Why back-to-back grappling is counter-productive.

Many clubs include some form of grappling into their classes, sometimes as an integral part of their system, sometimes just as a game. Many times though these ‘games’ become overly aggressive and needlessly competitive. Almost always at the expense of learning and skill development.

The reason? I believe it has a lot to do with grappling bouts starting seated back-to-back with a frantic scramble for dominance at the outset. Many clubs that include grappling but don’t have a base in BJJ or Submission wrestling use this format and have to absorb the problems, and dangers, that it causes.

Grappling is rife with people going hell-for-leather, using too much strength, too little technique and showing a lot of the things that are worst about martial arts training: Loose cannon attitudes, win at all cost ‘fighting’, undue aggression and bad sportsmanship. Even when used as a game.

This is often due to starting back-to-back with both fighters spinning around and diving in to get control. Ordinarily the stronger opponent wins this initial exchange through bulldozing the weaker and that sets the tone for the rest of the roll. I use the term ‘roll’ loosely as there is rarely any motion in the rest of match despite blood vessel-bursting amounts of effort. All that happens is that tempers fray and the whole exercise becomes negative.

I just don’t see where the fun in this is.

A simple alternative is to use the method commonly seen in BJJ clubs and used by everyone at Revolution – start rolls off facing each other, kneeling or on one knee, shake or slap hands and start your roll by calmly working for grips. You don't start judo randori back to back and I know of no stand up martial art that does this... but for some reason people insist on making grappling look like an 18th Century duel with flintlocks.

By changing the first action of the roll from a psychotic blast to a considered tactical game you change the entire feel of grappling. It is easier to keep the rolls light, fluid and technical when they have started this way. If people choose to roll using power it is a choice, rather than a default position needed for survival.

Try rolling without strength for the most productive rolls. If a move needs to be powered on it shows you don't have the leverage right. Move to a position of greater leverage and the move should work without strength.

Remove the scramble at the start of the roll and you get a safer, less aggressive, more enjoyable and more evenly-matched activity that allows everyone the chance to work their game (regardless of size or experience). Martial arts are predicated on the idea of technique overcoming size and strength. Strength is still strength and brute force is brute force, even when wrapped up in a gi.

If you have any questions on how to introduce a safe grappling game into your training contact Phil Wright or come down and 'play' at Revolution.

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