The Importance of Ground Fighting In Mixed Martial Arts

Effective Ground Fighting

Ground fighting is a critical aspect of self-defense that addresses scenarios where physical confrontations result in one or both parties ending up on the ground. In such situations, the ability to control, neutralize, and escape from an attacker becomes paramount. Krav Maga’s ground fighting encompasses a range of techniques from martial arts like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), wrestling, and Judo, each designed to provide practitioners with the skills to defend themselves effectively when standing combat is no longer an option; we also teach striking and punching etc., when on the ground as part of our solutions. Our program separates working on the ground into two components: ground survival (which sees you “surviving” this phase/part of the fight and getting back up to your feet), and ground-fighting, where you learn how to finish the fight on the ground using joint-locks, chokes and strangulations etc.

Whilst most fights don’t go to the ground a significant percentage of physical altercations eventually do – especially in prolonged confrontations. Studies conducted by law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, suggest that many fights, especially those involving untrained individuals, end up in grappling scenarios. Without the skills to manage a ground situation, a defender is at a severe disadvantage, potentially exposing themselves to harm. Ground fighting techniques provide tools to control the situation and protect oneself, even against larger or stronger opponents. In fact whilst it is generally not advisable to take somebody to the ground, if you are losing a fight when standing, changing the dimension to one in which your aggressor is unfamiliar with – such as fighting on the ground – may be a productive tactic to employ.

Ground-fighting Submissions, including chokeholds and joint locks, are integral to ground fighting and serve as powerful tools in self-defense. Techniques such as the rear-naked choke, guillotine choke, or armbars like Ju-Ji-Gatame can incapacitate an attacker without requiring significant strength or size. These techniques focus on exploiting biomechanical vulnerabilities, making them accessible to individuals of all physical builds e.g., it doesn’t matter how pain tolerant or physically/athletically strong a person is a blood choke will render everybody unconscious in an equal manner. This is why knowing how to apply such techniques is important as they may be the only way to deal with a pain resistant assailant e.g., somebody who is drugged up on PCP, or has drunk enough alcohol that they are impervious to pain. In such cases there is only one way to end/finish the fight and that is to render your assailant unconscious using biomechanical means.

Ground fighting also emphasizes escape techniques, which are crucial in self-defense. If an attacker secures a dominant position, the defender must have the skills to escape and regain control. Techniques like shrimping, bridging, and hip escapes enable defenders to create space and transition to a safer position. This is particularly important for situations involving sexual assault or other forms of close-range violence, where attackers often use their size and weight to dominate their victim. Knowing how to escape from positions like being pinned and then getting to your feet can be potentially lifesaving solutions/techniques. To get started with our self-defense/fighting program, you can register for one of our beginner classes using the form below.