AngryHobbit
Senior Master
I see your reasoning....but I look at my 5'3" 105 lb wife and think....If a 200+ lb street thug attacked her....would she still be able to pull off grappling techniques as he is punching her full power? How effective is she going to be trying to out wrestle that guy?
For the most part, the most important thing in self defense is.......prevention! Also, having access to a weapon IMHO is a big advantage.
I think this makes for a good reason to diversify the training. If her art of choice focuses on grappling - that's fantastic. I know I wish I were a better grappler, working on it. But it also wouldn't hurt to learn some blending and blocking, choke defenses, what I like to call "gross out" defenses - like poking in the eyes and biting (somehow, mysteriously, nothing discourages an attacker quite so well as the sight of his own blood on your teeth), and yes... of COURSE... prevention. Where is the exit? What is in the room that can be used as a weapon? Is the area well lit? What are the surroundings? The sounds? All that stuff.