How Many of You Train Self Defense?

I mean actually drilling self defense moves; i.e. headlock escapes, knife and club defense, pins against walls, standing choke defense, that sort of stuff, old school Gracie Jiu Jitsu.

All the so called "Gracie self defense" is old judo and Japanese Jujutsu(yes its spelled correct). They didn't invent any of it. But good question.

we spend some time on the headlock defense stuff occasionally

I started at a Relson school and we did the old: knee stomp, cover your head, clinch, hip toss or trip, mount, finish combo. It was valuable for me as a white belt to get some immediate self-confidence. My new school does not formally teach self-defense like that. We do takedowns and whatnot, but nothing formal. I'll take a Relson white belt over our white belt if they both get attacked by the same guy, but once each hits blue or so, no real difference, IMHO.

I have never really done this stuff and view it as a hole in my knowledge I would like to fill, but I am so much more interested in improving my passing, guard, and all the other stuff I can use on a regular basis.

This is the stuff we focus on in our beginners program. I really believe in it and think that it's super important to build strong fundamental movements and principles, even if you aren't interested in self defense at all.

Before I started Jiu-Jitsu a few years ago, almost all of my training was from an old Russian guy. He said there were a few different Combat styles the Soviet Military trained it's soldiers depending on your Region and Unit. He was from Saturn Unit, Northern Fleet (Black Uniform, Polar Bear Insignia). He said there were influences from Japan (because of the shared Island chain with Russia), from East & Southern Asia, as well as from European Regions. Most of what he taught was a stand-up style because the type of Combat they were involved in did not allow for much time on the ground. Lots of weapons and improvised weapons training, lots of striking, lots of situational training (in/out of vehicle, seated/standing, confined space, hand cuffed, prisoner). I think EVERY aspect is important, my old coach said that if he was a younger he would be studying the modern ground game as well, "I was once young and handsome, now only handsome remains" is what he says.

My sambo coach will have us practice some self defense (opponent has knife or gun both drawn and not drawn, how to handle a drunk or belligerent opponent) my other ROnin Master Jordan will teach jitsu that carries over to strikes as well (shrimping with your hands up, sidestepping with hands up, half guards that factor in potential strikes).

And I own all 36 combatives lessons on dvd and will watch them from time to time in particular punch block series for guard.

I don't do old school gracie self defense, but for the past couple years I've been training CKM which is really fun and helpful. Its based off of Israeli street fighting and military defense. Its really cool too because with some of the things I can intertwine the CKM and the Jiu Jitsu.

I do a lot of knife fighting, both Krav Maga and Eskrima. I did a lot of self defense going up mainly in joint locks and disarmament

Stephen Kesting recently put out a video on street fighting where he made a few good points. 1) Avoiding an altercation is always the best option, running away, throwing something, beating the shit out of them with a 2x4, whatever you have at your disposal to ensure your own personal safety is the best option. 2)Your average idiot who is looking to start a fight in the street probably doesn't have much skill. Don't respect your opponent as a martial artist with a lot of mat time, stick to the basics, take the shortest path to victory. 3) The "don't take the fight to the ground" mentality is pretty silly, if you can slow the pace of the fight, take your opponent down, hold on to him and put him to sleep, that is a very real and viable option. I feel like 10P style of clinch and train as if you were striking fits right into that philosophy actually, which is pretty funny considering the old school Jiu Jitsu guys consider 10P "sporty" and "unrealistic" (cough cough Gracie Breakdown). I don't have any personal street fight experience (and I plan on keeping it that way), but the real root of the reason most of us started training is we want to be able to defend ourselves, not just win medals or show off flashy moves. I think that's the real martial artist mindset we have to keep. Do no harm, Take no shit