Stand-up Grappling for Martial Arts Cross Training Begins (diary entry)

03.09.14 This was my client’s first lesson in basic stand-up grappling for martial arts cross-training. Although an awareness of clothing holds and knowledge of defending or manipulating such holds is good experience leading onto useful attributes, for this particular client’s training path we are focusing on non-jacket and belt wrestling. This lends itself better to mixed martial arts, which he has expressed an interest in training later along the line and self-protection. This lesson focused on above the waist grappling positioning and holds, which is a good place to start for grappling. Styles associated with these holds include Greco-Roman, pre-20th century Pugilism and Cumberland wrestling, which both emphasize holds above the waist without grips to items of clothing like jackets or belts. We began with some simple partner warm-ups. Going off our previous course in Muay Thai, we started in the plumb position and used a flow drill. This moved us onto neck wrestling and then, by altering the position to a simple collar and neck tie-up, we began “bulling”. We then looked at the principle of getting on the inside of a hold. This followed onto over-hooks and under-hooks, leading onto pummelling and getting a double under-hook. From here we covered taking the back position using an under-hook. Going out from here we looked at wrist grips and then moved onto arm-drags. After drilling taking the back using the arm-drag, we covered defence using a counter-arm-drag drill. The lesson was finished with some take-the-back specific sparring.