Every fight begins when the two participants are standing up. That’s where most people think that punching and kicking are suitable. However, not quite. BJJ is the art of ground grappling. So let’s examine whether it’s ideal for self-defense and, if so- why?
BJJ is suitable for self-defense because it teaches practical techniques to disable an opponent quickly. These techniques are ground grappling, which is incredibly useful for such purposes. For instance, the perfect execution of a submission movement will finish a fight in seconds.
Moreover, BJJ is a fantastic platform for self-improvement. Thus one can better one’s physical and mental selves by staying consistent with training. For instance, your self-confidence and self-esteem while learning to fight accordingly.
Additionally, BJJ techniques are ideal for dealing with larger opponents than yourself. In self-defense, you can’t know how your opponent may be more significant. As a result, preparing for the worse- is critical.
This article will demonstrate why BJJ is as effective for self-defense as it is. If you’re struggling to choose a martial art, I encourage you to read this article to its fullest; you may fall in love with Jiu-Jitsu.
The following list is the 5-reasons BJJ is effective for self-defense.
- BJJ teaches grappling techniques
- BJJ is ideal for dealing with bigger individuals
- BJJ techniques can disable an opponent quickly
- BJJ reduces the fear of fights
- BJJ improves situational awareness
#1- BJJ teaches grappling techniques
In fighting, one can learn various movements, for example, punching, kicking, clinching, grappling, and submissions. As a result, you may get confused with all the martial arts and what makes them unique. Additionally, you may be unfamiliar with which technique is best for self-defense.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the art of ground grappling. Hence you’ll learn to use grappling techniques to disable an opponent quickly. As a result, it’s handy for self-defense and all fighting purposes. Moreover, these movements don’t require as much force as other ones, such as striking.
I’m a big fan of BJJ since it teaches practical techniques that can quickly disable anyone. Frankly, you can finish a fight in seconds with the movements you’ll learn. Because of that, they hold great value in the realm of martial arts.
Finally, grappling techniques are incredibly effective for self-defense because they can disable anyone with relative quickness. Compared to the other fighting movements, such as punching and kicking, it’s ideal for self-defense.
#2- BJJ is ideal for dealing with bigger individuals
One of the most significant disadvantages of boxing is that it’s heavily dependent on weight. You can generate more force if you’re more significant than your opponent. As a result, you’ll have a more manageable time coming out on top.
The beauty of Jiu-Jitsu is that it’s suitable for dealing with bigger individuals. For example, when referring to self-defense, you can’t know whom you’ll encounter, nor what size one will be. As a result, BJJ allows you to prepare for the worst.
Eventually, many martial arts aren’t like that. Because of that, in all competitions, there are weight divisions. Particularly in boxing and kickboxing, you’ll see these differences in the abilities correlate with the person’s size.
Finally, that’s one of the most influential pros of BJJ. If you desire to learn various effective techniques, no matter the opponent’s size, you should consider Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
#3- BJJ techniques can disable an opponent quickly
What are the two most critical factors when discussing martial arts for self-defense? Speed and effectiveness. Because of that, for a martial art to be suitable for self-defense, it must be solid for these two factors.
BJJ techniques can disable an individual in seconds. As a result, it’s incredibly effective for self-defense, as you desire to undermine the attacker rapidly before one causes massive damage. Additionally, ground grappling is effective, which makes them hard to defend.
Most people are familiar with defense mechanisms against punches or kicks. However, when you use ground grappling techniques on a person, chances are one won’t know how to protect oneself. As a result, ground grappling movements are highly effective for such a purpose.
Many martial arts don’t teach you how to incapacitate an attacker completely. For instance, boxing doesn’t have a single movement that will disable an opponent; unless you land a perfect hook. But, on the other hand, BJJ does that perfectly.
#4- BJJ reduces the fear of fights
Picture the following scenario; you encounter an attacker that desires to beat you. Most people would try and flee; honestly, if you can, go for it. However, you may find yourself stuck in an unpleasant situation. To overcome it, one must not be afraid of fighting back.
BJJ reduces the fear of fighting by forcing the trainee to go over fighting drills. As a result, when the situation is actual, the trainee won’t be afraid to move forward to disable the attacker as fast as possible. While fleeing is an option, you don’t want to allow the attacker to roam freely.
