The best thing BJJ has given me is the power to not fight. You are no longer under the control of your ego. If you don't train, you walk around feeling like you have to prove yourself. If you train, you've already done it time and time again.
Best most honest advice I ever heard from a martial arts teacher is this _You can't turn a Clark Kent in to a Superman_ Contrary to the marketing of MA, that's very true. Some people are never going to be intimidating. Or will be able to throw down. I've met BJJ brown and black belts who have told me they 've frozen in real world altercations. I've actually witnessed on one occasion. BJJ makes you skilled at the sport of BJJ. Sure, if your an alpha type, it could make you more dangerous. If you're not, it's not going to transform you in to some stone cold bad ass.
@Johnny Luken You are right. It's not even close in most gyms. I've literally seen a brown belt in BJJ from my old gym come to class with a black eye and busted nose because some guy dropped him with a punch at a party over nothing. Brown belt said he just couldn't react. BJJ is a cool sport. It's not magic though.
You all are missing the point. BJJ is an outlet for energy and aggression. Yes, BJJ isn't the be all end all for street fights. BUT BJJ gives you confidence and an outlet. Those two things make it much easier to deescalate a situation vs. fighting.
A wise man only fights when he or someone he loves is threatened with violence. Random street fights get people killed everyday. Imagine he double-legs the guy onto a marble or granite floor. Guy cracks his head, died of intracranial hemorrhage. Or imagine you go to punch him, and he pulls out his concealed pistol. Street fights should be a last resort for anyone, just let the guy woof and go about your business.
I was in jail with a guy who smacked his landlord and the dude hit his head and died. Charged with murder over a dispute and will probably not see the light of day again.
@@nathanmoore9113 So he is a pussy because he prefers not to get shot, stabbed, or go to jail you sound like an ignorant fool. Its alway better to defuse the situation then pop off and lose your freedom or life over stupidity. If anything the military has taught me while I was in two combat tours in Saudi is violence doesnt solve everything. Only in the most dire situations should you resort to violence and it should be a kill or be killed other wise let dumb ass people puff up and blow smoke I have no need to fight unless im in a cage or my MMA training where its legal and I get paid to pound a fools face in otherwise it aint worth the cost. My opinion on the matter.
DeVante Kidwell The English language isn’t vast enough to discuss philosophy. Yes, he is a “pussy”. A pussy is someone who is scared. If you are scared to get shot, you are by definition, a pussy. The real question is why are we going around calling people pussies when we are all afraid of something? Seems hypocritical to me.
Good point. Before I started training I always walked around with a knife... never had to use it, but always felt better knowing I have it. BJJ is the same way for me.
@@Torey1976 good you never got to use it too; if you got caught sticking some dude over petty shit you'd waste your life in jail, whereas now with bjj/grappling if you restrain him in a position it will be seen as self defence 90% of the time
Best most honest advice I ever heard from a martial arts teacher is this _You can't turn a Clark Kent in to a Superman_ Contrary to the marketing of MA, that's very true. Some people are never going to be intimidating. Or will be able to throw down. I've met BJJ brown and black belts who have told me they 've frozen in real world altercations. I've actually witnessed it on one occasion. BJJ makes you skilled at the sport of BJJ. Sure, if your an alpha type, it could make you more dangerous. If you're not, it's not going to transform you in to some stone cold bad ass.
It reminds me of Tommy Lee Jones' little speech from No Country For Old Men, on the uncertainty of the conflict between Man and Beast...let alone the uncertainty of Man vs. Man. How do you make God laugh? You do it by making a plan.
Sounds like he handled it pretty well to me. Engaging verbally tends to spiral into a shouting match. Jocko Willink tells a story where a drunk dude challenged him and he responded in the same way.
He did the right thing. I love it to know i can smash someone up but don’t do it unless it is nessesary as they choose to attack you then i will give everything.
Shit, even being an out of shape mediocre grappler I know ill be fine a lot of the time too. We have our skill tested every time we get on the mat (or damn near haha). I dont need to test my chin to satisfy your ego
My opinion: his response was perfect by squaring the posture is no threat, but, sees no threat, where the bully meant to present one... the Bully backed off for the same reason a cat walks away from a rat that doesn't run... he didn't know what to do with you and that saved him from himself... highest expression of Martial Arts, Well Done!
Think "David" isn't being honest. He obviously feels like he was being dominated mentally and verbally or it would not be eating at him so much. Maybe "squaring up" translates in to "I just stood there frozen".
He did an absolutely fantastic job. Verbal de-escalation and avoidance is best, only fight when you have to. In a similar situation, I was able to prevent a bigger guy from beating on a smaller guy by coming up behind the bigger guy after he had taken a swing on the smaller guy, gaining arm and wrists control and assertively, but not aggressively moving him away from the smaller guy. I didn't want to fight, but I think once the bigger guy felt my control over him he knew I could handle myself. The biggest take away I got from that situation is that I didn't feel a bit nervous and I credit that to training.
Having been training jiu-jitsu as a small guy has taught me one very important thing, *never ever get into a street fight* You cannot necessarily gauge who has and doesn't possess skill. You don't want to puff your chest and find out the tough way.
Exactly. There's no such thing as an "average man on the street" that we always hear about in martial arts classes. People can be intoxicated, incredible strong, heavy, carry weapons, have mental health problems than manifest in extreme violent behaviour etc...
And most interesting of all, is that it was not a joke or attempt at humor. It was just evidence of practical big picture thinking that we all should be practicing every day.
