For those interested in self-defense

[WORKEROUTER]

For those of you interested in self-defense, you should try studying some brazilian jiu-jitsu.

I've been taking classes for a few weeks now in a Gracie school, and I feel so much more confident ground fighting now. I'm still getting use to the basics and fundamentals, and I'll be allowed to begin rolling pretty soon, but you pick up the techniques real quick.

Add some basic standup techniques, and I'd say you're set, at least amongst the majority of people on the street.

 

[Shiftkey]

BJJ is a very good and practical martial art. Cross-train with that and a little boxing and you're set.

 

[silverfox]

If you are involved in a self defence scenario do you really want to go to the ground?

I love training with grapplers and goundfighting. It's fun and it's a hell of a workout and you really get to face your fear when you find yourself in a solid choke or armbar and can freeze up and get submitted or you keep your composure and find a way out.

For self defence only I would say WW2 style combatives are the best way to go. Stripped down syllabus, gross movements and easy to learn and retain.

This is not my core style so I am not self promoting but from what I have seen it would be best for those people who don't have time to learn a martial art/sport style but do want some self defence.

 

[MrS]

Motion seconded.
I've recently started boxing, and it's great.
I'll be going for martial arts at some poitn soon.

 

[Shiftkey]

MrS, technically boxing is a martial art.

Silverfox, sometimes fighting on the ground is unavoidable.

 

[silverfox]

I always hear that 95% of fights end up on the ground but 100% start upright.

Grappling and ground fighting is good stuff for one on one but for someone to learn a core self defence skill set I wouldn't recommend it as the first one to do. Better to get some basic stand up skills first, then develop ground skills.

Of course, if you have the time then you can do boxing, muay thai, hapkido, wing chun, kali, BJJ, shooto etc and cover every range.

 

[Phoenix_of_the_ashes]

Seriously, I wouldnt feel good going to the ground in a real fight.

 

[fatkins]

everyone says all fights go to the ground ive heard figures from 50 to 95 in this thread, no sources or studies

it's always good to know how to right on the ground but cross-trained with kickboxing or muay thai could be devestating on a would be attacker

but ill share u a secret technique i use to stop all fights, someone starts something with you, just whip out your penis and do the helicopter

 

[Shiftkey]

but ill share u a secret technique i use to stop all fights, someone starts something with you, just whip out your penis and do the helicopter

LMAO

 

[WORKEROUTER]

Well I've had a little boxing/kickboxing training, and I use to do karate for a few years. I'm no great stand-up fighter, but I know how to hold guard, stay balanced, and the basics of punching and not being punched.

BJJ is good because it let's you feel what it's like to be in close range. Let's face it, the NATURAL instinct of animals, including humans, is to grab. Wrestling around and grabbing to fight is common in nearly every animal species. Striking is secondary.

Considering this, BJJ seems to offer many practical advantages for those interested in self-defense against the AVERAGE opponent on the street, or when caught in circumstances where you are being held in some sort of hold, like a choke. It seems more likely that you'll end up in this sort of circumstance than in one where the opponent is going to be ferociously striking you.

And even against a striker, I'd say BJJ has the advantage. If you know how to hold up your guard well, keep your chin in, and protect your head, you'll have ample opportunities to get in close-range and go for a takedown, especially if the opponent is a pure striker, like a boxer. Just look at how the Gracies took down so many strikers who were simply unfamiliar with the whole idea of ground fighting.

Plus, it gives you the ability to be able to hold people back and contain a situation, also what you will probably be doing, if you EVER are in such a cirumstance.

But that being said, I am eager to also train in more stand up fighting, like muay thai and kali. I plan on taking a Krav Maga course sometime this year taught by one of the more prominent and well-known instructors.

So the point is that, BJJ is a great ground system and overall fighting system. But at the same time, it would be worthwhile and beneficial to train in stand-up.

 

[fatkins]

Originally posted by WORKEROUTER

BJJ is good because it let's you feel what it's like to be in close range. Let's face it, the NATURAL instinct of animals, including humans, is to grab. Wrestling around and grabbing to fight is common in nearly every animal species. Striking is secondary.

really natural instinct? ive yet to see a fight where it was primarily "grabbing", most fights are just swing away spray and pray haha theyre always funny but at the same time sad

 

[Phoenix_of_the_ashes]

Let's face it, the NATURAL instinct of animals, including humans, is to grab. Wrestling around and grabbing to fight is common in nearly every animal species. Striking is secondary.