At times, fleeing is the right choice. Specifically, if the attacker targets you and you only, you could try and flee. However, while that’s an option, you can fight back. When you practice BJJ for a prolonged period, you become relatively immune to the fear of fights.
As a result, you can close the distance between yourself and the attacker without being afraid of getting hit. That way, you execute a single technique to knock the opponent to the ground while ensuring you stay victorious.
#5- BJJ improves situational awareness
Would you not prefer to identify a fight before it occurs? To me, that sounds too perfect to be true. Yet, when you practice fighting for a lengthy period and become good at it, you’ll begin identifying dangerous situations before they happen.
BJJ improves situational awareness by allowing the trainees to go over drills that prepare them for fights. As a result, you’ll begin identifying the signs of a person wanting to attack you. Thus reacting and disabling the situation- becomes effortless.
Eventually, improving your situational awareness- is relatively tricky when training at home. Consequently, it’ll come naturally if you practice with people and participate in various drills.
However, if you want to train at home, I wrote a complete guide to training martial arts at home. If you’re interested in reading it, follow the link.
Should I learn BJJ?
Learning any martial art is wise. Doing so provides the trainees with numerous mental and physical benefits. For instance, one can expect to improve one’s self-esteem and overall mental health. A study examined these benefits and summarized them perfectly.
““Training in martial arts has been shown to alter experiences of control and vulnerability, self-esteem, self-concept, fitness, confidence, and relaxation. As a result, some researchers characterize martial arts practice as a form of self-help.”
Source
Consider BJJ if you’re interested in improving yourself while learning effective fighting techniques. You’ll become capable of disabling your opponents with ease. Moreover, you’ll make a habit of not being scared of fighting, which is critical for self-defense.
Finally, you can see why I’m a big fan of BJJ. The number of benefits it provides exceeds the effort you’ll invest. Essentially, there’s a correlation between how dedicated you are- to how quickly you notice results. Consequently, if you want to experience positive benefits sooner, you should invest more effort into training.
Should I learn BJJ for self-defense?
As I previously mentioned, BJJ is effective for self-defense for several reasons. First, it teaches incredibly effective techniques for disabling opponents quickly. Thus you can use these movements against anyone.
Moreover, ground grappling, which you’ll learn in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is suitable for dealing with bigger opponents. That’s critical since you can’t know which attackers you’ll encounter. Thus preparing for the worst- will help you to ensure your safety.
You should learn BJJ for self-defense since it teaches effective techniques (ground grappling) for dealing with attackers. As a result, it’s highly suitable for self-defense. On the other hand, other martial arts serve the same purpose, such as Muay-Thai, kickboxing, and judo.
Is BJJ suitable for street fights?
Numerous aspects of BJJ make it suitable for street fights and self-defense. As a result, if that’s your desire, don’t hesitate to begin your training. But, first, let’s examine some common reasons that make Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu effective for such a purpose.
- BJJ teaches effective techniques
- BJJ teaches dealing with bigger opponents
- BJJ techniques can disable opponents quickly
As you can tell, these reasons are incredibly similar to why it’s effective for self-defense. That’s the case since self-defense and street fights are essentially the same. In both, your goal is to disable the attacker as quickly as possible. Because of that, BJJ is highly effective and practical.
Is grappling effective for self-defense?
Different martial arts teach other fighting techniques. For instance, while boxing teaches punching, judo is the practice of throwing grappling. Therefore, you may be confused about which one you should study for self-defense.
Grappling is the most effective technique for self-defense since it allows you to disable an opponent with extreme quickness. Moreover, you can use these techniques regardless of their weight and size. On the other hand, punches and kicks heavily depend on the opponent’s weight.
Because of that, many people find more success using grappling techniques, particularly Jiu-Jitsu. That’s because it doesn’t require as much physical force to execute as other techniques, such as punching. As a result, it’s more effective than the others.
Final words
BJJ is one of the best martial arts for self-defense. I’m a big fan of it since it teaches effective techniques that anyone can use. As a result, if that’s your goal, you should consider starting to practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
It’s effective for self-defense and street fights. Therefore, you’ll improve your physical and mental selves while learning to fight appropriately. Both of these are highly desirable traits. As a result, BJJ teaches precious skills and lessons.