Why You Should Never Steal Next to a Jiu-Jitsu Gym!

We always hear people say, “Jiu-jitsu is for self-defense,” but let’s be real — most of us train for the love of the art. We drill sweeps, sharpen our submissions, and roll with our teammates without ever expecting to use it outside the gym.

However, life occasionally tests our jiu-jitsu.

And that’s exactly what happened in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

An adolescent purse thief discovered the harsh reality of stealing near a jiu-jitsu academy.

Wrong Time, Wrong Place!

Sheri Streety was just loading balloons into her car outside a Dollar Tree when she noticed a young guy trying to snatch her purse.

Now, most people might freeze. But not Sheri.

“No, you’re not getting my bag!” she thought.

She fought back, determined not to let him take her stuff without a struggle.

Little did she know, help was about to arrive — FAST.

Jiu-Jitsu to the Rescue!

Right next door, a class was in full swing at Chattanooga Jiu-Jitsu Academy when instructor Nicole McCamish noticed something wasn’t right.

She saw Sheri running, yelling after the thief. Without hesitation, she sprinted out the door.

Her students? They didn’t hesitate either.

They chased down the purse snatcher, caught him, and gently (but effectively) took him to the ground.

By the time the police arrived, the suspect wasn’t resisting anymore.

“At that point, I think he was just ready for the whole thing to be over with,” one of the jiu-jitsu students, Mickey Swafford, said.

Why Did They Act Without Hesitation?

For the students, this wasn’t about playing hero. It was about something bigger.

“I think about what I’d want someone to do if that was my daughter, my mother, my grandmother,” Mickey explained.

“As a society, we owe it to ourselves to stand up for one another.”

That right there? That’s the spirit of jiu-jitsu.

The Lesson?

A robbery charge and a full-speed takedown in front of an entire gym class?

That’s what we call a bad day for a purse snatcher.

And for the rest of us? It’s a reminder that the skills we sharpen on the mats are more than just sport.

Jiu-jitsu isn’t just for competition — it’s for protecting ourselves, our loved ones, and sometimes… total strangers in a parking lot.

Have you ever used jiu-jitsu in a real-life situation? Drop a comment — I’d love to hear your story!