Is BJJ still Good for MMA

**combathug** · Posted On: 2/02/2013 2:05am

Other keyboard warriors keep debating this and I was curious what people who actually train think.

Is guard pulling a legit tactic "on the street" (or in a hotel as the case may be) or in the cage?

Why do we see so few sweeps in the UFC.

Do we actually see so few sweeps in the UFC or is it just our human perception?

Have certain MMA promotions specifically hired people who have better striking then grappling in order to please the uneducated audience?

Do performance enhancing drugs dramatically alter the tactics and efficacy of grappling?

Should all newbs be iron manned through a guantlet in 4 styles before being allowed to post in this forum (BJJ, Kyokoushin, Wing Chun, Yellow Bamboo would be my vote).

**Arskanator** · Posted On: 2/02/2013 4:16am

**goodlun** · Posted On: 2/02/2013 4:47am

Well lets start off by knowing not a single legitimate BJJ school in the world teaches you to pull guard in a fight or self defense situation.
Will you see it in a grappling match sure, its a valid tactic in that sort of situation.

**bigato** · Posted On: 2/02/2013 6:09am

Once people that never trained art X start having a significant rate of success in mma over people who had not trained in X, we should really worry about effectiveness of X and study the new successful methods.

Once new rules start to consistently change the outcome of fights favoring art X over art Y, we would have something to look into. One question that could be asked, not always easy to be answered, is which ruleset is closer to a situation of self defense? There's the whole recent history of fighting competitions, and a some other events at the present using different rules. Is there any concrete evidence or consistent numbers showing anything revolutionary about the importance of art X or art Y in mma or self defense?

Also, is bjj the only art which does things in its competitions that are not suited for self defense? Is it becoming significantly less suited for mma and self defense? If so, could we change this situation through some changes in training methods? Should the rules be changed to favor self defense? Or is it up to the practitioner to mix it up with other styles sooner?

**jeffphansen77** · Posted On: 2/02/2013 6:22am

BJJ is still the only art I can think of that you just can't get by without studying in MMA.

***jnp*** · Posted On: 2/02/2013 10:48am

Originally Posted by jeffphansen77

BJJ is still the only art I can think of that you just can't get by without studying in MMA.

Please go tell all the successful SOMBO guys who win their MMA fights that they must have been mistaken.

Edit: To the OP, anyone who deliberately pulls guard in a street fight is a moron. The guard position represents one of the worst case scenarios in an altercation. It's primary purpose is to give you the tools to get back to your feet, or on top, after you get knocked onto your ass in a fight.

**erezb** · Posted On: 2/02/2013 11:55am

Actually, when a nongrappler finds himself on top inside a guard, this can lead to false confidence and a quick sub. Even quicker than if it was the other way around.

**JingMerchant!** · Posted On: 2/02/2013 12:02pm

Originally Posted by combathug

Should all newbs be iron manned through a guantlet in 4 styles before being allowed to post in this forum (BJJ, Kyokoushin, Wing Chun, Yellow Bamboo would be my vote).

What the hell do you mean by this...?

**itwasntme** · Posted On: 2/02/2013 12:05pm

Originally Posted by jeffphansen77

BJJ is still the only art I can think of that you just can't get by without studying in MMA.

Yoshihiro Akiyama appears to only hold rank (3rd dan) in Judo. I can't even find anything on his striking training and he's competed, successfully, in many MMA events.

A more appropriate, albeit still possibly incorrect statement, would have been "Grappling is still the only skill set I can think of that you just can't get by without studying in MMA."

**combathug** · Posted On: 2/02/2013 12:24pm

Originally Posted by jnp

Please go tell all the successful SOMBO guys who win their MMA fights that they must have been mistaken.

Edit: To the OP, anyone who deliberately pulls guard in a street fight is a moron. The guard position represents one of the worst case scenarios in an altercation. It's primary purpose is to give you the tools to get back to your feet, or on top, after you get knocked onto your ass in a fight.

American Wrestling is the one that seems to have increasing traction, but SOMBO, Judo, I am sure there are others.