Did I spend seven years at a McDojo?

Hey, all. So I’ve been wondering for a while now if my jiu-jitsu training was at a McDojo or if it was legit. We didn’t have child black belts but I’ve seen some of the techniques we were taught criticized in this subreddit.

The school’s motto was Practical, Effective Self-Defense. It was a Classical Japanese jiu-jitsu school and not BJJ, although we did incorporate some of it when the UFC took off in the 90s.

What I learned was for survival and not for fighting. Everything was about ending an encounter as quickly as possible and getting the hell out. I know I wouldn’t have a chance against an MMA fighter but most of what we learned would get me disqualified in the UFC: groin strikes, eye gouges, head slams, throat strikes, windpipe crushes, neck cranks, etc.

All of the scenarios we practiced were based on real life: being grabbed in a bear hug, head locked, etc. I was at a party once and my sister’s drunk boyfriend had heard I was taking jiu-jitsu and put me in a Full Nelson with no warning to see what I would do. I hit him with a groin strike and swept his leg and he collapsed in seconds.

Some of the techniques I was taught I see criticized as not working in a real fight like standing arm bars but to me it’s like saying a punch doesn’t work because people can dodge it.

I don’t have any interest in fighting in real life and joined it because I was hospitalized after being beaten up by a jealous ex-boyfriend. I often wonder how that would play out now.

Any thoughts?