So You Wanna Be a Contender? – Forget the Dragon, Enter the GRAPPLE MONKEY

If any of these terms are part of your everyday lexicon—Brabo No-Gi choke; Kimura/Bicep Lock; Ninja Gi Choke; Shaolin Gi Choke; or a Wallid Ismael butterfly guard pass—you’re probably into one or more of the following: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) or Grappling/No Holds Barred (NHB) techniques. This means that you, little grasshopper, could be considered a "GRAPPLE MONKEY” [you may have heard the term in the gamer sense—a Capture The Flag (CTF) player who doesn’t EVER stop using the grappling hook].

Now, little grasshopper, to graduate to GRAPPLE MONKEY status not only must you know the aforementioned terms but you must also be literate, have oral skills somewhere between mute and loquacious, and know the meaning of the previous words without looking them up in a dictionary (okay, maybe for loquacious). If this sounds like you, enter the GRAPPLEMONKEY website (here) where the world of MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are lightheartedly analyzed and discussed—everything from fighters, events, tournaments, new techniques, variations, and the occasional discourse on diversity and world peace.

Diversity? World peace? GRAPPLE MONKEY proposes “most martial arts are imports from overseas, so those who participate will need to come with a predisposition to being open-minded and accepting of foreign concepts and philosophies” and “THE COLOR OF YOUR BELT IS MUCH MORE IMMINENT OF A THREAT THAN THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN”.

But why Grapple MONKEY, Master? Oh, little grasshopper, let us learn from the words of actual fighters for the answer: “grappling is described as pulling” = “pull-ups develop strength and endurance” = “you can do pull-ups on a TREE BRANCH or MONKEY bars in a playground” = “one move that counters grappling with striking entails a SNEAKY lapel choke”. And you mustn’t forget that in this realm, fighters often go APE-s**t…

Before you leave, little grasshopper, remember the wise words of GRAPPLE MONKEY: “Interesting that you have to go to a place that teaches violence to feel acceptance.” Now kick some ass, regardless of what colour it is!

More:
For the GRAPPLE MONKEY website and its insight on MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and tournaments such as Pride, UFC and K-1...and maybe a little Muay Thai in the mix, click here.