I hate the ground.

I hate the ground.

That doesn't change the fact that it is a reality and needs to be trained for. Seeing as being on the ground is on my top 5 things to despise I approach that area with a specific mentality:

1) How to prevent going to the ground

2) Counters and reversals to enable me to get up off the ground

3) Kicks, strikes and as many dirty tricks as I can find to prevent a wrestling match as most people are bigger than I am and I want to get off the ground.

4) Limit the amount of BJJ, Submission wrestling, etc. tactics that keep me on the ground

5) Maneuverability standing & on the ground to keep me on my feet

6) Aggressiveness that dissuades the average attacker to not get too close or get off me quickHock's materials, Jim McCaan's and Nick Hughes all work in this manner so I get anything that comes out regarding this area from these sources. I do have many other grappling resources but they are all sport oriented despite their 'combat' name.

Jeff Laun www.dallascqc.com/


Training with many Ground-fighting experts whether it be seminars or DVD's, more often then not usually reveals they rely upon extremely complicated tournament or sport techniques and will never be used by either the attacker or the person defending themselves.

When the fight hits the ground there are no tournament rules or referees. The attacker is often motivated and armed. Even if you are skilled enough to gain a submission hold there is little nothing you can do to prevent the attacker from pulling a weapon and using it.

Let’s not forget the trained NHB fighters who know how to put you down with nasty and painful submission holds. Once they get you into one of their holds, you’re completely helpless… and… in the street, you’ll be unconscious or dead.

You need Ground fighting which is a real world comprehensive study of what goes down on the street when the fight hits the ground. Although Grappling and Mixed Martial Arts are extremely useful for self-defense.

The problem lies in where is that line?

That fine line between sport & street. When does the sport aspect of grappling & MMA actually endanger our lives on the street?

The Who? Who are we fighting? Our uncle, brother, a mugger, a gang of attackers?

The What? What do they want? What do you want?

The Where? Where are we? In a bar, in a parking lot, in the mountains or on the beach?

The Why? Why are you fighting have you been attacked? Are trying to stop a fight?

Here is a true story. A guy I know who shall remain nameless is atop notch grappler. He was young and was hanging out in a bar. He got into an altercation. So he decided to takedown the guy, which he did successfully, got to his opponents back put him in a rear naked choke and woke up in the hospital.

See he forgot the who, what, where, & why he was in a fight.

He did a masterful job of executing what he set out to do. The disconnect was that he was in a street fight and did not address the fact that the guy he got into a fight with had friends. So when he got behind his opponent to choke him one of his buddies ran over and skull stomped him.

The who, what, where, & why are very important questions to be addressed.

With that being said you have the guys on the exact opposite side of the coin who only train for the so-called street. They do not spar or roll around and understand what it really takes to move somebody off of them or what it is like to get hit and choked. But the guy who rolls everyday does and is better prepared to handle it. You need to find a happy mix between the two. You have to “Bridge the gap between sport & street.” Which is what I try to do.

Jim McCann www.xtremefreestyle.com/

http://hockscombatforum.com/index.php/topic,3746.0.html