcio Feitosa.
Their influences have been diverse, but I would say the unifying message is that “do the right technique for the right situation, and it’s unstoppable.”
Jiu-jitsu Times: Your experience in jiu-jitsu is different than most in that you have trained extensively in BOTH gi (currently with Gracie Barra) and the no-gi system (a black belt) of 10th Planet Jiu-jitsu Eddie Bravo).
Can you characterize the main differences in training the two different styles of jiu-jitsu?
Brent Littell: Eddie’s style is very much like jazz. Everyday he is pushing the limits of what we define as jiu jitsu, and in time, you begin to see that influence find its way into the mainstream: the same way we say the cacophonous sounds and rhythms of jazz make its way into popular music.
Barra is like classical music. It is the tried and true standard which demonstrates beauty through both simplicity and complexity at the same time.
In terms of game, no gi finds itself emphasizing half guard, butterfly, and scrambles.
Whereas, gi emphasizes more open guards like De La Riva, Spider, Lasso, etc…, guards that would not be effective in no gi due to lack of gripping abilities (yes I’m aware some people still do adapt these guards to no gi)
What you see is gi focuses on making space from guard bottom and no gi on taking the space away
Jiu-jitsu Times: What was the biggest adaptation for you to transition from training predominantly no-gi to putting on the kimono?
Grip breaking and patience. In no gi, when you want to move, you move. In gi, you have to untangle yourself and/or wait for your opponent to let go and move on to a new position. I remember being so frustrated by the slower pacing in the gi and feeling claustrophobic when being held down. It was truly a lesson in being comfortable in discomfort.
Jiu-jitsu Times: What advantages did your extensive no-gi experience bring to your gi training?
Brent Littell: I think that timing and the understanding of balance were the two biggest things. These are skills that take a long while to hone, but I got to start with them immediately, the same way many wrestlers do.
Jiu-jitsu Times: What did you learn from training in the kimono that you did not learn training in no-gi?
Brent Littell: I think it pushed me to use more angles and direction. In no gi, you often have to squeeze your opponent to you in order to prevent scrambles, which can limit your own movement in addition to your opponents. In gi, your grip game can allow you to play at different distances which encourage more movement.
4) Jiu-jitsu Times: In many academies, the rules of sports bjj competition dictate the training (the strategies and specific techniques that are deemed legal).
How do you feel about the way the IBJJF rule set influence the way bjj is taught in most academies?
Brent Littell: I used to be adamantly against the IBJJF rule about reaping. However, as I get older and my knees take more of a beating, I don’t mind training without reaping. However, from a less selfish perspective, I do think reaping is an integral part of grappling and should be legal at black belt. By that time, an athlete should know their body well enough to be able to distinguish when they are safe and when they are not.
I know many guys who strictly train IBJJF rules are often intrigued and scared of the moves outside their ruleset. It would be good to see them learn more about it, even if it’s not to use it.
Jiu-jitsu Times: How does a submission-only format (of which Eddie Bravo is a proponent in his Eddie Bravo Invitational) change how the competitors train and fight?
Brent Littell: I don’t think it changes that much. I remember reading a quote by Caio Terra saying something to the effect of “guys who win at IBJJF tournaments are still the guys who win at submission only events”, and for the most part, it’s pretty true.
It’s just a different way to showcase skills. I think bjj has always struggled to try to be entertainment, and sub only is a move to increase watchability. It’s in its infancy, so it will be interesting to see where it goes. EBI is really picking up steam; I’m excited to see where it will be in five years.
Jiu-jitsu Times: How do you see the art of jiu-jitsu evolving?
Brent Littell: I wish I could say convincingly that I knew.
I never thought that inversion and berimbolo would get this far, which shows how good I am at predicting the evolution.
I think the place where gi is moving now is further use of the skirt in guard.
We see Keenan with his worm guard, Faria uses it in his half guard, and I think more guys will become innovative with it from the bottom, stuff like the lapel-o-plata.
Jiu-jitsu Times: Is jiu-jitsu now splitting into bjj for MMA, no-gi submission only (EBI), self defence (the original Gracie Jiu-jitsu)and / or IBJJF style with the kimono?
On the internet, it is. However, I think in most academies, you will still see a mixture of all the components of bjj.
There are exceptions to this rule.
These are the purist academies, like Torrance, Eddie’s, or the Mendes brothers. But they are the outliers.
Most academies across the world still have a self defense curriculum, a no gi curriculum, and a gi curriculum.
Jiu-jitsu Times: If you were in charge of the setting the rules for grappling competition, what might you change to make the most exciting, submission oriented matches?
Brent Littell: Like mentioned before, reaping at black belt.
However, the underpinning of the question leads to a bigger question of whether grappling could be a viewer’s sport, and I don’t know if that is the case.
Maybe bjj is not ever going to wow crowds of non-grapplers because of the high level of knowledge required to truly enjoy viewing it.
The more I learn, the more I appreciate watching it. And the inverse is true, as well: the less I know, the less I enjoyed watching it.
I hope EBI thrusts bjj into the spotlight, but it’s still a question as to whether it will fit in.
Jiu-jitsu Times: Can you talk about your philosophy of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, martial arts training and life?
Brent Littell: As trite as this sounds, keep an open mind. That means constantly analyzing what is going right and what is going wrong without attachment to a hypothesis of how it “should have” turned out, only looking at how it “did”turn out.
We have a tendency to want to be right instead of finding the right answer that presents itself. This plays out in bjj through consistently trying something we want to have work instead of using what does. I’m not saying to stop experimenting, but I am saying to pay closer attention to the results data. If a move keeps failing at the same place, try to tweak it. Don’t continue to try it with the same result.
Jiu-jitsu Times: What drives you to train?
Brent Littell: Stress relief. I have a career where I make calls about people’s safety all day. I need an outlet.
Also, the longer I train, the more fun it is.
When I started, I never got to express my game because I was always being dominated and was fighting for my life.
Now, that I can dominate others, I get to play with parts of my game far more and experiment with little risk.
Jiu-jitsu Times: Can you share a principle or training practice, (or motivational quote, tips on nutrition, attitude etc.) that worked for you in your training?
Brent Littell: I’m a pretty big guy, I don’t think I will give out nutritional advice.
People who know me, know me as being consistent.
I have gone years at a time training a minimum of four times a week, never missing a week.
Right now, my streak is at almost three years ( time off for my honeymoon). I had a four year streak before that.
The one thing I remind myself when I feel tired is “you never regret having trained, but you always regret staying home”.
Jiu-jitsu Times: Can you tell us something interesting about yourself that most Jiu-jitsu Times readers would not know?
Brent Littell: As I referenced, I was a lifelong martial artist. As a kid, I trained in kenpo. As such, I had the chance to be in one of the only kenpo movies made “Perfect Weapon” with Jeff Speakman. I play a student in flashback scene.
Jiu-jitsu Times: Are there any exciting projects that you are currently working on / competitions or events that you are preparing for ?
I’m hoping to open my own gym. It’s a matter of finding the right opportunity.
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu-Advanced Basics – Top Control
Contact Information
Facebook : People can find me on Facebook searching my full name. I’m the only Brent Littell
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