A Ground Grappling Primer
by Lawrence Eng

Some of these are simple and self-explanatory. Some of them you won't understand without 
an explanation. The items are in the order I thought of them. Feel free to modify as 
necessary--what works for me may not work for you and vice versa.
 

1. Technique is more important than strength. Leverage replaces the need for brute strength.
2. Superior position is more important than submission holds. Superior position = hip control. 	
Where the head goes, the body will follow. Where the body goes, the head will follow.
3. Transitioning between positions is vital. Most of grappling is spent in transition. Do not
transition needlessly.
4. Do not apply submissions until your position is secure.
5. For offense, space between you and your opponent is bad, unless you are deliberately
creating space to set up a technique.
6. For defense, space between you and your opponent is good, unless you are being set up for a
technique.
7. Keep your knees high; reduce your effective surface area.
8. Don't give up your back. Face your opponent. Control the centerline.
9. If you are applying a submission hold and don't have enough leverage, create the necessary
leverage! Be imaginative!
10.Your body should be relaxed. Do not use more energy than is necessary.
11.Control your breathing. Preserve your energy.
12.Even though the body is relaxed, the mind should be tight and focused.
13.The ground can be your ally, but it can also be your enemy.
14.Beware of multiple attackers, hidden weapons, eye gouging, biting, and other strikes.
15.Don't forget to strike, apply pressure point attacks, eye gouge, and bite your opponent if
necessary.
16.Do not be afraid to give up on a failing technique. Move on!
17.To grapple, use your whole body. Be sensitive.
18.When in a neutral position, do not commit until you are reasonably sure that you can gain the
advantage without putting yourself in danger. Immobilize your opponent as best as possible.
19.Avoid risky techniques that could put you in danger.
20.Avoid techniques that are too complicated to pull off in a real fight.
21.Surprise is good.
22.Manipulate the movements of your opponent by using feints.
23.Give your opponent an apparent opening and he will take it.
24.Do not rush needlessly. Give yourself time to rest and simultaneously tire out your opponent
by putting your weight on him.
25.Do not be too slow. You can't win by pinning your opponent. In a prolonged encounter, your
opponent is more likely to escape and/or his friends might show up.
26.Practice with people larger, smaller, and the same size as you.
27.Practice with people better, worse, and the same level as you.
28.Practice with all types of fighters. Learn how to shoot on (and clinch with) all of them.
29.Learning other aspects of fighting will improve your ground game.
30.Shadow-wrestling is a valuable training tool.
31.It's not good to grapple in a multiple attacker situation.
32.If you're going to the ground, it's best to have a few friends around to back you up.
33.Don't be afraid to tap out in practice. Avoid senseless injuries. Leave your ego at the door.
34.On the street, tapping out might not be an option for either you or your opponent. Remember
that.
35.It's better to let yourself down than to be taken down.
36.Learn as many submission holds as possible, but concentrate on the basic ones.
37.Condition yourself physically and mentally. Grappling is an exhausting activity.
38.Practice while wearing different types of clothing (with gi, without gi, summer street 
clothes, winter street clothes, etc.).
39.Practice on all types of surfaces (mats, hardwood, concrete, sand, grass, snow, etc.).
40.Help your training partners get better. Better training partners, in turn, will help you get 
better.

If you have comments, additions, suggestions, criticisms, etc. send e-mail to le15@cornell.edu