Does BJJ Help With Self-Defense Against Multiple Opponents?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not basically intended for fighting against multiple opponents as it is more suitable for one-on-one fights. In the following section, we will discuss the effectiveness of BJJ for self-defense against multiple opponents.

1. BJJ Vs. Multiple Opponents

Basically, BJJ isn't intended for fighting against multiple opponents. BJJ is basically one of those martial arts that excel in one-on-one fighting. It is not designed to withstand and subdue multiple opponents. This criticism is often directed at all grappling martial arts including Wrestling and Samba.

BJJ Brown Belt and former UFC Champion, Michael Bisping has also discussed this, “Using BJJ when there are multiple opponents present, fighting is just not a smart idea.” since you are in danger of getting your body jumped on or your head kicked.

Besides this, BJJ can assist you in some areas when facing multiple opponents. BJJ teaches how to remain calm under stress. Being calm in stressful situations is one of the elite and essential Jiu-Jitsu techniques that BJJ practitioners learn.

Most people make unwise choices in panic and stressful situations. If you panic while your opponent is trying to choke you and get an advantageous position against you, almost all techniques become futile, you have to choose a defensive strategy. So a good BJJ fighter knows how to remain calm in stressful situations. You must evaluate the situation and then calmly carry out the actions required to tackle, dominate, subdue or escape the situation. This explains how BJJ can be effective when self-defense is required against several opponents.

2. Is BJJ Effective for Self-Defense in Street Fights?

When facing a single opponent in a street fight, BJJ can be effective, but it is less effective when facing many opponents. BJJ techniques can be used to take down a single opponent very easily. Recently, there were many instances recorded and got viral in which a street assault ended in the RNC strangulation or Choke of the assailant.

Some viral videos show police officers getting choked by the Guillotine Choke. BJJ is effective in street fights but deciding to face multiple opponents with BJJ techniques might not be a good idea.

Another reason that BJJ is not very effective for self-defense in street fighting is that it doesn’t teach striking. Very few BJJ instructors teach striking or a meaningful strategy to defend against strikes. When trying to fend off multiple opponents, there are times when having solid striking skills would be essential.

3. Run When You are up Against Multiple Opponents

As Joe Rogan suggests in his famous Podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience”. “Running could be strategically the best plan when you are facing multiple attackers”. The odds are always against you when facing multiple opponents, regardless of how strong you are. Therefore, your best course of action is to just escape.

4. Comparison of BJJ to Other Martial Arts in Case of Self-Defense Against Multiple Opponents

4.1. BJJ Vs Judo for Self-Defense When Facing Multiple Opponents

Judo and BJJ are two distinctive martial arts. Judo is more focused on standing fights and BJJ is more focused on grappling or ground fighting. BJJ can help you defend yourself when attacked. Whereas, Judo teaches throws and kicks and is more suitable when facing multiple opponents.

The focus of the Olympic sport Judo is on standing combat and throws. Additionally, it offers its practitioners a variety of thrilling grappling techniques too, such as arm locks, and chokeholds.

On the other hand, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes ground combat, while teaching both standing and ground fighting styles. In addition, BJJ also teaches numerous Jiu-Jitsu submission moves that are useful for self-defense.

Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are useful in one-on-one battles against even more prominent and heavier opponents because of the efficiency of chokeholds, throws, and other techniques. Both martial arts can assist you in different ways when facing multiple opponents.

4.2. BJJ Vs Muay Thai for Self-Defense When Facing Multiple Opponents

Can BJJ and Muay Thai help you defend yourself when surrounded by multiple opponents?  Both combat styles offer amazing but different skills.

Muay Thai is one of the top striking and kicking martial arts, using elbows, fists, shins, and knees to attack and protect. It is recognized as one of the most effective and strategically befitting forms of martial art for facing and dominating many opponents.

Two excellent martial arts that could help you defend yourself in a street fight are Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Both of these offer fantastic combat tactics, like distance management and seizing the movement by strangling an opponent.

4.3. BJJ Vs MMA for Self-Defense When Facing Multiple Opponents

Both BJJ and MMA are elite combat styles that can be used for self-defense. As martial arts develop exceptional athleticism and great skills, they may help you defend yourself against multiple opponents.

