Jiu Jitsu Doesn't Work in a Real Fight
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- Опубликовано: 27 авг 2024
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VIDEO DESCRIPTION
Rick Ellis Discusses the subject of self defense in response to someone who commented that BJJ doesn’t work in a real fight.
I primarily use jiujitsu to roll over in bed, get out of my car, and load the washing machine. It's great stuff.
Yes, now my wife sleeps much better because i can turn over smoothly, and in the morning I knee cut my way out of bed for extra reps
It’s crazy bro. I reverse shrimp out of bed every morning. Seriously lol
@@JonathanLGN lol but it is somewhat true really, It's close to that escape that you do when you're in turtle and the oponent has the north south position so you go under the armpit and cut through. Maybe I always did it but now I have a name for it haha
@@CyberwaveOrchestra At first i thought your wife sleeps better because you choke her good night💀
I literally mutter "technical stand up!" to myself numerous times a day :)
My instructor posted on social media one time that he "used his jiu-jitsu". Long story short, he was dealing with a hot head and he concluded fighting the guy was not worth it and removed himself from the situation. Being calm under pressure - that's one of the most valuable things about training jiu-jitsu IMO. Great video as always Rick!
Look i know what you mean, technically we the better people are meant to walk away but to be honest with you I hate bullies and would sooner smack them hard and teach them a lesson than let them feel bigger and pick on another person. So on that basis I have never subscribed to the walk away approach unless you think you are going to lose because your outnumbered or they have a weapon. Yes there is a risk something could go very bad but it normally doesn’t
Well, if he just "removed himself from the situation", then that "martial art he used" could've also very well been Aikido, or Karate, or Kung fu, etc...All sensible teachings from martial arts include the right frame of mind to not take unecessary engagements and to be aware.
The fact remains that rolling brazilian jiujutsu on concrete pavement is a different thing altogether from doing it on padded floors- and that consensual violence is different from self-defense. Not saying BJJ does not work. Any tool that works, works when used properly. Using any tool on something it was NOT designed for will have real consequences. No real handyman will only have one tool in their toolbox- they'll always have a bag of various tools.
Oh yeah, where else do you get completely accustomed and comfortable being manhandled? Nowhere.
As Bruce Lee would say; the Art of Fighting without Fighting!
During an international KMG seminar, a wise instructor name Moran Laskov asked:
How many of you saw a gun or a knife being used on the street? the result was less than 5%
How many of you know an older person who fell and broke his hip or femur? the result was close to 30%
He then concluded: Train for life, learn to breath, fall, be fit and agile.
The floor and stairs are responsible for the vast of your injuries.
I started training Jiu Jitsu two years ago at the age of 55 for the same reasons you mentioned.
Prior to that, I trained some Muay-Thai and Krav-Maga.
I wasn't involved in a physical altercation for 30 years now, but I did fall down 12 stairs and thanks to the training, got up with nothing but a scratch.
Well said. Learning how to fall is an underrated benefit of bjj.
different country different scenarios, in my shithole country, one man fight will become gang fight in less than 5 minutes. Some will involve entire village attacking each other.
I tell my Aikido students that learning how to fall is the self defence they are most likely to need, unless they go to the USA.
Old guy here, at the time 64, walking with my wife, holding her hand, she trips and falls. Using my Judo, Jiu Jitsu, was able to lower her down easy, and do a zempo kaitan, (sp). That was a fight to save my wife. Judo, Jiu Jitsu works!
I don’t need to fall down stairs because I train Jiu-Jitsu and feel like I have already fallen down all of them
Very true, I’m 52 and boxed for over twenty years and took up ju-jitsu recently and I can definitely see how it would work in the street. The only caveat is boxing teaches you how to take a punch to the face and not duck and cover like most people haven’t boxed so a mix of both skills is even better, like he said the right tool for the right job.
Agreed.
Well said.
Be careful injury
I would hope in boxing you're learning how to avoid punches to the face lmao
@@jeremybuckets It’s a legitimate strategy to use the hardest bones in your face to block punches, i was really confused the first time i hurt someone by letting them crush their fingers on the side of my jaw lol it didn’t even feel like a punch but they stopped using that hand
I’ve lived in NYC most of my life and people here are good at identifying those who know how to take care of themselves. They present to the world in a way that is unmistakeable, and don’t need to fight. This is the reason I train.
I have found that staying out of bars is a very effective way to avoid bar fights. Good video. As mentioned, it depends on context - there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
haha so true.
solid!
What are these so called "bar fights"? I've been in and out of bars several times throughout my life, and I frequently take vacations to places like New Orleans. In fact, my wife and I go there and stay several times per year, and we go to some of the bars on Bourbon Street. Never seen a fight in a bar in my whole life. Where are these bar fights taking place?
Best comment on here
My road rage has decreased significantly since training. My mentality is that I'm too tired, I already fought several people, and I'm just trying to get home to get my body right.
100%! i've been training BJJ for four years, and the inner peace that i've developed is tremendous. 1. i'm not looking for a fight, because i roll with trained killers almost every day. 2. if a "real fight" finds me, i'll be more adept than i would have been, pre BJJ.
