Ground Fighting: Your Goal is to Get Up Fast

Is ground fighting important? Yes, it is. Is it the be all and end all of self-defense? No, it isn’t.

A number of years ago, a statistic was started that said ninety percent of fights go to the ground. I don’t know who started the statistic, but some claim it was a ground fighting system that did so. I know some people who have been in numerous fights and altercations that claim the ninety percent rule sure didn’t reflect their experiences. I personally have been in a number of fights when younger that did not go to the ground, at least not in a grappling sense. Often one person would go down, but not both people, and not in a wrestling or jujitsu type manner with each person trying to submit each other.

With that said, I have been in that type of fight too. I have ground and pounded people in the street, and I have used choke holds and other submission type moves on the ground in real fights. It just depends. However, here is a real important factor you must consider: friends and other combatants. I can remember fights in the Army where people kept everyone else out of the fray and ensured it stayed one on one. (Yes, there was a kind of code to some of the fights that occurred.) These were not fights to the death, or even fights that had real serious injuries most of the time. These fights were just a more dominating type of violence to show who was boss. One on one, submissions on the ground are fine. But in different situations, where others are not there to keep things “fair,” but rather jump in, being on the ground can be disastrous. When you are on the ground, it is too easy for others to put the boots to you and stomp you senseless. A hard stomp to your head can cause serious brain damage if it doesn’t kill you. Being on the ground and getting stomped is the last place you want to be. (In my self-defense classes and seminars I teach people, especially women and smaller people, how to use a stomp to help a friend or loved who is being beaten on the ground. Most people never think of doing what I teach until I show them.)

Because of this, I believe everyone should include getting off the ground as fast as they can into their training. This includes if you fall, get knocked down, or thrown. Learn to get up fast, and do so while watching your opponent and remaining in as safe a position as you can. You don’t want to take a knee or kick to the head as you attempt to get up. A blow like that just might put you back down for good.

All good martial art and self-defense programs should teach a person how to fall and hit the ground safely, but they should also include instruction and practice on getting back to your feet as quickly as you can. Grappling and ground fighting can be great. But when there is a chance to be stomped, remember this rule – Get Up Fast!

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