I train BJJ under one of Saulo Ribeiro's black belts. Our school does very well in competitions and they teach self-defense BJJ as well. The very effective thing about BJJ is that you can spar at 90 - 100% without taking a lot of damage or ever getting concussed. This allows to know if what you're doing is effective in a real situation or not. Unlike some martial arts where maybe there is no sparring or you have to wear a lot of protection or head gear. Anyway, while I do train in a gi I don't find it to be a hindrance in real life situations. A collar choke or controlling someone by their lapel and sleeve can be just as effective if they're wearing a sweater or a jean jacket as it is in the gi.
You will hear a lot of talk about 'sport' jiu-jitsu vs 'self-defense' jiu-jitsu but to be honest the debate is moot. Competing against advanced players requires an advanced mindset and new / innovative techniques to disrupt their attacks. These techniques are unnecessary against your average attacker and the white belt / blue belt fundamentals that you learn will be effective against the majority of random idiots who try to get into it with you. Also, it's a myth that BJJ practitioners would *want* to go to the ground in a fight. There are enough chokes and joint looks that you would be comfortable using standing up and if you were to get tangled up with someone you would most likely end up on top of that person. You can youtube something called the Gracie Challenge and see how various striking arts do against BJJ in a one on one, no rules fight. You can also watch the early UFC events, which were no rules (except biting / eye gouging - nut shots were allowed), no time limits and no rounds to see Royce's BJJ against various styles of martial arts.
This is not to see BJJ is the best as opposed to MMA. But I don't think anyone would argue that it's easier to learn / excel at multiple disciplines over one. Also, it's certainly easier on your fists, shins and brain to choose striking over grappling. Not to mention we've all seen hundreds of lucky punches on the internet, where one unskilled guy lands a hail Mary shot on the jaw of someone bigger and stronger than themselves. Well you never see someone unskilled land a hail Mary choke or armbar on a BJJ practitioner. Now, if your hope is to become a world champion level MMA fighter so you can avoid ever getting fucked up then I have bad news. Check out this video (http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ad0_1373318556) of Maiquel Falcao and a group of randoms who get into it outside of a gas station. Maiquel was a Belator standout and his friend (who gets fucked up) is Kaue Mena (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Kaue-Mena-51793), a 22 yr old undefeated feather weight who got his shit pushed in. Both of guys were highly trained in multiple disciplines who got fucked up by random hoodrats in Brazil. Being highly trained is no substitute for using your fucking brain and avoiding dangerous nonsense.
You will hear a lot of talk about 'sport' jiu-jitsu vs 'self-defense' jiu-jitsu but to be honest the debate is moot. Competing against advanced players requires an advanced mindset and new / innovative techniques to disrupt their attacks. These techniques are unnecessary against your average attacker and the white belt / blue belt fundamentals that you learn will be effective against the majority of random idiots who try to get into it with you. Also, it's a myth that BJJ practitioners would *want* to go to the ground in a fight. There are enough chokes and joint looks that you would be comfortable using standing up and if you were to get tangled up with someone you would most likely end up on top of that person. You can youtube something called the Gracie Challenge and see how various striking arts do against BJJ in a one on one, no rules fight. You can also watch the early UFC events, which were no rules (except biting / eye gouging - nut shots were allowed), no time limits and no rounds to see Royce's BJJ against various styles of martial arts.
This is not to see BJJ is the best as opposed to MMA. But I don't think anyone would argue that it's easier to learn / excel at multiple disciplines over one. Also, it's certainly easier on your fists, shins and brain to choose striking over grappling. Not to mention we've all seen hundreds of lucky punches on the internet, where one unskilled guy lands a hail Mary shot on the jaw of someone bigger and stronger than themselves. Well you never see someone unskilled land a hail Mary choke or armbar on a BJJ practitioner. Now, if your hope is to become a world champion level MMA fighter so you can avoid ever getting fucked up then I have bad news. Check out this video (http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ad0_1373318556) of Maiquel Falcao and a group of randoms who get into it outside of a gas station. Maiquel was a Belator standout and his friend (who gets fucked up) is Kaue Mena (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Kaue-Mena-51793), a 22 yr old undefeated feather weight who got his shit pushed in. Both of guys were highly trained in multiple disciplines who got fucked up by random hoodrats in Brazil. Being highly trained is no substitute for using your fucking brain and avoiding dangerous nonsense.