3 Reasons Why Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is Terrible for Self-Defense
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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art that has been steadily gaining popularity over the past few decades.
While BJJ can be a great form of fitness, it is not necessarily the best for self-defense. In this article, we’ll discuss three reasons why BJJ is not always the best choice for self-defense.
Going to Ground
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the art of ground fighting.
While going to ground may be a viable self-defense option in certain situations, such as grappling or ground-fighting scenarios, it's generally not advisable to intentionally go to the ground in self-defense.
Here are a few reasons why:
- Vulnerability to attack: When you're on the ground, you're vulnerable to attack from multiple angles. An attacker can easily kick, stomp, or strike you, which can result in serious injury or even death.
- Difficulty in getting back up: If you're on the ground, it can be difficult to get back up quickly. This can be a problem if you need to move away from danger or if you need to defend yourself against multiple attackers.
- Limited mobility: Once you're on the ground, your mobility is limited. You may not be able to move quickly or effectively to avoid an attack or defend yourself.
- Ground and pound: If your attacker is physically stronger than you, going to the ground can put you in a position where they can use their weight and strength advantage to "ground and pound" you with punches and strikes.
No Strikes
One of the most glaring issues with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the lack of striking.
The sport focuses on ground combat, which is great for tournaments and competitions, but does not prepare practitioners for any real-world scenarios that involve striking.
The hand and feet strikes as well as the elbows and knees are all absent from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and, as a result, it does not provide practitioners with the necessary tools for self-defense.
Without the ability to effectively defend against strikes, practitioners become easy targets for attackers.
Competition Rules
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is heavily focused on competition rules and has been designed to allow practitioners to safely compete against one another.
As a result, it is not optimally suited for self-defense situations. There are three main reasons why BJJ is not an ideal self-defense system:
- Its rules limit the kinds of strikes and submissions that can be used in competition.
- The practitioner is required to follow a set of specific rules and regulations instead of responding to their attacker in the most effective way possible
- Its focus on ground-based grappling techniques does not teach participants how to effectively defend themselves if attacked from a standing position.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a great sport, but it is not suitable for self-defense.
Training in BJJ requires a lot of time, dedication, and money, and the techniques are not effective in a street fight.
The best form of self-defense is to avoid violent situations and be aware of your surroundings. Knowing how to defend yourself is important, but being aware of potential dangers is the best way to stay safe.
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