JIU JITSU STREET FIGHT

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a complex but systematic combative form of Martial Arts. It incorporates components from other Martial Art styles like Wrestling and Judo, to achieve a direct and dominant series of takedowns. Once the fight is on the ground the BJJ aspect kicks in, as practitioners will use a series of transitional elements to control an opponent. BJJ has an incredible list of submission attacks in its arsenal, as the variety of different choke holds and joint locks are constantly evolving.

What This Article Covers:

• Why Did Helio Design BJJ Self Defense
• Why Is Jiu Jitsu Needed in a Street Fight
• Can Jiu Jitsu Fail in a Street Fight
• The Self Defense Combat System
• Does Jiu Jitsu Work in a Street Fight
• Can Jiu Jitsu Self Defense Benefit Children

BJJ has basically split into three different styles of jiu jitsu, as the traditional Gi, and the No Gi disciplines are both heavily based on a sporting aspect. The third division of the art is where it all began, with the self defense combative system that Helio Gracie first developed. Now with the rise of organisations like the Gracie University, self defense combat is making a huge comeback especially in the United States of America. The art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has key components that have been proven to work in a real life street conflict situation. Due to the growth of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in America, high level practitioners are providing significant developments in the constant demand for self defense practises.

Dan "The Wolf Man" Theodore is here to share his decades of combative knowledge with you!

WHY DID HELIO DESIGN BJJ SELF DEFENSE

Helio Gracie began learning Kodokan Judo techniques that his brother Carlos learnt straight from the master himself, Mitsuyo Maeda. Helio would try and utilise many of the Judo throws on his older brothers, but due to his smaller and lighter frame, Helio began to struggle in executing the movements. Helio would then specifically design a series of grappling based techniques that could work on bigger and stronger opponents. Helio was then able to fight against his brothers and many other challengers that prevailed throughout Brazil. Helio Gracie was well known for fighting anyone at any time, as the Gracie philosophy specifically demanded that members of their clan would fight in Vale Tudo fights whenever Helio deemed appropriate. Vale Tudo was an early form of bjj in mma, as it involved striking and grappling. This was to ensure that all of his family members were ready at any time to use their Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tactics.

This became evident as the heated rivalry between Luta Livre and Gracie Jiu Jitsu fighters spurred on throughout the streets and beaches of Brazil. Helio Gracie would fight against many exceptional athletes including famous bouts against Waldemar Santana and Masahiko Kimura. The Helio Gracie combative system of grappling was designed specifically for self defense, as the need for this kind of Martial Arts was a necessity growing up on the dangerous streets of Brazil. Violence was a common occurrence in Brazil, as street fights would often break out, hence why Helio Gracie developed Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to work in a street fight situation. Helio Gracie's art of BJJ would evolve into a more watered down system of sports Jiu Jitsu, as this has become important for the competitive aspect of the sport. More recently though, the Gracie University run by Rener and Ryron, the grandsons of Helio Gracie, are bringing back the self defense combat system in a huge way. The popularity of Helio Gracie's self defense system, has become quite evident in the growth of people joining the ranks of the Gracie combatives programs across America.

WHY IS JIU JITSU NEEDED IN A STREET FIGHT

Street fights can become exceedingly dangerous due to the different variables involved. Things can get out of hand rather quickly in a real life conflict scenario, like attackers will often use weapons like knives or even firearms. Sometimes the best defense in a street fight can be to simply run away, but in a lot of cases that may not be an option. This brings on the necessity for people in the community, including women and children, to learn some form of hand to hand combat jiu jitsu techniques. It is easy to say why don't they just learn how to punch, kick and scrap, but unfortunately for many people strength may not be their strong suit. This is why people need Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in a street fight, because the system of grappling was designed for smaller and weaker people to defend themselves against bigger and stronger attackers.

Learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in a street application has many benefits attached. For starters BJJ teaches practitioners to be aware of their surroundings, as this can be the main factor as to why people lose their life in a street conflict. BJJ teaches an intricate series of control positions, which can help a person subdue an attacker. Another good aspect about BJJ is the diverse range of submission finishes, as putting out an attacker in quick fashion without resorting to strikes that could kill them, is substantial. BJJ, when used properly, is a great way to avoid being put in a dangerous position, and still gives a person a chance to escape the conflict altogether. The confidence that a person receives training in BJJ, will help prepare them for such an event. The way BJJ is trained, helps the person make the correct decisions while under a highly stressful situation. This is why the development of american jiu jitsu is becoming one of the top tier forms of self defense combat in the world today.