This is really great! I needed to hear this. Chewy I get so much from your channel and videos! Almost 3 months into jiu jitsu now and it's changed my life... You are a huge part of that.
Good advice Chew. As a person who used to be involved in street altercations in the past I can say it is usually not worth it! Most of the times a misunderstanding and just frustration from other complexities part of being human. I train BJJ and my aggression has certainly been much more curtailed and my aggression channelled. I think he did the right thing too and you give excellent advice but certainly easier said that done.
I haven't been in a street fight since starting BJJ 8 years ago. Not only has BJJ taught me that small guys, and girls can be dangerous as fuck, it's taught me discipline and how to walk away. If there is no choice, I have the ability to defend myself, but I also have the ability to defuse a situation.
Just remember, that guy might be armed or maybe he has a buddy who is. There are no rules in a street fight. Its easier to walk away, to live another day. Street fights dont always end the way you think......
Living in NYC, I've definitely had my moments of crazy people yelling at me over the years. In general (I would guess at least 90% of the time) people just want to yell and have that momentary appearance of toughness. It's in those times I find that saying little, but being ready, is best. The most I'll say is "you should be careful" or "is that all?" after the initial barrage of random thoughts being spewed from their mouths is over; most walk away, thinking they have "won" because I didn't engage more verbally. Being a purple belt, I know I have some tools in the bag to help me if need be, but I will NEVER engage first, but I am ready to defend myself if push truly comes to shove.
Confidence is a very Jiujitsu mindset...training in Gracie combatives gave me that awareness too judge a situation...for example if there are 2 guys vs me then no Jiujitsu but one vs one unarmed all day if necessary.
Great video man, I had the exact same thoughts as the dude that wrote in. It was nice to hear you verbalize that you are nervous before and after, but not during. Thanks for the video bro
Best muscles to develop to always win a street fight = your legs. The second it start to get heated just sprint out of there. Works all the time every time lol
I did a knife defense seminar once. The instructor said I'm going to start with the best technique first. Then ran out the gym...with all our money. Lol he came back 20 seconds later
The guy abused you and you feel like you didn't do enough. Yeah, it makes you think you should have done more, but think about it, you probably won't ever see him again and you won't remember that. incident in a a couple weeks. I had someone go mental at a junction the other day, I could hear him swearing at me but when our cars pulled up sude by side and my window was down, I looked across at him and he avoided eye contact and said nothing, then drove off when he had the chance. It's probably for the better. You might have done something you regret.
Your statement is real. Eye contact elevates the situation. When I’m driving, I just want to get to my destination. In one piece. Safely. By the grace of God
I get in street fights all the time as a teenager I have to use Jiu jitsu and defend myself but I always get myself in a dominant position and hold them down until a teacher sperates us but I will never break someone's arm unless I'm fighting for my life.
Perfect response to the situation....yes, we who train Jiu-Jitsu can handle ourselves in a fight but seriously my Jiu-Jitsu brothers and sisters does it settle anything...it just causes more problems
I started BJJ today for the first time and it’s so much fun! I was laughing and giggling while getting destroyed. I got bruises on my arms and mat burns lol
Great video, thanks for posting. It's important to think about why you train BJJ and how it can help in ALL aspects of life. Why even get into a verbal altercation and then allow it to escalate into something physical? The great part about Jiu Jitsu is the conscious knowledge of how to get to a position of advantage and how to get out of a position of disadvantage. You have to think about what the other person is willing to do. As practitioners, I have found that generally you are all good-natured, good-hearted people. How far is that other guy willing to go, though, to save his own ego? There could be a knife, a gun, his backup ready to off you for something as simple as standing in line. Think about your personal mission. Is it to live your life fully, get back to your family, be a provider, watch your children grow up, etc.? Would fighting someone take you away from that mission? What about the assault, police report, potential serious physical injury to that other person that now you could be liable for a lawsuit? Doesn't matter who was in the right and who was in the wrong. Now you're involved in lawyer fees, court, and possible jail time because of something that could have been avoided by your strategic jiu jitsu mind. Great job not escalating the situation. Excellent job putting that ego aside. Hardest thing to do when you have those skills, but think about all the other factors and that dude just wasn't worth everything you've built up in your life.
Videos are brilliant mate just started jui jitsu a few months, feel more confident going into gyms , feel 10 steps ahead than what I would have been. I hope well cross paths one day 🇮🇪
Great advice! Because there are no rules on the streets. I have seen a BJJ. practitioner take a guy down, had the other guy all tied up. The other guy reaches between his legs and squeezed his jewels and the BJJ guy was screaming in so much pain and fainted. And I had to stop him from stomping on his head while he was unconscious. Remember on the street all is fair in war...
Very good video. Two additions I'd make are that when we're young, we feel the need to fight to preserve our honor. As we age, honor is far less valuable, and we fight to preserve life and limb; our own and others'. Second, we don't want to get arrested and charged with battery for being the first one to lay a hand on the other person.
I used to lose it at times and get into fights when I didn't train in JJ and mma. Since training for 4 years I just avoid altercations altogether. Makes me think how stupid I was to fight when I couldn't fight and now that I can fight I don't want to cos I'm always thinking and calm about situations. It's like in jits once u lose ur cool u lose. But if ur thinking straight and breathing properly u always do so much better.
I enjoy your videos because of the stories!! Lol I think you came on my feed because I watch grappling (wrestling), but your stuff is good. You have lots of good wisdom and advice is many scenarios. Thanks sir!
