Have you heard of the movie The Horse Whisperer? Well, Buck Brannaman is the true living horse whisperer. He is amazing! In the documentary Buck, you see first hand the spirit of the gentle art both in practice and teaching.
The gentle art is a concept we hear all the time in Jiu-Jitsu, but this is a universal concept applicable to all grappling or wrestling based Martial Arts. Unfortunately, I've found that many jiujitsu and grappling academies talk about the gentle art, but struggle with implementing it into their curriculum, training, and lifestyle. The Gentle art is the concept of guiding an action, and not forcing an action. The concept of always trying to understand something with precision, and not just doing something to make it work. The concept of breaking things apart to build them back up stronger, and not just to impose your will on them. As student's and teacher's we can all learn from these concepts.
In my opinion, Buck's methods need to be taught, studies, and applied to all coaching situations. In wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and all of the grappling arts, there is exists the spirit of the gentle art, but very few have come to understand the methods and merits to this type of instruction. By mastering the gentle art as an instructor, I think we will find that we are not just responsible for helping other's become great jiujitsu players, but also responsible for helping other's learn more about themselves.
Buck is a true pioneer in the application and of the gentle art. I highly recommend all teacher's, coaches, and those involved in positions of leadership to watch and learn from this documentary, BUCK.
Eliot Kelly
EDH Grappling
EDH Grappling
"Buck Brennamen is a Master Instructor of the gentle art!"
