lklawson
Grandmaster
I regret that I can only hit "thanks" on this post once.Pulling guard isn't a technique. It's a tactic used in competitions. In a competition, points are awarded for a takedown, but not for pulling guard. So, if I'm confident that my bottom game is very good, I can opt to pull guard and get the fight to the ground without conceding two points, and I can then get my own two points for a sweep. So, really, any mention of pulling guard in a discussion about anything other than a game plan for a BJJ or Submission Grappling even is inappropriate. It's as relevant as discussing board breaking.
With regards to the topic at hand, however, the confidence that a jiu jitiero has from the bottom is, I believe, well founded. No one would WANT to be on the bottom, on the ground, in a self defense scenario. However, the average jiu jitiero will be able to create space to return to standing, or reverse position and then choose to engage on the ground OR disengage and return to standing (whether to run away or not). The differences between Judo, Sambo, modern CACC wrestling and BJJ isn't so much in the techniques taught. It's about philosophy and emphasis. This isn't good or bad, IMO. It just is what it is.
I think that "reality based" arts often suffer from a lack of pressure testing. While a competitive element may focus training, I think that it would be easier for the average competitor to translate skills to practical, effective self defense, than it would be for the average non-competitor.
Peace favor your sword,
Kirk