Nigel Searson
Karate Thesis
Taking Karate To The Ground
Introduction
Traditional karate training
when you look at it mainly appears structured around the form of
stand up fighting, where there is no ground work structured into it’s
training syllabus. Most, if not all fights, start this
way and fights normally are fought this way too. So
when you look at your basic training which is practiced in a linear
route towards fighting on your feet, this only emphasises the missing
element! BJJ and MMA fighting specialize in floor work but we’re
looking at Karate ka who want to introduce this concept into their
training. Fighting lying on your back even in a mounted
position is a cause for concern.
Katas are mostly performed
standing in its basic form. This is the building
blocks of basic training development as we know. As
Kata is a basis to catalogue moves and techniques practiced as a
natural memory aid many people would not associate any ground work
from Kata. But Kata harnesses many ways of taking a fight to the
ground.
Within Kata there are many
foot and hand techniques and applications that can take an opponent
to the floor besides employing a direct throw!
Looking from that point,
floor or groundwork is the next natural phase of training.
It doesn’t matter how
brilliant a stand up fighter you are, in the street or Dojo. You
come across a skilled fighter who’s good at grappling, clinches or
groundwork. You are as good as nothing if and that’s if you’re flat
on your back being ground and pounded or crippled in a joint or
throat locks.
Try not to think that
everything is set in stone. If certain techniques works well for you
use it, if it doesn’t then don’t! We are also
going to look at including kyusho jitsu techniques as striking
elements within the groundwork scenarios, to assist the effectiveness
of body manipulation that can offer a valid effect against
controlling your opponent, especially in the dojo while studying the
process
Looking
At Ground Level Guard Positions
Once you or your
opponent is on the floor a guard position is assumed be either
fighter. Either top or bottom position can command a dominating
position to take control. This gives the fighter lots of options to
win the fight from a knockout, various submission techniques, ground
and pound and chokes that cause unconsciousness.
What we’ll look at next is
some different mount positions from the fight.
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This is a defensive position,
allowing the person on the bottom to control his opponent by their
waist, with his/her own hips. The guard can be used to take away the
opponent’s ground and pound and can also be used to set up dangerous
submissions and sweeps into a more dominant position. Both opponents
from this position can take control in different ways. The person on
their back can manipulate the body position keeping them
off or pulling those in close to switch mount positions through to
guillotine chokes. So although initially you’re far apart, control
can easily be taken.
Transitions from one guard
to another can open many options. The top person moving from guard
into half guard then to full mount by moving up and over your
opponent’s legs can be achieved.
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The half-guard is also good for sweeps and
quick escapes for the individual on the bottom.
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The mount is the second most dominating
position in all of mixed martial arts, seconded only to the back
mount. From the mount, a fighter has dangerous ground and pound, as
well as a plethora of fight ending submissions. Ground fighters who
control the mount, generally own the fight; this goes for wrestlers,
judo and ju jitsu fighters. From this position if you can’t defend
yourself from the onslaught of punches, elbows etc the fight will
be stopped in competition. Now in the street arena there are no
rules or referees, other than your opponents self conscience and any
willing helping onlookers. So this is one of the last positions to
be in!! From here you will need to buck your opponent forwards up to
try and take control then switching positions.
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The back mount allows for devastating striking
and a nearly endless supply of submissions and throat chokes. From here
it’s near impossible to defend yourself from endless blows to the
back of your head, ears and temple. In MMA,
generally speaking, when a fighter takes back mount against a lesser
skilled ground fighter, it’s all over, check mate!
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The side mount is a versatile position
allowing easy control, good striking and good submission attempts.
It’s not uncommon for a fighter on top to utilize knees to the body
and elbows and punches to the head and body from this position.
Fighters who are ground and pound specialists often try to capture
the opponents arms in their legs leaving their face wide open for a
barrage. From here both people can strike each other. The bottom
person can pull the upper one down tight and use elbows to the side
of their head to tire them. But practicing getting out of this
position is well worth the practice and once mastered makes light
work of switching positions from bottom mount to top mount even to
North-South back mount which rolls straight into a throat choke! So
this is well worth looking at.
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Just going back to the side mount as mentioned - the transition from being on the bottom to ending up on top your opponent is still face down and not on their back, as in the picture, so a rear naked choke can easily be applied. But as in this position if your opponent on the bottom switches and lays on their back then the top person can then re-transition their position into any guard.
