Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is now found all over the United States. The people training in this sport will tell you that it has enriched their lives and helped improve their confidence in many ways. The “core of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu,” as Draculino puts it in an interview with Grapplearts BJJ Blackbelt Stephan Kesting, provides the practitioner the confidence needed to be able defend themselves in a real life situation. Just practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu helps the average practitioner become more comfortable in any real life fighting situation, “this (self defense) is the core of jiu-jitsu.”
Is BJJ the best martial art for self defense?
Why does someone join a BJJ gym in the first place? Draculino, one of the best black belts in the business, will tell you that it is simple — for self-defense. Draculino breaks down why BJJ is the most effective martial art for street defense, and discusses what an academy needs to make sure their students are ready for the street:
Know the headlock escape: a lot of people seem to forget about this defense, even high-level students. Don’t.
The self defense system is not about guard; it is about a little striking, a couple of takedowns, a top game, and some other adjustments to account for the eventuality that there might be strikes, or weapons in a real fight. Says Draculino, you just need to know how to modify your sport-type BJJ when it is time to use it in a real-life situation.
Draculino believes that most of the things that you do in BJJ class, you can do in a street fight, with some modification — of course your “awareness” will change with biting, strikes, kicking, etc. But the core of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is there when you need it, and that in itself will keep you alive in a real-life self-defense situation. If you understand and can implement the core of BJJ, “a fight without striking,” then you will have a solid base. If you are smart enough to adapt, then you should win the fight.
Update — May 2020 — “Collegiate BJJ League”: Please get in touch with us if you have a college Brazil Jiu-Jitsu team. We are hosting tournaments, and events for 2021. Register your team now >>Click Here To Register College BJJ Club and get updates.
