“If it doesn’t work in the ring or the cage, it’s no good for self-defence!”

“If it doesn’t work in the ring or the cage, it’s no good for self-defence!”

That quote gets thrown around a lot. The idea is: if you’re not competing or training in combat sports, then everything else is a waste of time when it comes to self-defence.

This completely misses the point.

From what I understand, the main goal of self-defence is avoiding physical encounters and staying several steps ahead of potential danger. It’s about self-awareness, behavioural awareness, intuition, setting boundaries, de-escalation. These are just a few of many subjects that involve zero punches or kicks.

Combat sports (MMA, boxing, BJJ etc) are fighting systems. They are environments where you fight and compete.

I saw a quote from a sport combatives / self-defence instructor saying the dumbest thing he's ever heard: “If a self-defence course doesn’t work for my grandma, it isn’t self-defence.” But that depends on how you define self-defence. If your definition is “teach grappling and combat sports techniques to my 66-year-old mother” — yes she will likely struggle to apply a rear naked choke or suplex someone twice her size. But again — that’s not what self-defence is.

A few years ago I attended a violence-prevention masterclass with Richard Dimitri and Pamela Armitage. Four 8-hour days. Pure self-defence. The course wasn’t physical even once.

So yes — maybe my mother can’t “fight in the cage.” But she can absolutely learn behavioural awareness, environmental awareness, intuition and de-escalation skills if she’s confronted in a road rage incident amongst other non-physical subjects. All before she ever ends up in a situation where she is physically fighting for her life.

I was told to watch the recent Netflix documentary about former world women’s boxing champion Christy Martin. One of the greatest female boxers of all time. Her husband — who was also her coach — controlled and manipulated her and mentally abused her for years. He eventually stabbed her multiple times. Thankfully she survived, and he was convicted and later died in prison.

The point is: she was a professional boxer, and still became a victim of mental and physical abuse.

This is not a criticism of combat sports or martial arts. I love boxing — I competed as an amateur. I’ve trained Wing Chun and Krav Maga for many years and I teach a simple principle-based self-protection class. Combat sports give you great qualities: discipline, Mental well-being, fitness, coordination, timing, strength, speed.

But self-defence is a different vehicle entirely.

I love canal boats — but they don’t work on a motorway. My car doesn’t work on the water. Everything has its place.

Self-defence is for everybody.