Can wrestling be an aid in self-defense?
Who would win in a fight between a world class
boxer and a black belt kung-fu expert? How about an NFL linebacker versus a
world-renowned jiu-jitsu champion? Opinions vary widely, but the truth of the
matter is that each sport, or self-defense discipline, offers its own unique
advantages that become more or less important depending on the situation. For
example, boxing skills are quite valuable in a fistfight, but are practically
useless if attacked from behind.
Most fight situations begin as a fist fight, but
end up on the ground in a grappling contest with the better wrestler being
the victor. Grappling, or wrestling skills, are actually more important in most
self-defense situations, than the ability to punch or kick. The highly
controversial sport of Ultimate Fighting proves this point.
Ultimate fighting, much like organized street
fighting, began in 1993 with contestants of virtually every discipline. More
than thirty forms of martial arts have been represented including everything
from aikido to wing chun kung fu. Win/loss statistics compiled since
inception list wrestling as the most effective discipline. Always able to
take their opponent to the ground and remain in control, wrestlers with no
other martial arts training fared extremely well against world renowned experts
in Karate, Jiu-jitsu and other similar martial arts disciplines. Although
wrestlers are relatively rare in the sport, past champions have included
several excellent wrestlers such as Dan Severn and Mark Shultz, whom easily won
matches against much bigger and stronger, internationally acclaimed martial
arts champions.
Involvement in wrestling is a great way to build
confidence and the ability to defend one’s self, without resorting to the
violent tactics inherent in most other forms of self-defense. Wrestling skills
are an enormous asset in a schoolyard brawl or even a street fight, however,
wrestling’s non-violent nature does not prepare one for other aspects of
self-defense such as disabling or disarming an assailant.