Good point. I do BJJ now, but back in the 90s, I was living in Japan and practicing Kyokushin Karate. I used to ride a crowded train ever day and there is a lot of passive-aggressive pettiness that goes on there. Some people holding the strap and intentionally keeping their elbow in your face, or someone grinding on your foot knowing it's too crowded for you to look down and see who is doing it, or someone trying to push you aside because they want to stand where you are standing. They do it furtively, and it's a big win for them if they can goad reaction from you, because then everyone is looking at you and not the person who was doing the pettiness. Due to work and life schedules, I would have stints where I was not training for a while. When I wasn't training, people doing that passive-aggressive shit made me say things, or made me do it back to them, or even, on one occasion, made me slap the hell out of some guy. But when I was training, if someone did those things to me on the train I would just chuckle inside and think, this poor guy must have a lot of stress in his life. But I had no inclination to retaliate.
>having road rage in the first place
pos
That 70% also probably increases a LOT if one of those in the fight is a grappler actually trying to take the other person down.
Closer to the 90% the Gracie’s have been telling people for 50 years.
Good point.
I agree. However it would decrease if one of the people had striking training(as long as the other person wasn't a grappler) as most trained strikers have decent footwork. I think watching fights on RUclips very few of the people fighting have trained. I think most trained fighters avoid fighting as much as possible
Fellow old guy here at 44. Really appreciate your humility my friend
On two separate occasions, I was cycling quite aggressively downhill and ran into something (a bush and a curb), causing my bicycle to flip forward. I went head-first straight over the handlebars. In both cases, I did a textbook front roll and ended up back on my feet unscathed. I didn't have time to think about what to do. My body just took over and did what it was supposed to. I can honestly say my Jiu Jitsu has saved me in real life situations in the street. Not what most people mean, but it's very possible that if I hadn't done thousands of front rolls in class, I could have serious dain bramage right now.
Lots of martial artists (including myself) have similar stories. Never needed to use kaiten nage, but when a car slammed into the side of my motor scooter, all the rolling and breakfall practice paid off.
I've done some rolls out of an endo as well. One on asphalt without a helmet on. I was bruised up and a little bloody but kept my head safe and didn't break anything. Learned forward rolls in Aikido. The best place to learn to defend yourself from the ground itself
@@junglejim3433 Same here. I first learned the front roll in Aikido in Japan in the 1990s. Then again in BJJ in the 2010s-2020s. Front rolls and technical stand-up have life benefits far beyond just fighting.
I’ll second this. I had a very similar experience just a week or two ago. My bike went down sideways, while the front handlebars did a full 540-degree turn. What’s crazy is that when the bike lost balance and started to fall, I almost perceived things in a mild slow-motion. And my body automatically lifted the leg that would’ve been pinned by the bike, and then I calmly hit the ground and did a full forward roll to absorb the impact.
It was almost peaceful, the way that it all happened
Normally you should have learned the first time to not have it happened a second time. Be careful
I think the most important part of this discussion is scalability. I always go right to that when I'm talking about using jiujitsu or judo. In my time as a military policeman, I had a handful of situations that required a use of force. The continuum of force (at that time, it could be different now) went from Verbal to empty hand, to baton, to taser, to firearm. This was "scalable" in the sense that you could do certain things within each category based on what the perp was doing, but was pretty limited.
In those situations, I was always able to resolve the situation using empty hand techniques, even when an attempt to take my weapon happened. The ability to control somebody so completely as to entirely negate a threat of deadly force (stealing an officer's weapon is an act of deadly force and allows them to respond as such) without even hurting somebody is a valuable skill.
In my time working in Corrections I often found the same thing. Interestingly enough, I had many conversations with those guys after the fact and they were almost all confused, impressed, and thankful that I was able to handle them the way that I did because they didn't know how to fight back against good grappling skills. How could I hold them down so effectively? How was I able to completely prevent them from striking me effectively? I truly believe that I owe my health to judo and jiujitsu. Surely I would be a lot more banged up, or worse, without it.
Outside of work conditions, I have used verbal tools to diffuse bad situations 100% of the time. What works the best for me is to hold my hand up and say, "Wait, hold that thought dude. I gotta poop," and then walk away. Nobody has followed me yet!
Great video, great talking points. Cheers!
100% agree. It's hard to punch someone softly and end a fight, but you can definitely take someone down without hurting them, turn them into a pretzel and show them that this is not something they really want to do.
Sounds like you can handle your shit!💩
I have 9 years of stand up martial arts experience. I was a 3X state champ in Tae Kwon Do. I sparred with a purple belt in BJJ. He simply defended the one kick I got off before taking me down and quickly submitting me. I couldn’t believe how effective he was. It set me along on my own BJJ journey at 45 years old. I absolutely love it. Hands down, the most effective and complete martial art I have ever trained. BJJ Lends itself to so many other areas of life. Great video
Many years of martial arts experience here. No, BJJ is not the most *complete* martial art. However, I agree it's the most useful, and if you have ALSO experience in boxe or thai boxe or other similar arts, I would bet on you.
Yes it is literally just a modified ground techniques of jujitsu. It's missing a lot of its standing game (judo).
The people who make that statement typically do not train. They think they know what Jiu Jitsu is and what practitioners actually do. I am seeing a lot of these naysayers lately for some odd reason.
Same here. A lot of it is what the kids these days would call "cope". If they can convince themselves it's not useful, they don't have to feel bad for their own inertia.
