The Basics---Western Wrestling

• Putting aside the theatrical nonsense you see in WWE bouts, the old standard practices of Greco-Roman wrestling, basically the stuff you can learn in junior high, can actually be quite effective.
  
  A good stance is the foundation of any good wrestling technique. It makes it easier for you to get your opponent down and makes it harder for them to take you down.
  
  To assume a basic wrestling stance bend the knees and squat until your elbows are almost touching your thighs. Keep your back straight. If the stance is difficult to maintain, widen your feet slightly, but keep in mind the wider your stance, the less mobility you will have.
  
  One of the most basic wrestling takedowns is the ankle pick. To perform an ankle pick, assume a basic stance opposite your partner. With your right hand, grab your partner's left ankle and lift it toward their waist. Using your partner's raised leg as leverage, you should easily be able to trip them down onto the mat.
  
  To perform the single leg takedown, another basic wrestling maneuver, assume a basic stance opposite your partner. Reach for one of your partners legs, either will do, and pull it into your chest. After pulling the leg in, lift and turn the leg. This should put your partner off balance and force him down to the mat.
  
  Double leg takedowns function much the same way as single leg takedowns, only both legs are grabbed at once.
  
  

The Next Step---Brazilian Jiu jitsu

• Since its emergence onto the international martial arts stage, Brazilian jiu-jitsu has come to represent the standard in ground fighting technique. Its takedowns are fast and effective. Its submission holds can be brutally effective.
  
  In Brazilian jujitsu, or ground fighting in general, it's best to be the person on top. Once you've taken your opponent to the ground, the idea is to pin him and force him to submit before he can regain his footing or otherwise gain the upper hand.
  
  The mount is the Brazilian jiu jitsu position most likely to occur in a street fight. It is the ideal position to be in while fighting on the ground.
  
  The most basic form of the mount is to rest your weight on your opponents chest while straddling his body with your legs. From here you can put him in a chokehold or deliver any number of devastating blows.
  
  A variation on the mount is to fall forward and allow your chest to smother your opponent's face. This will frustrate her greatly and make it hard for her to breathe. In this position, it's best to extend your hands forward and tighten your knees into your opponent's sides, making it harder for her to escape. From here you are also in a good position to raise your knee and drive it down into your opponent's ribs.
  
  If you find yourself underneath someones mount, you need to escape as quickly as possible.
  
  First, grab your opponents right wrist with your right hand. Cup the hand with your thumb to make it hard for her to pull away. Next, secure your opponent's right arm by grabbing their elbow with your left hand. Take your left foot and put it over the top of your opponent's right ankle. You have now secured your opponent's right side.
  
  Quickly raise your hips from the ground and roll to your left shoulder. If you have secured your opponent's right side well, she should have no way of bracing against the roll. As the movement continues, you will end up as the one in the mount position with your opponent right where you want her: beneath you.
  
  

The End Game

• In groundfighting, like in any martial art strategy, take what works for you and leave the rest. Most martial artists prefer to stand toe to toe and deliver strikes. However, in a real fight, anything goes, and good street fighters know how to take your weapons away from you. If you're a high kicking martial artist, they're likely to try and put you on the ground. It's a good idea to make sure you've got something for them once they get you there.