Interview by MMA Hit Pit blogger Mike Leng. Check out Mike's blog HERE

Here is a recent interview that I did with Ari Bolden the owner of Submissions101.com and owner and teacher of 10th Planet Victoria in Canada. If you are not aware of the great things that are going on at Submissions101 then I suggest you check them out at; www.Submissions101.com

They cover a massive range of BJJ and 10th Planet techniques as well as a great forum and store. Here’s what Ari had to say about MMA and JJ in general

Hi Ari, first things first, can we have a bit of back ground on yourself? How did you get involved with Jujitsu and martial arts?
I first stepped onto the mat at the age of 10 when I tried out judo. I had been one of those kids who was born in the 70’s and grew up in the 80’s. I can remember watching every martial arts flick there was. I knew at a young age that I wanted to do martial arts and become a teacher. It is one of my oldest memories in fact. I did judo for a few years, then some wrestling but it wasn’t until 1988 that I saw a film that changed my perspective on the martial arts forever-Above the Law with Steven Seagal. I thought “who the heck was this guy tossing around people like they were rag dolls? “ No kicks or punches. No sir. It was throws, joint locks, chokes...craziest stuff I had ever seen. I was 14 at the time. I started Aikido soon after that but remembered when I first saw the UFC in 1993. I knew that Aikido was cool but what if it went to the ground? I always had that Gracie Jiu Jitsu stuff in the back of my mind. When I went to University, I was doing aikido on campus and one of the students had some BJJ training. We always would grapple after class and I was always looking to screw up my partner’s aikido moves with grappling. I was in an experimental mindset in my early 20’s. I then met a man who did Japanese Jujutsu and that REALLY changed my thought process again. I truly saw what MARTIAL meant and earned my black belt in JJJ and Aikido under him. He was also a Kosen Judo BB so I learned a lot of grappling, submissions, and ne waza under him. That started in 1998. Over a 6 year period, I also started to seek out other instructors in jiu jitsu to teach me what they knew. I had a Pedro Sauer blue belt join my JJJ classes and we swapped a lot of ideas. Then in 2005, I found Eddie Bravo. The 10th Planet system was my calling. I love everything about it. Now-I teach both JJJ and 10th P at my school.
 
What made you set up Submissions 101?
A friend of mine suggested it one night while bouncing. We both were into computers and use to talk for hours while working the door. I used to joke with him about websites and he said “Ari, you should make some videos and put them on a website. I think they’d do well.” I started to look online and while there were videos for jiu jitsu, they weren’t in a format that was EASY to watch. There were some World champion grapplers but they couldn’t get their message across via video. I saw the there was a niche there and started to record vids. I wanted to share knowledge and spread the jiu jitsu love! Over the years, the videos have become more sophisticated and my ability to teach has gotten better. Now, there are several sites using our style and format. That’s pretty cool!
 
Can you describe a typical day running a dojo and website?
Man-I juggle them the best I can. I am usually teaching or at the dojo 4-5 hrs a day, 5 days a week. I also spend about 5 hours a day answering emails (100 plus a day), running our forum, posting topics, filming, editing, and marketing. I do 96% of everything myself so it takes loads of time...more than people realize (laughs). I love it though. I have so many emails from people all over the world that get benefit from them...that is my pay off!
 
What is your favourite thing to watch in a fight? Do you like all out wars, technical battles or quick finishes?
I love watching a jiu jitsu guy work his magic. I am a massive MMA fan and I love Kos and GOOD BATTLES (no wrestler’s LnP please ugh) but the submissions...that’s what gets me going.
 
Some would claim that the Gi is becoming a crutch for BJJ and the use of it is no longer applicable in the real world/MMA as everyone is wising up. Is it possible that BJJ could go the way of other traditional martial arts and get caught up in itself?
I think it already has.BJJ (GJJ) was the cutting edge art for the last 10 years but many instructors now refuse to look at other viable techniques and add to their system. That is why I am so attracted to 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu. It isn’t just the art form, it is the training philosophy behind it. For the record, I love the gi and I love BJJ. I still train in a gi in my JJJ classes and it has application in the real world for sure. I don’t think one is better than the other. In fact, I think gi and nogi are 2 different sports all together. But Gi isn’t applicable for MMA because you don’t wear one in the cage (ring). Period. Fight how you train, train how you fight. It is just that simple. If you like the gi and gi competitions, then train gi. Do what makes you happy!
 
As a teacher and a firm advocate of 10th Planet JuJitsu, what do you think the future of 10th Planet is?
10th Planet is growing like crazy. There are BJJ BLACK BELTS that are training in the system now. In fact, there is a very well know BJJ BLACK BELT that is becoming a 10th Planet instructor soon. He’s still gonna teach gi (BJJ) but also knows that the 10th Planet system holds water. Its real and not a fad as many would like to convince you. The future for this young system is bright. By the end of 2009, you’ll see 30-50 affiliate schools, 10th Planet tourneys, more of it in MMA. We accept anyone and new ideas are not shunned. We acid test everything and as a whole, discover counters to counters. The system is evolving every day!
 