That's exactly what happens with people who like to diss traditional martial arts
I’ve seen those comments many times - “BJJ doesn’t work in a fight”. Just as many times as I’ve seen those comments, I have seen videos on the internet of someone who trains bjj, in a street fight, straight up, choke someone out within 30 seconds of the fight happening. It is supremely ignorant for folks to say that it doesn’t work in a real fight. Especially given how most fights go to the ground.
You’re right. There’s no “one size fits all” for different scenarios. Knocking someone out is harder than one would think. But EVERYONE HAS TO BREATH. 😂😂
I like what Stephen Kesting said one time as well “The defense for striking is striking OR grappling, the defense for grappling is grappling. Why not train what is most applicable if you have limited time?”
Great breakdown One thing to add: the single biggest blind spot in this conversation - every single time - is that most "real" self defense situations are not men in bar fights (or whatever) but women in domestic assault / sexual assault situations. That is, at your home, or a friend's home, dealing with someone you probably know, on a couch/bed/floor, fighting against a bigger and stronger person, probably not with weapons involved, etc. For that, I can't think of even a remotely close contender for best martial art to know besides BJJ.
BJJ should not be used against multiple opponents. If you go to the ground the other attackers will kick you in the head. Also if a knife is pulled on you get away don't engage. One on one unarmed sure.
@@dawidcloete6268 Did you mean to reply to this comment or another comment? Seems like you're on a different conversation!
@@dawidcloete6268No martial art would be useful against multiple opponents, or with someone using a knife. None!
@@Sorted906 Gun-fu.
You're 100% correct, but too bad so few women are involved.
A very important part of ANY training is the philosophy of THAT discipline. 55-year-old guy here, just purchased the course. Thank you, Professor.
This has to be the best commentary I've ever heard on the subject of "which martial art for self-defense".
If I saw a fight in real life, and someone tried to leg lock someone else, I'd stop the fight, demand to know where this person trains, and shout at them for leg locking a white belt. Unacceptable. 😂
Hey Rick, I'd love to have you on my podcast - thanks for the great videos!
I'd hope he rips that heel off
If anyone wants to know if Jiujitsu works against a random person in the street. Ask someone that does jiujitsu what happens when someone brand new comes into the gym. We call them “trial class guys” and I’ve seen white belts with a month (sometimes only a few classes of experience) destroy them.
Newbie is not punching, kicking, hair pulling, biting..
@@CBWANADAneither is the BJJ guy. And he's the one more likely to be in a position to take advantage of those techniques.
There’s a reason you don’t see most of the worlds best grapplers join the UFC and that’s the fear of being punched, elbowed and kneed continuously in the head and on the street also head butted until you are unconscious. I do Jujitsu and box and can tell you I take far more punishment when doing hard boxing sparing than Jujitsu and that’s because we do two minutes rounds in boxing and as you know there is no tapping out in boxing so you don’t quit until the buzzer goes. There’s definitely a much higher threat level feeling to one’s health with boxing than I have ever felt with Jujitsu. But don’t get me wrong Jujitsu is tough
When it comes to cardio and getting twisted and contorted but not in that same, you could be brain damaged or actually die way if something go bad with boxing. I know in a serious street fight where I’m really threatened I’m going to throw long range punches and use feet to keep distance and then if they get hold of me then Jujitsu all the way. But going straight in to the opponent from the get go using jujitsu seems risky when someone trying to break your head open throwing bombs.
Another thing you get a very different crowd of people with boxing clubs than Jujitsu clubs, for instance all those Jujitsu parents who watch their kids train at jujitsu would run screaming out of a boxing club if they saw the hits going on there. Boxing clubs are violent places let there be no bones about that but Jujitsu clubs are not. And if you want to combat violence you need to train violent I’m afraid, there’s no free lunch
@@davepurcell1318 That doesn't make boxing 'tougher'. If you want to 'hard spar' in BJJ, you'll either be choked out constantly (leading to brain damage) or have dislocated joints. That's why we tap. It doesn't make it any less 'violent' if the line between safety and severe damage is a simple tap, which you could easily ignore from your partner if you want to really hurt them. But the nature of the martial art allows you to minimise damage in training, which again, doesn't make it any less violent. Also, BJJ is #1 on par with wrestling for the most successfully utilised martial art in the UFC.
Eye gouging and biting a chunk of flesh out of the bjj guy will end his game
Also, bjj is the only martial art you can train at full speed. This is the main reason its applicable for the streets...you are used to a pace that the streets rarely replicate
Not true. You got Judo, wrestling, and some other striking arts go hard too.
*one of the only
@@senseiSinclair as a muay thai fighter please tell me what striking art you practice at full speed? I'll give you wrestling and judo but they are similar grappling styles. Jiu jitsu is a combination of both
@@each1teachonetruth Well we go upto 80% i guess. Not all the time. Its a not well known version of eskrima. It involves sparring with and without weapons. The point i was making, is that arts that dont spar properly are not effective for self defence. And putting down combat sports and assuming they are less effective is a bunch of bs as well. There is nothing stopping a combat sport fighting, throwing out the rule book, but they will be in a better place to use it, Relying of dirty tactics anyone could use is not a great plan.
@@senseiSinclair definitely think there is something to learn and something useful from each martial art. I am forever a student
I have used BJJ in a pub fight, got clocked by a suckerpunch and in response just rugby tackled the guy, took his back and choked him out, all on instinct (hence the awful takedown) keep training people!