The best combat tactic for fending off many attacks may be MMA as it combines numerous grappling and striking moves. Since mixed martial arts combine many elements of Muay Thai with Brazilian jiu-jitsu, submission grappling, and wrestling.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, on the other hand, is useful in one-on-one fights against powerful and heavier opponents. Mixed martial arts, however, is superior to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu when competing against multiple opponents.

4.4. BJJ Vs Wrestling for Self-Defense When Facing Multiple Opponents

You can defend yourself against multiple opponents by learning grappling martial arts like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling.

Individuals who are committed might gain excellent physical skills through wrestling. It includes excellent grappling moves and takedowns, such as single- and double-leg takedowns. These takedowns can subdue your opponents in a street fight.

In addition, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling are related to some differences. For instance, most wrestling schools do not teach choking techniques as a way to defeat an opponent, despite the fact that BJJ practitioners can use them. But both are forms of grappling martial art.

Due to the effectiveness of takedowns and other techniques, wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are useful in one-on-one combat against bigger, heavier opponents. However, when facing multiple opponents, both martial arts offer a limited range of skills and are not ideal for fighting against more than one opponent.

4.5. BJJ Vs Boxing for Self-Defense When Facing Multiple Opponents

Boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are two types of combat sports that can be effectively utilized in self-defense. Both combat styles teach amazing skills and support the growth of incredible athleticism.

Boxing is a striking fighting style that emphasizes using fists and hands to both attacks and defends. Additionally, boxers compete while standing up and street fights mostly happen in the standing position.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu also provides some useful submission techniques for self-defense in addition to emphasizing ground combat. In fact, BJJ fighters can engage in standing combat in order to subdue an opponent by initiating single or double-led takedown. There are also many submission techniques like guillotine choke that can be applied in the standing position and could be a lethal weapon against a standing opponent in a street fight. 

BJJ and boxing can therefore aid you in defending yourself against multiple opponents. Both styles of martial arts impart wonderful techniques for managing or ending a fight. Boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are not practically very effective against multiple attackers, though.

5. How Can BJJ Practitioners Prepare for Self-Defense Against Multiple Opponents?

BJJ and Judo Black Belt Brian Jones provided guidelines on how to prepare for self-defense against multiple opponents in a combative or self-defense seminar presented by Valhalla Academy.

The seminar covered many topics, but this section concentrated on avoiding takedowns, standing up, and escaping.

Multiple Opponent Seminar Highlights:

Rener Gracie answers the query, “What to do when surrounded by multiple opponents?” He provides a straightforward solution, “Run”.

If you are unable to run, here are the three universal self-defense rules taught by the Gracie Academy, which can help you have a greater chance of surviving if you ever find yourself in a scenario with several opponents.

• Disperse the "Combative Energy" of interaction.
• Manage your distance to avoid being attacked by opponents.
• Attack first and quickly.

6. Best Martial Arts for Self-Defense Against Multiple Opponents

The three best martial arts for self-defense when dealing with multiple opponents are listed below:

6.1. Boxing

A highly recommended fighting sport for dealing with multiple opponents in real-world scenarios is boxing.

Including boxing in your martial arts combo could help you become a more strong and more successful combatant. If you combine strong ground fighting strategies and defensive skills with good boxing instruction, this can be very helpful for you when dealing with multiple opponents.

In situations where there is limited space and you can "line up" your attackers, relying solely on strikes and footwork can be quite effective.

Another benefit of boxing is that it is really prevalent, making it simple to discover a boxing facility nearby and start training.

6.2. Krav Maga

Krav Maga is sometimes referred to as the "rogue" martial art. Krav Maga doesn't have any rules or limitations; its main focus is just survival.

Krav Maga uses techniques that are highly prohibited and seen as "dirty fighting" in other combat sports, including headbutts, eye gouges, throat, and neck strikes. Krav Maga is a highly effective form of street fighting since real-life situations involving multiple opponents don't follow any rules.

6.3. MMA

Mixed martial arts are a collection of several martial arts, such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, Taekwondo, Karate, Muay Thai, Judo, Kung Fu, and so on.

The aim of mixed martial arts is to create fighters with the most efficient and effective fighting style. This full-contact combat sport combines strikes, standing techniques, kicks, grappling, and all the other essential components of traditional martial art.

7. Last Words

BJJ is an exceptional martial art that teaches excellent fighting skills but it is not very effective for self-defense when attacked by multiple opponents. It may help you to defend yourself against one attacker.