Don't Succumb

[sensei8]

Don't succumb; adapt.

~Don't accept the attack

~Don't receive the attack

~Don't surrender to the attack

~Counter attack immediately

There are many styles of the martial arts that are 'masters' of the ground. A practitioner who's not versed on the ground are taken aback when first encountered. The most understood technique is the "back-peddle".

When attacked, many back-peddle instead of engaging effective footwork. It's during the back-peddle that the attacker, and not the defender, whose favored because of a willing to surrender and/or receive and/or accept the attack in which the defender holds on for the ride, and hoping for the best.

That's not effective defending imho. Be that defender whose actively engaging an effective and punishing counter attack. Don't have that deer-in-the-headlight mindset when attacked/rushed/grabbed/.

Have a controlled counter attack!

Mizu no kokoro and tsuki no kokoro are effective mindsets for every martial arts to fertilize and believe in, otherwise, the fights already lost before it's even began; being calm is critical. It's not easy at first, but it does become not only easier, but it becomes natural; without thought.

>Can't fight on the ground; stay standing at all costs

>If tackled; get up fast

>Once in the "clinch", your survival success rate is tragically diminished

To counter a martial artist who's solid on the ground...

^Do various "Take Down" resistance drills

^Do grip strengthening exercises

^Do short range attack [punch, kick, strike, etc] drills

Learn/know what to do before it's to late. Grappling isn't for everyone, so, defend effectively or to the ground you'll go, and you don't want to be there against one who's well versed in that skill-set.

Hit with the force of thunder, and slip with the power of lightening!

[MasterPain]

I think every self-defense minded person with a strong striking base art should learn at least the following from a decent grappler.

sprawl with underhook and head control

a guard sweep against a person with a high base and a guard sweep against someone with a low base

how to lock down the guard to neutralize attack until help arrives

guard recovery and bump sweep from bottom mount

guard recovery and stand up from bottom side control

rear mount escape and rear naked choke defense

guillotine defense

keylock

[xo-karate]

I went to my first shooto/mma class. If been doing bjj for few months. Theme in the class was closed guard. It was very different from bjj. Make my like more my own approach that I should do boxing, (karate kicks by my self), shooto/mma and bjj (gi and no gi).

(I don't know it it should be called shooto or mma. For a beginner with control contact it looks the same. It's called shooto in our timetable but "free fighting" at our class.)

[bushido_man96]

It is important to practice and have a plan for when one gets taken to the ground. Good footwork can help to defend takedowns. I also agree with MP that there are a core set of moves out there that it would behoove most Martial Artists to gain an understanding of for the purposes of self-defense.

[sensei8]

First of all...I agree with MP's post.

Secondly...

Study your opponent

Study yourself

Make a plan

Carry it out

[sensei8]

It's the 'excessive' back peddling that drives me batty. To me, 'excessive' back peddling is anything more than 2-3 steps backwards as an answer to any attack, imho.

Many Shindokan counters to a blitz/lunge/clinch/etc violate the rules of many competition venues. Rules, for safety sake, negate effective techniques, and I respect the rules. However, arts are deemed inferior to others unfairly due to these rules, imho.

"Many exponents/practitioners of varied MA have tried and failed repeatedly at many counters in many MMA events." I've heard/read that before. Please allow me to submit a plausible reason to consider...Yes, it's true, but it might've been attempted by those less experienced/less knowledgeable than those of the MMA fighters and the like.

Rules favor some over others, imho.

[bushido_man96]

Study your opponent

Study yourself

Make a plan

Carry it out

I wish it could be this easy. However, at some point in the first 3 steps, especially making the plan, would involve learning some grappling. I think doing this would be very good and beneficial, but it would take time and resources I don't have at this point.