Learning Jiu Jitsu - Is Ground Fighting Really The Ultimate Martial Art?

Do you want to Learn Jiu Jitsu?

Mixed Martial Arts has exploded lately in popularity causing a boom in MMA schools as well as people who want to lean Jiu Jitsu. But is Jiu Jitsu right for you?

That's a personal discovery that you need to uncover. The popular adage that people are using nowadays is that "90% of fights end up going to the ground..." So they assume that a ground based fighting style like BJJ is now the ultimate martial art.

Before you believe this very biased and misquoted statistic consider the fights you see in the UFC. Not all of these fights go to the ground. In the recent fight between Koscheck and GSP the fight rarely went to the ground. Since both fighter have tons of experience on the ground they essentially "negated" or "balanced" each others ability. Instead the fight was won by GSP using his jab efficiently and effectively. So when someone says "90% of fights go to the ground..." they aren't just misrepresenting the statistic they aren't quoting something you should base your decision to learn jiu jitsu on.

The statistic was actually based on a LAPD study on altercations with criminals under arrest. The statistic was actually 62% of altercations "go to the ground". But this was a situation for the police officers to use their superior skills in subduing people for arrest. So don't let that statistic determine whether you learn BJJ. Now a better question to ask yourself is whether you think learning jiu-jitsu will make your better in self-defense and general martial arts skill. In this situation then a ground art would be a great asset to have. But as the world is learning, a "mix" of different styles is becoming the more popular route for martial artists because they can strengthen weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

So if you are looking to learn jiu jitsu I recommend you also learn striking techniques so that you don't have a weakness in stand-up defense. Because if you are being attacked by multiple people whether you can take one person down or not isn't going to help you if there are two or more people. I recommend learning jiu jitsu in combination with other arts to make sure your self-defense is well rounded and effective in multiple planes of motion. Other Martial arts like Muay Thai, Boxing, and Wrestling aren't usually considered martial arts.