Relson Gracie: If you don't know self-defense, you don't know BJJ

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source: connectionrio

Mixed Martial Arts was born from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. BJJ has since moved largely towards a sports focus, primarily sport BJJ, and to a lesser extent MMA. Self-defense has fallen as the primary purpose, as noted by Relson Gracie, when Connection Rio guests got the opportunity to train with the master at his academy in Leblon, Brazil.

"Helio Gracie Jiu-Jitsu - that's the only source in Brazil right now to teach self-defense," explains Relson. "A lot of positions, like Butterfly (guard) for sport, these don't work for street fights… Helio Gracie says, 'you don't know self-defense, you don't know Jiu-Jitsu.'"

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12/14/12 2:37 PM by greenhornet

Decider, I've gone through some of his stuff. He teaches you to avoid certain ranges. You really want to avoid a slug fest with anyone. So if someone is showing hostle intend, he shows how to stand in a non-threatening but strategic way to defend yourself. He will show you how to keep that distance from punches & kicks, also from a wresler's takedowns but if the guy keeps coming he'll show you how to effectively close the distance while keeping yourself safe. (Think Royce in UFC 1-3) He keeps it simmple but very effective. I hope this answers your question.

12/13/12 10:03 PM by TheDecider

Everyone keeps referencing bear hugs and headlocks but what about punches? This is IMO the biggest problem with sport jiu jitsu. Headlock escapes can be learned in a day. Learning to position yourself to be out of danger from punches as you transition through an infinate number of positions, scrambles ect. takes a long time and lots of practice.

12/13/12 8:12 PM by 303

Nick, let me know next time you are going in I would love to meet you and roll with you. What night club do you work at? My cancer bills are pretty crazy and I have been looking to get back into bouncing for a while. I ran security for 4 clubs in Denver when I was in college. Not sure if where you work is looking for anyone but if so let me know. As far as how talented Steve is, I can say that in my opinion he probably is the best jits player in Colorado. We have 3-4 black belts that train with us and he seems to always make it look like he is barely putting out any work and ends up tapping them. I think Steve is going to start competing again this year and I am pretty excited to see how he does on the World level. I have seen Steve trade submissions with Javy Vasquez and felt honored just to be in the same room watching them go at each other. Shoot me a PM and hopefully we can get on the mat sometime soon. Plus there is a MMA opportunity I can pass on to you if you are interested. Jason Miller

12/13/12 12:29 PM by Ministry of Truth

Yeah, I totally think it works as well. The problem with just learning sport BJJ is you don't train for the weird things that actually happen in street fights (headlocks, being knocked/pushed down, being grabbed from behind, etc.). If some ridiculously strong guy grabs me in a headlock, I'm comfortable that I know what to do. And it's not something I learned from sport BJJ at all.

12/13/12 12:26 PM by gravedigger

Good point Dan. I was also caught up in the sport side of BJJ. But I want to explore the more SD side of it. Seems to me slightly more pratical as you get older.

12/13/12 12:07 PM by NickLaney

Steve is a SUPER cool guy and an insanely talented player and instructor, I was lucky enough to attend a Relson seminar at his school and it was amazing.

12/13/12 12:04 PM by NickLaney

I did see that actually I must have missed it was you that posted, I agree completely about street application. Im lucky enough to train under a Royce BB and we stress the SD at our academy. I know the SD techniques work because I have used them doing security for a Nightclub in CO.

12/13/12 8:37 AM by Ministry of Truth

Oh I understand what you wrote, and in fact posted something along those lines earlier in this thread (did you read it?). What you quoted was just a direct response to ShoeMoney's weak analogy.

12/13/12 12:29 AM by Seats Taken

Were I train we always a self defense series then a Sport BJJ oriented series. There are a lot of guys that are really good at technical sport BJJ that would panic or shut down in a real life situation. Same with any art. <img src="/images/phone/apple.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>

12/13/12 12:17 AM by Xspur

Pretty funny, lol, pull my pants down.....Actually in most places mutual combat is illegal and both participants can end up in jail. So a more "self defense" strategy would involve not squaring up with someone. Being friendly and assuming a non threatening stance. Then, at the last possible moment counter attacking, or attacking with speed, force, and efficiency to finish it quickly. But only after all other avenues of withdrawal are explored.My point was that many people who train just to fight will tend to square up when threatened. That is not self defense, that's fighting. I was simply trying to express my opinion that there is often a difference between fighting and self defense. Does that mean that A fight may never present itself? No, I simply intend to present a thought that fighting and defending yourself are not one in the same.

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