Every martial art out there teaches that its moves and techniques should only ever be used in self-defense where there are no other options.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is no exception to this rule; however, it is also well-known for being one of the toughest martial arts out there and is renowned for being among the best forms of martial arts for self-defense.
But sometimes a fight is unavoidable, and if you’re dragged into a street fight it’s important to know how to defend yourself. So just how effective is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for self-defense in a street fight?
Don’t worry, because we’ve got everything you need to know right here. In this article, we’ll take you through the pros and cons of BJJ to see just how much it would help you in a street fight.
So let’s get started, shall we?
What Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
First things first – what exactly is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
As the name implies, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu takes a lot of inspiration from traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu; in fact, BJJ is actually derived from Jiu-Jitsu and Judo, both of which were brought to Brazil in the early 1900s before transforming into the fighting style known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Because of its roots, BJJ’s fighting style primarily centers around the use of grapples, throws, and ground fighting.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu uses an attacker’s own momentum and center of gravity against them and involves a variety of throwing and grappling techniques to subdue an opponent quickly and efficiently.
Unlike many other martial arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu doesn’t involve any strikes such as punches or kicks. This is one of the main differences between BJJ and Jiu-Jitsu, which does include striking techniques.
Instead, BJJ focuses exclusively on various takedowns and ground fighting moves like joint locks and chokeholds.
How Useful Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu In A Street Fight?
So is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu actually any good for self-defense in a street fight? Well, the short answer is yes, it is – in fact, BJJ is one of the best martial arts for defending yourself against an attacker.
Because of its focus on efficient and effective takedowns, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is particularly strong against single, unarmed opponents.
A skilled BJJ practitioner can use a wide range of grapples and throws to get an opponent to the ground, which is ideal for getting an attacker in a chokehold or joint lock.
Another point in BJJ’s favor is that training focuses on real-life situations, making it a far more practical martial art against a real threat as opposed to other martial arts that focus more on forms.
This means that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gives you a much better chance of defending yourself if you get caught up in a street fight.
BJJ isn’t just effective against a single opponent, however, and it can also be used to defend yourself against multiple attackers.
This doesn’t mean that you should try and take on a group of attackers all at once, however; no matter how skilled you are at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you should be focusing on getting away from the threat unless there aren’t any other options.
However, it is still useful here – BJJ teaches a variety of ways to break out of joint locks and chokeholds, making it an effective skill for escaping a group of attackers.
What Downsides Are There To Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu In A Street Fight?
While BJJ may be a great tool to have at your disposal in a street fight, there are some situations where it won’t be as effective.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is primarily focused on one-on-one combat, where it is used to subdue an opponent through the use of grapples and joint locks. While this does make it incredibly effective against a single attacker, this is where it is most useful.
Like we’ve already mentioned, BJJ isn’t the most effective martial art against multiple attackers as grappling only really helps against one opponent. Instead, the most advantage it gives you is as a means to get away.
BJJ is almost completely based on self-defense, and this makes it a great way to defend yourself. However, its lack of offensive strikes like punches and kicks limits it in a street fight unless you get the opportunity to ground your opponent.
This means that you have to get up close with them, which can be risky.
Overall, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a great form of self-defense against individual opponents but won’t be as effective against multiple attackers or an armed attacker.
So while it definitely gives you an advantage in a street fight, it’s important to note that this advantage will only carry you so far!
Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Effective Against An Armed Attacker?
While Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is incredibly effective against a single opponent and is even a good form of self-defense against multiple attackers, it isn’t the best form of defense against an armed attacker.
Most martial arts generally focus on hand-to-hand combat as opposed to self-defense against an armed opponent; Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu may have a wide range of offensive and defensive techniques, but none of these will give you an advantage over someone with a gun or a knife.
You may be able to take down an armed attacker if you have the element of surprise, but there is still a major risk of you being injured or even killed; in these cases, your main priority is to try and get away safely.
Some martial arts do involve self-defense against weapons, like Krav Maga. However, even these martial arts prioritize avoiding an armed attacker whenever possible.
Final Thoughts
Like any other martial art, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is only meant to be used for training and in proper competitions.
While Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most effective forms of self-defense out there, it should stay purely for self-defense and only be used if it’s necessary to defend yourself.
If you’re dragged into a street fight, then Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s focus on throws and grapples definitely makes it effective at taking on a single opponent.
However, BJJ’s self-defense techniques aren’t as effective against multiple or armed attackers, and you should always try to avoid or escape from these situations if possible.
Overall, while there are some situations where Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu won’t be good for self-defense in a street fight, it is still a great form of self-defense that gives you a massive advantage over an attacker!
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