We often hear examples of how BJJ has been used in real life by shutting down attackers, beating a bully or simply breakfalling properly to save yourself getting hurt. There are also many detractors who will say things such as “what if there are 4 people trying to fight you at once” – which is somewhat reasonable, but good luck trying to fight 4 people by yourself. These detractors will often move on to more desperate measures by saying there are glass or needles on the floor, it is dangerous on concrete, and anything else they can think of which will make them feel better about not training BJJ.
Below we will look at various real life examples which have been found on youtube and analyse the fight in closer detail. Often the footage will be a bit grainy or blurred, which is expected since it is not a professional TV stream. We will also discuss the possibility of what would have happened if the defender did not know BJJ.
Fight One
We have started this first video at 1:22 since the opening moments are a disagreement. I do not know much about basketball but it does seem a little over the top. The guy in black and red has been beaten and wants to antagonize the BJJ practitioner (in green).
Fight details
Unadvisedly the BJJ guy pulls in to half guard after almost getting sucker punched. However, he is quick to know he doesn’t want to stay here for long, gets an underhook and takes the opponents back. I believe here he should put the opponent to sleep as some other people now try to intervene. The problem with letting them intervene and stop you, is that you can later get your head smashed in if you let the aggressor out of the choke. This almost happens but the BJJ guy recovers and enters what looks to be a 50/50 heel hook position before the fight is stopped.
What would have happened without BJJ?
We know at least that the BJJ guy would not be on the aggressors back. Here there are 2 likely outcomes. The first is that the 2 guys swing at each other until one person is knocked out. People do not like to break up a fistfight compared to a grappling fight as you can be hit by simply stepping in the middle. Secondly, the aggressor’s momentum could have taken down the BJJ which would have ended up in some sort of crushed half guard or open guard.
This position would not end well if you did not know any BJJ.
Fight Two
Firstly I should mention, this is not a fight, but more of a grappling spar between two friends. Whilst the guy in the grey t-shirt is already in good shape, his friend is obviously quite a lot bigger and more muscular.
Fight Details
The opening moments are very scrambly, which neither guy getting a great position on one another. The BJJ practitioner eventually finds an opening and gets an armbar from mount. After the reset, he is put into a closed guard and once again taps the stronger guy. He then taps his friend for a final time by easily taking his back and applying an RNC.
What would have happened without BJJ?
Of course, there would be no severe consequences here because it is between two friends. We should also add that there are no strikes, which probably would have favored the strong guy. With that being said, strikes wouldn’t have favored him from bottom mount. Without knowing BJJ, the man in the grey t-shirt would have probably ended up losing various positions and either get his guard passed, or perhaps even choked by his opponent’s weight in his own closed guard.
Fight Three
This is a more serious altercation. Although nothing happens in the end, this could have ended VERY badly for the guy who knows BJJ.
Fight Details
The fight begins in a closed guard with a failed guillotine attempt, the opponent then stands. Here the BJJ guy fails an armbar but really pulls off an impressive sweep. Whilst his takedowns aren’t the best, he then subdues the opponent for a second time and could really knock him out from top mount, but perhaps wisely decides to let him go, as we see the opponent has two other friends lurking in the car park.
What would have happened without BJJ?
After the failed guillotine attempt, the guy on the bottom would have been in trouble, he would not have been able to attempt an armbar or pull off a waiter-style sweep. From here he could have got punched in the head several times on a concrete floor. Secondly, he managed to subdue the guy for a second time. Even when the guy is let up he confronts the BJJ practitioner once again but has already learned his lesson that he will not beat this man in a fight.
When the two friends come over, they are very aggressive but perhaps realise that this man could beat them in a fight too. Even though there is a possible 3v1 situation, they seem a bit reluctant to fight as they have already seen their friend get schooled. Without this lack of confidence, things could have been very different.
Fight Four
Fight Details
The man in the video above clearly has trained MMA and defends himself against the first opponent with punches and kicks. When the second challenger approaches he is instantly floored with a leg kick and thanks to the assist from the concrete floor, he is finished by a double leg takedown.
What would have happened without BJJ?
In all likelihood, this man could have defended himself since he knows how to strike much better than his opponents. Had he not had this striking ability, or if his opponent was a trained boxer, then he would have had to rely on BJJ. In this fight he gets a bit lucky by the guy landing on his head, but nevertheless, if he did not have the technique to perform this takedown things could have escalated, or he could have even been knocked out himself.
Fight Five
The antagonist seems to be a lot larger than the young guy who knows BJJ, he also seems like he is picking on a kid and wants a fist fight.
Fight Details
The antagonist swings on the smaller guy and misses. The smaller guy ducks under his punch with the momentum taking him to the floor. The young man then applies a rear naked choke whilst being punched in the head, he almost loses control as he is slammed in to the concrete but recovers and sinks in a new choke. Almost laughably, the bigger guy taps to the choke as if he thinks this is the UFC. He is then put to sleep and punched in the head a few times, he stands up later but does not really want to continue since he has already been embarrassed enough.
What would have happened without BJJ?
This fight would have been rather worrying without BJJ. For a start, the opponent is much larger than the young man who knows jiu jitsu. He probably would have knocked him out and left him on the floor. If the roles had been reversed and the smaller guy was punched in the head whilst unconscious on the floor, he could have become a vegetable or possibly died. The fight shown here is probably the best example of all 5 fights of why BJJ works in a street fight, it unquestionably saved this kid from being knocked out or worse.