I'm a retired PO and a purple belt you are definitely giving great advice
Even people who don’t know how to fight can win a fight. Jiujitsu definitely gives you an advantage, plus the confidence you get is very meaningful. If you’ve never been manhandled in your life and you’re in a serious situation where someone at a bar grabs you by the collar, you might freak out, but if you’re rolling every week and someone does that to you, it doesn’t intimidate you, you will be better at keeping your cool to think straight and decide what to do.
rolling on the floor like a total fag won't make you a tough guy at all, getting your brains knocked out over and over will, and wrestling beats jiu jitsu every time ... bjj clowns confuse confidence with arrogance
Terrific vid, Professor!
Thank you for posting.
Like you said, Jiu Jitsu begins with, and is situational awareness, continues with de-escalation, and hopefully never hands on.
Like you said, if you go hands-on, you can scale the level of control and violence.
I’ve been a healthcare provider for 27 years, and train once a week as a recreational BJJ player.
Thank God, situational awareness and de-escalation has gotten me through some tough spots.
Be well, always.
20 year practitioner and black belt here. Have used BJJ in many altercations on the street mostly bar fights in self defense. Great for control and self confidence under the stress and pressure of confrontation. The daily sparring especially when you get your hands on trial week people really gets you an idea of what an actual altercation with the u trained is like. Multiple attackers and obviously weapons has always been the Achilles heel of BJJ but my training has absolutely kept me safe in any street altercations. The confidence alone is enough to make some people think twice.
My system is great for bar fights. I haven't been to a bar in over twenty years. :)
I agree 100%; especially the point about strength and strategy. I think because all martial arts by definition are forms of combat, people want to rank or assess their utility within the framework of the proverbial and hypothetical street fight. They take a very simplistic view that unless the MA is designed specifically for worst case scenario street fights then it has no true usefulness or value because they see its purpose as only for self-defense.
But, as you said every martial artist no matter what their art or background think about these questions and understand the necessity for adaptation. That already makes them better prepared than someone who has no experience in martial arts in a street fight. The point about strength and conditioning is also an excellent one. I'd rather be a stronger, fitter person having trained in BJJ and have more physical attributes that increase the likelihood of my survival in a street fight than being out of shape with no endurance, stamina or strength.
Very well said!
Thank you for a well thought out video.
This kind of topic needs to be touched upon and delved into by all practitioner, teacher and especially the armchair warriors.
Very good stuff sir.
People who say that BJJ won't work in a real fight must be assuming that a BJJ practitioner won't/can't punch, kick, throw elbows, or knees.
I started BJJ 3 weeks ago and have attended 18 classes. I'm 73 and have more injuries than I have places to injure. I was away from any sort of Martial Art since I got out of the USAF in 1973 with the exception of 15 months of Krav Maga. (Don't knock KM, it incorporates everything, boxing, wrestling, judo, jujitsu TKD). I boxed, wrestled, practiced Judo and TKD while in the military. Today someone got a bit aggressive with an arm bar, I might have to take tomorrow off. In ever situation where I have had to defend myself over my 73 years, each time I have reverted to boxing with one exception where a strong forward, frontal TKD type kick was in order. I have a hot tub which is getting a real workout every day.
I agree with everything you said in this video. I laugh when people bring up weapons like knives or multiple attackers. At that point no martial art is worth trying. The best art would be the 100 meter dash 😂
Or the Art of the machinegun...
@AverageGIJoeOutdoors MURICA!
@AverageGIJoeOutdoors true but people be like “you should use boxing or Muay Thai if their is multiple attackers”. Unless your Mike Tyson or Nganou level power you’re getting stomped out 😂
The first thing I learned in my Gracie school is if you are a n the ground and gas out, you are screwed. Stay in shape and control your breathing.
And go to BJJ classes !
Good video. Interesting that you mentioned Mark Rippetoe and that great quote. I randomly met him at a gas station in Texas while my family and I were passing through on our way back home from a camping trip in Colorado two years ago. He pointed out a low travel trailer tire that I had been watching and was about to inflate. He was very concerned for our safety. Nice guy in his own semi-cranky sort of way.
BJJ is the second most necessary tool for self defense (that does not involve guns). The first one is verbal de-escalation.
As far as "kickboxing" ... you don't kick to the head in a real fight. Mosts effective kicks are low kicks ... to the legs (Knee), perhaps as high as the sternum. The higher you kick the riskier it is as the opponent can grab your leg and take you down.
Also, you can't kick or punch if you are choked out, or if your limbs are dislocated. Just a thought ...
I personally find it a great way to stay in shape. I don't want to choke anyone, or break any limbs, but if I have to in a self defense scenario I know how to do it.
I've used it. Saved my life.
My students have used it.
It depends how you train. If you're focusing on pajama parties and no gi grappling you have a point. The Way Rickson taught us, well, we're invisible.
i am a behavior therapist for kids in the spectrum, my 3 year experience in bjj has help me in my job, to control situations with out hurting anyone, most of the times theres no need to contain your client, but sometime when they are being dangerous for others or themselves it is necesary and jiujitsu its great tool because you learn and understand the mechanics of our bodies.
