Nothing in the world is more flexible and yielding than water. Yet when it attacks the firm and the strong, none can withstand it, because they have no way to change it. So the more flexible and adamant, the yielding overcome the forceful. Everyone knows this, but no one can do it. - Lao Tzu

Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) first touched down in the United States in the late 80's. At first, like everything else, it was ignored. But soon after its arrival, we saw suave speaking dudes with very little in the way of threatening physicality demolish men of brawn with ease. It made American martial artists rethink everything they had been doing all the years prior. Most American audiences left the first MMA matches confused, but respectful of what they did not understand. "What did that Royce dude do again?" was echoing across the plains. But then, eventually, the Americans caught on. Once we got bit by the Brazilian grapplin' bug, we never let go.

Remember now, this is America. Love us or hate us, American's are innovators who break rules and shun traditions. We do what we want, because we know we can. So when an unknown guy named Eddie Bravo began beating some of the top Brazilians with moves like The Twister- we saw things changing. Not long after that, we watched in awe as that same guy forced Brazilian Jiu Jitsu living legend Royler Gracie to tap out at the ADCC World Grappling Championships!

It was like Eddie was from another world! His approach was beyond what we had seen. Soon after, Eddie Bravo opened 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu. His system most known for the ever popular Rubber Guard, and his approaches to The Twister is one of the most genuine examples of American improvements on the Brazilian model. Eddie Bravo is the author of two books "Mastering the Rubber Guard" and "Mastering the Twister" as well as a 3 DVD series on his system. It's undeniably powerful in style and approach. Eddie Bravo knows his system well and transfers the system effectively.

Eddie's root approach to jiu jitsu exploits flexibility. By refining his use of flexibility, Bravo designed a new matrix of possibility of how someone can attack a man fighting from the bottom. This gives the practitioner new perspective on what it means to use formlessness in combat. Its refreshing to see in an MMA world where more and more we see weak, passive guards being the downfall of many BJJ "expert". At the same time, critics argue that the 10th Planet deviate too far from traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. That it has some authentic applicable aspects, but an equal amount of weaknesses. One some argue, is that everybody will not, and cannot be extremely flexible. Besides, original BJJ was cool because you did not need a great deal of strength, speed or flexibility to be effective.

When Bruce Lee introduced Keet Kune Do many were sold on it be cause of how powerfully effective Bruce was with it. However, since his passing and the evolution of MMA into a mainstream American sport, JKD has all but disappeared. Some say its because Bruce was its only true innovator. They say no one was courageous enough to carry the torch for the system to help it advance. The 10th Planet system has some convincing up and coming grappling stars, like Denny Prokopos among others. But it may be some time before we have a clear understanding of the 10th Planet impact on ground fighting. There is one thing is for sure though, Eddie Bravo has changed the face of contemporary BJJ.

In this interview we have an in depth look at Eddies journey to becoming a jiu jitsu innovator, and how he has used jiu jitsu to further his true passion in life- music. Talk about a guy with a life strategy...

OTM: How did 10th Plant Jiu Jitsu start? How was your jiu jitsu system born?

EB: Well, I got my black belt in jiu jitsu from Jean Jacques Machado in traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. But by the time I was a purple belt I was already morphing my style of jiu jitsu into a whole different style in itself. So when I decided to open my school, I was already thinking more about no-gi than the average jiu jitsu guy. I was a no-gi fanatic. I hated the gi. I hated training in a big bath robe. There was too much stalling. It was too slow.

So when I got my own school, I dropped the gi. No gi was more fun, and I wanted to have more fun. At Jean Jaqu Friday nights were fun. I wanted every day to be fun. The head of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation, is Carlos Gracie Jr. He felt like I was dissing or betraying the gi, by not teaching in it. He thought I was a traitor.

I said "Well, I don't need any of those Brazilian politics anway". I decided to start my own school, with my own ranking system- and go off on my own.

OTM: OK so Carlos Gracie Jr. was not a fan. Were there any other hurdles that you did not expect?

EB: First of all, this whole jiu jitsu thing was an accident. My whole goal since I was ten, was to produce music. Jiu jitus was just a way to stay in shape, so I wasn't a fat rock star. I moved to Hollywood in '91. Put together a band. I did not wanna be a fat rock star. So, I got into martial arts. I went from karate to jiu jitsu after I saw Royce Gracie beat all the karate guys. I got obsessed with the jiu jitsu.

But my plan was never to open up a school. It was like "If nothing else works out, I'll have jiu jitsu". It was a last resort. I thought the music was gonna blow up first. The jiu jitsu blew up first. Once I tapped out Royler Gracie that changed everything for me in the jiu jitsu world.

OTM: Wait! You are moving too fast. That match really defined you as a fighter- would you say that?

EB: It made it possible to teach jiu jitsu and make a living off of it. I was working for The Man Show. I was a writer for The Man Show for one season. During that time, I knew the show was gonna get canceled- it was terrible. I thought, "What the hell am I gonna do? I'm probably gonna have to start taking some MMA fights. My dream was never to do MMA. The reason I got into no gi was because in the back of my mind it was like "If the music has not popped yet, and I have a choice...Between getting up at 5 AM in the blue collar days, or doing MMA- I'm gonna do MMA.

I wanted to open up a school in LA, but all the legends are here. Rickson is here, the Machado's are here...Many Brazilians came to LA to set up shop and just crumbled. They have had to go to Wyoming, or Tenesse, or Virginia- then they are gods out there. 'Cause there is no competition. Its so hard to get anything going in LA. So that was not an option for me as the man show was winding down.

I'm thinkin', "I gotta fight man. I gotta fight! F***!!

But