|
Navigation
|
 |
Article Navigation:
Want to write?
We're always looking for new writers and people willing to help out with the magazine and site. If you're interested, [Click here for more info]. |
|
Stay Updated!
If you'd like to stay updated and recieve a notice when the next issue of is released, just sign up at our forums by [Clicking here]. We will send out a mass e-mail to all our members when the next issue is released. |
|
Your Comments
Let us know how you feel about this issue. We will read e-mail sent and would appreciate any comments and/or suggestions that you may have. [Click here]. |
|
|
|
 |
Street Grappling, A Recipe For Disaster
by guichoke, Team IronLife.com Writer
10 Years ago Gracie Ju-Jitsu burst onto the international scene, and using Royce Gracie's UFC victories as a springboard quickly elevated itself to the top of the martial arts heap.
The Gracie Ju-Jitsu concept of 90% of fights going to ground was readily accepted. I'm sure at the time the likes of Pat Smith, Keith Hackney, Dan Severn and Kimo Leopold would have agreed.
The world watched in awe as the slight Brazilian ripped through opponents up to 80 lbs heavier, with apparent ease. The traditional martial artists competing in the early UFC's had no answer to Royce's Ju-Jitsu and for the most part were utterly helpless as soon as the fight went to ground.
The international birth of Gracie Ju-jitsu led to Brazilian Ju-Jitsu and submission wrestling, being that anyone who used the name Gracie Ju-Jitsu without paying Rorian Gracie was liable to get sued to smithereens.
It has also lead to a single-mindedness which lingers even today - that a competent Brazilian Ju-Jitsu practitioner (Here after referred to as BJJ) is going to be able to handle himself in a street confrontation, and a good grappler can leave behind the more traditional martial arts without looking back.
Lets dispel a myth right now. Grappling is not an effective form of street defense. BJJ should be almost totally irrelevant to street confrontation. This does not mean that it is an ineffective style, it just means it doesn't fit. Just as the likes of Kyokoshin karate or Win-Chun are about as relevant to MMA as blue cheese is to a presidential election. Too many people look at styles in the context of MMA and right them off as a waste of time. Lets open our minds.
Street confrontations may involve:
Multiple persons
Weapons - knives, guns, bottles, etc.
Alcohol and recreational pharmaceuticals
Dirty and desperate fighters
Inhospitable areas and surfaces
Now lets assume that at least one of the factors I've outlined above can be realistically expected in your typical street fight, I'm not talking about a playground punch up here. Below I will breakdown each possibility, and annihilate any misplaced conceptions of BJJ as street efficient - behold.
MULTIPLE PERSONS
Fantasy scenario 1 - BJJ practitioner in a club having fun, chats up a taken woman. Enter 6'6" drunk boyfriend with manhood hanging out, proceeds to drunkenly swing at Mr. BJJ. "Aha" he thinks. " I can use my grappling skill to embarrass this Jackass." Mr. BJJ scores a take down on his aggressor, mounts him and proceeds to beat his face into a pulp with his forearms. "Bwahahahaha, that'll teach you!"
I hope I've set the scene nicely for you, because I think you know what's coming next don't you? That's right, Mr. Aggressive's equally drunk best friend has had time for a nice long run up in order to soccer kick our unfortunate hero's head off........oh dear. Mr. BJJ wakes up in hospital with no teeth - the end.
So what's the alternative then? I hear you cry! If BJJ fails then what else can we as martial artists do? Well, let me think for a moment before responding....ok I'm done.
First lets observe a few golden rules. Firstly - use your brain! There is very little chance that someone in a club or bar is going to be alone, so be aware that when you are involved in a brawl with drunk Dave in the middle of the dance floor, then drunk Dave's drunk buddies are not going to be far off. Its common sense.
So, STAY OFF THE GROUND AT ALL COSTS!! It should be an absolute last resort.
I
f possible try and get you're back to a wall, so you wont get blind-sided or attacked from behind.
This is the point where we have to think outside the BJJ box -guess what, there are other forms of fighting! If you are dealing with multiples then the key would be to get rid of each person as quickly as possible. Ok, I understand that we are not all blessed with one punch KO power or super fast hand speed.........well you should have gone to boxing classes as well shouldn't you!!
Realistically a competent boxer backed into a corner should be able to stop if not KO at least one person. This may also discourage his friends from attacking you further. As far as take downs go you can forget shooting in, but if you end up in a clinch there is no reason why you cant use Judo/traditional ju-jitsu throwing techniques.
The beauty of these throws are:
They are very quick if done properly.
They come as a big surprise.
They hurt.
(This is the big one) Your still on your feet - your opponent is not!
A well-executed throw should leave you standing over your opponents with control on his wrist. From here there are a thousand locks and holds you could do, but in the multiple street fight scenario (as I said) you want to take the guy out ASAP and move on. So......................
Stomp on his head, there I said it.
It's a sad thing that you may have to resort to such force, but in a situation where it's them or you I think it can be forgiven. It's your decision. Remember, clubs are dark.
Lets move on.