The moment you fight more than one guy, and you go to the ground with one of them, you have very little chance to beat the rest of the standing guys.
As far as I go on the street fight, one on one does happen but most cases were turned into a gang fight. It is necessary to look his friends, if he is alone or with friends. If with friends better avoid it.
Literally just seen a 'fight' in a Supermarket on the national news. Was on the ground within 10 seconds with neither party clearly knowing any BJJ!
To start with anyone who says BJJ doesn't work in a real fight is either a hardcore troll or under the age of maybe 15. Secondly, self defense is a multi-tired approach when done correctly. You need hand to hand skills (as you said Jiu-Jitsu is one of the best) You need fitness and you should likely have some weapons skills as well.
As for fighting like you train you will revert to the level of training you have mastered, you will not be able to out smart your body and rise to the occasion. You will absolutely revert to your training. This is not even debatable. There is a certain way to train Jiu-Jitsu for self defense and a completely different way to train for competition. If you don't train to under-hook when being elevated, you train to invert, you pull guard, you don't train against strikes etc, you aren't training Jiu-Jitsu, you are training sport grappling. They are NOT the same thing.
I've been training Jiu-jitsu for 23 years, Muay thai for 30 and carrying a gun daily since age 21 both professionally and not. (Former LE)
Right. The truth is sport Jiu Jitsu doesn't work on a real fight. How many times have we seen a Combat Jiu Jitsu match where some sport Jiu Jitsu black belt is messing around in reverse delariva, and the other guy just bends over and starts palm striking his head through the floor.
@@richarddukard8989 Yep. You have to train Jiu-Jitsu for fights or for sport. Lots of people like to say they do both but the truth is if you are training for sport you are creating a lot of training scars that will get you hurt in a real fight. If you aren’t doing takedowns and grappling against fully resisting/striking opponents regularly you aren’t training actual Jiu-Jitsu.
Add a weapon into the mix and you had better also have some gun retention skills.
I also love when people bring up weapons or multiple attackers. Like bro if they have a knife or 4 friends, no martial art is winning. Then the 100m dash is the best self defense
@@nitrox1613 What you really need in that situation is a lightsaber, Soresu, and the Force.
@@nitrox1613 Exactly!
what I liked about my 1st Karate Style (and Karate when taught and learned correct is a complete system not just kicking and punching) .... for example , we had a technique (Bunkai for Godan Kata) spin the shoulders and lock in a rear naked choke, Yondan Kata - Front Naked Choke (aka Nina Choke) as well as takedowns such as Osto (palm driving back the Chin) , as well as wrist locks, arm wrenches (standing) .... it was like Karate mixed with Japanese Jujitsu ... OSS
The ones who say that BJJ doesn't work, dont train BJJ..I dont think any Jiu Jitsu practitioner will pull guard in a physical altercation but it is nice to have in your back pocket..my training in wrestling and BJJ gives me confidence in knowing i can protect my family and myself in a dangerous situation.. great content
A man goes to his first jujitsu class, pulls a groin muscle and tears a rotator cuff, on the way home he gets mugged and cannot defend himself, that man hates jujitsu.
To be honest, grappling is important in fights, especially chokes. BJJ is useful, but cannot be the only thing you do. The reason is that most attacks on men are from multiple attackers, so if you go to the ground, generally you want to get up, just to survive.
Fitness is very important even if facing a gun, because if you're bleeding out, you're survival chances are higher if you're fitter (you can function with less blood in your system).
Good point about scaling responses. Alot of times you're not looking to beat someone. Sometimes it's a kid, sometimes a woman. BJJ is excellent, but learn to throw (many BJJs not focusing on throwing) and learn some strikes. Every combat situation is different.
Nothing works reliably against multiple attackers.
If you don't hang out in bars, don't have a temper and are at home before 9 o'clock the chances of getting into an altercation or fight is very slim.
This was a great baseline and breakdown of context! I'm a 1st Brown in Tracy's Kenpo and some years ago, got into a "bar scrap", guy was doing his best to get me to ground, fortunately for me it didn't happen through my effort and training. However, it was that night that I saw the blind spot. For the record, I didn't instigate that fight, I know there are some really tough and skilled dudes walking around, so I never go looking for scraps. Anyway, seeing that blind spot of, "what if that guy had gotten me to the ground?", that's when I had the good fortune to understand there's no universal "tool" to your point, knowledge is power, martial arts knowledge and span is power.
I started my jiu-jitsu journey when I was about 40, just enjoying it for every moment I get on the mat. Began focused in Gi... and saw the gaps in contrast with No-Gi training. Love them both for different reasons, but have an affinity towards No-Gi because it is so raw and personal. No-Gi jiu-jitsu presses on every humility point I've ever observed.
Mr. Ellis, you put it very nicely - "jiu jitsu is just a tool", there are many tools, and every tool has its purpose. I too, at the ripe old age of 46 prefer Jiu-Jitsu.
Thoroughly enjoy your perspective on life and things.... appreciate your content!
God bless.
