I see many posts on social media in my area asking where to go for self-defence training. From this you get a lot of people giving their opinion and what is often suggested is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) . However I feel that this advice respectfully is coming from people with little or no expertise or experience of physical altercations and violence!!
BJJ and Judo are both highly respected combative sports that emphasise grappling and ground techniques. While they are excellent for sport, competition and fitness, there are several reasons why they are not effective systems for self-defence in real-world scenarios.
1. Sporting Environment vs. Street Realities
Both BJJ and Judo are practiced primarily in controlled environments—mats and dojos—where competitors follow specific rules and guidelines. In contrast, self-defence situations often occur in unpredictable and chaotic environments where factors such as multiple attackers, weapons, or environmental hazards come into play. The structured nature of sport can limit the applicability of techniques designed for competition.
2. Focus on Ground Fighting
BJJ places a significant emphasis on ground fighting and submissions. While being able to control an opponent on the ground is valuable, many self-defence situations may not allow for a ground fight. Engaging on the ground can expose a defender to additional risks, especially if there are multiple attackers or if the environment is unsafe (e.g., near traffic or sharp objects). If you are in a fight and go to the ground the priority is to get off the ground!!
Judo, while effective in throws and takedowns, also requires a certain level of engagement and grappling with the opponent that may not be feasible in a self-defence scenario. The goal in self-defence is often to escape rather than engage.
3. Time Constraints and Decision-Making
In a competitive setting, practitioners have time to strategise and perform techniques. However, self-defence situations require quick thinking and rapid responses. The techniques learned in BJJ and Judo may not translate well to the split-second decisions needed in an emergency. The mental and physical conditioning in sports doesn’t always prepare individuals for the psychological stress of a real attack.
4. Lack of Striking Techniques
Whilst having an understanding grappling is a crucial aspect of self-defence, striking is far more important. Both BJJ and Judo have no striking or blocking skills, which can leave practitioners vulnerable in situations where an assailant uses punches or kicks. Effective self-defence generally requires the ability to strike effectively, creating distance, and de-escalating situations before they escalate to physical confrontation.
5. Adaptability and Versatility
Effective self-defence requires adaptability. Practitioners must be able to adjust their techniques to suit the context of the confrontation. While BJJ and Judo offer a wealth of techniques, they may not provide the versatility needed to handle every possible self-defense scenario. Combining skills from various martial arts, including striking arts like ITF Taekwon-Do, can create a more well-rounded approach to personal safety.
It must also be said that the World Taekwondo (WT Olympic TKD) derivative of ITF Taekwon-Do can also be looked at as an ineffective combatives/self-defence system as this is also just a sport system that has moved far away from its ITF roots which was and is still taught as a combatives fighting system for hand to hand fighting on the battle field in the Korean military. When choosing a martial art for self-defence purposes quality research should always be done on the art itself however also very importantly what are the qualifications and experience of the instructor!!!