what Gracie Jiu-jitsu really teaches

I have read some internet posts lately by people involved in self-defense/martial arts with a certain agenda. That agenda usually revolves around trying to come up with reasons they don't train in Gracie Jiu-jitsu. You have probably seen the stuff that they propagate. Something along the lines of "you can't go to the ground because ......."

1) mulitple opponents
2) weapons
3) hard, uneven, surface

Those are the "holy trinity" reasons of the anti-grapplers (who usually happen to be completely out of shape and either overweight or sickly un-muscled). We know the real reason they don't train in GJJ is because they are deathly afraid of having their ego destroyed by not being able to perform. They know they will be tapped like a typewriter by some unathletic looking white belt, which will shatter their self-styled image of the bad ass reality based "combatives" expert.

While they do everything in their power to not get on the mat, I believe they are overlooking the most important thing that BJJ actually teaches. In my opinion, the single overriding concept in BJJ is how to deal with a larger, stronger, faster opponent at torso to torso touching range. This is usually expressed on the ground. HOWEVER, it is just as valid when you are upright and on your feet i.e. where nearly all "self-defense" techniques usually begin. I submit that every time you roll, you are hard wiring your system to handle an attacker at contact distances. It is not hypothetical, it is real because you are doing it, over and over. And, moreover, you are doing it constantly with an unending variety of opponents. All the "combatives" training you can possibly do will not be able to say that. And that constant variety will implant a subconscious ability to handle whatever "fighting" situation comes your way.

To sum up, 99% of non weapons fighting will involve some torso to torso attachment, usually with a disparity in physicality. Gracie Jiu-jitsu trains there, day after day, 24/7. You don't want to fight on the ground? Fine, then you better learn how to keep a bigger, stronger opponent from controlling you. I am still waiting for someone to show me another martial art that does that as well as BJJ.