We have all experienced moments of insecurity. There are always situations that are beyond our control, and although the ideal would be to avoid any kind of conflict, the question always arises: What would happen if…? At Thundermma.net, we promote problem-solving through dialogue and focus on promoting MMA from a sporting perspective, not as a personal defense tool.
However, it cannot be denied that one of the major motivations behind this sport is precisely its potential for self-defense. In this article, we will explore this aspect, covering both striking and ground combat, as well as defense against weapons, whether they are knives or firearms, including a personal opinion on the matter.
Disclaimer: I am an amateur MMA practitioner, passionate about this sport, but I am neither a professional nor an expert in the field. What I write here comes from my personal experience and the information I have gathered on my own. What I share is not the only truth, but simply my truth. If you want more information, I suggest you conduct your own research and take this post as just one more source in your learning process.
The Best Self-Defense Technique in the World
I remember a time when I was talking to a friend who had been practicing MMA for years. I always saw him as a physically imposing person, incredibly skilled, and someone I admired a lot. He was one of those people whom 99% of people would never beat in a street fight… or so I thought. After he submitted me during a training session, as usual, we had a conversation that I’ll never forget. In the middle of that chat, the topic came up of how a street fight would play out if he were involved. And what he told me really stuck with me: “The best defense to win a street fight is parkour, and the best technique is running.
Parkour: The Best Self-Defense Sport
Pensé, si este hombre, que es capaz de ganarle a cualquiera, piensa eso, ¿qué pasaría con alguien como yo, que ni destaca físicamente ni tiene una técnica soWhat makes someone stand out in a street fight? The truth is, in a real fight, there are too many unforeseen factors, or “X” factors. Maybe more than five people come to attack you, one of them has a knife, you’re wearing uncomfortable clothes, you get hit from behind, or you’re in a confined space. These are just a few of the unforeseen factors, but the reality is that there are literally millions of them, and listing them here would be impossible.
That’s why the most important thing to keep in mind when talking about self-defense, even in the context of MMA, is that it should always start with a clear premise:
- Avoid the fight at all costs.
- Eliminate as many unforeseen factors as possible.
- If the fight starts, try to get out of it as quickly as possible.
The real goal of self-defense is not to win a fight, but to survive it and walk away unharmed. And in this sense, the ability to escape is undoubtedly the most valuable technique one can master.
Striking in MMA for Self-Defense
Imagine you’ve run, you’ve avoided a confrontation as much as you could, but now the fight is inevitable. You’re standing, face-to-face with your attacker. This is where striking in MMA makes all the difference and gives you the advantage you desperately need. The best thing about striking is that, unlike other techniques, it has far fewer “X” factors. In most cases, you can use it effectively without relying on so many unpredictable variables.
Striking training is not just about throwing punches—it’s about ending the fight quickly, with the ability to land precise, effective strikes that can take down your opponent before they even get the chance to hit you. One of the main advantages of striking in MMA is distance management. Knowing when to enter and when to exit is key. If you intelligently control the distance, you can prevent your opponent from getting too close while keeping them close enough to land a decisive blow.
This control not only allows you to strike effectively, but it also gives you the ability to spot if there are multiple attackers, which is crucial in a real fight. It’s important to stay alert to any additional threats before it’s too late. Also, being on your feet gives you the possibility to escape quickly if needed. You’re not trapped on the ground or in a compromising position; you have your legs free to move, retreat, and run if necessary.
In self-defense, the goal is to walk away unscathed, and striking in MMA gives you the tools needed to manage the fight strategically—not just to win, but to survive and escape when possible.
In summary, striking in MMA is not just about fighting, but about resolving the situation quickly and efficiently. With a solid foundation in striking, you can control space, neutralize a threat, and, if the circumstances demand it, walk away from the fight alive.
Ground game
Ground fighting is one of the most technical and complex aspects of MMA, and in a one-on-one confrontation, it can be the best way to resolve the fight. If you manage to take your opponent down and bring them to the ground, you have many options to neutralize them and end the fight quickly. However, the most important thing when fighting on the ground is knowing how to get back up if you end up there. The ground can be advantageous, but you must always remember that turning your back on your opponent creates many “X” factors that can complicate the situation.
Although, in a one-on-one fight, the ground gives you an excellent opportunity to control and submit your opponent, I wouldn’t recommend it as the first option. The ground introduces many unpredictable factors. If you lose control or end up in a vulnerable position, it’s easy for your opponent to capitalize on it with a submission or strikes, especially if you find yourself at a disadvantage. Moreover, in a real fight, there’s always the possibility that more people might get involved, making staying on the ground even more dangerous.
Therefore, while the ground can be a good way to end the fight quickly in a one-on-one scenario without causing excessive harm to the other person, the best approach remains striking. Striking has fewer unpredictable factors and offers you the ability to move more freely and escape quickly if needed.
That being said, it’s crucial to know how to defend yourself and get back on your feet if the fight ends up on the ground. Having a solid grappling foundation can prevent you from being stuck in a vulnerable position and give you the ability to reverse the situation if things go wrong. While ground fighting can be useful in specific situations, it’s always advisable to get back to your feet as quickly as possible to maintain control and better options for escape or finishing the fight effectively.
If you know what it’s like to fight, you understand what a fight can be, and that takes away the desire to seek one out.
One of the biggest lessons learned in MMA is the reality of what it means to be in a fight. Often, people who haven’t trained in martial arts view a fight as something exciting, an opportunity to prove their courage or strength. But those who truly understand what a fight involves know that it’s much more than just punches and intensity. It’s a mental, physical, and emotional game that can be brutal and exhausting.
When you train in MMA, you come to understand what it means to be in a real fight: the pain, the exhaustion, the fear, and the uncertainty. You realize how easy it is to get injured, how quickly the situation can change, and how difficult it is to stay calm when everything becomes chaotic. All the time you spend training allows you to see how cruel the confrontation can be, and it makes you reflect on whether it’s really worth fighting outside of a sport context.
MMA teaches you to be aware of the risks involved in combat. It’s not just an exchange of blows, it’s a process where you can suffer serious injuries, both physical and emotional. The adrenaline, stress, and pressure of facing an opponent in a dangerous, ruleless environment is something you learn to respect over time. Most people who train in MMA, after experiencing what fighting truly means, come to the conclusion that fighting is not something they seek.
In fact, once you have the ability to fight and understand what it involves, the desire to fight fades away. You don’t seek confrontation because you know what can happen in a real fight. True confidence doesn’t come from the willingness to fight, but from knowing that you have the ability to protect yourself if necessary, and that the best path is always to avoid violence whenever possible.