Good video. Most street fights are based in ego. Someone feels inadequate or doesn't want to look like a chicken so they fight to prove that they are not a puss. For me, once I learned GJJ and stand up striking, I no longer had anything to prove to myself or to anyone else. When people bark at me now, (road rage, etc), I just shrug it off and walk away - and I don't care if they think I backed down. I know that if they had attacked me I would have taken them apart, literally, and I don't care if they know it or not. Let them think they are the tough guy and I am the puss, I couldn't care less. I learned how to fight so that I would never have to!!
I had something similiar thing happen to me at a stop n shop. The main take away I had was that I didn't have that nervous confrontation feeling. I sort of sized the guy up really quickly (looked for cauliflower ear and what he was wearing 😊) Then sternly said something to the effect of back off or relax. That defused the situation. Bear in mind it was not a streetfight scenario. It was a more controlled environment with plenty of people around. Now I'm just a middle aged guy who has his blue belt for three years. I am also totally aware the man could have thrown a punch and knocked me out had he connected appropriately.
A situation like this happened to me on Christmas Eve. Some guy cut in line for the bathroom at a mall and I kindly said that I was in line and he lost his shit. So I just went back to surfing Instagram while paying attention to him in the corner of my eyes making sure he kept his distance until he shut up and walked away. He ranted for like 3 straight minutes though pacing. Lol. Adrenaline was boostin’.
Just as a young doorman, i always managed the angry shouting people with calmness, never even raise my voice and also thinking the last case scenario on how to defend my self if i get attacked by many people simultaneously. But never got this to this point.
Sounds like a good outcome, no one got hurt. I dont mind verbal abuse or been sworn at had since I was about 7. If i need to i have used assertiveness training to defuse the situation
This reminds me of champion Muay Thai fighter Alex Gong who confronted a the guy who hit his car and ran by chasing him to the red light.., the guy pulled a gun out and killed him. Don’t fight on the street just let it go.
Thats why I like boxing and sparring so I can eliminate that flight or flight a bit.. Cause when people see that nervousness and free they get really crazy
It’s always the best thing to do to try and avoid a physical altercation but always remember to keep your distance , never let someone get close to you because training or not if the dude sucker punches you and cracks you flush with a solid shot he can knock you out or split your face open .. try and talk your way out of it but always keep your distance ( a little more then arms length ) and be ready to evade a punch
Miyamoto Musashi talked about this centuries ago. To paraphrase, you win all the fights you don't need to fight. The ultimate skill of a martial artist is to not need your martial skills.
@ThelondonbadgerYou inspired me to look it up, thanks! "The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them." - Miyamoto Musashi..... so my paraphrase was correct. I can't find any evidence of the source of his inspiration as you claim. He was also a philosopher, as many warriors are, so it's quite possible it was a original thought. If you find any evidence of the phrase's origin, relating to the inspiration you claim, i.e.- "older veterans", please show me, I'd love to read it. Thanks again!
I understand I been doin this over 20 yrs jits and combat sports my whole life when I was young I had prove my self and jits worked it's called ego but when I matured in jits n life it changed and I changed I'm 43yrs old nothing to prove guys train humble be safe
Most of us, if we want, will never have to fight another person in our entire life. It's all about how you speak to people, keep your own calm, and try to de-escalate the situation. There are those extremely rare situations where you can't avoid it. Law enforcement in urban areas, on the other hand, it is almost unavoidable. If they don't get into a physical confrontation at some point in their career, they are cowards or not doing their job.
Recently, I got into an argument with my boss because he failed to communicate certain guidelines to me. I failed to adhere to these guidelines because these guidelines didn’t exist at prior jobs I’ve worked at nor did he communicate them with me. Essentially, he blamed me for having no empathy although I was merely unaware of his particular guidelines due to miscommunication. Essentially, he wanted to speak to me, pulled out a $5 bill, slammed it on the food warmer (I work in the food industry), and further put a finger in my personal space. Afterwards, I requested “please take that finger out of my face” but he continued to bark. Fortunately, I took a step back, stared at him with an apathetic expression, and he took a step back as well. However, throughout that situation I was constantly thinking of eye gauging him in the eyes if escalated to a physical level. In hindsight, I’m thankful I didn’t do it because I could have gone to jail for assault, assault causing bodily harm, aggravated assault, manslaughter, or murder depending on the damage inflicted, as well as competency of the lawyer if legal proceedings took place. Avoid a fight if it is reasonable for you to do so. Otherwise, if you cannot do that then strike first, strike hard, and get out.
Just yesterday I got into a situation that had me wondering. I was on the train toilet and had headphones on, had been in there for like 30 seconds when I noticed someone freaking out outside but didn't bother too much bc I didn't hear it that well. When I opened the door this drunk guy insulted me but went on to go inside the toilet. A few minutes later, I hear him screaming all over the train how I'm a dirty pig and didn't wash my hands and stuff, further insulting me. I thought about confronting him for a second because I felt my ego aching. Figured it wasn't worth it because I didn't have to prove to myself that I could beat his ass. In my days before martial arts I'd either have been scared to death or making it a fully blown fight, depending on how my day went.
@@HtheKing 100%. Now it's just an anecdote but it could have led to something really bad happening. I'm glad I didn't needlessly jeopardize my health for something so dumb 😄
It takes so much energy to walk away. It’s a good feeling though. You got the skills and to be able to calm yaself and say nope nothing gonna entertain the thought. If you need to defend yaself go ahead but to be able to walk away even though some jive turkey is being stupid now that’s power
Old vid but it appeared on my home screen, as week speak I removed myself from an intense situation with a customer at work, seems unstable. No need to get stabbed or worse. Just stayed calm and said ‘excuse me’, walked away and let the manager deal with it.
He did well...and I hope he comes to terms with why this is so. He could have done without staring this fella down, however. For some of the more insane, that is more provocative than anything else. Train, have confidence in your ability to harm another human being, and stay out of trouble as much as humanly possible.
"Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." - Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Knowing BJJ or a martial art is like having a fire extinguisher. You are probably not going to need it but you have the confidence, knowing that if there's a fire you can take care of it. But just because you have the extinguisher doesnt mean you're going out there looking for fires or looking to start one just to use it.
Best most honest advice I ever heard from a martial arts teacher is this _You can't turn a Clark Kent in to a Superman_ Contrary to the marketing of MA, that's very true. Some people are never going to be intimidating. Or will be able to throw down. I've met BJJ brown and black belts who have told me they 've frozen in real world altercations. I've actually witnessed on one occasion. BJJ makes you skilled at the sport of BJJ. Sure, if your an alpha type, it could make you more dangerous. If you're not, it's not going to transform you in to dine stone cold bad ass.
Getting into situations like this is tough. Even when I know I am at an advantage (I'm a large strong fit person), my brain unleashes a lot of adrenaline and I have to consciously keep myself calm.
Street fight is far more dangerous than UFC/MMA Fight. Fear is human basic Instinct,people have it and dont shame in it. But once the punch is delivered, the fear it self is gone supressed by Instinct to survive. Just enjoy the training and avoid street fight if possible run from it as fast as you can but if fight is the only option never back down.
I totally agree with that but at the same time, doesn't hurt to have a street fight here and there. a street fight its nothing like rolling on the mat!
I've been in fights and I've walked away from several. I think sometimes you have to choose between your immediate pride and risking jail time which can mess up your job prospects
Noone every talks about flight or freeze. Im all for escaping if possible, however If it is not possible.. Its exactly the reason why I started to train takedowns with judo and boxing, I understand that 90% of fights go to the ground, however I never want to go to the ground by getting punched or slammed
Such a good question. I haven't been in a fight outside the gym since I started bjj. That was 2 years ago this week 😃 edit! There have been tons of opportunities lol
I think if you are a man and you know you can take someone but you dont, even though you made the smart decision you feel a twinge of regret. I liken it to engaging in sexual activity but not finishing. I think its animal instinct and maybe a little pride. I'm 49 years old, earned my black belt in tae kwon do in korea. I'm less than a month into BJJ and I understand how its almost like a superpower. But, I can't think of anything that would ruin my day more than rolling around on the ground with a loud mouthed stranger. BJJ is improving me mentally and my health, I slipped into laziness in the last year. For me to have to actually use BJJ or anything physical is gonna take an act of god. I can see myself stepping in to protect someone unable to protect themself from serious harm, and that's about it. Sometimes knowing you CAN handle the situation is good enough. I never want a reason to use it.
Never be the one start but always be the 1 to finish Standing your ground in looking at him was the right decision but engaging It was a verbal confrontation would take it up to the next level It was a verbal confrontation would take it up to the next level that you didn't need to go to 2 I know that this is candy cliche with great Power comes great responsibility
I used to fight and rumble all the time when I was young before I even thought about training now that I train I’d rather avoid a fight than to fight someone and I can actually beat people up now lol
If the other person backs down without you taking or giving any damage, its a flawless victory.
The best thing BJJ has given me is the power to not fight. You are no longer under the control of your ego. If you don't train, you walk around feeling like you have to prove yourself. If you train, you've already done it time and time again.
Best most honest advice I ever heard from a martial arts teacher is this _You can't turn a Clark Kent in to a Superman_
Contrary to the marketing of MA, that's very true. Some people are never going to be intimidating. Or will be able to throw down. I've met BJJ brown and black belts who have told me they 've frozen in real world altercations. I've actually witnessed on one occasion.
BJJ makes you skilled at the sport of BJJ. Sure, if your an alpha type, it could make you more dangerous. If you're not, it's not going to transform you in to some stone cold bad ass.
@Johnny Luken You are right. It's not even close in most gyms. I've literally seen a brown belt in BJJ from my old gym come to class with a black eye and busted nose because some guy dropped him with a punch at a party over nothing. Brown belt said he just couldn't react. BJJ is a cool sport. It's not magic though.
If you cant strike you wont win. You need striking
You all are missing the point. BJJ is an outlet for energy and aggression. Yes, BJJ isn't the be all end all for street fights. BUT BJJ gives you confidence and an outlet. Those two things make it much easier to deescalate a situation vs. fighting.
Agreed !!!
A wise man only fights when he or someone he loves is threatened with violence. Random street fights get people killed everyday. Imagine he double-legs the guy onto a marble or granite floor. Guy cracks his head, died of intracranial hemorrhage. Or imagine you go to punch him, and he pulls out his concealed pistol. Street fights should be a last resort for anyone, just let the guy woof and go about your business.
I was in jail with a guy who smacked his landlord and the dude hit his head and died. Charged with murder over a dispute and will probably not see the light of day again.
shut up pussy
@@nathanmoore9113 So he is a pussy because he prefers not to get shot, stabbed, or go to jail you sound like an ignorant fool. Its alway better to defuse the situation then pop off and lose your freedom or life over stupidity. If anything the military has taught me while I was in two combat tours in Saudi is violence doesnt solve everything. Only in the most dire situations should you resort to violence and it should be a kill or be killed other wise let dumb ass people puff up and blow smoke I have no need to fight unless im in a cage or my MMA training where its legal and I get paid to pound a fools face in otherwise it aint worth the cost. My opinion on the matter.
DeVante Kidwell The English language isn’t vast enough to discuss philosophy.
Yes, he is a “pussy”. A pussy is someone who is scared. If you are scared to get shot, you are by definition, a pussy.
The real question is why are we going around calling people pussies when we are all afraid of something? Seems hypocritical to me.
@@mattkonny9735 Fair point intresting opinion.
That’s why parkour is an effective art. Get the hell outta there and look like a ninja doing it xD
ray ciannello lol 👌🏻
Yeah, one of my relative is considering parkour
Yup parkour away and leave your wife and kids to take care of the mugger themselves. Teachable moments and all that...
Defo not an art. People make it artsy but no
Lol 😆
Guy is a badass. Did Exactly what he should do in this situation.
One thing BJJ has taught me, shit rarely goes as planned. You got your way, and you didn't have to actually fight. 👍😎👍
Good point. Before I started training I always walked around with a knife... never had to use it, but always felt better knowing I have it. BJJ is the same way for me.
@@Torey1976 good you never got to use it too; if you got caught sticking some dude over petty shit you'd waste your life in jail, whereas now with bjj/grappling if you restrain him in a position it will be seen as self defence 90% of the time
Best most honest advice I ever heard from a martial arts teacher is this _You can't turn a Clark Kent in to a Superman_
Contrary to the marketing of MA, that's very true. Some people are never going to be intimidating. Or will be able to throw down. I've met BJJ brown and black belts who have told me they 've frozen in real world altercations. I've actually witnessed it on one occasion.
BJJ makes you skilled at the sport of BJJ. Sure, if your an alpha type, it could make you more dangerous. If you're not, it's not going to transform you in to some stone cold bad ass.
It reminds me of Tommy Lee Jones' little speech from No Country For Old Men, on the uncertainty of the conflict between Man and Beast...let alone the uncertainty of Man vs. Man.
How do you make God laugh? You do it by making a plan.
Sounds like he handled it pretty well to me. Engaging verbally tends to spiral into a shouting match.
Jocko Willink tells a story where a drunk dude challenged him and he responded in the same way.
Who in the hell would confront a guy that looks like Jocko
@@UserName-ii1ce I wanna know what he hell was he drinking, because I want to try some! Its been a while since I got properly drunk
He did the right thing. I love it to know i can smash someone up but don’t do it unless it is nessesary as they choose to attack you then i will give everything.
Exactly my thoughts it's almost more fun knowing that if it comes down to you can handle the situation
Shit, even being an out of shape mediocre grappler I know ill be fine a lot of the time too. We have our skill tested every time we get on the mat (or damn near haha). I dont need to test my chin to satisfy your ego
My opinion: his response was perfect by squaring the posture is no threat, but, sees no threat, where the bully meant to present one... the Bully backed off for the same reason a cat walks away from a rat that doesn't run... he didn't know what to do with you and that saved him from himself... highest expression of Martial Arts, Well Done!
"The art of winning a fight without fighting"?
Think "David" isn't being honest. He obviously feels like he was being dominated mentally and verbally or it would not be eating at him so much. Maybe "squaring up" translates in to "I just stood there frozen".
The fact that David was not intimidated and had a plan of what to do was amazing.
He did an absolutely fantastic job. Verbal de-escalation and avoidance is best, only fight when you have to. In a similar situation, I was able to prevent a bigger guy from beating on a smaller guy by coming up behind the bigger guy after he had taken a swing on the smaller guy, gaining arm and wrists control and assertively, but not aggressively moving him away from the smaller guy. I didn't want to fight, but I think once the bigger guy felt my control over him he knew I could handle myself. The biggest take away I got from that situation is that I didn't feel a bit nervous and I credit that to training.
Having been training jiu-jitsu as a small guy has taught me one very important thing, *never ever get into a street fight*
You cannot necessarily gauge who has and doesn't possess skill. You don't want to puff your chest and find out the tough way.
Exactly. There's no such thing as an "average man on the street" that we always hear about in martial arts classes. People can be intoxicated, incredible strong, heavy, carry weapons, have mental health problems than manifest in extreme violent behaviour etc...
Good call
Who cares how loud a dog barks, as long as it sits when you tell it to.
I don't know why, but "I don't want to fight at a post office" made me crack up.
And most interesting of all, is that it was not a joke or attempt at humor. It was just evidence of practical big picture thinking that we all should be practicing every day.
This is really great! I needed to hear this. Chewy I get so much from your channel and videos! Almost 3 months into jiu jitsu now and it's changed my life... You are a huge part of that.
Good advice Chew. As a person who used to be involved in street altercations in the past I can say it is usually not worth it! Most of the times a misunderstanding and just frustration from other complexities part of being human. I train BJJ and my aggression has certainly been much more curtailed and my aggression channelled. I think he did the right thing too and you give excellent advice but certainly easier said that done.
I haven't been in a street fight since starting BJJ 8 years ago. Not only has BJJ taught me that small guys, and girls can be dangerous as fuck, it's taught me discipline and how to walk away. If there is no choice, I have the ability to defend myself, but I also have the ability to defuse a situation.
Just remember, that guy might be armed or maybe he has a buddy who is. There are no rules in a street fight. Its easier to walk away, to live another day. Street fights dont always end the way you think......
Living in NYC, I've definitely had my moments of crazy people yelling at me over the years. In general (I would guess at least 90% of the time) people just want to yell and have that momentary appearance of toughness. It's in those times I find that saying little, but being ready, is best. The most I'll say is "you should be careful" or "is that all?" after the initial barrage of random thoughts being spewed from their mouths is over; most walk away, thinking they have "won" because I didn't engage more verbally. Being a purple belt, I know I have some tools in the bag to help me if need be, but I will NEVER engage first, but I am ready to defend myself if push truly comes to shove.
Great advice! He has gained confidence that he may not have had before! He won regardless
Confidence is a very Jiujitsu mindset...training in Gracie combatives gave me that awareness too judge a situation...for example if there are 2 guys vs me then no Jiujitsu but one vs one unarmed all day if necessary.
Great video man, I had the exact same thoughts as the dude that wrote in. It was nice to hear you verbalize that you are nervous before and after, but not during. Thanks for the video bro
Fantastic advice once again, sounds like a win for the calm guy!
Maybe, but it's obviously eating at him. Maybe he was less "calm" and he actually just froze. I've seen it happen.
Embarass him with a good ol' fashion tickle fight from full mount
I was in a gang that used to do this whenever we had beef. We called it fluffy fingers
@@alahatim what kind of gang lmao
“Conscious Warrior”
as always, answered beautifully. Great stuff, Chewy!
Well put! Spoken like a true martial artist.
Best muscles to develop to always win a street fight = your legs. The second it start to get heated just sprint out of there. Works all the time every time lol
And cardio, getting tired you are screwed no matter the situation, whether running away or performing a sweep.
Is that a jojo reference?!
I did a knife defense seminar once. The instructor said I'm going to start with the best technique first. Then ran out the gym...with all our money. Lol he came back 20 seconds later
bro i can't understand how you guys think that you can outrun someone who you can't beat, let alone if there are multiple ones
The guy abused you and you feel like you didn't do enough. Yeah, it makes you think you should have done more, but think about it, you probably won't ever see him again and you won't remember that. incident in a a couple weeks.
I had someone go mental at a junction the other day, I could hear him swearing at me but when our cars pulled up sude by side and my window was down, I looked across at him and he avoided eye contact and said nothing, then drove off when he had the chance.
It's probably for the better. You might have done something you regret.
Your statement is real. Eye contact elevates the situation. When I’m driving, I just want to get to my destination. In one piece. Safely. By the grace of God
I get in street fights all the time as a teenager I have to use Jiu jitsu and defend myself but I always get myself in a dominant position and hold them down until a teacher sperates us but I will never break someone's arm unless I'm fighting for my life.
Playground scuffles are not "street fights" FYI.
Just found you great content entertaining as well as informative look forward to my Jui-jitsu/Muay Thai journey
Perfect response to the situation....yes, we who train Jiu-Jitsu can handle ourselves in a fight but seriously my Jiu-Jitsu brothers and sisters does it settle anything...it just causes more problems
I started BJJ today for the first time and it’s so much fun! I was laughing and giggling while getting destroyed. I got bruises on my arms and mat burns lol
How are you now
Great video, thanks for posting. It's important to think about why you train BJJ and how it can help in ALL aspects of life. Why even get into a verbal altercation and then allow it to escalate into something physical?
The great part about Jiu Jitsu is the conscious knowledge of how to get to a position of advantage and how to get out of a position of disadvantage. You have to think about what the other person is willing to do. As practitioners, I have found that generally you are all good-natured, good-hearted people. How far is that other guy willing to go, though, to save his own ego? There could be a knife, a gun, his backup ready to off you for something as simple as standing in line.
Think about your personal mission. Is it to live your life fully, get back to your family, be a provider, watch your children grow up, etc.? Would fighting someone take you away from that mission? What about the assault, police report, potential serious physical injury to that other person that now you could be liable for a lawsuit? Doesn't matter who was in the right and who was in the wrong. Now you're involved in lawyer fees, court, and possible jail time because of something that could have been avoided by your strategic jiu jitsu mind.
Great job not escalating the situation. Excellent job putting that ego aside. Hardest thing to do when you have those skills, but think about all the other factors and that dude just wasn't worth everything you've built up in your life.
You’re such a good coach. Love your channel man.
Videos are brilliant mate just started jui jitsu a few months, feel more confident going into gyms , feel 10 steps ahead than what I would have been. I hope well cross paths one day 🇮🇪
Great advice! Because there are no rules on the streets. I have seen a BJJ. practitioner take a guy down, had the other guy all tied up. The other guy reaches between his legs and squeezed his jewels and the BJJ guy was screaming in so much pain and fainted. And I had to stop him from stomping on his head while he was unconscious. Remember on the street all is fair in war...
Very good video. Two additions I'd make are that when we're young, we feel the need to fight to preserve our honor. As we age, honor is far less valuable, and we fight to preserve life and limb; our own and others'. Second, we don't want to get arrested and charged with battery for being the first one to lay a hand on the other person.
Absolutely comfirms what my coach is trying to teach me.
I used to lose it at times and get into fights when I didn't train in JJ and mma. Since training for 4 years I just avoid altercations altogether. Makes me think how stupid I was to fight when I couldn't fight and now that I can fight I don't want to cos I'm always thinking and calm about situations. It's like in jits once u lose ur cool u lose. But if ur thinking straight and breathing properly u always do so much better.
