Krav Maga vs. Jiu Jitsu?

Krav Maga vs Jiu Jitsu?

Can a Krav Maga expert beat a Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt?

A question as old as martial arts itself: "Who would win in a "real fight?" Krav Maga vs jiu jitsu or Krav Maga vs Muay Thai, and so on are questions I am asked on a daily basis. The answer is really simple....it totally depends. As a Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, who has competed across the US, I feel very confident in my skills on the mat. From training in Krav Maga, Boxing, and Muay Thai, I also feel confident in my striking. So which is better? Truthfully, I believe the better prepared and more willing person will win. A Jiu Jitsu athlete with years of Competing will probably destroy someone who has only done striking, but never sparred. Much like an experienced striker would destroy someone who has only done jiu jitsu theory (never sparred.) Why is this? I believe it is more about understanding how to deal with the stress of combat in real time. If you have ever sparred you know exactly what I'm talking about. The chaos that ensues in a live round is something you must learn to manage in training. If one person has seen this, and the other has not, my money is on the one with more experience. 

With all that said, what if both are experienced in their realm? Does Mike Tyson K.O Gordon Ryan? Or does Ryan strangle Tyson? To me, this now comes down to strategy, and knowledge of the other art. A grappler must have some understanding of takedowns while avoiding punches, and a striker must have some idea of takedown defense, as well as some basic grappling. 

Truthfully, this fully depends on the Athlete and the situation they are presented with. My advice? Train. A lot. In multiple disciplines. You don't have to love Boxing or Muay Thai as a grappler, but you must understand how to throw a punch, and basic striking mechanics. On the flip side, a striker must learn the basics of grappling and clinch to truly succeed on the feet.

Which Martial Art do you like the best?