FILA grappling

Last updated
UWW Grappling
Also known asFILA Grappling
Focus Grappling
HardnessFull contact
Creator United World Wrestling (formerly International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles)
Parenthood Catch Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Wrestling, Sambo
Olympic sportNo

UWW Grappling, formerly known as FILA Grappling, is a non-striking hybrid combat sport sanctioned by United World Wrestling (UWW), formerly the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA). A form of submission wrestling influenced by catch wrestling, freestyle wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, and sambo, UWW Grappling allows various submission holds which replace the pin/fall from wrestling. These submission moves can be applied to force opponents to concede by "tapping out" or verbally submitting to the referee. [1] In 2013 FILA ceased sanctioning the sport amid the turmoil regarding the potential removal of wrestling from the Olympic program. [2] [3]

Contents

In September 2014, FILA changed its name to United World Wrestling (UWW) and reintroduced Grappling while creating a new World Grappling Committee under UWW authority. [4]

History

In 2004, Jason Townsend and members of the Titan Wrestling Club at Cal State Fullerton, including Chris Carlino and Art Barker, started developing a set of rules and an official international rulebook for grappling. This wrestling club served as a platform for testing these rules, and a series of test events were organized across the country under the International Submission Wrestling Association (ISWA), led by Townsend.

The ISWA applied for admission with the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), [5] which in turn contacted FILA regarding the application. This led to a meeting in Abu Dhabi between FILA President Raphaël Martinetti and Jason Townsend. Martinetti proposed that ISWA allow FILA to adopt its rulebook and integrate into FILA's new World Grappling Committee, led by Jean-Francois Court and Anne Pellaud. The ISWA agreed, seeing FILA as the best path forward for the sport.

FILA and ISWA representatives also met with Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the Abu Dhabi Combat Club, Guy Neivens, and Renzo Gracie. However, FILA couldn't reach an agreement with the ADCC, which ultimately did not participate in FILA's amateur grappling development. Townsend was appointed as the Head of Grappling Panamerica in FILA's "Associated Styles" department. [6]

In 2007, FILA started its inaugural grappling season, culminating in the first unofficial World Championships in Antalya, Turkey, during the 2007 World Wrestling Games. Team USA dominated, winning all 9 gold medals with prominent athletes like Jeff Monson, Ricky Lundell, Darren Uyenoyama, and Felicia Oh. [7]

Mat

The UWW-approved grappling mat measures 9-metre (30 ft) in diameter, including a 1.5-metre (4.9 ft) border known as the protection area. An orange band 1-metre (3.3 ft) in width is drawn along the inside of the circumference to indicate the passivity zone. The area inside the passivity zone is called the central wrestling area, which measures 7-metre (23 ft) in diameter.

For Championship competitions, the mat may be installed on a platform between 1.1-metre (3.6 ft) or 0.8-metre (2.6 ft) in height.

Rules

Uniform

Since various forms of submission fighting are traditionally practiced both with and without gi, FILA implemented both trends in order to cover the full spectrum of techniques associated to each particular style. Therefore, FILA tournaments generally had gi and no-gi divisions to enable all submission fighters to compete to their highest ability no matter what their fighting background might be. The FILA grappling gi practitioner's uniform was similar to a judogi, but often with tighter cuffs on the pants and jacket. No-gi grapplers wore FILA-approved shorts and a tight-fitting sleeveless, short sleeve or long sleeve rashguard. Grapplers were not required to wear shoes during the match, but those who chose to wear shoes needed to wear ones approved by FILA. [8]

Match scoring

The FILA grappling regulations were based on a progressive point system that encourages submissions over technical points. Points were awarded for takedowns and dominant control positions according to the following progression: side mount < full mount < back mount. Once having reached a position and secured it for 3 seconds, additional points could only be scored if a higher position is achieved. The progression was reset if the opponent managed to bring the fight back to neutral (be it standing or on the ground) or to score a dominant control position in his or her turn.

Points

  • Takedowns: 2 points. A takedown is awarded in any situation where the action starts standing and finishes on the ground where one grappler maintains top control for three seconds. A takedown can be awarded 3 points if the grappler is able to lift their opponent over their own waist level while remaining in a standing position before completing the takedown while having their opponent land on their back (also called an amplitude takedown).
  • Fast Takedown Action: 2 points. Within three seconds the action resumes from a Neutral Restart Position and a takedown is initiated by one of the grapplers and top position is secured without any interruption of the action and contact between the two competitors, the 2 points will be awarded to the grappler who secures control from top position for at least three seconds.
  • Reversals: 2 points. Reversals from a disadvantaged position, or any bottom position, without direct establishment of a dominant position will be awarded 2 points if control from top position is maintained for three seconds. Reversals from a disadvantaged position, or any bottom position, with direct establishment of a dominant position will be awarded with 2 points + the points corresponding to the dominant position if control is maintained for three seconds
  • Dominant positions
    • Side mount: 3 points
    • Full mount: 4 points
    • Back mount: 4 points
  • Attack: 1 point. If an athlete completes a amplitude takedown (3 points, if completed) but did not manage to maintain top position control for three seconds (because the opponent is able to get back to neutral standing position or the action goes out of bounds before the three seconds of control is achieved) they will be awarded a 1 point for the Attack. If an athlete is reversed after performing an amplitude takedown before establishing control, he/her shall be awarded 1 point for the attack and the opponents shall be awarded 2 points for the reversal if they are able to maintain control from the top for three seconds. The athlete that attempts a submission hold where the opponent is in real danger of a submission, for at least three seconds, they will be awarded 1 point for the Attack when the opponent is able to completely escape the submission. If an Attack point worth submission attempt is stopped by the end of match, the attacking athlete shall be awarded 1 point for the attack at the end of the competition time.

