The intention is not to start a discussion about which self-defense system is best or to compare them. However, I did want to share my experience from my first BJJ training sessions and how this has influenced my vision regarding Krav Maga.
At the time of this writing, I have completed 3 private and 3 group lessons of (Gracie) BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) in Amersfoort with a humble, cool guy, Abdel.
Meanwhile, I have also been doing Krav Maga for 9 years at the European Krav Maga Academy or EKMA in Antwerp, and for >1 year I have been the founder of my own Krav Maga club in Knokke-Heist.
After a few ground lessons with 'the strong Mike' in Antwerp, I became very enthusiastic about grappling and BJJ. In KM, we say for a reason: “avoid the ground”, yet about 9/10 fights end up on the ground… We don't want to hug a “ground hugger” even if they are a beginner….
Despite tapping out 9/10 times and the tight chokes, I felt there was/is enormous room for growth in my ‘ground game’. Of course, I was intimidated by it and could have let my ego run wild, but I'm getting older, and by now I know that this presents a great opportunity that I had to seize to continue growing as a person and as a self-defense instructor. So BJJ, let’s grab you!
After my 1st 'serious' BJJ lesson in Amersfoort, I had 2 options:
I am a Krav Maga instructor, and I'm being beaten up here by guys as wide as a matchstick, haha. BJJ is just a sport, and Krav Maga is the only true realistic self-defense system in the world. All those KM training sessions for nothing? Stop it, kid :p - Have I now failed as a KM instructor?
Or hmm, I feel intimidated, and my ego has taken a hit. That’s a good sign. What can I take into my arsenal (backpack) as a student and instructor to keep growing?
Choice 2 was quickly made, BJJ (Amersfoort) is, by the way, more than just ground…
Okay, a small comparison after all - I would like to compare BJJ with chess and Krav Maga with checkers. In BJJ, you have so many different techniques and (attack) possibilities (#pawns) while in Krav Maga, it is much more limited (black and white pieces).
Especially the Krav Maga principles of “explosiveness and gross motor movements (extensions)” usually worked against me when facing someone with some experience on the ground… What I observe is that calmness, adaptability, precision, and finer motor skills are more useful once truly on the ground. This is interesting for me to experiment with. If I find myself getting tired of chess, I’ll just switch board games and start checkers.
The common thread between the two is, among other things, perseverance, underestimating no one, controlled breathing, and efficiency.
Note: The instructor/trainer's MINDSET is, in my opinion, even more important than WHAT they teach as self-defense. I mean the open mind set. Of course, you shouldn’t compare apples and oranges, but you get my point I hope. Although he has strong opinions, Luc Van Laere (EKMA) is also a big proponent of an open mind regarding self-defense and is willing to revise his opinion if something doesn't fit into the self-defense picture! And Abdel from BJJ Amersfoort also has this. I like to surround myself with such people.
That, and the vibe around the instructor(s)/club is also of enormous importance. Before EKMA, I did a kind of Krav Maga elsewhere in Antwerp, and I didn't like it at all! You weren't allowed (preferably) to make ‘full contact’. What on earth do you learn in terms of realistic self-defense if you’re not allowed to make ‘full contact’ in multiple training sessions? But it was 'sold' as Krav Maga. Therefore, make sure you find the right people who are happy to address your uncomfortable questions about self-defense and even test them out practically!
Krav Maga complements BJJ and vice versa, in my opinion. Furthermore, I look forward to delving into wrestling (Greek - Glima & Sambo) & kickboxing.
Besides the clear advantages of BJJ and KM, I wanted to take a (briefly) critical look at both systems:
Disadvantage of Krav Maga? - Ground grappling is practiced too little. We absolutely want to avoid the ground (especially against a BJJ practitioner, hehe) AND yet many fights end up on the ground…
Disadvantage of BJJ? It takes a lot/more time (compared to Krav Maga) to build a strong foundation. *Knives and weapons in BJJ, I have not yet asked/studied or trained with, so I cannot judge that yet.
I'm curious about what self-defense you have tried, and whether you have found an ideal combo or prefer to stick to one thing… Tell me!
More info about BJJ Amersfoort can be found HERE
More info about the European Krav Maga Academy can be found HERE
More info about Defensa can be found HERE
This article was originally published in Dutch. Read the Dutch original.
