….. until it is!
While Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is highly regarded as one of the most effective martial arts, particularly in grappling and ground combat, it may not be the best choice for every situation. At Hanover Boxing Club, we emphasize the importance of well-rounded self-defense skills, and it's crucial to understand why BJJ might not always be the most suitable martial art and sometimes it is. Here are several key reasons why other disciplines, like boxing and kickboxing, Muay Thai, can offer more advantages in certain situations:
1. Limited Focus on Striking
I don’t know too many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy’s that add a level of ground striking or an added stand up striking style to their base curriculum, and if you go to one of these gems you’re in luck! Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is renowned for its expertise in ground fighting and submissions, but it lacks a strong emphasis on striking techniques. This can be a significant disadvantage in real-world self-defense situations where attackers may start with punches, kicks, or other strikes. At Hanover Boxing Club, we specialize in boxing and striking techniques that prepare you to defend yourself from the standing position, something BJJ alone cannot fully address. Have you ever tried to grab someone with good footwork, knows how to cut angles, and constant threat of a knee up the middle by someone that knows how to land them, and combos coming every which way but wrong? Yea it’s tougher than you think.
2. Vulnerability in Multi-Attacker Situations
BJJ is highly effective in one-on-one encounters, especially on the ground, but it’s less suited for dealing with multiple attackers. Once you engage with one person on the ground, you might become vulnerable to strikes from others. Boxing and kickboxing, on the other hand, focus on mobility and awareness, key elements when you’re up against multiple opponents. Hanover Boxing Club teaches you to stay mobile, strike effectively, and manage multiple threats in self-defense scenarios.
Many don’t know that I was a bouncer in Fells Point, Owings Mills and Westminster for over a decade. And I’ve only been hurt 1 time, and it was when I unfortunately found myself on the bottom of a dog pile with the guy we were trying to take out directly above me. I tried shrimping out but to no avail, my legs were intertwined by the 4-5 other guys on top and couldn’t get out. I ended up putting the guy in a Kimura because I was concerned, he would try to headbutt me or bite me, and the next thing I know his friend stomped me right in the side of the face. My cheek is still numb to this day. I heard it all before, that when you’re on the ground, your head becomes a soccer ball for people and damn if that didn’t happen to a T!
3. Challenges in Long-Distance Combat
BJJ practitioners often aim to close the distance and bring their opponent to the ground. In real-world situations, however, being able to control the distance and handle long-range combat is essential. Boxing, kickboxing, with its emphasis on footwork, distance control, and Muay Thai’s multi striking points, clinch, throws and takedowns, offers tools that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu doesn’t. At Hanover Boxing Club, we ensure you develop effective striking skills to handle both long-distance and close-range confrontations.
4. Real-World Self-Defense Situations Aren’t Always Ground-Based
While BJJ excels at ground control and submissions, many street altercations don’t necessarily go to the ground. In a self-defense scenario, you may face threats involving weapons or unexpected environmental factors. BJJ doesn’t address these concerns as effectively as other combat sports. At Hanover Boxing Club, we prepare you for real-world situations, teaching you to protect yourself, whether you're standing or in close quarters or the ground, I’ll get to why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a necessity further down.
5. Overemphasis on Ground Work
While BJJ’s specialization in ground fighting makes it highly effective in certain contexts, it can lead to an overemphasis on ground techniques. This may not always be practical if you're forced to defend yourself standing or against an opponent skilled in striking. Boxing training at Hanover Boxing Club teaches you how to handle situations that may not go to the ground or even need to go to the ground, offering a more versatile skill set for self-defense.
HOWEVER, this is why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an absolute necessity in today’s violent landscape.
1. Durability, conditioning, and stress
inoculation, oh my!
The ability to defend yourself on the ground against another aggressive opponent that is bent on hurting you is unparalleled. When you practice that every day with a resisting opponent and something happens outside the academy it’s just another day at the office. You’re calmer, less stressed, and more durable making it much much easier to navigate the altercation. There is nothing these hoodlums are going to put you through that you haven’t already been put through by your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu superiors and classmates.
2. You won’t be able to get up.
Heard it all before, the overconfident guy watching an MMA event saying he would “just stand up” if he was in that fighters position on TV. Laughable! I assure you, you wouldn’t. If you do find yourself on the ground, whether it be initiated by you, done to you or, in my Case, slip and fall on spilled beer and overturned tables going into an altercation trying to stop people from hurting each other, Learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu would be the fastest way to get yourself back to your feet in a multiple-attacker type scenario. Without Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu you more then likely need to accept your fate.
Conclusion: Complement Your Skills at Hanover Boxing Club.
While Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a powerful martial art, it may not be the best choice for every self-defense scenario, but you still need it, having the knowledge I do came at a cost, and I’m telling you it’s absolutely necessary. You don’t have to be a world champion but a little ground proficiency is warranted. Without it there is a huge hole in your game and most people today could exploit that. By complementing BJJ with striking-focused training, such as Boxing, Kickboxing and Muay Thai, or complimenting your striking with a well versed ground game, can build a more well-rounded skill set. At Hanover Boxing Club, we believe that combining the best elements of striking and grappling—whether through boxing or kickboxing—can give you the upper hand in virtually any situation. Our classes focus on enhancing your ability to defend yourself, whether on the ground or standing, ensuring that you're prepared for anything.