[9]

FILA grappling rules contrasted with wrestling's greater emphasis on takedowns, due to its radically different point-scoring system. This has led to greater time dedicated to training on the ground, resulting in enhancement and evolution of groundwork techniques by grapplers.

UWW Grappling weight classes

Men's grappling

Women's grappling

[10]

World Grappling Championship

World Grappling Championship
StatusActive
GenreSports event
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Various
Inaugurated2007 (2007)
Organised by United World Wrestling

The World Grappling Championship was the most important of FILA's annual Grappling tournaments. The first of these competitions took place on in 2007, with the last taking place in 2013.

Since FILA's renaming to UWW, the World Grappling Championships have continued to be hosted under the UWW banner, with the 2023 World Championships taking place in Warsaw, Poland.

UWW World Grappling Championships

YearCity and host country
2016 UWW World Grappling Championships Flag of Belarus.svg Minsk, Belarus
2017 UWW World Grappling Championships Flag of Azerbaijan.svg Baku, Azerbaijan
2018 UWW World Grappling Championships Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Astana, Kazakhstan
2019 UWW World Grappling Championships Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
2021 UWW World Grappling Championships Flag of Serbia.svg Belgrade, Serbia
2022 UWW World Grappling Championships Flag of Serbia.svg Belgrade, Serbia
2023 UWW World Grappling Championships Flag of Poland.svg Warsaw, Poland

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grappling</span> Range of techniques used in many disciplines, styles and martial arts

Grappling is a fighting technique based on throws, trips, sweeps, clinch fighting, ground fighting and submission holds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brazilian jiu-jitsu</span> Martial art

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting, and submission holds. BJJ focuses on taking ones opponent down to the ground, gaining a dominant position, and using a number of techniques to force them into submission via joint locks or chokeholds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Submission wrestling</span> Fighting style

Submission wrestling, also known as submission grappling, submission fighting or simply grappling, is a competitive martial art and combat sport that focuses on ground fighting and submission techniques. It is a hybrid discipline that incorporates elements of various grappling arts such as various wrestling styles, judo, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Submission wrestling is practiced both as a competitive sport and as a training method for self-defence and mixed martial arts (MMA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrestling</span> Combat sports

Wrestling is a martial art and combat sport that involves grappling with an opponent and striving to obtain a position of advantage through different throws or techniques, within a given ruleset. Wrestling involves different grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins, and other grappling holds. Many different wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat sports, and military systems. Wrestling is genuine competition; professional wrestling is athletic theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greco-Roman wrestling</span> Style of amateur wrestling

Greco-Roman, Graeco-Roman, classic wrestling is a style of wrestling that is practiced worldwide. Greco-Roman wrestling was included in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been in every edition of the summer Olympics held since 1904. This style of wrestling forbids holds below the waist, which is the main feature that differentiates it from freestyle wrestling. This restriction results in an emphasis on throws, because a wrestler cannot use trips to bring an opponent to the ground or hook/grab the opponent's leg to avoid being thrown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amateur wrestling</span> Widespread form of sport wrestling

Amateur wrestling is a variant of wrestling practiced at Olympic, collegiate, school, or other amateur level competitions. There are two international wrestling styles performed at the Olympic Games: freestyle and Greco-Roman. Both styles are under the supervision of the United World Wrestling (UWW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freestyle wrestling</span> Style of Wrestling

Freestyle wrestling is a style of wrestling. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic Games. USA high school wrestling and men's collegiate wrestling are conducted under different rules and termed scholastic and collegiate wrestling. USA collegiate women's wrestling is conducted under freestyle rules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guard (grappling)</span> Position in grappling

The guard is a ground grappling position in which one combatant has their back to the ground while attempting to control the other combatant using their legs. In pure grappling combat sports, the guard is considered an advantageous position, because the bottom combatant can attack with various joint locks and chokeholds, while the top combatant's priority is the transition into a more dominant position, a process known as passing the guard. In the sport of mixed martial arts, as well as hand-to-hand combat in general, it is possible to effectively strike from the top in the guard, even though the bottom combatant exerts some control. There are various types of guard, with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Rumina Sato is a Japanese retired mixed martial artist, famous for his career in the Shooto organization. In the past he fought mostly in the 155 lb division, but he moved down to the 145 lb division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scholastic wrestling</span> US high school wrestling

Scholastic wrestling, commonly referred to as folkstyle wrestling or wrestling, is a style of amateur wrestling practiced at the high school and middle school levels in the United States. It has often been referred to as the "toughest sport in the world" because of the extensive physical conditioning, mental preparation, complexity, and intense nature of its one-on-one competition that requires physical power, speed, quick mental processing and reaction, and enormous preparation.

