Best submissions for self defense

[Logan Hutchins]

Hey guys, I'm helping out a local self defense instructor add ground game into his curriculum. I'm trying to pinpoint the most effective submissions and sweeps for a self defense scenario. What do you guys think the most effective submissions and sweeps are for self defense? I'm trying to narrow it down to 3 subs and 3 sweeps that are applicable from many positions. All opinions are greatly appreciated =) (To avoid any confusion i understand that I am not a black belt. I am doing this in exchange for some lessons in striking. I am not claiming to be an expert or anything of the sort, just helping a fellow martial artist out with my limited knowledge)

[anthony storm]

ive used the gator roll in a real fight one time some guy tried to grab my girlfriends ass so we got into it ive always noticed that in street fights guys tend to rush you thats why i love the gator roll just headlock them yank them to the ground and roll i would also say a standing armbar would work seeing that most people in fights use their arms i would recomend a drag down with the armbar

[Cody Kietzman]

I always wonder about the legality of using jiu jitsu in a street fight. Certainly i would rather be alive and in trouble rather than dead, but what if you just in a fist fight. I mean do you fear for your life every time you are in a fist fight. Some people take the mentality that the other guy is trying to kill them but will that fly when your in court? Food for thought.

So to answer the question i would use hip bump, whip up to take the back (what goon on the street is throwing in a whizzer) and pry sweeping from the triangle. Due to my reservations about submissions i don't know what to say.

[John Mejia]

I'd say most chokes are going to be effective. You've also got to factor in knives and biting and eye gouging, hair pulling. I for one won't be triangle-ing anyone In the streets like Mel Gibson. Because as fucked as it sounds if you bite down hard enough they'll let go. I for one don't want my junk getting bitten off.

[bobby rivers]

Arm drag to rnc.

[Chauncey Nu'usolia]

Rubber guard definitely is street legal

[Jeremy Gates]

scissor sweep would be ideal for sure. overhook the arm and you can defend your face from getting punched with the other, then quickly shrimp and sweep.

[AJ Camacho]

Double underhooks to leg trip to high mount. That flow is probably the easiest for me to hit on somebody who doesn't know nothing about nothing.

As for submissions, the most commonly available tend to be RNC, arm triangle, and guillotine. Those are subs that new people will usually give to you as a gift, since turning from the mount tends to give up the RNC or arm triangle. The guillotine happens by accident from drunk dudes just tackling people with their heads.

Sweeps are trickier but the hip bump, leg scissor and elevator sweeps are good. Anything that exploits basic mistakes.. ie, hands on the mat, hands on the chest, posturing to far back, or not posturing at all. There's also that noob guard sweep, where they stand up and you grab the back of their heels and you hip up.

Oh and standing back up to base.. that's huge and usually overlooked. If I was showing my wife stuff, standing back up in base would me something I would cover from every position.

[Dylan Ehrnreiter]

Simple subs: americana, triangle, RNC

Sweeps: I'd hit the trap and rolls and maybe the elevator. One-off self defense classes aren't enough to cover guard work. I'd hit escapes from mount and running away.

[snoogens44]

gracie combatives