Always thoughtful informative content.❤❤❤
Good stuff Rick. I also call bullshit on “sport jiu jitsu doesn’t work”. What exactly is “sport?” It’s kind of the same question as “what is a real fight?” As you said, everything is contextual and scaleable. “Sport” jiu jitsu athletes (as Garry Tonon and John Danaher have famously said) who spar regularly, will routinely annihilate the average “street fighter”. Are there some techniques that are less effective or appropriate when punches are being thrown…for sure. But people making the “street vs. sport bjj” argument act as if people are completely mechanical and unable to decide in real time what positions and techniques to use for a given situation. There is a video somewhere on YT where Ryan Hall, who is known for his intricate “sport” leg attack game, has an altercation in a pizzeria. From what I remember the following happens: Ryan takes him down, mounts him and waits until he chills out. This argument is ridiculous: I’d bet a substantial sum to watch your average D1 wrestler take on your average “brawler”. Combat sports, that utilize regular live sparring (Muay Thai, BJJ, judo, wrestling) are simply devastating in most settings. Nothing is perfect 100 percent of the time and if you’ve spent any time rolling with MMA gloves, you understand that the jiu jitsu does get pretty direct and simple. But it’s still the most appropriate martial sport/combat art for most people and most situations, most of the time. 🥋
Ryan Hall vid: ruclips.net/video/2COQCXHzALY/видео.html
Yep. Sports is the only way to pressure test a martial art. Hope life's treating you well, David.
I'll take a World Class boxer in a parking lot over any BJJ expert. Hands down
A world-class boxer would not be stupid enough to fight in the parking lot for free
Thank you sir for this. I work for a protective service and I appreciate what you’ve saying. A lot of people actually need to work on the mindset too. Walking into a situation with prejudices will skew a view point with making an interaction. I have trained MMA since the NHB days (I’m old) and working now with a high level group. There is legal liability inherently in what we do and we need to foremost use our brains use our ability to de-escalate situations. Second would be using our techniques to subdue an otherwise violent subject. A lot of people want to go to hard tools to solve a situation that would otherwise be quelled by talking to a subject and listening. A lot of it is listening to people too. But in any case I agree that jiujitsu is essential, wrestling is essential and striking is essential. They are all empty handed tools.
Basically: BJJ WORKS VERY WELL IN A 1V1 FIGHT.
Great subject and wise advice. Another wise man once said "Be like water... be formless". Every martial art has components that are street applicable but none are the complete package. Having previously trained Krav Maga and now training Muay Thai and BJJ gives me a street perspective to my current training. I imagine scenarios in my rolls where I am vulnerable to knife or strike attacks and play out what I would do in my mind. One thing I can say about BJJ is it gives you resilience like no other martial art - that internal grit to fight even when the odds are against you - as they usually are when a person 30-50 pounds heavier than you is barreling down on you. Good stuff!
All martial arts have sport aspects and require a live sparring partner will work in street fights with very minimal amount of adjustment.
This is by far the best and most matured assessment of the usefulness of ground fighting. I’m a striker btw. Appreciate your thoughts, old man!
One situation that was incredibly frustrating for me some days ago was when I had a knife fighting training. After some time training, the sensei asked the people to fight using those rubber knives and I had a great time trying to stab the other guys, The problem was when I had no knife and the other guy had one. This training was flipping hard: everything I did, I got stabed LOL. Everybody was laughing and trying to improve the technique, but we had a hard time. Much of the Jiujitsu was useful at the time...
You hit the nail on the head. There is not one single perfect self defense/martial art. People forget that jiu jitsu practicioners can also choose to strike when they want to, and would be effective in doing so if they cross train some form of striking. For me, the perfect mix is Jiu Jitsu, Judo, and Muay Thai. I also am proficient with guns as well.
Great points all around in the video. I find that the people that are the most concerned with BJJ not being effective in self defense and especially multiple attackers, have never even trained BJJ nor have they ever gotten into street fights lol. I am in my early 40's and getting older, I cannot train 100% at MMA or boxing anymore. I LOVE and train BJJ with it being self defense minded, the truth is, I practice it every time I roll. I am getting out of bad spots, controlling the aggression, distance management, disengagement, safer take downs like arm drags, collar ties, inside/outside trips, body lock take downs from the over under etc. Being a smaller guy (5'6, 135 lbs, small frame) I simply CANNOT rely on strength, power, nor speed.
The more tools available for your use, the more options you might have to get the job done; if you know what you're doing and know how and when to apply them. Thank you Rick!
Sadly, its getting less realistic. I'm a black belt and love sports jiu jitsu. Hitting imanari rolls into heel hooks and diving for false reaps. But lets be real, when a fight breaks out I aint pulling guard, im reverting to my college wrestling and putting your head through concrete. Sadly, most practitioners dont even know the proper mechanics of a takedown let alone what to do if some sprawls on them. It's really sad to see as someone who has worked all aspects of grappling for decades and refuses to shy away from postitions.
People laughed at Karate and said it didn’t work 25 years ago and yet it saved my ass on multiple occasions, though the difference is we sparred hard every training session, no shin pads or any of that and pulling punches to the face. BJJ is the same for me now and training it with an extra MMA style class or with slap sparring is going to prepare you for most altercations. I also trained other styles where sparring doesn’t occur and unfortunately despite the awesome techniques, if you are not in daily sparring you are setting yourself up for failure. Why? Well it’s not because you can or can’t take a punch, for the most part it’s because you don’t truly understand distance and aren’t prepared for unexpected responses which only sparring can teach and not some fake multiple attack pad work in these modern self defence gyms which prepare you for nothing.
