You know what can happen if you end up on the ground in a fight?
Colbert was charged Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. with two counts of murder, police said. He was arrested at his home Monday at 8 p.m. for being one of the individuals who kicked Albert several times in the head and torso after Albert was on the ground — ultimately causing his death, according to a police report.
I know MMA and BJJ is all the rage. I love watching UFC and WEC fights. I loved my study of Muay Thai. I enjoy joint locks and submission moves. I totally agree that you do yourself a favor by knowing how to handle yourself in grappling situations.
But in a true fight (i.e. not sport/competition), should going to the ground be your strategy? Well, every situation is different and who knows what your situation at the time may call for. But as a general rule, I would say no, you should not try to take it to the ground. If you end up on the ground (very possible), you should do your best to get up off the ground as quickly as possible. Why? Well, as the above story reads: guy’s going to have friends, and they’re going to stomp your head into the pavement. It takes no skill to stomp someone’s head into the pavement, just determination. And it doesn’t take much for you to get your bell rung… one good stomp to the head and your head meets the pavement could be all that’s needed to knock you out.
So again, don’t get me wrong, I think it’s good to have grappling skills. I think it’s good to know how to handle yourself on the ground. If you are training for pure self-defense, part of your ground skills should be knowing how to quickly get up off the ground, back on your feet, and back into the fight or escaping. Being on the ground is not where you want to be.
Stuff From Hsoi 
I remember one exercise a sifu used to have us do back when I was studying Asian martial arts. You would lie on a mat, and he would have four students surround you. Each one had a number, and each time the sifu called a number, that one would attack, and the previous one would back off. You were not allowed to get up, only to defend yourself on the ground. If you got good at that, then he would start having them attack two at a time. Good training.
Certainly a good training exercise, and I do think it’s good to train in such things. Nevertheless, the ground isn’t a friendly place to want to be.