It is always funny when someone comes back with "my BJJ teacher would beat you." It usually comes from people who disagree with what they think you have said, or who only listened to the part they wanted to hear. In this video lesson I give my reply.

It is for grapplers, self-defence students and anyone caught up in the endless "which style wins" arguments.

What Was Actually Said

My view on the ground is simple. In a self-defence situation, the floor is the last place you want to be. Hard surfaces, multiple attackers and possible weapons make it dangerous, so the priority is to get back up. That is not an attack on BJJ. It is a statement about the street.

BJJ is an excellent grappling art, and good BJJ players are very skilled people. Saying the ground is dangerous on the street is not the same as saying grappling is useless.

Sport and Self-Defence Are Different Questions

"Who would win in a match?" and "What should you do if you are attacked?" are two different questions. A match has one opponent, rules, a soft mat and a referee. A street attack has none of those things.

So arguing about who would beat whom misses the point. The question is what gives an ordinary person the best chance of getting home safely.

Listen Before You Argue

A lot of arguments in martial arts happen because people react to what they think was said rather than what was actually said. Before you argue, listen to the whole point. You will often find you agree more than you thought.

That applies to all of us. Every style has strengths, and there is something to learn from each. Testing ideas honestly is far more useful than defending a badge.

What It Means for Your Training

If you train BJJ, you already have great skills for the ground. Add an awareness of the street: getting up, protecting your head, dealing with more than one person and avoiding trouble in the first place. If you do not train grappling, learn enough to survive the ground and get back to your feet.

Take It Further

For a self-defence syllabus built around real situations, see the Pressure Point Self Defense Course. For the principles behind my approach, read Pressure Point Fighting: The Complete Guide.