The first lesson when you start Jiu Jitsu training is realizing, "OH NO! I'd be helpless in a real fight!"
I am finding that all of the “warm-up” exercises done before actual training aids me in running away from trouble !
Really insightful and candid video. I like how you kept it real but at the same time stayed extremely respectful to all the arts. You brought up some really valuable points and was no nonsense. Personally I respect all martial arts and believe we can all learn from each other. It’s not the art but rather the practitioner who makes it real and effective. Great video 👍🏾
People that sat BJJ doesn't work I think are usually referring to a 'pub fight' with several people tumbling, running, pushing and pulling each other, I'd say BJJ/grappling still works there, in the ability to remain standing and grip breaking/disengaging.
Great Channel!
One thing we only touched on here is that jits also has a stand-up game as well. Admittedly, it focuses on going to ground in a manner we choose, but it still exists. Furthermore, I always have to wonder about the source of these types of comments; has the person who made the comment ever really been in a fight themselves and just how much mat time do they have? I have only had get physical once in my adult life because I choose to be a responsible person and father. People rely on me and I love them enough to avoid serious altercations. That does not mean I wimp out and backdown; it means I convince the other person that neither one of us is going to like the outcome, for many reasons. Also, no one wants to look like the bully who decided to fight the nicest guy around and who is minding his own business. So be nice. The words "I'm not here to fight." Seem to go a long way. You may have to repeat them but eventually, they usually make the person leave you alone.
One of the best lessons I’ve learned in bjj is that you have no idea what somebody is capable of doing based on their size. That guy who is 5’5” 125 might be able to absolutely f you up.
Ask a trauma surgeon or nurse how people usually end up getting hurt or killed in street fights, i can promise it wasn't 7 out of 10 times grom rolling around on the ground. People are getting punched, stabbed, stomped, slammed, and choked for the most part, or hit with some other improvised weapon.
I have to admit that the thumbnail is a little bit like Clickbait. Now that I hear what you’re saying about verbal jujitsu, I totally agree with you.
I’m surprised people still claim that Jiu-Jitsu isn’t effective. It has a proven track record in Vale Tudo, grappling, MMA, Law Enforcement, and self defence. There’s so much evidence to suggest that it actually works.
There are a moves in sport jiu jitsu that aren't practical for an altercation: beri-bolo, guard pulls, etc. People confuse sport jiu jitsu with the original Gracie combatives.
@@robcubed9557 I’m not disagreeing with the fact that berimbolos are very inappropriate for self defence. However, it’s highly unlikely that any self-respecting BJJ practitioner would ever use that move in such a scenario.
Just because BJJ has techniques that only applies to sport, doesn’t invalidate it as a means of self protection. The evidence is undeniable and overwhelming, despite its flaws
As a Practitioner for over 30 years in multiple styles, systems and arts, this is a Trick question...and has almost no true answer due to individual Human response and a multitude of specific scenarios that change drastically.
Generally, grappling arts, BJJ, Sambo, Wrestling is extremely effective in Real Fight scenarios...again Generally. Every single scenario is different and constant changes happen instantly.
Every scenario can be What If to death...and every person can respond emotionally and mentally different depending on specifics.
Literally anything can work depending, and anything can fail depending....you just do the best you can to prepare and be realistically ready. In my humble opinion, always train with maximum resistance in as safe a manner as you can.
a real fight is any situation where you have to defend yourself or others
As someone living in South Africa, all the scenarios you mentioned (apart from the airport one), happen on a daily basis, including rape.
I'd say the jiu jitsu tool would be extremely appropriate.
intersting video and topic. Props to that. In my opinion..I have been in a real fight and the thing that jiu jitsu doesnt count is being startled. people can atack in the unexpected way and in unexpected time. You have to think very fast to counter that.
Someone who doesn't know grappling, is going to get destroyed by someone who has a lot of grappling experience, unless the size difference is massive. It's like watching a fish try to run, when someone who doesn't know ground fighting gets tied up on the ground. Once you mount someone who isn't good at grappling, they are all done, nothing they can do, but roll to their stomach by instinct, to protect their face and then open themselves up to a RNC. Most street fights aren't fights, they are an attack out of anger and usually limited to a few haymakers.
I've used BJJ twice in street fights. It saved my life twice. First time against an amateur boxer with great hands who was beating the mess out of me. I broke through and pinned him to a car, using an Ezekiel and almost killed him. Second time, I was out of the country and a guy high on drugs tried to put me in a a headlock. BJJ had taught me to stay calm under pressure. I played dead, went limp and got out of the lock and opened his face up. BJJ isn't enough because it is only on the ground. You need standup component. Boxing... Muay Thai... I've been stabbed, shot at, I even had a dude hit me from behind and knock me out. No perfect fighting art. You have to adapt to every situation. You need multiple skills and that won't stop a coward with a gun, or an even bigger coward who hits you from behind.
At 68, I have combined my jiujitsu ( brown belt ) w/ my judo ( black belt ) and some leg kicks .. It has worked extremely well for me and sent some picking on senior bullies home w/ a new outlook on life ..
It works. Reason: BJJ guy can eye poke, bite, fishhook, break fingers individually & even put a finger on the opponents butt if he needs to do it to survive. Knowing BJJ techniques doesnt make you unable to fight without honor.
