The CMA Ground Challenge!

[SoCo KungFu]

in the past, lkfmdc has posted old photos of cma doing armbars, but this seems way more the exception than the rule - I can't remember if they were dog boxing pics or not

I would think so. But then things like arm bars are pretty much universal to just about any martial art so....

I think Oso said it best. Any pictures that do come up I think are going to be more of a circumstancial base. A CMA on the ground and pulling something out from the stand up game. But I don't think anyone will find actual ground grappling that isn't retrofit. Some Chi'Na can be used, once you know the mechanics, leverage and angles you can pretty pull out whatever comes in the heat of battle. But the problem is that I just don't think CMA practices ground grappling as a comprehensive skill. And I'm not sure it ever did. Not like as Oso stated, by the standards we think of today.

Personally I don't see the why people complain so much about it. If CMA doesn't have ground grappling...whatever. I still think the better part of CMA crossover to ground is the strikes and that's because I think CMA stand up when properly trained is one of the most comprehensive available. And there is always JJ/BJJ, MMA or wrestling for grappling. Its not THAT hard to find a place to train em if you just make the time. Cross-training is fun anyways and its always nice to expand your circle....And if you are going to learn might as well be from the best (meaning a specialist in that field). All the major MMA guys have multiple trainers right? A striking coach, a grappling coach, etc. I guess I was lucky, the school I started in had different teachers..kung fu, Arnis, kenpo and my sifu would bring in his Jj buddy to train us ground game. That and having friends in wrestling helps. So maybe I just don't have that style idolisation or something.

You know, I'm not sure how true it is because well it doesn't really matter. But once a Kung fu guy from China told me that back in those days it was considered disgraceful to be taken to the ground. Not sure to the truth to that. But that might be an indication. One thing I was thinking though. I'd be interested is anyone can tell me their opinion. Why if two different countries developed various fighting skills on the battle field (CMA and JMA), why is it that Japan developed structuralised ground fighting while China didn't?