Adapting BJJ to the street

Admin Joined : 13 Aug 2007 Posts : 174

Hi Dave

What elements of BJJ do you feel are particularly useful for the street? Do you tailor your BJJ training in anyway when training your students for a self-protection approach?

All the best

Jeff

Joined : 14 Aug 2007 Posts : 19

Hi Jeff

Hope you are well my friend.

My whole outlook on my martial arts traiing is to develop a good 'support system' to compliment my self protection strategy. With regards to my BJJ training in respect of reality training its simple. Most real fights, if not dealt wih in the opening seconds end up on the ground. By having a good level of grappling skills you are better equiped to execute the physical skills you require to get back to your feet, and hopefully your survival/safety. By knowing how to deal with someones body weight when they are trying to pin you to the floor, you chances of escaping this area of daner is greatly improved. There is also a consideration, that if you are graplling trained, should you go to the floor, you will not panic (as much at anyway) and burn valuable energy off thrashing around not achieving much - you will be more comfortable and confident than a person with no grappling knowledge.

Hope that sums it up ok Smile

Respectfully

DAVE

Joined : 19 Aug 2007 Posts : 2

Hi Jeff

I first got into the BJJ after only a couple of reality sessions with Dave, and it becoming glaringly obvious that getting back to your feet as quick as possible being so important.

As Dave said the initial point of not panicking (or panicking as much) could be the difference between getting to your feet before another 2 or 3 attackers decide to join in. Having said that I am now hooked fully on BJJ but when we cover any reality based topics I always try and point out to those doing purely the standing skills how important it is to have at least some of the basics on the ground.

As for adapting it, personally I feel the skills I have developed such as body weight manipulation and postioning for sweeps comes as second nature now so that as I am on the floor or being taken down I can do the best I can as quickly as possible to get back to my feet.

Waffling on a bit trying to get into words what is in my head.

Take care

Admin Joined : 13 Aug 2007 Posts : 174

Hi Mark, hope you're well. Thanks for the feedback!

Jeff

Joined : 08 Apr 2008 Posts : 26 Location : Riverside ,CA

Hi Dave, when you work on bjj for the street do you practice any dirty tricks to help you get to a better position so you can than get up? If so how do you do it without getting injured?

Joined : 14 Aug 2007 Posts : 19

Hi Vic

To be honest, the BJJ I train is mainly submission based, as is widely taught. Frequently I will incorporate striking. With reference to BJJ for the street, I will cover this in specific sessions. I believe, at first, that its all about mindset. Mentally conditioning a student to be open minded as to, not only striking, but what type of strikes, target areas, to go for. Obviously, the targets and strikes utilized in an MMA competition, are still very different from those required for effective street survival. training this way safely takes much control and is reserved for thise I feel can 'handle' the pressure. Whislt I appreciate that we are trying to conduct reality training as real as possible (at times), I also understand that it is important to recognise that not everyone is up to animal day type training.

Hope help my friend.

DAVE