i'm 18. i don't want to do MMA as a hobby or sport. i just want to do it so that i can learn self-defense techniques. can MMA teach u self-defense, or is it mainly a sport? or competition? i mean, can u learn it just to be able to defend yourself? i do lift weights. but can learning MMA teach u self-defense fighting? i watch U.F.C. sometimes with my dad. and it seems like it's more of a striking style of fighting. not really a defensive style of fighting. i really feel like i need to learn to defend myself before i go to college. i'm not going to college to start trouble. i'm going to my classes and getting my degree. i'm not going to party. but that's just it. the people who fight hunt down the guys like me. i guess because they know i don't want to fight. so they pick the guys like me to bully. so i really need to be able to defend myself. i'm not a bully. i would never go bully anyone once i learned MMA. i just want to protect myself throughout college. is this possible? do MMA classes teach u self-defense? thank u for your help. God Bless