What is better greppling or striking arts?

[disgruntled]

grappling can be dangerous though.... i would never roll with someone on the streets. i think that in most real situations striking has an advantage.... plus striking is something that can be taught a little easier for SD than grappling... but obviously a good grappler can take on a novice striker.

[Thems Fighting Words]

Originally Posted by disgruntled

grappling can be dangerous though.... i would never roll with someone on the streets. i think that in most real situations striking has an advantage.... plus striking is something that can be taught a little easier for SD than grappling... but obviously a good grappler can take on a novice striker.

I guess it depends on your idea of grappling. If you mean committing your whole body to try and submit an opponent, then yeah I'd agree that I wouldn't grapple on the street. Just remember though that some people consider joint locks or even the act of bridging as a form of grappling. Also most sweeps require some form of grabbing to be fully effective.

[disgruntled]

good point. if you are skilled, standing grappling attacks are better than striking. they usually give you the option of subduing the opponent without harming them.

[CanFightIt]

You need both. A complete fighting system should contain a combination of striking, throws, blocking/evasion, and joint manipulation. If you lack any of those skills then you are not a well rounded fighter.

People tend to have some misconceptions about arts that focus on joint manipulation. There is a whole world outside of BJJ. Some arts teach you have to apply joint manipulation and joint breaking techniques and control from a standing position. This is way better in a real fight, because in the real world you may face multiple opponents and the last place you want to be against multiple attackers is on the ground. That is why Japanese Jujitsu is a combat art, taught in the standing position, and BJJ is more suitable for the ring against a single unarmed opponent. BJJ excels in that environment though. Japanese Jujitsu has lots of moves that destroy bones and joints and are used to kill or maim your opponent.

Striking is essential. Most fights begin with striking or shoving. When the punches are flying you need to be able to defend yourself and hit back. Striking is what it is, and it applies somewhere in the majority of most fight situations.

Now, there are lots of times when you can incorporate something like Japanese Jujitsu in a real fight. Lets say instead of somebody trying to strike you, they grab you by the shirt so you cant get away.....maybe they are not trying to kill you, but they want to rob you or rape you. This is a time when you can use joint manipulation on the wrist and break their arm in 4 places in a single move, a technique which does more damage than most strikes would, injuring your opponent beyond the ability to continue attacking in a single attack.

Another way you can use grappling is if you manage to catch a strike. instead of blocking, you can subtly evade and catch the wrist or arm. From here you can control the whole body just by manipulating the hand or wrist. You can bring your opponent to the ground where he is unable to fight back and you can begin snapping joints backwards, crippling your attacker. During these techniques you do not have to go to the ground yourself. You can even position yourself so that the attacker you are using the joint manipulation on is stuck between you and your other opponents (if you are on your feet), so that they have trouble getting to you. When you are in submission you cant effectively strike back, so it takes their power away. Also, with joint manipulation you don't have to be bigger or have a reach advantage to be effective. Its all about balance and leverage, not about strength and speed.

Aikido does something similar, but they don't break joints, just use throws or submission.

Combat grappling arts are brutal.

Generally, the fight will begin with striking though. Unless you are really really good at catching punches or sweeping, you will be at a disadvantage against a good striker if you don't know how to strike.

[disgruntled]

You need both. A complete fighting system should contain a combination of striking, throws, blocking/evasion, and joint manipulation. If you lack any of those skills then you are not a well rounded fighter.

i agree, but there are very few MAs that incorporate all of them. interesting.

[danjutsu]

Originally Posted by disgruntled

i agree, but there are very few MAs that incorporate all of them. interesting.

So how many students, or instructors even, that dont practice all of these skills would have what it takes to defend themselves against an attack for real?

[disgruntled]

good question.... but i think a street fight would be different than a match. you would be allowed to use devasting techniques and end it quicker giving any MA an advantage.