CAN JIU JITSU FAIL IN A STREET FIGHT

Like any martial art, Jiu Jitsu could fail in a street fight scenario, as you never know how much knowledge an attacker has. There are always variables to consider in a street fight application, and even though BJJ has a seriously good system of self defense, there is always an element that things could go wrong. Attackers are notorious for being desperate, this means they may resort to extremely dirty tactics. This is why we see attackers doing crazy things like using knives and guns, some have even been known to bite or gang up on victims. It would be extremely hard to successfully use BJJ against multiple attackers, but in saying that it could be the difference between life or death. For example if multiple attackers began using weapons on a victim, that victim may utilise some defensive BJJ tactics, which will give them just enough time to escape to their feet and then run away. When it comes to street fights there is no sure thing, as situations have been known to grow rapidly out of control. That's why it is extremely important for people that learn BJJ to not underestimate an attacker. Even though a BJJ practitioner has extremely good fighting skills, sometimes the best option is to avoid conflict altogether.

THE SELF DEFENSE COMBAT SYSTEM

Learning how to use the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu combat system will take some time two perfect. BJJ has an intricate series of technical movements that require students to practise numerous times. The good news is that anybody can train in this system, as even though some of the techniques are complicated, there are many of the techniques that are simplistic in their essence. The Gracie University in America teaches this combative system to people from all walks of life, including young, old, male or female students, they have even designed a system of jiu jitsu for law enforcement agencies. It is extremely important for all people around the world to understand how to defend their lives, or the lives of their loved ones.

The actual combat system itself involves many maneuvers like throws, trips, control positions, and submissions. Some of the techniques that are learnt involve little to no effort to execute moves like the hip throw, which involves a person using their hips and an underhook, to throw their opponent to the ground. Other important maneuvers incorporate framing which means to use different parts of your body to keep distance away from an attacker. This could be the difference between getting stabbed and creating enough space to escape from the situation.

The Gracie University runs a system called the women's empowered program, which involves some of the most efficient self defense techniques that a smaller and weaker person can use against a stronger and bigger attacker. Many of these techniques have been designed to counter the most common attacks seen in a street fight situation. These are counters to situation's like being stabbed, guns being drawn, bearhugs, basic punch attacks, dragged by the hair, dragged by other parts of the body and various other situations. The combative system will teach students how to disengage from such attacks, and how to properly counter any threatening attack, leaving the students in a more dominant position. The importance for a person to understand the philosophy behind BJJ as a street application, is exponential.

DOES JIU JITSU WORK IN A STREET FIGHT

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can most definitely work in a street fight, as it is quite common to see attackers that don't have any actual flight experience. The majority of attackers seem to have drug problems or other related issues that would give them little chance against a trained fighter. Of course there will always be an exception to this rule, as you never know who you might face in a street fight. Be that as it may, the chances that an attacker knows how to utilise Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques, are considerably small. Most attackers seem to fight with emotion which makes them sloppy from a technical standpoint. This will help a person utilise correct technical proficiency during a street fight, as they will use the dominant system of control techniques combined with the savage element of submission attack.

Using Brazilian Jiu Jitsu strategy in a real life situational conflict, will always triumph over the ordinary street attack. The main aspect to remember is that in a street fight anything goes, meaning an attacker has no rules to abide by and can utilise attacks like biting, eye gouging and the use of weapons. All this means for a person that has learnt BJJ, is there is a need to make some minor adjustments. This might be slight angle changes to avoid counterattacks, and becoming considerably aware of their surroundings. It is important to remember not to pull guard in a street fight because you do not want to be on your back and give an attacker an opportunity to inflict damage. Staying on top of an attacker in a street fight is the best way to control the fight and force them to submit. This is why Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, when used properly can work in a street fight situation.

CAN JIU JITSU SELF DEFENSE BENEFIT CHILDREN

Learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in a street fight application for children is probably more important than for adults. An adult will always have a chance to run away because they are fully grown, whereas in the case of a child they have little to no chance of escaping a fully grown attacker. It is extremely important for children to be able to understand how to utilise some of BJJ's defensive tactics. Learning these defenses is more than just physical movements, as they rely also on philosophical concepts. Some of these concepts are just knowing certain places to stay away from, and knowing how to sense when danger is near. Generally assailants that attack children will always pray on the weak, and in most cases are weak themself. This gives children an opportunity to defend themselves by using a loud voice, and defensive tactics of their own.

Dan "The Wolf Man" Theodore is here to share his decades of combative knowledge with you!

Children will learn how to escape the clutches of an attacker, and even utilise certain maneuvers that could work against them. But in most cases it is imperative that the child runs away as fast as they can. Children can utilise techniques like picking up weapons themself, screaming out for help, pretending to be submissive and then exploding with their attack, or even climbing trees in order to try and stay safe. There are other situations that children will encounter, like bullying at school, where they may be attacked. When a child learns BJJ self defense tactics, not only are they capable of withstanding a bullies attack, but they may be able to use their own counterattack. At the very least they will be confident enough to possibly de-escalate the situation, or simply fit enough to run away. That's why it is extensively important for parents to help their children, by allowing them to learn this highly effective and competent self defense combat system.

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