Issue 013

January 2016

When wrestlers began entering MMA competitions in the 1990’s, they did so with great effect. Their highly refined takedown skills and athletic background enabled them to compete at the highest levels of MMA from the outset. Fighters such as Mark Coleman and Randy Couture showed that if you didn’t know how to wrestle, you didn’t know how to fight. When then following generations of wrestlers came through the ranks, even the sharpest of stand-up fighters realised the importance of adding wrestling skills to their repertoire. 


Wrestling can play a huge part in a MMA fight. Entire fights may be played out in the clinch, and a well-timed takedown can swing the entire balance of a fight. Being able to dictate where a fight goes is of paramount importance to employing an effective strategy. Stand-up fighters must be able to remain standing, grappler must be able to get fights to the floor. Without wrestling knowledge or ability, neither is possible. Even kickboxers such as Chuck Liddell train intensely in wrestling. 


One coach who stresses the importance of adding wrestling into fight preparation is Gavin Boardman of the Straight Blast Gym in Manchester. While by no means a wrestling-only gym, the up-and-coming fighters out of the SBG have all been commented on as having good wrestling skills. “You should spend equal time training in all three areas,” comments Gavin, referring to strand-up striking, the clinch and on the ground. “If you want to keep it standing, you need to understand wrestling. Footwork alone can’t stop you getting taken down, especially in a cage.” 


Countries such as the USA can boast of the strongest wrestlers in MMA due to the sport being practised from an early age. In the UK things are quite different though, and Gavin is quick to point out why he thinks this is. “In this country it is a dying sport.” So will the boom in UK MMA mean the standard if wrestling will improve? “Definitely, but not the sport [of wrestling] itself. People who do MMA aren’t interested in the scoring system or doing things like turning to your front when you get taken down.” 



Sweep-single leg (against a southpaw fighter)


1 Adam and Gavin square off
2 Gavin throws a jab…
3 and follows it with a cross to set up the takedown
4 He changes levels, placing his right hand just inside Adam’s lead foot 

5(a) Using the right hand as a pivot point, Gavin throws his left arm around the leg in a hooking motion, so that his body will follow
5(b) Reverse angle- Note the hand positioning of Gavin’s left arm
6 Gavin keeps hold of the lead foot and reaches across to the far knee…
7 so that he clasps his hands together and scores the takedown

Sprawl to taking the back


1 Adam and Gavin square off
2 Adam changes levels, about to shoot a double leg takedown. Gavin matches the level change
3(a) As Adam shoots, Gavin sprawls and jams his right arm into Adam’s neck, blocking the shoot
3(b) close-up. Note the hand-positioning- from here Gavin may take a front headlock if he wishes

4 Instead, he jerks his arm and ‘shucks’ Adam’s head away…
5 So as to create space to take Adam’s back
6 From here he can strike or take a control position

Single leg from the clinch


1 Gavin has a near-side underhook and wrist control on the far arm
2 He fires a knee strike into the body…
3 And drops to take a high single leg

4 He lifts the leg, keeping his head in tight against the body 
5 Stepping his right leg back and driving with his head, he takes Adam to the ground, retaining the leg until he has established a control position

Double-leg to trip against the cage


1 Anil and Gavin square off
2 As Anil punches, Gavin drops his levels under the strike
3 Gavin does not shoot, but instead rushes forward with high cover pressing Anil backwards towards the wall
4 Gavin pins Anil against the wall with strong forward pressure

5 He then drops levels and grabs Anil’s legs
6 Using his rear leg, Gavin hooks Anil’s leg…
7 And reaching down the supporting leg…
8 Drives forward to take Anil down

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