Martial arts for Self Defence

A few days ago, I was having a discussion about martial arts with friend in the break room. The conversion turned to martial arts as a self defense technique and he foolishly stated that his method of Jiu Jitsu was the best technique for self defense. Aside from that statement pushing all my wrong buttons. I just had state my protest.

I'm not going to get into all the intricacies of the differences in the different martial arts and their purposes here but, I want all my readers to know that I am firm believer in Jiu Jitsu and that I am a regular practitioner of Jiu Jitsu and have nothing against it. I just don't believe that Jiu Jitsu is a practical form of self defense for the average person regardless of what the sign in the dojo says. As a trained Ju jitsu practitioner, I can understand how they could perceive it as a form of self defense but, I cannot see it that way for the everyday soccer mom with three kids in a parking lot between two cars can defend herself against a 200 lb man with ground grappling and an arm bar while she's fearing for life and running on adrenaline.

I believe that true self defense is knowledge to avoid or escaping an attack, not engaging or attacking the attacker and having the ability to fight if need be. To some, that may seem like cowardice by avoiding any physical confrontation. To some, it may be a matter of machismo overriding civility or logic, but the ultimate goal of personal security is self preservation, your safety and security. It is not victory over the evil or enforcement of your rights.

The point of this post is two fold. Martial arts is not the only method self defense, and 2, every type of martial art has it's purpose. That purpose is is not always self defense.