Grappling in CMA

[Mad Max]

What's everone's understanding of grappling in CMA. My style, I'm increasingly learning, is quite grappling orientated. I'm learning that a lot of what we are practising is grappling principles oddly enough, and that I'd previously percieved these as frankly impractical striking/blocking techniques. But as you know it takes ages before you start to figure out anything in kung fu.
I reckon that any complete CMA system is primarily geared towards grappling anyway, so why do we see so little of it?

[jmd161]

What's everone's understanding of grappling in CMA. My style, I'm increasingly learning, is quite grappling orientated. I'm learning that a lot of what we are practising is grappling principles oddly enough, and that I'd previously percieved these as frankly impractical striking/blocking techniques. But as you know it takes ages before you start to figure out anything in kung fu.
I reckon that any complete CMA system is primarily geared towards grappling anyway, so why do we see so little of it?

Every style of CMA that i'm familiar with has grappling aspects within it. Some have alot more than others ,while others have very few.

Grappling in CMA is very style specfic ,some masters chose to work on it alot ,while others felt there was no need to put alot of time into grappling.

Most old school chinese gung fu stylist don't believe that someone should be able to take them down ,without them wanting to be taken down. If you ask many old school sifu about "how do i defend myself against a grappler on the groung?"

Most will reply "Why are you on the ground in the first place?"

To answer your question "so why do we see so little of it?"

This is only my guess ,so don't take this for truth or fact. But most forms still have alot of the grappling techniques that are contained in a style ,it's just that over the yrs the application and true transferring of the knowledge of these techniques have been lost.

Some because the sifu chose not to ,others because the sifu himself simply did not know or understand the technique. Just because someone carries the title of sifu ,it does not always mean they have the full understanding of the techniques,therioes,and concepts of the style.

You would expect them to know what they're teaching fully ,but this is not a given. Now TCMA has never dealt with grappling on the ground to the degree of BJJ ,but there are styles that deal with groundfighting.

But in CMA i don't know of any style that is willing to stay on the ground and fight. You have the styles that are designed to take you down by attacking your legs or throws,and takedowns ,but none of them will grapple or try to grapple with you there ,like a BJJ stylist will.

Like i said though many of the grappling techniques are still contained within most of the styles. It's just up to the sifu and student to unlock them ,and work them and make them applicable.

jeff:)

[Jeff Burger]

Most of the grappling I see in CMA isnt IMHO grappling. Its mostlyy standing stuff.

I know alot of the traditonal styles work ALOT on stances and not getting taken down.
I cant hold horse stance for an hour so I work grappling.

Jeff

[Jim Perkins]

I would agree a complete CMA system should cover the aspects of grappling although this is good to know. What I call Old School CMA the intent was to not let it get into a ground fight. Traditional training was to prepare warriors for battle this meant to be victorious one must be able to eliminate attackers quickly and move on, if you went to the ground you were usually wounded or dead. But if you did go to the ground there were no rules anything goes. :wink2: