When it comes to martial arts, many question whether the old traditional arts are practical when taken out of the ring. Some arts are purely for sports and there are now many wondering if grapple arts like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can be just as efficient in real life as they are on the mat or cage.
There has been a new growing interest in practical martial arts, particularly in striking arts like Filipino Kali, Pencat Silak, and Krav Maga. Judo, which is still the second most popular sport in the world despite its lack of presence on TV, is waning a bit because some people don’t think it works in real life.
The Practical Situation
Here’s why people don’t think Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo are practical for real life situations: one reason is because these martial arts depend greatly on the gi and the second reason is because they focus a lot on grapples and throws.
Striking arts like Karate, Wing Chun, and Kali are great for street fights because they allow a person to retaliate instantly. Judo and Jiu Jitsu need to be up close and personal in order to grab and manipulate an opponent. This is said to be a disadvantage when fighting several people at the same time.
That’s the theory, anyway.
The Internet Crowd
However, it is important to take note that most of the people stating these comments are people who have never stepped into a Judo or Jiu Jitsu dojo in their life. They mostly base their assumptions on videos and posts from forums.
They are the “know-it-alls” who flood the internet and continually make it a point to voice out their complaints whenever someone defends their chosen martial art. They think they have a vast sea of knowledge when in fact they haven’t earn their first belt.
Unfortunately, many people often believe what is posted on the Comment section of a video presentation than what the video itself. It is a remarkable study recently conducted – tested using mock medical videos and mock comments – and it shows that a lot of people put their trust in strangers commenting on the Internet.
