Before I begin, if you don’t know me I have been on a wrestling mat or a judo tatami (mat) since 1975. I won my first National Championship at the age of 12 and I won my last won last year at the age of 39. I also just got inducted into my High School Hall of Fame for Wrestling and Football. I am no stranger to the art of grappling and the like. I will continue by saying that at least 4 times a week I am still on the mat.
My answer is simple, you can’t practice grappling alone. You also can’t practice boxing, wrestling, judo, bjj, mma, basketball, football, soccer (sorry, I’m a Yankee) or any other sport are martial art by yourself. You can practice specific skills without a partner but when it comes to developing good skills in martial arts and sports you need a partner.
So how do you practice grappling for the street? You don’t “grapple” in the street, YOU FIGHT ON THE GROUND! There is no maneuvering for position, trying to find an opening- it is a systematic method of dismantling your enemy- and grappling has nothing to do with it.
Self Defense IS NOT A MARTIAL ART or SPORT. Self Defense is more like firearms training than sport training. DO NOT MISTAKE one for the other.
You cannot practice these methods full go on a training partner. To properly train, develop power and confidence you need to go all out when you practice. The techniques needed to survive an all out street fight are too vicious and brutal to do on a training partner.
When you train you train habits. When you practice with a partner you develop the habit of holding back. When we train we never strike air, we hit something, gouge something, stomp something and always do it with a sense or urgency.
Want proof, why don’t you see for yourself? In Module 3 Ground Fighting For Keeps you learn how to Fight and Win (Survive) on the ground. You learn step by step what you need to know and how to do it. Take the test drive, get it look at it and then call me a liar, send it back and you won’t be charged another dime. I can’t make it any simpler than that and you can only do so much in an article.