In the early 90s BJJ was practiced almost exclusively in the gi and everyone was skeptical that a no-gi Jiu Jitsu school could work and become an international BJJ affiliation. Eddie Bravo wasn’t afraid to try and has been proving for decades both that his critics were wrong that the 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu system works.
Here is what you need to know about 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu. We’ll go over how Eddie Bravo came up with his unique style and detail the school’s growth.
The history of 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu
The story of how 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu started goes back to the late 1990s. Eddie Bravo was a student of BJJ legend Jean Jacques Machado at his school in Los Angeles, California.
Bravo was always a free thinker and was always trying to come up with new Jiu Jitsu moves. While training at Machado’s school, he came up with his patented rubber guard and twister submission.
2003 ADCC Championship
After spending years developing his style of Jiu Jitsu, Eddie would win the 2003 ADCC North American trials. This won him a spot at the 2003 ADCC Championship in São Paulo, Brazil.
He went on to display his unique style of Jiu Jitsu on an international stage in a stacked division. Eddie beat Gustavo Dantas, earning him a match against one of the kings of old school BJJ, Royler Gracie, in the second round.
In the match, Bravo used his patented rubber guard and Royler had no answer for how to defend it. Bravo then shocked the world by submitting Royler with a triangle choke.
Ultimately Lucas Leite beat Bravo in the semi-finals, but Eddie proved a point that his style works. If he hadn’t defeated Royler Gracie, there may not be a 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu school.
Bravo opens 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu
Upon returning from the ADCC Championship, Master Jean Jacques Machado awarded Bravo with his black belt. Now that he was an official Jiu Jitsu black belt, Eddie set out to open his own school.
He opened 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu in Los Angeles, California in 2003 – although, his school wouldn’t be your average Jiu Jitsu school. Instead, Eddie would teach his own Jiu Jitsu system, a strictly no-gi system based around the rubber guard.
He further set his system apart by developing his own lingo, giving techniques and positions different names.
In some cases these positions already had names, but Bravo also invented names for many common positions that previously were difficult to refer to. This has undeniably had a positive effect on the sport in the long run as it makes these techniques easier to discuss and share.
Without the benefit of future sight, this approach really rubbed old school Jiu Jitsu practitioners the wrong way. Some felt that Eddie was disrespecting the art and that his system wouldn’t work.
Eddie brushed off these criticisms and continued developing his system.
10th Planet starts growing
Before Eddie knew it, 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu started to take off. Many grapplers that preferred no-gi dug what Bravo was doing and wanted to be a part of it.
Pretty soon, there were 10th Planet affiliate schools popping up all over the US. Even some high level BJJ competitors and MMA fighters began working with Eddie including Vinny Magalhaes, Dean Lister, and Alan Belcher.
Eddie continued to prove that his system works as time went on.
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu’s success in competition
In the 2010s, as the pro grappling scene began to explode, 10th Planet students proved that they were world class grapplers. Some of the team’s early successful competitors included Ritchie Martiniez, Geo Martinez, Nathan Orchard, Ben Eddy, and Denny Prokopos, and Grace Gundrum.
As a team, 10th Planet proved that they were one of the best in the world at Quintet 2 & 3 – winning back to back Quintet championships while beating stacked teams that included BJJ champions and MMA legends at these events.
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu’s influence on MMA
10th Planet has had an even bigger influence on MMA. The whole reason Eddie Bravo actually came up with the rubber guard system was for it to be used in MMA.
In MMA, the rubber guard can be used to keep an opponent’s posture broken and keep them from landing strikes. The rubber guard also allows its users to hit various submissions and land strikes from the guard.
Many of the top MMA fighters in the world have implemented 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu techniques into their games. Now if you watch an MMA event, you will more than likely see 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu techniques being used.
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu’s top competitors and notable members
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu has proven to be home to some of the top Jiu Jitsu competitors in the world. Here are some of the best from the school:
Ritchie Martinez
Ritchie Martinez has been competing at a high level in grappling for the last decade. Before he began learning Jiu Jitsu under Eddie Bravo, he and his brother Geo were professional breakdancers.
Martinez continues to compete in international no-gi events and runs his own school, 10th Planet Freaks, in San Diego, California.
Geo Martinez
Geo Martinez is a 3x EBI champion and is a veteran of several ADCC events. He is considered one of the best lightweight grapplers in the world and proudly represents 10th Planet.
Along with his brother Ritchie, he is the co-owner of 10th Planet Freaks in San Diego.
Tony Ferguson
No doubt the best MMA fighter to come out of 10th Planet is former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Tony Ferguson. At one point in his career, Ferguson was considered one of the best in the sport.
During the prime of his career Ferguson went unbeaten for 7 years. Tony has proudly represented 10th Planet throughout his career and now runs an affiliate school in Big Bear, California.
Grace Gundrum
“The Silent Assassin” Grace Gundrum is without a doubt one of the best female no-gi grapplers in the world. As a teen she was beating world champions and making it look easy.
When she turned 18, she received her black belt from Eddie Bravo. Gundrum could very well become the most decorated grappler to come out of 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu.
Joe Rogan
While Joe Rogan isn’t a competitor, he is the most influential 10th Planet black belt. Rogan first started training with Eddie Bravo at Jean Jacques Machado’s school in the late 1990s and they became best friends.
When Bravo opened 10th Planet, Rogan was one of his first students. He has been one of the biggest ambassadors for the school and helped 10th Planet become internationally recognized.
FAQS about 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu
Who founded 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu?
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu was founded by Eddie Bravo.
Where does the name 10th Planet come from?
The name 10th Planet comes from a theory of author Zecharia Stitchin. The theory states that humans were created by aliens from a planet called “Nibiru” or the “12th planet.” As a tribute, Bravo called his Jiu Jitsu school 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu.
When was 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu founded?
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu was founded in 2003 after Eddie Bravo received his black belt from Master Jean Jacques Machado.
How many 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu schools are there?
Today, there are numerous 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu schools across the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and South Korea.
Who is the current head of 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu?
Eddie Bravo has been the head of the affiliation since founding it in 2003.
Where is 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu headquartered?
The main 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu school is located in Los Angeles, California.
Does 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu do belt promotions?
Yes, despite training exclusively no-gi Jiu Jitsu, 10th Planet recognizes and promotes its students following the familiar BJJ belt rank system.
Why does 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu use its own vocabulary?
There are a few advantages to using a specialized vocabulary. It makes it harder for your opponents to understand what your coach is telling you to do, and it provides names for positions that were previously unnamed. Without a name for a position, it is hard to talk about it and develop it as an idea. For a complete list of 10th Planet terminology, check out our full list.
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu today
Despite criticisms from old school Jiujiteros who said the 10th Planet system wouldn’t work, Eddie Bravo has consistently proved them all wrong. 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu has become an international BJJ affiliate that teaches their special brand of no-gi Jiu Jitsu.
Everything that Eddie Bravo envisioned about his school has become a reality. 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu has proven to be among the best no-gi schools in the world and will continue getting bigger.
