Jocko Willink, former Navy SEAL commander and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, has weighed in on a heated debate sparked by Pastor Dale Partridge’s recent statements – that was discouraging girls from participating in wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Partridge’s remarks ignited controversy when he posted the following on social media:
Parents, stop putting your daughters into Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling.
You’re letting 14-year-old boys grope, mount, and dominate your little girl.
Yes, teach them self-defense, but do so with self-awareness and weapons training, not ground fighting.
And, well, Jocko Willink responded in his usual, matter-of-fact fashion:
Parents, put your daughters into jiu-jitsu and wrestling.
That way they will be able to defend themselves against boys trying to grope, mount, and dominate them.It’s comforting when your daughters can choke, maim, or otherwise incapacitate potential attackers.
Many sided with Jocko, such as Zac Kaizen:
Trying to teach them self-defense without teaching them how to grapple is like trying to teach them how to ride a bike without handle bars. You are giving them a massive handicap if they ever get in a situation where they actually need to defend themselves.
Others have been more vocal about the way the pastor phrased his thoughts:
My daughters, 12 and 13 can break and strangle any boy double their size.
Because they trained jitz since they were six.They never got groped.
This is one of the most offensively stupid things I’ve ever heard anyone say.
Parents, stop putting your daughters into Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling.
You’re letting 14-year-old boys grope, mount, and dominate your little girl.
Yes, teach them self-defense, but do so with self-awareness and weapons training, not ground fighting.
— Dale Partridge (@dalepartridge) January 23, 2025
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