WARNING: Violent Street Fight (Gracie Breakdown)

Got this in my inbox today.  Some interesting thoughts about fighting, street fighting vs. sport fighting.  The "violent" video really isn't that violent, I didn't even see any blood, and it's just used as an example for the point these guys are making...



I never really understood the whole idea of "learning to fight, so you don't have to.." and why little kids should be encouraged to take up the sport of martial arts or some time of fighting, in order to learn "discipline" and self-esteem, etc.  I always thought that was kind of an oxymoron, an excuse to just learn to fight each other.  But through my own experience in taking some instruction in boxing and getting a taste of the other forms through Body Combat class, I'm beginning to understand, to feel this confidence that comes from learning these techniques.  I'm also learning that if it's not a life-or-death situation, like these Gracie boys explain, it's just Not Worth Fighting.  I get it.  I like what they have to say here, things about learning Jiu-Jitsu in order to diffuse the enemy humanely, non-violently.  Knowing one's "combative energy".  (wow, i know i've got a lot of that floating around lately!!)  Keep that energy low, be calm, self-controlled, so if the situation does come up, you can control your position and theirs, and nobody has to get hurt.  Learn Jiu-Jitsu to avoid fighting altogether, but also to deal with the situation humanely, non-emotionally, if the fight does go down.  They talk about street vs. sport behavioral patterns.



 Then they get into more technical things, starting with the idea, "if you're not comfortable on your back, you will give your back to the enemy."  They start demonstrating technique and that's when my brain goes foggy because I haven't been trained in any of that stuff, but still, it's interesting.



And the reason I include this kind of stuff in this blog, is because I'm finding these concepts very helpful to me as I continue this journey I'm on.  Lots of emotional things within me are being dug up and worked out on the physical level, and that's where the fight training fits in.  Still a newbie here.



Enjoy.