If you’ve ever watched Ultimate Fighting or Pride Fighting Championships, you’ve probably noticed one thing: sooner or later, most matches go to the ground. Rarely do you see matches being determined by the fighters squaring off toe-to-toe and beating on each other. While lethal punches and kicks have their part, it’s the ground fighting that defines a champion.

Just look at most of the legendary “no-holds-barred” fighters. Randy Couture comes from a wrestling background; Ken Shamrock is a submission grappler; Vito Belfort studied Brazilian Jiu Jitsu; and Chuck Liddell may have started out with kickboxing, but no one can doubt his grappling proficiency.

For the fighter, no style can be complete without ground-fighting training. Many martial arts are evolving to include ground-fighting techniques and for any one interested in self-defense, ground fighting is an essential study.

And it’s not just for athletes stepping into the ring. Ground fighting is an excellent option for all people interested in self-defense. For people who are interested only in defending themselves, the control found in the submissions and holds of ground fighting make ending a fight quickly and safely a reality. Ground fighting is especially effective for women. While women may not be as able to defend themselves with powerful punches and kicks, with proper technique they can choke out an assailant or even submit them through locks and breaks. The effectiveness is especially apparent when you consider that most attacks against women are geared towards taking them to a prone position. As a female grappler, you could quickly teach an assailant why he shouldn’t have taken you down to the ground.

For law enforcement and security personnel, ground fighting provides an excellent venue to control and subdue suspects. With increasing public disapproval of extreme force, ground fighting is an even better choice. Taking a suspect to the ground where they can be controlled and handled without striking them is much more preferable to pulling out the billy club or night stick.

While there are many different styles of ground fighting, they all operate on the same basic principles. The differences arise in how you approach those basics. And what are those basics?

Chokes. As the name suggests, a choke applies pressure to a person’s throat, cutting off the air supply or blood flow to the brain. Though chokes can cut off air supply, when properly done, chokes cut off the blood supply to the brain, resulting in a much quicker submission compared to cutting off the air. Chokes are potentially dangerous, and that danger is compounded by the applicant’s ignorance. Done correctly, chokes can quickly disable an opponent in seconds with little or no damage. Done incorrectly, chokes can become deadly.

Locks. Locks utilize the musculoskeletal system of your opponent to submit or subdue them. By “locking” a joint against itself, you can control your opponent. Locks can be done to any joint of the body—shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, and ankle are some of the more common locks. A lock can also be used to break a joint, so be careful when applying.

Submissions. Submissions can be any number of moves—holds, stretches, hooks and even chokes and locks. The idea behind submissions is to cause your opponent to submit (or tap out/cry uncle in competition) through pain.

It’s All about Style

As the growth of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) continues, the original schools of ground fighting are beginning to become one large conglomeration rather than individual and separate philosophies. Arts borrow freely from each other and techniques are adapted or developed to fit the needs of the student. However, there is a rich history and tradition behind ground fighting.

Today you can find many different styles of ground fighting to study. Following is a listing of some of the more popular and prevalent schools.

Ju-jutsu

Medieval Japan was presided over by the martial prowess of the samurai. Most Japanese martial arts trace their lineage back to the studies of these ancient warriors, Ju-jutsu included.

The samurai’s studies focused mainly on armed combat using swords, spears, and archery weapons. Close, unarmed combat was viewed as a last resort and training in this area centered on facing armored opponents. Gradually this training grew to include unarmed combat in the palace and other areas where armor and weapons were not permitted. Yet, despite the growth of ground fighting and the eventual decline of the samurai, the premise of fighting an opponent by taking advantage of areas that armor could not protect remained the same.

Ju-jutsu, (also spelled “Jujitsu”), focuses on throws, locks, chokes, and striking techniques. While the techniques can be done without it, most practitioners wear a gi, and so techniques are taught using the opponent’s gi or clothing against the opponent.

Most schools of Jujutsu also focus on the rich heritage and culture that surrounds the Japanese martial arts. The classic term “budo” is often used to describe these martial arts, and the philosophy of the defensive practitioner rings through.

Judo

Most people know of or have heard of Judo. Since its inclusion in the Olympic Games, Judo’s popularity as a sport and martial art has grown greatly. Yet, despite this popularity, most people do not think of Judo in terms of ground fighting.

