As the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
has evolved it has developed more and more complex techniques. Most of these
techniques have been designed particularly to win matches in competition. For
example, the berimbolo which is used to take the back and acquire points, the
worm guard, an extremely tight position used to control your opponent. It is
often the complexity of this evolution that leads people to ask the question, “is
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu an effective means of self-defense”?
A video has recently surfaced that may shed light on the issue. The video consists of two men seen having an altercation on a basketball court over the game that they have been playing. The argument continues to escalate until finally one of the men becomes violent. He throws a punch at the man who happens to be a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and immediately takes action. The video captures him pulling guard and immediately transitioning to his attackers back, not only nullifying his ability to strike him but placing himself in a position to stop the attack. Several attempts by the Jiu Jitsu fighter to submit his opponent are flaunted by two men who begin to grab and attempt to pull him away but he doesn't give up knowing he will most likely take damage otherwise.
Seeing as they can’t remove him the men let the altercation continue and after a short scramble both men end up sitting down in what appears to be 50/50 guard. He has secured a heel hook and warns his attacker to stop. He says “I will tear your knee…. You’ll never play basketball again.” His attacker seems to heed his warning as the scrambling stops and the altercation ends. Regardless of what anyone has to say about the legitimacy of Jiu Jitsu on the street it is irrefutable that the simple knowledge of positioning and control is enough to turn the tables on an assailant, as was displayed by the practitioner in this video.