I enjoy your videos because of the stories!! Lol
I think you came on my feed because I watch grappling (wrestling), but your stuff is good.
You have lots of good wisdom and advice is many scenarios.
Thanks sir!
Good video. Most street fights are based in ego. Someone feels inadequate or doesn't want to look like a chicken so they fight to prove that they are not a puss. For me, once I learned GJJ and stand up striking, I no longer had anything to prove to myself or to anyone else. When people bark at me now, (road rage, etc), I just shrug it off and walk away - and I don't care if they think I backed down. I know that if they had attacked me I would have taken them apart, literally, and I don't care if they know it or not. Let them think they are the tough guy and I am the puss, I couldn't care less. I learned how to fight so that I would never have to!!
I had something similiar thing happen to me at a stop n shop. The main take away I had was that I didn't have that nervous confrontation feeling. I sort of sized the guy up really quickly (looked for cauliflower ear and what he was wearing 😊) Then sternly said something to the effect of back off or relax. That defused the situation. Bear in mind it was not a streetfight scenario. It was a more controlled environment with plenty of people around. Now I'm just a middle aged guy who has his blue belt for three years. I am also totally aware the man could have thrown a punch and knocked me out had he connected appropriately.
And the guy leaving shows he knew he would loose people feel it when you are going to smash them
I wouldn't fight them either. I think he handled well.
Awesome video chewie!
Great message Chewy. 🤙
A situation like this happened to me on Christmas Eve. Some guy cut in line for the bathroom at a mall and I kindly said that I was in line and he lost his shit.
So I just went back to surfing Instagram while paying attention to him in the corner of my eyes making sure he kept his distance until he shut up and walked away. He ranted for like 3 straight minutes though pacing. Lol.
Adrenaline was boostin’.
Just as a young doorman, i always managed the angry shouting people with calmness, never even raise my voice and also thinking the last case scenario on how to defend my self if i get attacked by many people simultaneously. But never got this to this point.
Well said chewy.
Sounds like a good outcome, no one got hurt. I dont mind verbal abuse or been sworn at had since I was about 7. If i need to i have used assertiveness training to defuse the situation
I got it! Chewjitsu’s video and demeanor reminds me of Elliot Hulses old videos. That’s a compliment for those that don’t know
Glad you enjoy the videos brother.
Well done sir
Great video Chewy
This reminds me of champion Muay Thai fighter Alex Gong who confronted a the guy who hit his car and ran by chasing him to the red light.., the guy pulled a gun out and killed him. Don’t fight on the street just let it go.
Yeah man, that was such a sad day.
Yeah man I remember that
Self awareness and spatial awareness is the best self defense
Sounds like a heroic outcome to me!
Thats why I like boxing and sparring so I can eliminate that flight or flight a bit.. Cause when people see that nervousness and free they get really crazy
Great advice chewy .
It’s always the best thing to do to try and avoid a physical altercation but always remember to keep your distance , never let someone get close to you because training or not if the dude sucker punches you and cracks you flush with a solid shot he can knock you out or split your face open .. try and talk your way out of it but always keep your distance ( a little more then arms length ) and be ready to evade a punch
This is a great video I needed this alot
Great answer chewy 👍🏻
Thanks brother.
Yo Chewjitsu you remind ne so much of Elliot Hulse, excellent video
Miyamoto Musashi talked about this centuries ago. To paraphrase, you win all the fights you don't need to fight. The ultimate skill of a martial artist is to not need your martial skills.
@ThelondonbadgerYou inspired me to look it up, thanks! "The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them." - Miyamoto Musashi..... so my paraphrase was correct. I can't find any evidence of the source of his inspiration as you claim. He was also a philosopher, as many warriors are, so it's quite possible it was a original thought. If you find any evidence of the phrase's origin, relating to the inspiration you claim, i.e.- "older veterans", please show me, I'd love to read it. Thanks again!
I understand I been doin this over 20 yrs jits and combat sports my whole life when I was young I had prove my self and jits worked it's called ego but when I matured in jits n life it changed and I changed I'm 43yrs old nothing to prove guys train humble be safe
Most of us, if we want, will never have to fight another person in our entire life. It's all about how you speak to people, keep your own calm, and try to de-escalate the situation. There are those extremely rare situations where you can't avoid it. Law enforcement in urban areas, on the other hand, it is almost unavoidable. If they don't get into a physical confrontation at some point in their career, they are cowards or not doing their job.
Recently, I got into an argument with my boss because he failed to communicate certain guidelines to me. I failed to adhere to these guidelines because these guidelines didn’t exist at prior jobs I’ve worked at nor did he communicate them with me. Essentially, he blamed me for having no empathy although I was merely unaware of his particular guidelines due to miscommunication. Essentially, he wanted to speak to me, pulled out a $5 bill, slammed it on the food warmer (I work in the food industry), and further put a finger in my personal space. Afterwards, I requested “please take that finger out of my face” but he continued to bark. Fortunately, I took a step back, stared at him with an apathetic expression, and he took a step back as well. However, throughout that situation I was constantly thinking of eye gauging him in the eyes if escalated to a physical level. In hindsight, I’m thankful I didn’t do it because I could have gone to jail for assault, assault causing bodily harm, aggravated assault, manslaughter, or murder depending on the damage inflicted, as well as competency of the lawyer if legal proceedings took place. Avoid a fight if it is reasonable for you to do so. Otherwise, if you cannot do that then strike first, strike hard, and get out.
