Which ground positions to use and avoid in a street fight.
If you find yourself in a situation where you are in a street altercation and have to use Jiu-Jitsu to subdue an attacker or opponent, you’ll need to know which positions on the ground are safe to use and which ones aren’t very safe.
In a sport grappling or BJJ competition setting, all the control positions are used, as there are no risks of strikes, weapons, friends of the opponent ready to jump you, etc.
Laws regarding use of force vary from state to state and even city to city. Some states have a duty to retreat clause, which means that you have to make every attempt to flee from an attacker before it is justified to use force. This is also why Jiu-Jitsu is so effective. You can subdue an attacker without hurting them.
For instance, in Texas they do not have a duty to retreat, they are legally allowed to use force if they have a reasonable fear of being endangered. Even then, use of force is dictated by very narrow circumstances. They can’t just cut loose and turn the place into the OK Corral. The key word here is reasonable, the meaning of which is not legally defined.
What is reasonable varies from situation to situation and, if you are charged with assault, will ultimately be decided by the courts. This is why you need to learn the legal ins and outs, before the fact, by consulting an attorney who specializes in self-defense laws.
The video below with BJJ black belt Stephan Kesting talks about the ground fighting positions used in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and which ones you should use.
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Remember, one of the main goals in BJJ is the cultivation of the mind, body, and spirit. Should you ever find yourself in a position where you are potentially facing serious criminal charges and you have to justify your use of force, your mind will be the most effective weapon in that battle.
