Renowned UFC commentator and martial arts enthusiast Joe Rogan didn’t hold back when discussing the effectiveness of various martial arts for self-defense. While addressing the topic, Rogan took aim at Krav Maga, a self-defense system developed for the Israel Defense Forces, and other similar approaches that claim superiority in real-life situations.
Rogan argued that the best martial arts are those that prove effective against trained fighters, not just untrained individuals. He emphasized the importance of grappling arts like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and judo, stating that most self-defense situations eventually lead to grappling exchanges.
The podcast host didn’t mince words when addressing the common criticism that sports-based martial arts don’t prepare practitioners for real-world violence. “In general, the people that say that jiu-jitsu or other martial arts don’t [work in real situations], it’s more of a sport and they don’t really understand violence in general. The people that say that suck,” Rogan asserted.
He went on to challenge the notion that unconventional tactics like biting or eye-gouging would be effective against a skilled martial artist. Rogan argued that against a proficient grappler or striker, such techniques would likely be nullified before they could be employed.
Rogan specifically targeted Krav Maga and similar self-defense systems, suggesting that their techniques might work against untrained attackers but would likely fall short against a seasoned fighter. He stated, “It’s good to know what to do if you run into someone who doesn’t know how to fight. It’s way better to know what to do to someone who knows how to fight.”
The martial arts enthusiast emphasized the value of comprehensive training, highlighting the importance of being able to handle oneself against skilled opponents. He contrasted this with the scenario-based training often found in self-defense classes, which he believes may not adequately prepare individuals for confrontations with trained fighters.
Rogan concluded by asserting that a mixed martial artist who trains regularly with high-level practitioners across various disciplines would likely outperform someone solely trained in Krav Maga or similar systems. His final statement drove the point home: “The best martial arts are the martial arts that work on martial artists, not the martial arts that work on untrained people.”
