Standing headlock counter. You'll end there 100 times against an untrained opponent before they mount you.

Situational awareness. Phone down, head up, eyes open.

This...

This is not the Gracie way...

Screaming and running away. Very important skill.

Absolutely this #1, close #1a is headlock escape.

I like this with regard to straight up self defense. But for one Jiu Jitsu technique, I’d say step in haymaker block to bodylock to takedown. The looping overhand punch is by far the most prevalent unarmed attack. I’d start there.

How to break fall. Ice and wet floors are far more common than self defense scenarios.

This is my go to, even in just a normal social setting. Lol

I vote for the breakfall. I've survived some bad situations thanks to breakfall and roll skills.

What is a technique even?

Actually harder to train than some give credit for.

The other techniques mentioned are great and fundamental. But recognizing the steps prior to needing the techniques decrease the chances of ending up in certain scenarios.

I always said if you train someone to defend the big right hand, football tackle and headlock they would probably win any fight they had against and untrained opponent

I agree with Jocko, best self defense is to run away. Double leg or body lock takedown.

Best self defense is your personality and then your decision making skills to not be in bad situations to begin with.

If I can show someone just 1 technique it would the hook sweep (tripod sweep) against a standing opponent if you were knocked on your ass and they were standing. It's very effective to sweep them on their ass and then you can run or whatever.

The idea of just showing someone just one technique is silly. How about showing someone one concept instead. Can teach someone several ways to sweep, ankle pick and balance attack so that they are able to remove people from dominant positions and allowing themselves to get into at least a neutral position or better within an hour or two.

The best first concept would be understanding how to alter your opponent's balance by attacking their Posture, Posts and Weight Distribution while maintaining control of your own balance. Without understanding balance all the other information doesn't do much.

Something you use to gain an advantage. Lol

Also,

Don't do stupid things, with stupid people, in stupid places, at stupid times.

Easier said than done as evident by what's happening in the world...

Berimbolo!!

Just kidding. It’s too hard to pick just one! It for sure depends on the situation (controlling a drunk uncle, dealing with road rage, armed robbery, escaping sexual assault, etc.).

"Self-defense" in the JJ community tends to be equated with something like two "dudes" in an altercation after an argument in the drive-through line. The general attitude seems to negate the groups that actually have a high statistical risk of being assaulted. That’s why I’m a big fan of the Gracie Combatives and Women Empowered programs (or any similar program). They provide a solid self-defense foundation that can be completed in a year. It's perfect for the layperson the doesn’t want to become a JJ nerd for life (I know, I know, who wouldn't want to become a JJ nerd for life? But apparently, such people exist).

If I had to pick just one technique though (or group of techniques), I might say wrist releases. It seems like sexual assault stands to be more devastating than a typical street fight, so physically getting away would be key.

If books count, I would also vote for The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker. The Women Empowered program also has an excellent little text covering situational awareness, assault statistics, etc.

I wish more schools focused on self-defense fundamentals as the progression from white --> blue. Sport-focused schools are great, of course, but I think many people start JJ to learn self-defense without realizing that there is a pretty big difference between sport and self-defense-focused schools, especially at the fundamentals level.

Let’s just combine them: a road-raging, armed, drunk uncle attempting to sexually assault you. Now we can apply our single perfect technique to defeat this dastardly rapscallion.

lol. Man, that's one crummy uncle. A trench-coat Ezekiel is clearly the most suitable technique.

Where to buy a Professor patch for their new SYR gi :)

The way of the weak. Last resort when brute strength fails.

That definition does not make ANY sense though given the original question ("WHAT IS THE ONE JIUJITSU TECHNIQUE EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD SHOULD KNOW?").

But I'll bite (at the origina l question) finally. RNC from the back IF that as a "technique" includes also a system to how to get to and control the back (both standing and on the ground). (Mind you, this "technique" would also include countering the standing headlock with it.)

That comment for some reason reminded me of this picture I saw other day for like first time in 17 years.

I saw the hand on the back of the head instead of behind the head and that horrible armbar technique. First thing I noticed in the picture instead of how hideous I looked the last time I shaved. Too lazy to edit the picture I edited half my life ago.

The way I teach is: self defense is NOT fighting is about deescalating and leaving.
If you need to engage attack eyes, throat, genitals. attack weak points maximum damage and exit the place.
Yell fire while fighting.
Call the authorities once you are in a safe place.

My two cents

???

How about the "Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique"?

These are second tier semantics. The title of the thread is misleading because there’s already only one technique everyone should know :