Sunday, November 13, 2011

Grounded: Why using Jiu Jitsu in the street will get you hurt or killed.

There are a lot of myths out there in the world of fighting and self defense. One of the most often repeated myths is that 90% of all fights go to the ground. There is actually no evidence to support such a claim. This is a claim that many Jiu Jitsu schools will use in their marketing or in their presentation of Jiu Jitsu as an effective self defense system. The problem with this type of marketing or presentation is that Jiu Jitsu schools very rarely if ever actually demonstrate their system in realistic enivironment or under realistic scenarios that occur during a violent altercation.

I love Jiu Jitsu. I think that it is the most mentally challenging of all the systems. In the ring especially an MMA ring, a fighter who does not know how to operate on the ground is significantly limited in the fight. That being said it is foolish to look at training for a ring situation in the same light as training for survival in the street.

Jiu Jitsu by itself is not enough to survive a violent street attack. The training environment at most Jiu Jitsu schools is geared toward sport based Jiu Jitsu. In other words they are learning how to prepare for a fight that is governed by rules, regulations and most importantly it is void of true violence. They are preparing for a "fair" fight. A fair fight is when two or more combatants agree to a location, time, rules and decorum in advance. Often times in Jiu Jitsu schools students are "Rolling" with opponents who are within 10 15lbs and the size difference is fairly managaeable.

In the street none of these comforts exist. In fact the victim will in most cases be significantly smaller than the attacker. There are also other factors such as clothing, stress, the surface the fight is taking place, armed attackers and of course multiple attackers. My point is that Jiu Jitsu does not effectively address any of these issues.

A Ground Survival system that addresess these issues in a tactical manner is what is most appropriate for street altercations. The system must combine a basic understanding of wrestling and Jiu Jitsu and it must be infused with a combat mentality that leaves all avenues for damaging the attacker open. Biting, goughging, pinching, striking the groin, small joint manipulation and other "dirty tactics" are the foundation of an effective ground survival program, not an after thought.

The prevailing attitude of the practioner should be that of a rabid animal. There should be controlled mayhem sprinkled with ballistic violence that is being used for the purpose of preserving the practioner's life.

The system itself is to be taught as a principle based system that does not deal in absolutes, it addresses the totality of combat. It deals with multiple attackers, armed attackers and the high stress that comes with ground survival.

When I speak to Law Enforcement officials regarding the type of training that officers are exposed to, I am often very dissapointed when I hear that the officers "roll' at a MMA or Jiu Jitsu gym. When I ask why they chose that gym they usually tell me a name of a famous MMA fighter or Jiu Jitsu coach in order to justify their decision to train there. When I ask how they train, they tell me that they roll for hours per week working submissions and escapes. When I ask them how they are dressed when they roll, they usually respond with Gi, or No gi. But that is not what I mean. If you are training for real survival you must train in your regular street clothing from time to time. If you are in law enforcement or the military you must train in your uniform with all of your gear as you wear it during the course of performing your duties. To train in a Gi exclusively or in MMA gear exclusively is a death sentence.

If you don't know and understand the limitations, disadvantages and advantages that that your clothing/uniform provide for you, then I would submit that your training is far too sterile and not at all preparing you for the realities of ground survival.


In closing, there are far too many factors that can drastically change the outcome of an altercation that leads to a fight on the ground. Sport based training will not provide the most direct answers to situations like this. Only a tactically sound, no holds barred style that is taught with a warrior's mindset will get you home safe. So leave the Jiu Jitsu for the dojo. Learn and perfect a serious ground survival system!