Grappling, in martial arts, refers to any fighting method that involves grabbing your opponent instead of punching your opponent. For example, grappling involves grappling techniques, whereas muay thai typically doesn’t (unless you consider the clinch used in that sport).
The submission hold focuses primarily on ground fighting. The submission hold involves not only grappling, but also the use of submission holds, including joint locks and chokes. Joint locks can include various arm and leg keys. For example, an armbar submission involves hyperextending the elbow joint. Strangulations are usually “blood strangulations” that involve constriction of the carotid arteries in the neck, restricting blood flow to the brain and causing unconsciousness. The submission hold can be gi or no gi. In gi wrestling, contestants can grab their own and their opponent’s gi to gain an advantage. In wrestling without a gi, a shirt and shorts are the common uniform.
FILA (The International Federation of Associated Fighting Styles) now sponsors the submission hold as one of their fighting styles. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is probably the most popular form of submission grappling. The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation sponsors many contests, including the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship. NAGA (North American Grappling Association) also sponsors many grappling and BJJ tournaments. The ADCC (The Abu Dhabi Combat Club) sponsors The World Submission Fighting Championships, allowing fighters from any fighting discipline to compete against each other in one of the most famous fighting competitions in the world.
I come from a high school wrestling background. When I started learning about the submission hold, I found it very interesting. One of the first forms of submission grappling I learned was Brazilian jiu jitsu. I found some similarities between wrestling and BJJ and many differences. Both wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu involve grappling, proper positioning, and leverage.
In wrestling, the ultimate goal is to “pin” your opponent by pressing their shoulders into the mat. However, in BJJ it can actually be advantageous to have your back turned and there is no penalty for doing so. Both sports have a hold known as an arm bar. In wrestling, an armbar involves using your opponent’s arm as leverage to force him onto his back. But, an arm bar in BJJ is something else entirely. In BJJ, an arm bar hyperextends the arm at the elbow joint.
In wrestling, one has takedowns, escapes, reversals, and pin combinations. In BJJ, one has takedowns, sweeps, passes, and submissions. Therefore, the terminology is somewhat different. The goal in submission grappling (eg BJJ) is to make your opponent “tag” (ie, submit).
There are many forms of grappling and submission grappling.
Some forms of grip include:
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ)
- Judo
- Struggle
- Sambo (also known as Sombo)
- Catch-as-catch-can wrestling (i.e. catch wrestling)
- Aikido
- japanese jujutsu
BJJ, Sambo, and catch wrestling all involve the use of submissions. BJJ seems to employ more armlocks and chokes. On the other hand, Sambo and catch wrestling seem to employ more leg locks. Practitioners of sambo and catch wrestling seem to have a penchant for manipulating their opponents’ ankle joints through Achilles locks, toe grabs, and heel hooks.
Professional wrestling actually descended from catch wrestling. Pro wrestling actually used to be “real” and not just scripted entertainment. Grapplers like Martin “Farmer” Burns, Frank Gotch, Karl Gotch, Ed “The Strangler” Lewis, Billy Robinson, Lou Thesz and Judo Gene LeBell were true submission experts. On a humorous note, in a Bugs Bunny cartoon called cuddling bunnyBugs defeats a fighter named The Crusher.
Some modern wrestlers carrying on the lucha libre tradition:
- erik paulson
- joseph barnett
- kazushi sakuraba
- Tony Cecchine
- matt furey
Both wrestling and judo involve grappling and holding to throw or knock down an opponent. Also, the wrestling involves a lot of grappling on the ground.
Japanese aikido and jujutsu appear to employ a variety of wrist and arm locks.
Mixed martial arts competitions (eg, UFC, PRIDE, Shooto, Pancrase) employ many submission grappling techniques. For example, former UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
You can see the grappling techniques employed in various movies and TV shows, including air force one, Under Siege 2, Fist of Legend, The Protector, The rebel, Sherlock Holmes, iron man 2, Boondock Saints 2, bobbyz and Texas Walker Ranger to name a few.
The grip is mentioned in two ancient literary works: The Epic of Gilgamesh and Beowulf.
Some people argue that grappling arts are good for self defense.
Many submission grappling and grappling techniques can be found in videos and articles online.