Tactical
Mount Transitions
Once you’ve taken a look at
ground work and applied it into your training schedule, one thing to
do is try and learn a few basic moves. Try them out and get a basic
feel and understanding of how things work. From here you’ll notice
how each technique will work one moment and not the next. Your
opponent lays different or has their leg somewhere else and it all
doesn’t work! Or even a different partner and it’s completely
different. You’ll find just practicing in a friendly complying way,
working together making it work so you both can learn and understand
how it works. Then you’ll see how easily things can change, which
makes that technique not work and requires an alternative to carry
out your groundwork transitions.
This will help to evolve
your array of techniques. Each transition may require 1, 2, or 3
different alternatives in order to complete 1 transition. Because
your opponent is free to move and position themselves in any way
they desire, your job requires many alternatives! If the first
attempt fails then move on and try the next alternative.
But trying to take in too
many moves all at once can make it a very complex learning curve!
Looking at different mount
positions you’ll notice that there are 2 options.
TOP and BOTTOM position!
Your saying, “well, yes”. The point here is body weight. Being on
the bottom you have to contend with their body weight pushing you
down. Yet being on top, you’re the one pushing down. This is where
being on the bottom requires body weight control, body weight
manipulation to move your opponent in order to make transitions.
You’ll find without applying these subtle manipulations you’ll be
pinned to the floor or really struggling to make any progress.
This is where we’ll take a
little look at body strikes, Kyusho strikes, lever pushes from
elbows to help lift or move body weight pinning you down.
As you train together and
attempt escaping from the bottom you’ll soon realise not getting a
gap between you and your opponent's body can make it real hard and
tiring work, especially when your opponent is hitting you.
Striking anywhere may
inflict pain. But if you’re familiar with Kyusho striking points,
then a proved benefit can be applied to your strike force.
Striking specific points
will always be in your favour. Gall bladder system in the ribs and
around the head will help in the mount. Striking with elbows at
close level and knees will be easily accessible. Gross coverage
while hitting blind because your opponent is smothering you is your
best option as a new practitioner. If you are aware of the Kyusho
system you’ll have a general idea where to aim for.
Depending on the mount
position taken by either opponent different manipulation tactics
will have to be applied. Using fingers or finger knuckles in between
ribs has a good effect at shifting body weight. Also sharp end of
your elbow into the ribs will work. It all depends on the person’s
position and build.
To create a gap to lead into
a body transition from the bottom position, let’s say side mount,
create a forearm bar across the throat. This will lift them off
enough to shrimp your way out, although it’s to a dangerous part of
the neck it’s more a push not a strike! Also use your body to bump
your opponent upwards, so while practicing, work through all scenarios
on a trial and error basis.
Kumite Routines
In Kumite any number of
techniques are used and applied. When taking
control of your opponent it could be finished off taking them to the
floor with a throw or a simple leg sweep finished with a controlling
wrist lock or arm lock etc. But while practicing floor work it’s a
good time getting into the mount while in a fight.
At
any stage it’s finding an opportunity to take the mount position.
This is an ideal time in your training to practice tacking advantage
and opportunity of getting into a mount. Floor work fighting is
great as a sport or in a controlled environment, so integrating
floor work into karate opens a new strategy concept of windows of
opportunity.
Outside the Dojo.
Please be aware when not to choose to use the mount or take
the fight to the floor when in a fight. Always be aware of your
surroundings and people around the fight. Primarily use ground work
in the dojo or competition fights. In the street it can be a very
dangerous arena for taking the fight to the floor as you’re in a
position where others can join in the fight and basically kick you
while you’re down and stamping on you. All sorts of negative situations
can arise.
Street fighting is best
stood up. Especially when lots of people are present. If it’s in a place
where it’s just the two of you then floor work is a safer option.
Practicing Mount Transitions In Training Sets
Some mount positions can
work well as a training aid between two partners.
Pick out a mount with just
one or two techniques to keep it simple. Then work together
transitioning from one mount to the next. These are called sets.
Working in a continuous rotation form. One opponent starts on the
bottom, applies a transition putting them on top and then the other
person immediately goes through the same process. Some sets will
work in the same mount as each person takes their turn such as side
mount.