Granted. Wrestling & maybe Judo is probably a better martial art for the street because those styles encourage you to land on top and controlling, not on your back which is much more dangerous against the concrete and its much harder to fight dirty from the bottom.
Great video. You list BJJ and wrestling for the grappling. Don't forget Judo! Thanks!
Correct response you say hmm,,if you break a person's arm or dislocate the arm ,I say it worked so there ya go ,!!
Excellent overview of the question. Thanks.
In 1993 watched the fastest knockout in K-1 History.
The person who got K/O d
A now super famous family member. I think it was 2.7 seconds in the first round.
Very insightful content and I hope I never have to use my firearm but Jui Jitsu gives me an advantage
I trained MMA for 9 years and recently switched to BJJ. Im now 54 years old. I liked the 'offensive' element of MMA but as Rick says, knocking someone out and they hit their head has potential consequences. With BJJ I am now focusing on the 'defensive' element. More control over ones opponent should the fight go to the floor, restricting their ability to attack me. Obviously, I can switch between offensive and defensive now, although Im still learning and will always be learning. I agree with Rick but I would add that having BJJ alongside some standing martial art, such as boxing or kick-boxing puts you in good stead to defend yourself.
Well first step is know how to react to a high stress situation. Jiujitsu does the job as well as any other martial art.
Avoid conflict, de escalation, run away. If there is a conflict any Jiujitsu student will have the advantage vs an untrained person.
My favorite defense is not to be there.
I’m almost 48. I want to learn to protect myself and people I love.
I got my blue belt from a well known school on the east coast. In my mind I was learning something I could use in an MMA fight. Somewhere along the way a professor said, "Sport BJJ is the complete opposite of anything you'd want to do in a fight with strikes . I was super disillusioned, especially when I began to spar against fellow blue belts who also knew boxing and wrestling . But then I found a school that taught BJJ from an MMA perspective. Huge difference. It figured on physical conditioning, top control and, maybe most importantly, the inclusion of strikes when rolling.
Everything starts with striking. If you can't win that fight, you tight them up then comes Grappling.
Not a jiu-sitsu practitioner, but it's certainly useful! Wish I were training, but last time I tried to take a class I had to stop because of a shoulder injury (I think a pinched nerve). Hope to do it sometime even if I am "old"
Somebody who is calm during a tense confrontation is scary to most insecure knuckleheads. BJJ is a great practice for staying calm. And better decisions can be made when we're calm.
" bjj doesn't work in a street fight ."
They say that about every martial art. Any martial art training is going to be helpful.
I honestly don’t mind people underestimating bjj. Let them think they can dominate so they steamrolled when they put themselves in a terrible spot. I am small and will never willingly engage in a non-competition fight, but let them think they can win.
The simple answer is that sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, it depends on the situation, so to say that it doesn't work at all would be wrong and to say it works every single time would also be wrong. Everything has its place in fighting.
Thirty year Law-Enforcement veteran/BJJ Black Belt/PKC Kick-Boxer/Empty Hand Force instructor here. BJJ skills may not be appropriate for every situation but in an unarmed (one on one) contest I can't think of anything better. I think the "combatives" types who say things like, "never go to the ground" or "BJJ doesn't work in a street fight" are focusing on those situations where BJJ skills should be abandoned. In my experience the "combatives" guys are overweight people who've never fought anyone...
Bjj is like Life Chess. Very humbling, beats getting brain damage while sparring in other sports.
The only thing that works in a real fight is to not be there. The second best thing is to have more people that got your back. I've seen people use wing chun and defend themselves.
Of course it does, especially with your friend’s drunk brother in law. Self defense without hurting someone is very practical.
A karateka RUclipsr wanted to prove jiu jitsu doesn’t work in a real fight unless you engage in jiu jitsu specifically. He entered a tournament and basically just avoided being grabbed, much less taken down, until the ref stepped in and told him he needs to grapple. He complied and ended up submitting the jiu jitsu practitioner. 😂
It was all in good fun and the video was done in goofy manner, but he DID prove the point.
13:07 Agree with everything else, but I contend that the best art is Judo, wrestling, or any other art that focuses on getting your opponent to the ground while keeping yourself standing.
I think if you’re training to “learn how to fight” or even worse, the “learn how to kick someone’s ass” is by the far the worst reason to join. Like you said, you’ll never truly be fully prepared and at the end of the day rule #1 if getting in a fight is don’t!
I did a lot of years of TKD kick boxing, box, muay thai, MMA , more than 7 years of bjj (im a purple belt) and i started judo. After more than 37 years practicing martial arts i can say that it seems to me there are many things in bjj that from self defense martial point of view makes no sense 1) seated open guard, yes i do all that and i enjoy it (de la riva x guard ashi garami spider lasso, etc ) but thats only works because its an sport and kicks to the head or kicks to the groin or head stomps and low kicks to the legs are not allowed or even ground and pound. Like staying in under side control, or shrimping. it is completely insane to try to fight from that position an standing oponent or even trying to take him down from there. Why on earth they do not teach or practice when on that position how to stand up and take your oponent down instead of trying to stay there? And if you are standing in front of an opponent that is seated \open guard why on the earth will you want to pass their guard to attack him? To get a knee on belly then grab an arm? It makes no sense. Yes i keep practicing it because it is fun but it makes no sense from the martial point of view.