What, in your opinion, gets someone the title "scumbag" in the BJJ community? I have a few people in my mind that I believe deserve that title but will reserve my opinion for now.
In the last 20 years, I have met ALOT of scumbags in the Jiu Jitsu community. It's solely based on my own perceptions. I'm sure there are plenty of people who would classify me as a scumbag. In fact I know that there are plenty. I don't think it's just a Jiu Jitsu thing though. It seems that scumbags are attracted to combat sports. Don't get me wrong, I've also met many people whom aren't. Just my opinion, but I'd say that the ratio of scumbags to non-scumbags is higher in Jiu Jitsu (all combat sports), compared to the every day population.
"What, in your opinion, gets someone the title "scumbag" in the BJJ community? I have a few people in my mind that I believe deserve that title but will reserve my opinion for now."
i agree to the stuff William already has written in the other post. For me somebody for sure is a scumbag, who intentionally hurts other partners in training with "forbidden moves", someone who only takes and doesn't give back (not helping others), somebody who sexual harrass or abuses others, bullys. Dishonest people (for example someone telling me he can't make it to practise anymore then i see that person a week later training elsewhere: just be honest- say i want to train at another school or club or switch schools, then i am totally ok with it, cause i am an adult. Everybody can train where he/she wants).
It's funny I have met some of the best people through training and competing who have become close friends almost to the point of family but have also seen some of the most reprehensible examples of humanity in the arts.
The martial arts does not make you a better person yes it can give you the tools to become a better person but if you don't use them you are just a scumbag who fights a little better.
Pedophiles, sexual predators, con men, frauds, narcissists and ego maniacs the martial arts attracts them as it gives them a position of perceived authority to operate from.
We will never weed them out but we can lead by example and hope more people follow out lead than go the other way.
I think, for me, the term "scumbag" is a different level of insult. Like, you're a Black Belt at being an asshole. This isn't someone I just don't personally like, it's someone I genuinely don't want to be in the same room with. I would say that I have only, truly, met a few people in our community like that. Unfortunately, I would say that most of the time they are people a lot of other people look up to. Coaches who has students that make excuses for their actions or athletes who are successful and so people ignore who they are as a person.
And like Phil said, I don't think it's my job (anymore) to try to call those people out or educate their students on who they train with. All I can do is try to be an example and practice what I preach.
Agree with Phil and Joe above. As martial artists, we develop a special bond of trust with our training partners because we regularly put our lives in each others' hands, literally.
So it follows that the most reprehensible thing one could do would be to abuse that special bond of trust for their own selfish purposes at the expense of others who put that trust in them openly, fully, and without reservation.
I've ran into a few in the past decade, some guys who just there to just beat ppl up and fight or some comp guys who were little extreme and lean on lower belts, teens and women. The worst is recently past few years is fake bjj guys including one claiming higher rank with no lineage and trying to claim our lineage and our professor and his teaching. including coming to our dojo learning our techniques then going across town to charge ppl for what we he got from us to even open up his own place across town as well later on with a magic new belt rank.
This is a lot like American politics. Each side sees the other as the scumbags. What is considered a scumbag is usually a cultural thing within the gym you're in. Put a high level competitor that's used to training in an aggressive manner in a hobbyist gym and they will be seen as a scumbag for going too hard. Take someone from the hobbyist gym and drop them into a competitor gym and they will be seen as the scumbag for not training hard. And there's the matter of gym enforcers. A guy comes into the gym and acts like a scumbag and the response is to fight scumbaggery with scumbaggery, but the response isn't considered scumbaggery because it's sanctioned. And I say that as a former gym enforcer.
"This is a lot like American politics. Each side sees the other as the scumbags. What is considered a scumbag is usually a cultural thing within the gym you're in. Put a high level competitor that's used to training in an aggressive manner in a hobbyist gym and they will be seen as a scumbag for going too hard. Take someone from the hobbyist gym and drop them into a competitor gym and they will be seen as the scumbag for not training hard. And there's the matter of gym enforcers. A guy comes into the gym and acts like a scumbag and the response is to fight scumbaggery with scumbaggery, but the response isn't considered scumbaggery because it's sanctioned. And I say that as a former gym enforcer."
For me there is a difference between just „rolling hard“/ competitive and intentionally hurting someone with „forbidden“ moves (slamming on the head/neck for example) or even hurting someone with „regular“ technique (ignoring the tap, pulling of heelhooks full force in training).
The first one simply has another approach and level of intensity.
The second one in my eyes would be a scumbag.
Just my personal opinion!
"For me there is a difference between just „rolling hard“/ competitive and intentionally hurting someone with „forbidden“ moves (slamming on the head/neck for example) or even hurting someone with „regular“ technique (ignoring the tap, pulling of heelhooks full force in training). The first one simply has another approach and level of intensity. The second one in my eyes would be a scumbag. Just my personal opinion!"
That wasn't the best example, but it is still related to the culture of the gym. A scumbag in one gym might be a hero in another just because of what they consider acceptable.
I can think of 3 major categories of people who rise to "scumbag" level. I'll leave PEDs out of this because there a range of opinions, but I think most of us are united on these 3 major categories:
Dangerously Aggressive Roller
Treat training like a deathmatch, rolling too hard, cranking submissions without mercy, and ignoring taps or skill disparities. They're called scumbags for endangering partners and turning collaborative sessions into ego trips. Often incented to leave several gyms.
The Ego-Driven Promoter / Self-Serving Coach
Instructors who exploit students for personal gain, like overcharging for promotions, creating cult-like gyms, or prioritizing their own clout over team growth. Seen as scumbags for manipulating trust and turning BJJ into a profit scheme. Lots of broken promises and often owe money all over town.
Sexual Exploiter
Those who abuse the intimate nature of BJJ for harassment, predation, or fostering exploitative environments (e.g., inappropriate advances or covering up misconduct). Labeled ultimate scumbags for betraying vulnerability and harming the community's reputation.
One thing I've noticed in my ten years on the mats is that gyms tend to self-select its students. Like attracts like. Real douchy students tend not to last very long in most schools. Cringy guys that perp on female students and folks that hurt other intentionally tend to not last long, whether it's an MMA gym to a BJJ gym. Eventually a mat enforcer will tune 'em up enough that they just don't come back.
I can't speak to pedos or real predators because I haven't seen any, at least not yet. In those cases I'd hope that the law would get involved promptly, regardless of the rank or status of the alleged predator.
But as for the straight-up scumbags, people that get learn self-select for discontinuing their training, or get invited to the door (seen both of those a few tines).
I agree with the idea of exploiting others when in a position of authority and/or intentionally hurting others. I have seen the former, and it is very disappointing to see. On a related note, I have found that it can be helpful for regional gyms to share information with each other to ensure that our community stays safe when there is evidence of exploitive or dangerous behavior. At times, we have contacted other gyms when we were seeing red flags in new students to ensure that our gym was staying safe.
