Thoughts on "Real Combat" and "Real Fighting"

Very recently a well known BJJ black belt and MMA fighter, whom I won't mention, took aim at the problem with submission only grappling tournaments. He mentioned that the biggest downfall that he see's with submission only grappling tournaments is that they can last far too long and don't resemble "real combat" or a "real fight."  

While he is right in a way, I believe he is wrong on several levels.

This person suggested that points based BJJ tournament resembled how quickly a real fight could end. And again while he makes a point, he is very wrong. BJJ and other grappling arts are great, but sport grappling tournaments are not inherently real life combat or violent situations.

Why?

Because BJJ tournaments still have rules, weight classes, and competitors get to train for a number of weeks and or months for the given event. If, this person is wanting to make BJJ tournaments resemble real combat or real fighting. Then you would have to discard all the rules and allow anything to happen. For the very reason that real fighting or combat doesn't have any of us.

The man himself,  Bruce Lee didn't even consider sport fighting to be a real right, why? because there were rules, weight classes, and a ref to stop the fight. I have no doubt that Bruce would have loved today's UFC and MMA scene.  But I think there is a real problem with calling sports BJJ real combat or fighting. The violence that happens today, no one gets to prepare for something like an active shooter, or being threatened by a knife or held up at gunpoint. That is real violence.

I have no problem with the arena of sport BJJ or even MMA, but as it relates to sport BJJ I would not use at least 90 percent of what is taught in most competition based BJJ schools. This is also not to be confused with self-defense aspect that is practiced and taught by the Gracie family. That I would most certainly use in a real life altercation.

So please, don't get it twisted. While BJJ and MMA have different things to offer, as it relates to combat. They are not in and of themselves "real combat" or real fighting". They're mutually agreed encounters, with a winner and a looser and most often a medal that goes around one's neck. Please leave these avenues where they are. If you want to train for real violent encounters, then you must go train somewhere that actually deals with real threats head on. Yes, BJJ and MMA skill sets can win violent encounters,  but they are only a small fraction of what you need to survive.