But full mount transition
will rotate into half guard and back to full mount and so on. These
training sets assist in the development of reaction timing once in
mount. In bottom position whether it’s from a punch or lock, the
action reaction timing has to be worked on and understood. As
punches rain down its waiting for the exact moment before bumping
them forwards to attain an arm lock then throw putting you in half
guard. Now your opponent is in bottom position, they will be going
for arm control. Here the objective is to smother and lock their
arms, lock their leg and throw them over putting you right back
where you both started. Start off slow working
through the routine and gradually speed up till you're both confident
till it becomes a more natural fight speed.
Side mount Sets work pretty
much the same. As the starting position is the same, this gives you
chance to try 1, 2, or 3 different techniques to end at the same
conclusion. These are three different options that are very similar but
offers the subtle differences to combat your opponent’s different
body positions.
Option 1. Leg lock lift. Strategy to get
back to guard.
Bottom person; Elbows to
throat and waist. Lock your leg over their leg and hook your foot
under their shin. As you bridge them up their weight drops back down,
simultaneously raise the leg hook up and over while pulling their
body - they’ll flip over and off you. You at the same time roll
backwards over them back into mount. This is a good starting
technique as mount position rotates back to the beginning.
Option 2. Cork screw escape. Strategy to get
back to guard.
Bottom person; Elbows to
throat and waist, push up and shrimp. Here you may find the top
person pulls their knees in, from here push your arm closest to
their legs under their body creating a lever. Now swing your legs
over up towards their head position and shrimp the opposite way
while raising your arm. From here you’ll rotate out from underneath
them into rear mount. Although you’re not back in the same mount
from here simply roll them over and fall back in side mount to start
again.
Option 3. Cork screw escape 2. Strategy to
get back to guard.
Bottom person; Elbows to
throat and waist, with your hips bridge upwards lifting their
bodyweight high. Within a small window of opportunity put your arm
through and grab and pull in a reverse shrimp. At this point you
should be out of guard taking control. Within a fight a rear naked
choke could follow this escape. But again in training simply go back
to guard strategy for training purpose.
Basic
Shrimping Exercises
As a training exercise to
build movement patterns and muscle building.
Lie on the floor and
practice the shrimping movement in repetitions in a linear path.
Either practice this movement by yourself or have a partner stand
over you with a leg either side your waist as to give you a movement
target to achieve clearing their legs with your knees. These
exercises are a good basis in all groundwork techniques from
shrimping to bridging, “bumping” your opponents off in full mount
position. Building core body strength and technique. YouTube is an
excellent source of specific information to aid learning concepts
and training methods. Video reference is a much better learning aid
than following text instructions.
Golden Valley Karate has
started collecting their own video reference of floor work which is
on YouTube alongside many other club videos. So add that to your
favourite list in your browser.
Conclusion
Initially take a look at all
the different mount positions and familiarise yourself with them.
Their names and tactical concepts of each mount. Which mount poses
more danger to the lesser dangerous ones.
Exercise programme? Take a
look at a personal exercise programme that suits you for flexibility,
core body strength building and shrimping exercises to build specific
muscle groups attached to certain techniques. Bridging techniques
and muscle toning - this one I’m trying with a deadweight bag laying
over me which offers full resistance. i.e. sand bags or full kit
bags laying across your body. Try bumping ‘Bridging’ a sand bag from
your stomach or chest and clearing it off your person in one go! An
overall body muscle training programme is required depending how
serious you are in taking your level of floor work. Grappling with
an opponent requires lots of physical strength as well as good
technique.
Slowly look at each mount
position and start to learn a few techniques for each mount. Slowly
understanding each one then adding additional variants for one
escape. As you become familiar expand your personal catalogue of
moves.
Once you’re in a regular
training pattern and becoming familiar and proficient in these mount
groups, the next phase could be practicing getting into mount. From
stand up fighting to being in the clinch, grappling to even having
your opponent already laying on the floor. As it’s in you interest to
take control, you need to practice finding or creating the
opportunity to take the mounted position.
I hope this document offers anyone who’s looking at introducing groundwork into their current martial arts training system some points to consider. Then look how you can guide yourself into a training programme that suits you. Thank you for reading and good luck in your quest.