Is BJJ Good for Self-Defense?
By Nathan Hughes, head instructor
Jiu jitsu prepares you, but it is not a complete self-defense system, and I don't believe any single martial art is. Here is what it gives you and what it doesn't, after ten years of training.
What Jiu Jitsu Gives You
In almost every class you practice against a partner who is really trying to stop you. That is the part I value most. A move you have only done on a cooperative partner is a guess. A move you have made work against resistance, again and again, is a skill.
You learn how to escape from underneath someone heavier, how to get back to your feet, and how to hold a person down without striking them. You get used to being stuck, tired and uncomfortable while still making good decisions. And you get fitter, which matters more than most people expect.
What It Doesn't Cover
Most jiu jitsu training happens on mats, one partner at a time, with no strikes and no weapons. A real fight can have punches, a knife, more than one person or a concrete floor, and in many of those situations going to the ground is a bad idea.
Jiu jitsu also doesn't teach you to notice trouble early, talk your way out of it or walk away, and those skills prevent far more harm than any technique. It doesn't teach you the law on using force, either.
Why We Teach It as Jiu Jitsu
Some gyms run dedicated self-defense programs, and there are good ones. That is why we don't sell self-defense classes at DEN BJJ. I would rather teach what I know well and be straight with you about its limits than promise something a class can't deliver.
If self-defense is your main reason for training, jiu jitsu is a strong foundation to build on. Train it, stay in shape, pay attention to where you are, and avoid the fight whenever you can.