TAKING IT TO THE GROUND
Grappling
has raised the martial arts from the ashes. When the Ultimate Fighting Challenge (UFC) was created in 1993 no one knew the
impact it was going to have on the Martial Arts or sports. The UFC was created by a prestigious martial arts family, the Gracies,
headed by Grandmaster Helio Gracie and coordinated through his son Rorion. Gracie Jiu-jitsu became the standard in groundfighting
and grappling through out the arts. The Gracies pushed that 85% of all fights end up on the ground, this fact came from a
government statistic.
So
the argument begins, Do 85% of fights end up on the ground? In a fixed situation like UFC or a Judo event the odds are very
high that you will end up in a ground situation. If you specialize in ground fighting/Newaza your goal is to hit the ground
with the opponent. In a real world conflict with no referees, do you really want to take it to the ground? In a real world
conflict going to the ground would involve you entangling yourself with this attacker, leaving yourself open for an attack
from a possible second assailant. Going to the ground should be your final option. Would you really want to roll around
in a nightclub? Or on a street curb?
In
no way am I saying that newaza should not be learned. On the contrary a well rounded
fighter should be able to handle themselves on the ground as well as he/she can standing up. Nowadays, many Martial Artists
cross train in both ground work and up top skills. One of my martial arts mentors is Reylson Gracie, a 9th degree
in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu who teaches in Las Vegas. I listen and
hold him in the utmost respect because he understands the ins and outs of hitting the ground in a fight. His style of teaching
is more geared to self defense as opposed to sport fighting. He heavily emphasizes that you should try to handle the situation
up top and avoid the ground, but if you hit the ground make sure the attacker knows you mean business. When I teach seminars
I teach a very combative form of newaza, I use Brazilian Jiu jitsu and combine it with real life experiences I have faced
overseas. It’s important that reality is added to ground work such as eye gauge’s and throat traps. Remember,
in the real world you don’t get two points for passing the guard, you get the privilege of making it home safe that night.
Never
discard anything you learn in training. Many joint locks that work standing up, also work on the ground. Many Aikido locks
work on the ground when the science is applied properly.
I
get asked a lot about Judo or Sambo, are they any good? There is no such thing as a bad art, there are only bad instructors.
Judo which is primarily a sport art has excellent self defense aspects, remember judo came from Jiu Jitsu. Sambo is a Russian
martial art, it involves plenty of Newaza as well excellent up top concepts. Gracie Jiu Jitsu is an excellent art, believe
it or not the Gracie system has extremely effective standing techniques. The problem is that it’s overlooked because
Gracie Jiu Jitsu is known as a ground art. Bujinkan Taijutsu has ground work in it as well, not like what we’re used
to seeing but it’s there. Here’s a little tip, research an art fully before you get involved in it, watch as many
classes as you can before enrolling, make sure it’s a fit for you. If you ever find yourself confused drop me a line,
I’ll do what I can to assist you.
In
combat there are many areas to learn. It’s a constant evolving process that will never end. A good instructor will admit
that he/she is still a student. Please remember that shutting up and listening is one of the best tools a fighter can have.
I wish you much luck in your Martial Arts journey….
