It is often asked “Is Jiu-Jitsu for Self Defense”? 

However, the answer is not a simple yes or no. Firstly, there are different types of Jiu-Jitsu which are designed for different uses. There is Traditional Jiu-Jitsu, Competitive and for Jiu-Jitsu for Self Defense. 

Many techniques may be similar. 

Self Defense must be simple to be effective under pressure. You are physically not capable of carrying out complex motor skills in a high stress situation, like that of an attack. For this reason, it is important that all techniques consist only of gross motor skills, these are simple body movements that all people are capable of performing. 

 There is also the need to cover the non-physical aspects of Self Defense that may not be covered in your average Martial arts class. You need to establish the belief that you can be effective in protecting yourself, discover how it is possible to overcome fear and avoid panic. There are also awareness and avoidance strategies to consider. 

In Self Defense there are no rules, this can be used to your advantage, unlike the restrictions of competitive Jiu-Jitsu. 

It is by using elements such as momentum, leverage and anatomy that gives smaller or weaker people an opportunity to gain an advantage.

We have posted many Self Defense Articles

Unfortunately, many novice trainers in Martial arts consider bodybuilding the same as Athletic Strength Training. As a result, bodybuilding routines are being designed for athletes by incompetant coaches. 

 Bodybuilding is not what a competitive fighter needs, functional training is far more useful. Make function a priority over muscle size. Larger muscles are useless unless they can perform in your chosen field. 

If an increase in strength is your goal, it does not have to be attained via a body building program. 

Strength is very important but do not let your training compromise any of the other essential aspect of your performance. 

Your body needs to be versatile, powerful, fast and very enduring, not just bulky.

 Each element of your training needs to have a specific purpose. Training as a bodybuilder is not going to help reach your very best as a competitive fighter in Jiu-Jitsu or any other fighting art.

You get out, what You put in to your Combat Conditioning!

Fighters continue to fail because of poor Combat Conditioning yet it is one of the very areas of a fight that you can actually do something about. You should never lose because of poor Combat Conditioning, make it a major part of your arsenal. 

With Superior Combat Conditioning, you can oftentimes beat an opponent who is technically superior by controlling the fight at a relentless pace. 

Great Workouts are not necessarily fun, they are often painful. They don’t even have to be attractive to watch. It is not easy and it’s not meant to be either. 

This is your chosen arena and superior levels of Combat Conditioning will undoubtedly make the difference. Of course, you already know that so “what are you waiting for”? 

The amount of training required for just two or three - 3 minute rounds is huge, it’s real tough in there. MMA Fighters can fight in 5 minute rounds and there is nothing worse than seeing great technical fighters lose because of poor Combat Conditioning. Starting out looking great but soon wilting and unable to perform their technical skills at any reasonable level because of fatigue. 

Step up the plate, put in the extra effort, go the extra mile in your Combat Conditioning and you will reap the rewards in competition.

I keep a close eye on UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships). You will always see varying styles but I am always very interested to see how competitors utilise Jiu-Jitsu techniques. 

Canadian hero, Georges St-Pierre had an excellent performance against Matt Serra. Everyone looks at him as a stand-up fighter, however, Georges looked much stronger and showed what a great all-rounder he really is by beating a BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) specialist, on the ground. 

I really like Travis Luter, he is an excellent practitioner of BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu), however, he showed how a lack of conditioning can be your downfall. 

Come on! - conditioning is something that we can all work on and improve, there is no excuse for walking into such an arena in poor condition, especially against world class athletes like Rich Franklin. 

The Englishman Michael Bisping, on the other hand dropped a weight category to Middleweight. At 185 pounds, he looks in fantastic condition. Michael looked strong and fast, I really look forward to his future fights in this category. 

Jiu-Jitsu is a fantastic art, however, your Jiu-Jitsu skills will become useless without good conditioning to back them up! 

If you are involved in MMA, don’t let your fitness let you down. There are many programs available that will help you reach ultimate fitness. One such program is Martial Arts Conditioning

Adding a finisher to your Martial arts Workout will provide a great challenge both physically and mentally. Fatigue should already be setting in from the rest of your workout and the finisher forces you to give it your all one last time, pushing through that fatigue. 

Instead of trying to reinvent your training sessions every time you come across something new, simply make a few tweaks here and there. Adding a finisher to your Martial arts workout can give huge benefits. 

It is important to combat athletes to have the ability to fight through the pain of fatigue, it will come to you at some point and when you have been there time after time in training, your mind will help you push through it in competition. 

This finisher (The “Ton Up”) was given to us by my former Boxing Trainer - Charlie Marshall. It is really simple yet really effective. It is 100 exercises, hence “Ton-Up” carried out in a sensible order. 

These exercises need to be carried out as fast as possible yet keep your form as correct as possible throughout – 

10 x Sit-up Twist 
10 x Push Up 
10 x Squat Thrust 
10 x Burpees 
10 x Squat Jumps 
10 x Knees to Chest 
10 x Push Ups 
10 x Mountain Climbers 
10 x Bent Knee Sit-up 
10 x Pike Sit-up 

Repeat these again 

If you have anything left, do it a third time. 

This type of Finisher can be applied to training for any physical sport where physical fatigue is a possibility.