yutyeesam, yes the ground work was added to our school of mantis to accomadate the fighting environment and arena. you must fight thier fight. if you go to syberia and fight you better train with heavy clothes on or you will loose, when you train in the mountains you better get the breath acclimated first etc etc
tradtionally as someone said shuai chiao chinese wresttling ended with a throw, fighting on the ground was compred to 2 dogs rolling in the dirt.
everyone should cross train if they are looking to be fighter for a living. otherwise you will loose . Now the argument comes if I dont want to train to fight in a cage and just want to learn the art of kung fu for onesself who needs ground fighting? or iron palm, or shin conditioning?