In 1880, Professor Jigoro Kano took his expertise in many forms of jujutsu and developed a new form, which he named “the gentle way” or Judo. Kano named this new system “the gentle way” because of its exclusion of strikes and kicks. While Judo does not feature striking, it did maintain the rich heritage of throws and grappling techniques taught in Jujutsu.

Modern day Judo revolves mainly around the competitive sport where rules regulate many aspects, including the application of chokes, locks, and submissions. However, Judo is still a valid and effective martial art. Before its inclusion in the Olympic games, Judo placed equal emphasis on ground fighting and throws. That history still remains today, though the emphasis has changed slightly. For the person interested in self-defense, you won’t be led astray by the competitive side of the sport. For the ground fighter, the techniques taught in Judo are primarily the same as those taught in Jujutsu.

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu

In the early 1900s, Gastao Gracie brought his son Carlos to Maeda, a Judo instructor. Carlos studied under Maeda for a time and shared the teachings with his brothers Oswaldo, Jorge, Gastao Jr., and Helio. In 1925, the Gracie brothers opened their first dojo and from those origins Brazilian Jiu-jitsu has spread across the world.

As you can tell from its history, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu springs directly from pre-WWII Judo, which emphasized more of the grappling than the throws. So, while Brazilian Jiu-jitsu does have throws, the emphasis is more on the ground techniques. Additionally, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu does not focus on competition. Rather, it is purely a fighting art.

Since the advent of Ultimate Fighting and Prize Fighting, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu has enjoyed an explosion of popularity. The Gracie family has continued to dominate in this arena—as is evidenced by the prowess of Royce Gracie. Other Brazilian Jiu-jitsu artists have gained notoriety and many martial artists find this form to be rewarding and exciting.

Sambo

Sambo, or Sombo, is a Russian martial art. Initially, the art started out as training for Russian soldiers (Som-oborona Bes Orusyia—SOMBO—is Russian for self-defense without weapons). This study included techniques for hand-to-hand fighting and included throws, takedowns, striking techniques, and weapons.

In 1968, Sambo was recognized by the International Amateur Wrestling Federation and was classified with Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling. Over the years, Sambo has evolved and now includes many locks, chokes, and grappling techniques. Its military background makes it a popular choice for military and law enforcement professionals.

Submission Wrestling/Grappling and Catch-as-Catch-Can Wrestling

In the late 19th century, traveling fighters presented not only a form of entertainment, but also an opportunity for locals to test their strength and skill. Bouts with these traveling fighters were decided in a number of ways, including submitting an opponent and causing him to cry “Uncle!”

But there were problems with these matches. Locals would often become vicious, even reaching the extreme of eye gauging. Additionally, because money was bet on the outcome, arguments would ensue over who actually won and if the referees were calling the matches fairly. In order to protect themselves and leave no doubt as to who won, the fighters developed holds and stretches which they called “hooks.” This system eventually came to be known as Catch-as-Catch-Can Wrestling. (You may see a similarity here with modern-day “Professional Wrestling.”)

Submission grappling is basically the “melting pot” of ground fighting. Submission grapplers borrow freely from all ground fighting techniques, and the influences can be readily seen. From Jujutsu, to Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Sambo, Judo, and even Olympic and Collegiate wrestling, submission grappling applies many of the different techniques and styles out there, making it a viable art for MMA fighting.

Submission grappling relies heavily on live practice, called “rolling,” to learn its rules and techniques. Rolling also provides an excellent opportunity for the student to gain "real world" experience without the inherent danger. More and more submission grappling tournaments are also beginning to pop up. Though regulated and refereed, these tournaments offer a great view into the effectiveness of submission grappling in a street situation.

Ground Fighting

When Royce Gracie first burst onto the scene of no-holds-barred fighting, his opponents were confused by his tactics. They were accustomed to standing toe-to-toe and throwing punches and kicks. But Royce quickly brought them to the ground where he could easily apply a choke, lock, or submission for a victory.

Imagine being in a real-life situation and having the same advantage. The ground fighting schools discussed in this article provide the practitioners with the skills and abilities necessary to protect themselves. For men or women, learning to take a fight to the ground and then dominate your opponent there is definitely an advantageous pursuit. If you still have your doubts, watch some of the professional fighters in no-holds-barred competitions and you'll quickly change your mind. As for me, my money will be on the grappler.