Finally, a topic I know a little about.
This is a topic many don't think about and glad lklawson brought it up. I am 44 years old, and although I have some training from a previous law enforcement job, I know my hand to hand game was/is lacking. So about 7-8 months ago I joined a local JiuJitsu gym. Why? Well, JiuJitsu has some advantages over other forms of martial arts:
1. Most people don't know what the hell it even is, so if you are defending yourself physically , they often make mistakes that allow the JiuJitsu practitioner a possible advantage. This happens in the gym all the time with new people who come in. Regardless of strength, they find out with the higher belts that strength means nothing and usually the higher belt toys with the young strong opponent till they 'gas out' after a minute and then the higher belt sinks in a choke or arm/ leg lock of some kind.
2. Most people who will physically assault you are between the ages of 16-26. As stated, they have years of experience fighting and are pretty good at it. The reason is they usually have some wrestling background in there game (remember thugs don't always drop out of school quickly) and if any of you used to wrestle or fought with a wrestler, you know its not fun. Takedowns are key here and that just it, many thugs don't have to know a lot of their previous wrestling moves, they just need to know a few good takedowns, they do them to the unsuspecting victim and they get top mount and literally pound them into oblivion. JiuJitsu has a whole array of both takedown defenses but also takedowns themselves. It is a form of wrestling its self and again provides an advantage. The over confident young person too often sticks there neck out during their takedowns for a nice choke to be sunk in :fight:. Also, it teaches choke defenses and escapes. Another item the bad guys like to use on victims.
3. JiuJitsu's whole premise is the smaller opponent can submit a larger, stronger opponent. It works. Come on in and watch the 130 lb. guy/ girl submit a 250lb gorilla. Its wild. This is probably JiuJitsu's biggest advantage (and Swaga points to it) and thats you can actually practice the moves in real sparring and drilling exercises. I think learning how to strike well is important too, but the human body can only take so many punches, even in sparring, before you are done both physically, mentally and the damage that can cause. jiujitsu doesn't have that same issue because you don't punch each other repeatedly. This is why people in there 50's are still on the mats rolling around. Brain damage is pretty rare in this martial art.
OK, what are some disadvantages?
1. JiuJitsu is really only good for one-on-one engagement. However, there are ways to lock someone up and have your gun hand free to address the other threats you may be facing. But its important to realize that the assailants friends may not appreciate you suddenly choking out their buddy and they usually don't stand there and watch while in 6 second, there friend passes out. The jiujitsu practitioner has to knows its strengths and weaknesses.
2. It brutal and people literally don't like when its used on someone. There is a video, well lots of them actually, were someone who either knows a lot of jiujitsu or enough to get an advantage, they use it and the friends or people watching freak out. One in particular is a young guy picks a fight with another young guy and the aggressor gets stuck in a rear naked choke. As he is about to pass out his friends dive in and save him but the aggressor starts yelling "yo! why the F did you choke me?" or some other nonsense. It ended the fight but people think its is unfair
. Something to remember in our video laden world.
Just a few quick thoughts.
BZ
