Foundation Set 6: Basic Grappling

Type: Control, Clinch, Throw

            Grappling consists of Clinching, Body-Locking, and Ground Control. Clinching is a tight-range stance that leads to throws, strikes, and locks.  Body-locking is controlling your opponent by hugging them, and is best gained from a clinch.  The goal is to press your body against your opponent in such a way that you control their balance, movement, and ability to attack while maintaining your own balance, defense, and ability to control or attack.  Ground Control mostly deals with prevention and escape, so mastering stand-up grappling prevents the need to focus too heavily on ground control.

• Basic Clinch

• Tightness and Balance Check / Rag Doll

• Trip Placement

• Body-Locking / Primary Throw

• Gable Grip

• Sprawl (CPR Pyramid)

• Wall-Press Escape

 

Basic Clinch:

           No one has an advantage.  One hand is on partner’s plum, the other grabbing their elbow and holding it like a football.  Give partner a 3rd leg.  Keep your toes in line with opponent’s toes for proper leverage.  Listen to their shoulder.  Keep your legs square.

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Knee Clamp / Clinch Control:

Knee Clamp: From the clinch, touch the back of your knees to the back of your partner’s knees. 

           Pull your partner’s neck and arm so their weight is on their closest leg.  This will allow you to manipulate that leg.

           There are 4 combinations of this.  Use both of your legs to touch going around the inside and outside of your partner’s closest leg. 

Chest slam to switch sides.

Gable Grip / Hip Lever / Shoulder Twist:

• Gable Grip: Cup one hand like you’re asking for M&Ms.  Cover all fingers and thumb with your other hand.  Clamp tight.  Pull close, thru their body and towards your own stomach or heart or forehead (depending on height of technique).  Other variations are allowed so long as your fingers are not interlocked.

• Hip Lever: Dig your hip into theirs and use it as a pivot point as you throw.

• Shoulder Twist: Twist your shoulders like a turret to bend your partner off balance.  Don’t dip your chest as you do this.

 

Body-Locking / Primary Throw:

           From the clinch you can body-lock to control their entire frame and set them up for take-downs.

• Double Over: get both of your arms over both of their elbows.  ‘Swim’ your arms over theirs as they resist.  Gable Grip behind their lower back.  Press your shoulder thru their chest.  Rotate your chest in the direction of your forward leg to take down.  Knee Clamp if able for extra leverage.

• Double Under: get both of your arms under theirs.  Get your forearms in their armpits.  Lift their arms high.  Gable Grip behind their head.  Rotate your chest in the direction of your forward leg to take down.  Knee Clamp if able for extra leverage.

• Over Under: get one arm over their elbow and your other arm’s elbow in their armpit and lift that arm high.  Gable Grip behind their shoulders.  Rotate your chest in the direction of your lower arm to take down.  Knee Clamp if able for extra leverage.

• Arm Bridge / Chest Press: get their forearms into your armpits.  Gable Grip around their elbows.  Rotate your chest in the direction of your forward leg to take down.  Knee Clamp if able for extra leverage.

• Primary Throw: grab a same side wrist.  Step out in that direction and get shoulder to shoulder.  Knee Clamp.  Put your other elbow under their chin and that hand behind their back.  With the hand behind their back, point to your opposite toe while rising your elbow.

           Land so that you are safe, balanced, and in control if able.  Do not land on your hands, as that could hurt and / or pin you under your opponent.

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Entering the Clinch from an Attack:

• Your partner will attack you with a barrage of basic punches. 

• Parry the punches down to your center while keeping your hands within the Window of Action.

• Step forward with every block. 

• Pin their arms to their body.

• When you can reach their elbows, grab them tight and enter into a body-lock.

Wall Press Escape / Tackle Defense:

            YOUTH ONLY.  Check the Combatives lesson.

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