Just yesterday I got into a situation that had me wondering. I was on the train toilet and had headphones on, had been in there for like 30 seconds when I noticed someone freaking out outside but didn't bother too much bc I didn't hear it that well. When I opened the door this drunk guy insulted me but went on to go inside the toilet. A few minutes later, I hear him screaming all over the train how I'm a dirty pig and didn't wash my hands and stuff, further insulting me. I thought about confronting him for a second because I felt my ego aching. Figured it wasn't worth it because I didn't have to prove to myself that I could beat his ass. In my days before martial arts I'd either have been scared to death or making it a fully blown fight, depending on how my day went.
My only question is did you wash your hands?
@@warbastard01 of course I did mate. Train toilets are gnarly
How you feel now? Right decision?
@@HtheKing 100%. Now it's just an anecdote but it could have led to something really bad happening. I'm glad I didn't needlessly jeopardize my health for something so dumb 😄
It takes so much energy to walk away. It’s a good feeling though. You got the skills and to be able to calm yaself and say nope nothing gonna entertain the thought. If you need to defend yaself go ahead but to be able to walk away even though some jive turkey is being stupid now that’s power
Old vid but it appeared on my home screen, as week speak I removed myself from an intense situation with a customer at work, seems unstable. No need to get stabbed or worse. Just stayed calm and said ‘excuse me’, walked away and let the manager deal with it.
Great video n advise.
Thanks for the content!
He did well...and I hope he comes to terms with why this is so. He could have done without staring this fella down, however. For some of the more insane, that is more provocative than anything else. Train, have confidence in your ability to harm another human being, and stay out of trouble as much as humanly possible.
"Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." - Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Great advice !
Knowing BJJ or a martial art is like having a fire extinguisher.
You are probably not going to need it but you have the confidence, knowing that if there's a fire you can take care of it.
But just because you have the extinguisher doesnt mean you're going out there looking for fires or looking to start one just to use it.
Best most honest advice I ever heard from a martial arts teacher is this _You can't turn a Clark Kent in to a Superman_
Contrary to the marketing of MA, that's very true. Some people are never going to be intimidating. Or will be able to throw down. I've met BJJ brown and black belts who have told me they 've frozen in real world altercations. I've actually witnessed on one occasion.
BJJ makes you skilled at the sport of BJJ. Sure, if your an alpha type, it could make you more dangerous. If you're not, it's not going to transform you in to dine stone cold bad ass.
Getting into situations like this is tough. Even when I know I am at an advantage (I'm a large strong fit person), my brain unleashes a lot of adrenaline and I have to consciously keep myself calm.
Street fight is far more dangerous than UFC/MMA Fight. Fear is human basic Instinct,people have it and dont shame in it. But once the punch is delivered, the fear it self is gone supressed by Instinct to survive.
Just enjoy the training and avoid street fight if possible run from it as fast as you can but if fight is the only option never back down.
why the f would you get physical in that situation?
I totally agree with that but at the same time, doesn't hurt to have a street fight here and there. a street fight its nothing like rolling on the mat!
I've been in fights and I've walked away from several. I think sometimes you have to choose between your immediate pride and risking jail time which can mess up your job prospects
One of my favourite benefits of jiu-jitsu is the ability to walk away from a confrontation knowing I could have won if I wanted to.
Sounds like he was about to Sherlock Holmes that guy lol.
Noone every talks about flight or freeze. Im all for escaping if possible, however If it is not possible.. Its exactly the reason why I started to train takedowns with judo and boxing, I understand that 90% of fights go to the ground, however I never want to go to the ground by getting punched or slammed
Such a good question. I haven't been in a fight outside the gym since I started bjj. That was 2 years ago this week 😃 edit! There have been tons of opportunities lol
Sounds like this dude did all of the right stuff.
flawless victory
I think if you are a man and you know you can take someone but you dont, even though you made the smart decision you feel a twinge of regret. I liken it to engaging in sexual activity but not finishing. I think its animal instinct and maybe a little pride. I'm 49 years old, earned my black belt in tae kwon do in korea. I'm less than a month into BJJ and I understand how its almost like a superpower. But, I can't think of anything that would ruin my day more than rolling around on the ground with a loud mouthed stranger. BJJ is improving me mentally and my health, I slipped into laziness in the last year. For me to have to actually use BJJ or anything physical is gonna take an act of god. I can see myself stepping in to protect someone unable to protect themself from serious harm, and that's about it. Sometimes knowing you CAN handle the situation is good enough. I never want a reason to use it.
Never be the one start but always be the 1 to finish Standing your ground in looking at him was the right decision but engaging It was a verbal confrontation would take it up to the next level It was a verbal confrontation would take it up to the next level that you didn't need to go to 2 I know that this is candy cliche with great Power comes great responsibility
The art of fighting without fighting
The situation reminded me of obi-wan. ‘This is not the line you meant to be in.’
Physical training is not only useless but also dangerous if you do not mentally train yourself as well. Know when to act and when not to act.
Well said.
good advice chewy, don't fight
If you win every fight you avoid, and I've never been in a fight, does that mean my winrate is 100%?
Avoiding the fight was the superior self-defense method in this case.
Avoid the fight whenever possible. The loser goes to the hospital and the winner goes to jail.
Also. You never know who you are fighting. Unless your prepared to fight to the death. Avoid direct street confrontations.
I used to fight and rumble all the time when I was young before I even thought about training now that I train I’d rather avoid a fight than to fight someone and I can actually beat people up now lol
You did the right thing, this was more about him than it was about you, who knows what's going on in his life. Tell your ego to shut up