MMA and sport jujitsu have become all the rage these days. But, are they effective methods of personal self defense?
Many well-intentioned martial artists are looking at the whole MMA/UFC and jujitsu arts to learn effective self defense. The problem is that, these arts aren't necessarily designed for self-protection.
Fighting - Yes.
Self-defense - Not so much.
Here are several reasons why MMA and sport jujitsu are not the best choices for street self defense:
1) The very fact that they are sports. This means that they are laden with rules. When mma and the UFC first came on the scene several years ago, there were only 3 rules. Now, there are about 18. When you are up against a criminal attacker who will do anything to beat, break, or kill you, training in a system that ingrains a set of rules into your subconscious programming is not a great idea!
2) They are unarmed systems. MMA and sport jujitsu fighters are not prepared for the attacker who brings a weapon to the fight. These systems pride themselves in attacking their opponent to gain a knock-out or submission hold. When, in a real-world self defense situation, especially where weapons are involved, charging in could be the last thing you ever do!
3) Locking up with the opponent. This strategy works great in a ring with a referee. But, out on the street, in a real situation, locking yourself to your attacker can get you killed - not necessarily by your assailant, but by one of his friends. It can be very difficult to escape from your own submission hold, designed to control a single adversary, while his buddy is standing over you, kicking in your skull!
4) Legal considerations. There is a huge difference between self defense and fighting. I've written extensively about this and make sure that my own students know the difference. Sport martial artists, just like boxers, are fighters. And, some of the things they do to each other in a ring, will get you into trouble with the law - either civil or criminally - if you use them on the street!
Please note that I am not saying that a jujitsu practitioner or a mixed martial artist can't defend themselves. Of course, I would never say that a high school wrestler couldn't defend himself either. What I am saying is that these things were designed as fighting systems - as contests - not as methods of self defense.
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Miller
Many well-intentioned martial artists are looking at the whole MMA/UFC and jujitsu arts to learn effective self defense. The problem is that, these arts aren't necessarily designed for self-protection.
Fighting - Yes.
Self-defense - Not so much.
Here are several reasons why MMA and sport jujitsu are not the best choices for street self defense:
1) The very fact that they are sports. This means that they are laden with rules. When mma and the UFC first came on the scene several years ago, there were only 3 rules. Now, there are about 18. When you are up against a criminal attacker who will do anything to beat, break, or kill you, training in a system that ingrains a set of rules into your subconscious programming is not a great idea!
2) They are unarmed systems. MMA and sport jujitsu fighters are not prepared for the attacker who brings a weapon to the fight. These systems pride themselves in attacking their opponent to gain a knock-out or submission hold. When, in a real-world self defense situation, especially where weapons are involved, charging in could be the last thing you ever do!
3) Locking up with the opponent. This strategy works great in a ring with a referee. But, out on the street, in a real situation, locking yourself to your attacker can get you killed - not necessarily by your assailant, but by one of his friends. It can be very difficult to escape from your own submission hold, designed to control a single adversary, while his buddy is standing over you, kicking in your skull!
4) Legal considerations. There is a huge difference between self defense and fighting. I've written extensively about this and make sure that my own students know the difference. Sport martial artists, just like boxers, are fighters. And, some of the things they do to each other in a ring, will get you into trouble with the law - either civil or criminally - if you use them on the street!
Please note that I am not saying that a jujitsu practitioner or a mixed martial artist can't defend themselves. Of course, I would never say that a high school wrestler couldn't defend himself either. What I am saying is that these things were designed as fighting systems - as contests - not as methods of self defense.
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Miller