Wrestling is the oldest form of martial art in the world. As we advance to the modern age, innovation around wrestling has allowed it to be played with different styles and rule sets, bringing all grappling disciplines together. Add submissions to the mix, and we have a newfound competition called combat wrestling, rising from Japan. Let’s have a deeper look at it below.
Combat Wrestling Defined
Combat wrestling is Japan’s version of submission wrestling. It is a grappling discipline revolving primarily from wrestling with submissions and no strikes. Using the wrestling and grappling point system with modifications, it is likewise won through pins (points for pins and not as a way to end a match like in wrestling instantly), submissions, technical superiority (12-point advantage), or who has the most points at the end of the bout.
The History Of Combat Wrestling
This submission grappling style was created by Kiguchi Noriako, a grappling expert and Greco-Roman wrestler, back in the 1970s after opening his own martial arts gym called Kiguchi Dojo. After much trial and error, Kiguchi’s goal and experimentation led to the creation of a safe and well-balanced submission grappling style based on Sambo and Olympic Wrestling. Kiguchi’s dojo has produced many successful Japanese wrestlers, grapplers, and MMA fighters, such as Myu and Seiko Yamamoto, Rumina Sato, Gomi Takanori, Yamamoto Norifumi, and Genki Sudo.
In 1986, Kiguchi started teaching his grappling system at the Super Tiger Gym, a martial arts school founded by Satoru Sayama and of the revolutionary fighting system widely known as Shooto. He then began teaching Shooto in his dojo, which eventually expanded to become the Total Unarmed Wrestling Academy. Kiguchi taught with his training principles, integrating his techniques from combat wrestling, and produced Shooto champions such as the superstar Hayato Sakurai, Naoki Sakurada, and Japanese legend Noboru Asahi.
With Japan being known as a home of avid fight fans, Combat Wrestling held its first annual tournament in 1993 under the National Amateur Combat Wrestling Association which took place in Tokyo and was broadcast by major TV channels in Japan which was greatly enjoyed by the public and its spectators. Because of its exciting rule set, combat wrestling quickly became a top grappling event in Japan. Sadly, the martial arts viewership in Japan has lost its enticing edge after the descent of the Pride Fighting Championship.
Throughout the years, combat wrestling’s rule set experienced some modifications, attracting many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners. In 2015, the International Combat Wrestling Federation (FCIW) was formed by Kiguchi alongside important figures such as Masa Yoshizawa (SK Absolute Japan), Kamen Georgiev (Sambo National Team Bulgaria), and others.
In the same year, the first Combat Wrestling World Championship was held in Varna, Bulgaria, attracting numerous high-level competitors from different parts of the world, allowing them to hold annual international events as of 2019.
The Combat Wrestling Ruleset
The International Combat Wrestling Federation (FICW) ensures the sportsmanship and safety of its practitioners and competitors, making it one of the safest grappling martial arts to compete in. Below are some of the most recent rules updates from the head of the referee committee.
Criteria For Winning And General Rules
How to Win: Combat wrestling can be won through submissions or points.
Points System
1 Point:
- A takedown lands the opponent on their glutes with their upper body upright. counts as a point. Additionally, getting the back and full mount rewards 1 point and can only be scored once during the match for each position.
- The opponent turns belly-down before landing.
- Holding the opponent down for 10-19 seconds.
- Securing the back or full mount (scored only once per match for each position).
2 Points:
- A takedown lands the opponent on the side of their body.
3 Points:
- Holding the opponent down for 20-29 seconds.
4 Points:
- A takedown lands the opponent on their back, or they are lifted above waist height and thrown or taken down.
- Holding the opponent down for 30 seconds (after which competitors are reset to a standing position).
Pinning Criteria
To be considered a pin:
- The top competitor must have both feet free from any entanglement.
(Example: Side control counts; pinning from inside a closed guard does not.)
Not considered a pin:
- The bottom player’s shoulder line is tilted more than 90 degrees.
The bottom player’s legs are wrapped around the top player’s body.
Technical Superiority
- A 12-point advantage results in a win by technical superiority.
- The competitor with the most points at the end of five minutes wins the match.
Submission Rules
- Submissions can only be applied once a competitor is grounded (any part of their body other than the feet touches the mat).
- A defending competitor can escape a submission by lifting the opponent off the ground.
- If the attacker is completely lifted, the referee will call a break to prevent slamming or spiking, and the competitors will restart standing.
- Submissions like the heel hook, use of head scissors, can openers, or other spinal locks are prohibited.
Ground Activity:
- Competitors have 30 seconds to improve their position or attempt a submission. If no progress is made, they are reset to standing.
Passivity
- Like in wrestling or grappling, passivity is discouraged. Cautions are given to competitors to encourage action.
Prohibited Actions
- Slamming an opponent on the mat.
- Dropping an opponent on their head.
- Making informal complaints to the referee.
- Ignoring referee instructions.
Combat Wrestling Attire
Combat wrestling attire is flexible but must follow these guidelines:
- Footwear: Wrestling or sambo shoes are required.
- Shorts: Red or blue grappling shorts.
- Rashguards: A matched color (red or blue) or neutral tone.
Conclusion
If you are a submission grappler, consider exploring combat wrestling, as it will help you develop a more aggressive and relentless game (because of the limited ground activity time) built around working attacks from the top position. Play around the combat wrestling rules during training and see how it affects your game – building a takedown-heavy, top-dominant, and submission-oriented arsenal.
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