Ive thought about this also, but striking is also fairly common among animals, rattlesnakes, cats or monkeys are examples of animals that strike.

Just look at how the Gracies took down so many strikers who were simply unfamiliar with the whole idea of ground fighting.

But that means nothing, now the sport has adapted and strikers are on even ground with grapplers, look at fedor.

 

[cA^]

WORKEROUTER I agree with you;

My bro is doing BJJ and he's been teaching me. I know how to do thigh and liver kicks (I prac them on the boxing bag) and knees, when he comes home from uni ever few weeks we fight.
I know how to do armbars, kamiras, chokes, knees, anklepicks, slams, reverse figure-4's and move into the full mount or side control.

It's made me feel way more confident out on the street, considering I used to practice boxing before I was taught BJJ, all you have to do is get in close, you have the skills to take them down, get into the mount or side control and just rain down punches, elbows and hammerfists, not to mention knees to the body.

I got the skills to pay the bills

 

[WORKEROUTER]

Ya, it's true that fighters have become accustomed to cross-training, but I'm not talking about fighting someone who's a skilled MMA fighter. I'm talking about a fight with the average person on the street.

 

[DJDamage]

Originally posted by WORKEROUTER
Ya, it's true that fighters have become accustomed to cross-training, but I'm not talking about fighting someone who's a skilled MMA fighter. I'm talking about a fight with the average person on the street.

This is a good read:

http://www.sosuave.net/forum/showthread.php?threadid=19463&highlight

 

[WORKEROUTER]

Originally posted by DJDamage
This is a good read:

http://www.sosuave.net/forum/showthread.php?threadid=19463&highlight

That was a great read. Very thorough.

 

[Pilo]

Originally posted by fatkins
really natural instinct? ive yet to see a fight where it was primarily "grabbing", most fights are just swing away spray and pray haha theyre always funny but at the same time sad

True, but that's because you seen people that don't know shyt about wrestling or BJJ once you see it you'll know what im talking about.

 

[Monkey]

Originally posted by WORKEROUTER
Ya, it's true that fighters have become accustomed to cross-training, but I'm not talking about fighting someone who's a skilled MMA fighter. I'm talking about a fight with the average person on the street.

Fact is, if you are trained in ANY martial arts, fighting an 'average' guy in the street should last about 3 seconds ...and 2 of them would be him screaming for mercy.

 

[DJDamage]

Originally posted by Monkey
Fact is, if you are trained in ANY martial arts, fighting an 'average' guy in the street should last about 3 seconds ...and 2 of them would be him screaming for mercy.

Exactly. The person whom you will fight will probably be bigger and stronger then you (People who are smaller then you will probably not pick a fight with you unless their is a group of them, therefore it is not an average person or an average situation).

 

[organizedconfusion]

Originally posted by silverfox
I always hear that 95% of fights end up on the ground but 100% start upright.

Grappling and ground fighting is good stuff for one on one but for someone to learn a core self defence skill set I wouldn't recommend it as the first one to do. Better to get some basic stand up skills first, then develop ground skills.

Of course, if you have the time then you can do boxing, muay thai, hapkido, wing chun, kali, BJJ, shooto etc and cover every range.

i used to watch a ton of UFC and i remember seeing alot of the
newer grapplers kinda fall back and intentionally
go to the ground- i mean , just 'drop' and expect the other
guy to follow through.Their ground skills were
amazing but on their feet, alot of them lacked
knock out power and they were practicly defensless
against a raging stiker most of the time.
I think i rememer seeing a grappler lunge at the other guys legs
and all he did was pop him right in the head and that
dude dropped!
I was like damn!
I see alot of bouncers use grappling submission holds also,
but i'd hate to have to rely on just grappling against
a guy and worry about three of his 'homeboys'
tying to kick me in the head while i am down...

IMO, grappling + striking = not getting f*cked up!