Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Bandung : grapple or not - dilemma - 2

THE ATTEMPTED RAPE: Although women should avoid grappling at all costs (unless highly skilled), I am including this scenario on the 'when to grapple' side of the argument, simply because in most attempted rapes, the woman has no choice. To put it simply, 'hey, don't grapple' ... but the facts are that if an attempted rape is in progress, the woman is already on the ground and the clinch has taken place.

By far the majority of rapes occur 'in the home' and by someone the victim knows. It is rarely a situation where standing back and slamming home a kick or punch will save the day. It is usually in close quarters, and disengaging can be more difficult than people think. In this situation, good ground skills and some simple chokes whereby the rapist can be put out within a few seconds, will serve more effectively than strikes. It can be extremely simple to put someone to sleep with a choke from the bottom position; particularly when the aggressor has little or no knowledge of groundwork. It is the single most efficient way of rendering someone unconscious, particularly when the assailant if larger, stronger and extremely motivated.

THE REALITY: RAPE AND ASSAULT ON WOMEN USUALLY OCCURS AT NOSE LENGTH. KICKING AND PUNCHING USUALLY DON'T WORK. ONCE ON THE FLOOR, WHERE THE ACT OF RAPE OCCURS, GRAPPLING IS THE ANSWER; EITHER TO AFFECT A POSITIONAL CHANGE, ALLOWING THE WOMAN TO ESCAPE, OR A CHOKE OR JOINT BREAK, BRINGING THE ASSAULT TO AN END.
BEST BETS: FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! CHOKE HIM OUT! RUN!

THE NO-CHOICE SCENARIO: This is simple; it is appropriate to grapple when you are on the ground and have no other choice! For those martial artists who are practicing with 'self defence' and 'effectiveness' in mind, this is the most compelling argument for acquiring some grappling skills. For those martial artists who have no real interest in grappling or wrestling skills; at least acquire some of the basics for that 'worst case scenario'; in my experience, training for the worst case scenario is time well spent. For inevitably, that 'worst case' scenario will 'get you every time'.

Personally, I have heard the testimony of many martial artists, who have described fights they've had with phrases like 'too close to do anything' or 'we ended up on the ground' or more commonly yet 'not like sparring in the dojo'. The latter holds the key ... 'sparring'. Sparring is infinitely different from fighting. In that it's two people usually agreeing to stay 'at range', and usually also not performed 'flat out'! Also, in 'sparring' it is usually difficult to determine a winner. Grappling on the other hand, there is more often than not, a 'winner'. It is usually performed 'flat out'. And after not too much practice, the nitty gritty of 'too close' and too 'nasty' seems comfortable and 'normal'.

To me, the sensible approach for the stand-off martial artist, is not to say 'I don't want to grapple, I'll win all my fights by KO!' but rather to say 'Okay, I'll learn a little about it, just in case!'

THE REALITY: IT'S RARELY YOUR CHOICE WHETHER YOU GRAPPLE OR NOT, IT'S THE ENVIRONMENT, THE SITUATION OR THE OTHER GUY; SO LEARN A LITTLE GRAPPLING ANYWAY.

BEST BETS: CONSIDERING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT GROUNDWORK; IT ONLY TAKES A LITTLE TO GIVE YOU THE BIG ADVANTAGE; DO A LITTLE; IT CAN'T HURT. YOU MAY EVEN HAVE FUN! IF YOU WON'T PURSUE IT; THEN THE TIME WHEN YOU HIT THE GROUND (GOD FORBID); THEN STAY CLOSE, (NO SPACE IS BEST) AND LESS NASTY THINGS WILL HAPPEN TO YOU. IF YOU MANAGE TO GET ON TOP YOUR BEST STRIKES ARE HEAD BUTTS AND ELBOWS.

next post - when not to grapple (multiple attack scenario)