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BJJ Black Belts Point Of View: Why Jiu-Jitsu Is Not

Suitable For Street Fighting
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Written by Florent Luccioni.

Florent Luccioni is an important member of the French Jiu-Jitsu community. He and his

twin brother Jean Claude are both BJJ Black belts under Francisco Nonato and run Arte
Suave Jiu-Jitsu academy in Montpellier, France. He has been training BJJ for 15 years
and has spent years training in Brazil. Luccioni also teaches Jiu-Jitsu and self defense to
the French Police.

There are many posts on internet forums and advertisements of BJJ academy websites, which
present our martial art/sport as an effective martial art for self defense and against a street
aggression, even as the most effective martial art .
On the other hand, many other experts Self Defense see taking the Zght to the ground as a big mistake
in a street Zght
As an experienced Jiu-Jitsu instructor, I would be expected to practise the Zrst theory, in order,
perhaps, to see my number of students increase. Or maybe, I might look at reality without defending
my dogma
So, is Jiu-Jitsu truly an effective martial art in an urban context? Is it even the most effective, as some
claim??
My Zrst reaction when I read people who defend the theory of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu being an interesting
martial art for street Zghting is always the same Has that person ever been in this situation? If so,
in what context?
On the other hand, others argue that Old School Jiu-Jitsu is more effective in a street Zght than
New School Jiu-Jitsu that is closer to the sporing aspect.

The author (far right)

As a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu and instructor, former competitor, Jiu-Jitsu instructor to the French Police
and having worked in the security industry in various situations (music festivals, bars, nightclubs,
commercial centers) I have acquired a personal opinion on this subject that I will share with you and,
perhaps, will not fail to surprise most of you.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is absolutely not suitable for street Zghting
I will use several personal examples to support my point.
To begin with, lets look at the difference between modern Jiu-Jitsu and the more traditional schools.
Indeed, the traditional school of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was more suited to street Zghting than the current
school, not only because it was taught as a valuable method of self-defense, coming from Japanese
Ju-Jitsu, but also because the study of throws/takedowns was more present.
Helio Gracie, to quote him, saw Jiu-Jitsu as an art of self-defense, rather than as a sport, unlike the
vast majority of current practitioners.
All those who have seen the recent video of the training of Budo Jake with Rickson Gracie could see
the difference between these two visions of the same discipline.
Indeed, Rickson, demonstrates in this video, a very interesting part of his knowledge that is not shared
by the vast majority of current black belts in Jiu-Jitsu, including me: the mastery of Self Defense
aspect of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu .
Indeed, in the vast majority of current Jiu-Jitsu clubs in addition to the almost systematic neglect of
the study of Self Defense, the teaching of takedowns and throws is often extremely minimalist.
The main reason is the development of competitions which make practitioners focus on the essence
of our sport, ground Zghting.
This is a mistake, even for Jiu-Jitsu competition and overall study of a discipline, but it can be
understood.
On the other hand, the development of modern techniques for competitions actually greatly enriched
our martial art on a technical level, but somewhat away from a more a pragmatic look.
Some point out that if we succeeded, for example, to sweep a BJJ brown belt using the Worm Guard,
you can probably submit an assailant in a street Zght
Obviously, I highly agree with this idea but if you never work on takedowns, and in competition
and training, you are always pulling guard, then how do you expect to bring a heavier and more

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aggressive person to the ground in a street Zght?

Indeed, here we see the difference in perspective between two schools of Jiu-Jitsu.
The second reason which led to the same sport to have great differences of view is a perverse effect
of the professionalization of MMA.
Indeed, before the modern era of MMA, the sport at the time was called Vale Tudo or NHB and was a
way to prove the effectiveness of one martial art face over another.
In this context, the effectiveness, the superiority even, of Jiu-Jitsu was demonstrated, and it was
mandatory for Jiu-Jiteiros to bring the Zght to the ground with a takedown.
It was then that the era of Cross Training appeared
But the perverse effect for Jiu-Jitsu was that only when training for an MMA Zght, would a BJJ
Zghterwork on their takedowns. The majority of BJJ practitioners have as a result, decreased even
deleted, the study of takedowns, when focusing on sport Jiu-Jitsu
The sum of these factors has made the modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu a formidable combat sport on
the ground
So we come to the Zrst argument.
indeed, it appears, from my point of view, that the traditional school of Jiu-Jitsu was more suited to
actual combat.
However, we will discuss here the foundation of the problem.
Can we rely on the victories of Royce Gracie in the UFC or other multiple wins of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
practitioners to make Jiuy-Jitsu an effective art, in combat?
I think so.
But I am interested here in a street Zght and not a one on one challenge in the street.
Here lies the error of those who believe that the numerous beatings on the street, in the ring, in the
cage, given by members of the Gracie family prove this point.
Take for example the Zght between Rickson Gracie and Hugo Duarte, and old duel.
No one intervened to help one of the two belligerents.
In this context, of course, the effectiveness of Jiu-Jitsu was proven and approved.
But in most civilized countries in the 21st century, this form of challenge, which shows a certain
nobility even in Zght, has disappeared.
Much street Zghting is no longer a one on one Zght between two unarmed people.
It is with this realization that I show my argument.
Jiu-Jitsu, which advocates the ground Zghting, is certainly effective BUT unsuited to modern street
Zghting.
Another fundamental error in the defense of ground combat and its alleged involvement in street
efZciency, is the argument that Master Helio Gracie often gave to defend,
understandably, his discipline:
In the street, unlike the UFC and rounds of 5 minutes, there is nobody to stop a Zght.
From my personal experience, there is however, almost always someone to intervene and
sometimes without our knowledge.
Through my work in security, I was, directly or indirectly, engaged in Zghts or street assaults, and Ive
realized with experience, that very few situations lend themselves to ground Zghting in the street.
Even against an opponent alone and unarmed, whether in a football stadium, a parking lot, road rage
incident, many situations prevent you from developing a safe strategy to use Jiu-Jitsu in the urban
context .
Even when you bring the aggressor to the ground, you are in danger because your mobility and your
tunnel vision put you in a vulnerable position.
I will return later to the beneZts of Jiu-Jitsu and other martial arts in a street Zght, because I do not
think there is a miraculous style.
However when compared to Boxing for example, as my Boxing coach once said to beat someone
with boxing, you just need to do one thing well, to do with Jiu-Jitsu you have to do several things well