WEAPONS
Fantasy scenario 2 - Our hero comes out of hospital with his brand new porcelain teeth feeling rather pleased with himself. Halfway home walking down a dark alley he is confronted by a man with a knife politely requesting his wallet. What can he as a BJJ practitioner do? Answer......not much. Give him the wallet would probably be the best idea. He could try a take down, but I think this may lead to the loss of an organ.
Obviously this is vastly simplified, and I would advise anyone to hand the wallet over - it's not worth your life surely. But maybe Mr. BJJ has Marcellus Wallace's briefcase, or maybe the cure for cancer is written on an old bus ticket in his wallet, maybe he just doesn't was to give his money to this degenerate freeloader. The point being that relying on BJJ as a self defence gives you a total of zero options when dealing with knife or gun threat. Not to mention sticks, bats, broken bottles or any other offensive items.
Believe it or not the scenario outlined above although simplified, is realistic. For the most part knives and guns on our streets are used for purposes of intimidation only. If someone really wants to stab you - they will walk up to you (probably from behind) and stab you. If they want to shoot you, they will climb a tree and wait for you to walk past. Therefore the lunatic holding a knife to your belly does not actually want to stab you merely scare and intimidate you - make sense?
I Train in a traditional Ju-jitsu style know as Ishin Ryu under Kevin Pell Hanshi 8th dan - trainer of many of the worlds elite special forces, and ex close protection officer to high profile celebrities and members the UAE royal family, as well as having been head doorman for several of London's most notorious night clubs.
During my training under Hanshi Pell i have accumulated a wealth of options concerning knife, bottle and gun threats and attacks. In my BJJ and submission wrestling training (as much as I love it) I have never learned any.
I would never advice anyone risking their life for the sake of pride or a few bucks. However the is always that small possibility where your put in a bad position and there is no other option. With all the training in the world you still may not come out on top, but that's not the point. The point is - it gives you a chance.
ALCOHOL AND RECREATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS
No fantasy scenario here, because Mr. BJJ is going to encounter the same problem as most martial artists when confronted with someone who either so drunk or high that his sense of pain has deserted completely deserted him.
Some drugs such as PCP and in some cases LSD can result in the user being extremely aggressive and totally unresponsive to any pain. Users may not respond to mace or even being stabbed. In cases such as this you are left with few options.
To knock them out cold, which is very difficult in this situation.
To strike the esophagus (wind pipe) if done correctly this will restrict breathing (has a similar but worse effect to a heavy strike to the solar-plexus).
Choke them out.
Lock them up. Most arrest and restraint techniques come from ju-jitsu, and this is one of the few occasions in a street confrontations where you may have to resort to the ground. But guys for god's sake - don't pull guard!! You want top control, and you want the attacker face down if possible. This allows for shoulder locks to be applied. Some arrest and restraint techniques can leave you hands free and reasonably comfortable. This allows you to call the police if you have a mobile, and then order a pizza to eat while your waiting for them, keeping Mr. PCP restrained all the while.
Check out
www.ishinryu.com
for details of typical arrest and restraint locks that might be useful in such situations.
DIRTY AND DESPERATE FIGHTERS
Fantasy scenario 3 - Mr. BJJ just can't seem to stay out of trouble, he's been hanging out in the park minding his own business, when the local tough guy in a bid to prove his stupidity challenges him to a fight - one on one, winner gets the respect or lack there of. Mr. BJJ is delighted. One on one, and on grass, this is perfect for him. Now he can go for that ultra cool flying triangle he's been practicing that ought to raise some pulses.
Mr. BJJ begins to takeoff his jacket in preparation for the bout, and gets blindsided by his opponent. A wrestlers take down follows (or a tackle to the layman) No biggy here. Our hero pulls guard and begins to work for a triangle choke. Sadly his opponent instead of playing by the rules and passing out like a good boy decides to jam his thumb in Mr. BJJ's eye. Our hero is forced to relinquish the choke in order to save his sight. While tackling the eye gouge issue Mr. BJJ becomes aware of a new sensation, his opponent has grabbed his nut sack and is squeezing. All semblance of technique is lost. Frantic to retain his balls Mr. BJJ rolls into the fetal position (or fatal position in this case) Head stomps ensue......oh dear.
Same points as before. If you have BJJ, and you get taken down, you should be using you skill to get up again as quickly as possible. Not everyone is going to play by the rules and let you choke them out or arm bar them. Be aware - BJJ is wonderful in a controlled environment. The original rules from UFC one were there for a reason, puling guard is very risky. You are exposing you face, eyes, throat, ribs and crotch. Some people will take anything they can get, beware - testicular retrieval operations can be expensive!!
INHOSPITABLE AREAS AND SURFACES
Glass, tarmac, gravel, stairs, etc.
Common sense again. We are all more that happy to roll around on our nice comfy mats - its fun. However I don't fancy the idea of rolling around on the street outside a bar with broken glass and gravel on the ground. Its a small and simple point, but one that need to be observed.
********************************
So that wraps it up. Super-cool submission moves are all very well, but its not the be all and end all, its a piece of the martial arts pie. Remember that relevance to MMA does not necessarily mean relevance to street confrontation. Its time we let alternatives into our training, and accept that no Martial art is complete, keep your minds open, except change and try new things, its the only way we learn.
* Article by guichoke, Team IronLife.com Writer .
* Back to This Issue's Frontpage
|
|
|
