The Value of Ground-Fighting 

The value of ground-fighting is in never having to use it.  Let me clarify.  In a street altercation, where your opponent is some bad-ass out to prove how tough he is by beating you to a pulp, immediately resorting to ground-fighting will leave you badly beaten or dead.  This is the reality because two scenarios are highly possible: 1. your assailant has a concealed weapon (often a knife) that will be used on you in a pinch and/ or 2. Your nemesis has friends waiting in the shadows anxious to use your head as a football while you are triangle-choking their comrade.

Though I don’t advocate ignoring the importance of knowing how to handle yourself on the ground in a fight, such skills are best used when you have been brought to the ground and need to get yourself into a position to get up and get out.  In tournament and submission fights, ground-fighting is the best, but in a situation where your life is possible at stake, or you could be seriously hurt or maimed, then the first choice is to de-escalate the confrontation with words, and then depart.  If that fails, then just flee.  If this too doesn’t work, best to hit the opponent hard or knock the person to the ground (on their head if necessary, to slow them down), and then run.  Only in the direst situations should you break out the ground-fighting skills, but only in order to put yourself in a position to get back to your feet, and find the opportunity to flee.  Your pride isn’t worth you losing your life, or any other negative outcome which could be inevitable when confronted with someone who means to harm you, maybe even kill you.

Your continued health and long-life (one not spent behind bars), are the most important things to guard, not your pride, or macho posturing.  Live long and prosper.