Categorizing Grappling/Striking Arts

[Taikudo-ka]

It occured to me after a lengthly previous post, that all unarmed martial arts could be placed on a scale in relation to how they handle grappling and striking.

 

- Pure Striking

 

Totally focused on forms of striking an opponent (any form of punch, kick, elbow, knee and/or headbutt). Holds, joint locks, and other wrestling type moves are not considered part of the art. Boxing, Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do, some sport Karates.

 

- Striking with minor grappling

 

Focus mainly on forms of striking an opponent, however advanced students begin to add forms of tripping, joint locks, foot sweeps, armbars and other grappling type techniques, mainly as a way of un-balancing an opponent to render them vulnerable to further strikes. Karate, particularly something like Wado-Ryu, Kung Fu.

 

- Grappling with minor striking

 

Focus mainly on locks, take-downs, chokes and holds but utilizing striking, generally as a way to stun or un-balance an opponent before attempting a grapple, or as a way of disabling them after they're down. Ju-Jitsu, Maybe some Kung-Fus?

 

- Pure Grappling

 

Focussed almost totally on grappling and wrestling moves. Striking the opponent is generally not considered a part of the art. Moves may still be designed to be harmful or incapacitating, or may simply immobalize an attacker. Sometimes specifically designed to be "non-harmful" like Aikido. There's also Judo and Greco-Roman Wrestling.

 

I'd like to see where you think your art would fit, perhaps build up a table.

 

In theory, there should be a "Striking & Grappling" category in the middle for arts that place equal emphasis on both, but I couldn't actually think of any. If anyone knows of such an art, feel free to add it.

 

This might at least let people see where they fit in the great "grappling vs striking" debate that occupies so many threads...

[dafabe]

I go to a guy that teaches strikeing and grapling etc.

 

basicly it is equal, it is about "Total Fighting"

 

click this link,

 

http://www.karateforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=2524&forum=2&0

 

 

[Bon]

You're foolish if you think gung fu, boxing & karate combined make it unique over other styles.

 

 

[Bon]

Also, where's the style that covers grappling ?

 

 

[ZR440]

From what I've seen and done, Kuk Sool Won combines all three equally. We start basic joint locks and pressure point as white belts. More advanced grappling is combined with striking techniques and some kicking. As I'm approaching my blue belt test, I am required to know about 16 different kicks, 16 hand strikes, and 40 individual techniques which are focused on defending against wrist and clothing holds. There is really no emphasis on one area being more important than the other.

[SBN Doug]

ZR440 :up:

 

However, KSW is still light on ground fighting.

 

Taikudo-ka, some would disagree that some of the arts you describe (standing joint manipulations, arm bars, etc.) should be classified as "grappling" arts. Grappling is usually used to describe an art that takes you to the ground, close quarters, and manuvers into position to execute some of those moves. Ju Jitsu and BJJ are excellent examples. Aikido, Hapkido, KSW, etc. are not usually classified as a grappling art, even though I've always thought of them as having a focus in that area.

[Taikudo-ka]

How would you describe them? "controlling arts"? i.e to control an opponent through an armbar or wristlock or like?

 

I guess I was using "grappling" to refer to any form of grabbing, twisting techniques whether they be applied standing or on the ground. To me, if you grab someones wrist, lock a joint and twist to break the arm, then spin then around with them in a headlock, you are grappling, even if you're still standing up.

 

Basically, any sort of sustained close-fighting stuff that wouldn't be allowed in a boxing/kick boxing/TKD/MT type competition.

 

But I see what you mean. Personally I'd call them "grappling" (locks, arm-bars) and "wrestling" (on the ground, close quarters, getting "mount", etc)

 

Is there a more official term?

 

 

[SBN Doug]

Notice I said "some". Personally, I always thought of that as grappling as well.

 

I think if you stick to asking how much grappling is in an art, and not classifying an art as a grappling art (aside from Ju Jitsu and wresling) then you're on solid ground with everyone.