Sport, art - whatever. It's jiu-jitsu or self-defence. That doesn't mean people can't use some of the techniques for last-resort self-defence, granted. But how much time in the classes is spent discussing/advising on how to a) avoid getting into situations where you need them, or b) how to get out of situations without using them? These are the aspects which distinguish a self-defence class from a straight martial arts class.

Brian: While it is sad and despicable that there are "criminal scum" out there thieving with violence, the "disaster for society" is the number of good people killed or injured because they refuse to see losing stuff as a way of protecting their (far more important and breakable) physical persons.