Indeed, in theory, it only takes one well-placed strike, while we, Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, need more
chained attacks
My experience made me fully consistent with this additional argument: the time factor of a Zght or
worse, an assault in the street.
From my point of view, in the street, we must also try to avoid congict, (Ill get back to that later), if
possible, to avoid prolonged contact on one attacker to give us the opportunity to change opponent.
Ive experienced, the use of the famous double leg to mount on the street (You are silly when you are
17 years old). My satisfaction was short lived as I received numerous blows on my head from a
policemans stick.I was lucky that they were given by a policemans stick and not by a knife held by a
junkie.

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Another time, as a teenager, I got my nose broken from an unexpected attack. The moral of the story:
on the street, no one tells you the rules of engagement before starting.
Another time, I was attacked by three people all armed with knives: as I said the assailant may be
weaker than you, but he is much more vicious, it is neither a sport nor an honest citizen, he is rarely
alone and unarmed
I have dozens of personal examples and Jiu-Jitsu (despite all the love I have for it) was useless in
these situations
Obviously, no martial art, in my opinion, can realistically protect us against a knife attack, but at least
with Jiu-Jitsu if you did not initiate the ground Zghting, you can escape and gee the congict.
Same thing for an unarmed assault against multiple attackers (also experienced)
So many limitations are imposed on the rational use of Jiu-Jitsu in the street.
So, Jiu-Jitsu is it ineffective in the street? No it is not.
It is simply inappropriate and sometimes dangerous in this context.
In addition to my Jiu-Jitsu club, I teach Jiu-Jitsu at one of the largest Police schools in France.
As I said, it depends on the context, in an urban context of policing, Jiu-Jitsu can be very effective, it
allows you to control an attacker without having to harm them, which is an important thing for a
member of law enforcement.
However, the nuance here is that in most cases, the balance of power is reversed, a policeman is rarely
found alone in a congict and is usually also armed, so in this particular context, they can use Jiu-Jitsu
to control a person, while his armed colleague ensures a secure perimeter.
So what alternative is offered to us?
Krav Maga? Boxing? MMA? Something else, all combined?
I sincerely believe that some disciplines can prepare us for perceived stress in a context of urban
violence.
What Ive noticed through the years: in the street, most people actually do not know how to Zght but
they are VIOLENT, unlike in a martial practice, governed by many rules, written or not.
All disciplines have their limitations and advantages.
Jiu-Jitsu, despite the limitations outlined, provides a realistic aspect with training against a resistance
opponent (unlike, for example, in Krav Maga or similar sports, where withholding is required and
necessary).
Self Defense sports are not so realistic: we can not, or hardly, reproduce realistically strikes to the soft
parts (throat, eyes, genitals) in training: that diminishes the realistic aspect of these activities.
They teach effective combinations (if implemented correctly).
All forms of boxing are effective: preventing the clinch, working powerful strikes but what happens if
you are grappled? If you break your hand with the Zrst strike
MMA appears to be an obvious alternative: strikes, takedowns, You learn to get up from the ground
But how about aagainst multiple attackers armed with knives?
Being physically strong can also be of great help: physical strength in a street Zght, often brief and
violent, helps tremendously
No martial art, Jiu-Jitsu included, will prepare us to feel the stress of an attack, but you can learn to
manage space, anticipating an attack, defuse a congict and manage an aggressor, surprise or gee
But they do not teach that in most Jiu-Jitsu classes. You learn to have fun, develop self conZdence, to
socialize, make friends, and enjoy this wonderful sport altogether.
And thats a lot
There is no miracle recipe. During a Self Defense seminar I attended, the speaker, former member of
the French military forces , member of the Association ACDS (School of Self Defense), gave us some
tips that I keep in mind all the time
All your knowledge, whatever your martial art, MAY serve you in the street, but most of all: use a little
common sense
It is in this perspective that each of us must behave to avoid the tragedies that sometimes come to
those who want to be a hero in the streets

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