Would you recommend that someone who has never set foot on a met to start with 10th Planet or would you recommend a good base in JuJitsu first?
Well, the 10th Planet system teaches basics. I am not sure why so many people think that the system or the rubber guard is advanced stuff that a total noob can’t grasp. All my new students jump right into the system with us. We teach basics, positioning, escapes, sweeps and all ‘our’ stuff as well. Heck, I teach kids as does Brandon Quick and they have no problem pulling this stuff off. If it were ‘so hard to learn’ could an 11 year old do it?
 
Does 10th Planet need to have Champions in Jujitsu for it to be widely accepted or is it just a matter of time?
I think the 10th Planet system is accepted much more than people believe. I trained in a Gracie Barra school last month (with Gi) and these guys were asking about 10th Planet moves and techniques! It’s everywhere, either openly or covertly...but people are trying out the stuff and adding it to their game. The system is still young (only 6 years old) so it will take time to get a champion that is recognized. You’ve got to remember it took BJJ 60 years to get to that point. I think you’ll start to see it within the next 4 for sure. In fact, there are a couple of 10th Planet brown belts (Denny Prokopos of San Fran and Brandon Quick of Dallas that are doing to the ADCC trials this year!!)
 
As Eddie built on the Gracie system how long do you think it will be before someone takes the next step and comes up with another effective system?
Hard to say because I can’t see the forest from the trees. I think the 10th Planet system is the most cutting edge grappling system in the world. Like I said before, our training philosophy is completely open. We are in fact still evolving. I joke with Eddie because his next book will have to be 10th Planet ver. 2.0 and show all the NEW moves, counters and such that have come out since the last books.
 
As a student of Japanese JuJitsu, would you like to see more of it used in MMA and do you think it is transferable to the sport?
JJJ is an extremely effective combat art. You see it all the time in MMA actually. Judo and BJJ pulled strongly from JJJ (throws, armbars, chokes). But you also have to remember that MMA is still a sport and the moves are limited within that context. I’ve been bouncing for 14 years and I have used JJJ 95% of the time. It is brutal, no nonsense and the best real world combative martial art in my opinion. I have the opportunity to test it literally hundreds of times over the years and it has saved my life on more than a couple of occasions. There is a huge misunderstanding on what JJJ is, where it comes from and how it differs from BJJ. I wrote an article on it and posted it on our forum...it was well received and cleared up a lot of misconceptions.
 
You have provided help and guidance to thousands on the internet through Submissions 101 but it is hard to find a forum that doesn’t hate on it in one way or another. Does this still get to you or does it give you a slight smile to know that you must be doing something right?
 Our forum doesn’t hate on us (laugh). Actually, neither does Lock Flow or MMA Junkie...or...you get the picture. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and the internet is a silly place at times. It allows people to post anonymously without fear of retribution. People get brave while sitting behind the key board. They also have their own agendas and reasons to hate. I find it hilarious because some of the stuff these guys make up is crazy. There is so much disinformation out there about me. My background, my motivation (its all about money it seems) my mental health...everything. There are people claiming ‘to know someone who once worked with me that says I am an asshole” This stuff is gold.  I know I am not perfect and I know I am still learning. But here was the turning point....
 
Over a year ago I contacted Eddie and told him “Eddie, these cats don’t like me? What have I done to them?  They are on a witch hunt!” Eddie said” 
I use to go to war with my haters but then realized that I didn’t want to waste my energy on the negative. They’ll all eat crow...trust me.”  I started getting emails from BJJ black belts and students from all over the world. I had John Hackleman (Chuck Liddell’s trainer) ever say that he loved submissions 101. I knew then that I couldn’t please everyone but also knew that there were more people out there that liked what I was doing. If the haters were so right, then why are Black Belts contacting me? Are they wrong too? The squeaky wheel gets the grease after all and people who yell (or are negative in this manner) attracted attention. But they also drive people to our site and our forum which in turn causes them to become fans of us and what we are doing.
 
You’re always calm and understanding when dealing with haters but do you ever feel like reaching through the screen and beating them to death with their own key board?
(laugh). More like choking them with their mouse (I am a jits guy after all). I put all this stuff into perspective a while ago. Let’s sit down, share ideas and be open about learning. There is too much negativity in the world. I refuse to add to it. Having dealt with craziness for 14 years as a bouncer, internet haters really don’t get me too much anymore. My vision for submissions 101 has always been about sharing knowledge and the BJJ police don’t represent the whole BJJ community.
 
5 favourite things that are rocking your world at the moment and 5 that you could do without?

Rocking:
My dog Gracie
My love of my life Lindsay (getting married in June)
My students and how much fun I have teaching
Red wine and Cheese nights
My new blackberry
 
Not rocking:
Trying to PLAN my wedding
Global warming and disregard for mother earth
Close minded wankers
Holes in socks
Eggplant...eeewww
 
Who are the up and comers you would like to give a shout to?
Gotta give a shout out to my teacher Eddie Bravo and all the 10th Planet warriors
My students
All the amazing people that I have met through Sub 101 over the last 2 years
 
What is the biggest thief of your spare time (apart from blokes asking you stupid questions)?
Laugh. I get some ridiculous questions sometime. Man, some of them are so funny too. The biggest thief would be watching certain TV shows on DVD with my girl. Nip Tuck, House and Dr. Who baby......
Thanks Mike...keep rocking your blog bro.....