Tsuyoshi Kosaka is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist, submission grappler and professional wrestler who competed in the Heavyweight division. A professional MMA competitor from 1994 till 2022, he has competed for the UFC, PRIDE Fighting Championships, RIZIN, RINGS, Pancrase, and DEEP. Kosaka is the former King of Pancrase Super Heavyweight Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clinch fighting</span> Grappling position in boxing or wrestling, a stand-up embrace

Clinch fighting or trapping is the part of stand-up fighting where the combatants are grappling in a clinch, typically using clinch holds. Clinching the opponent can be used to eliminate the opponent's effective usage of some kicks, punches, and melee weapons. The clinch can also be used as a medium to switch from stand-up fighting to ground fighting by using takedowns, throws or sweeps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grappling hold</span> Martial arts technique

A grappling hold, commonly referred to simply as a hold that in Japanese is referred to as katame-waza, is any specific grappling, wrestling, judo, or other martial art grip that is applied to an opponent. Grappling holds are used principally to control the opponent and to advance in points or positioning. The holds may be categorized by their function, such as clinching, pinning, or submission, while others can be classified by their anatomical effect: chokehold, headlock, joint-lock, or compression lock. Multiple categories may be appropriate for some of these holds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grappling position</span>

A grappling position refers to the positioning and holds of combatants engaged in grappling. Combatants are said to be in a neutral position if neither is in a more favourable position. If one party has a clear advantage such as in the mount they are said to be in a "dominant position". Conversely, the other party is considered to be in an inferior position, usually called "on the bottom", but in this case sometimes called the "under mount".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United World Wrestling</span> Amateur wrestling governing body

United World Wrestling (UWW) is the international governing body for the sport of amateur wrestling; its duties include overseeing wrestling at the World Championships and Olympics. It presides over international competitions for various forms of wrestling, including Greco-Roman, Freestyle, Grappling, and others. The flagship event of UWW is the World Wrestling Championships.

Jujutsu techniques include joint locks, chokeholds, strikes, grappling, throwing, and other self-defense techniques.

Most rule sets for mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions have evolved since the early days of Vale Tudo. As a result of health, legal, and moral concerns, many different rulesets were created, which give different countries and promotions very different tactics and strategies. Similarly, shoot wrestling organizations, such as Shooto, expanded their rulesets to integrate elements of Vale Tudo into their sport. However, for the most part, fighters accustomed to one rule set can easily acclimate to the others.

Marcello Salazar M. Bergo is a Brazilian former mixed martial artist. He is a member of the Brazilian Top Team, and is currently a full-time instructor at Brazilian Top Team-Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mats Nilsson</span> Swedish judoka and mixed martial arts fighter

Mats Nilsson is a Swedish grappler and retired mixed martial artist. Nilsson formerly competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the three time FILA Grappling world champion in the -90 kg no-gi and -92 kg no-gi division and a two-time bronze medalist in FILA Grappling European Championship. Nilsson holds a black belt in both Judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He is currently fighting out of Rumble Sports, Copenhagen, Denmark, while representing Kaisho Martial Arts, Helsingborg, Sweden in grappling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Snyder (wrestler)</span> American freestyle wrestler (born 1995)

Kyle Frederick Snyder is an American freestyle wrestler and graduated folkstyle wrestler who competes at 97 kilograms. He holds the distinctions of being the youngest Olympic Gold medalist and the youngest World Champion in American wrestling history.

References

  1. "Grappling Rules and Regulations" (PDF). UWW.org.
  2. Irving, John (February 15, 2013). "How Wrestling Lost the Olympics". NYTIMES.com.
  3. Gile (May 19, 2013). "FILA World Wrestling Federation Drops Grappling and Amateur MMA". bjjee.com.
  4. "United World Wrestling, World Grappling Committee". UWW.org.
  5. "Global Association of International Sports Federations". GAISF.SPORT.
  6. Abbott, Gary (March 4, 2009). "Jason Townsend named Head of Grappling Panamerica". TEAMUSA.org. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014.
  7. Abbott, Gary (September 12, 2007). "US Sweeps nine gold medals at Grappling World Championships in Turkey". TEAMUSA.org. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014.
  8. "FILA Grappling". fila-official.com. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  9. "GP Rules September 2017" (PDF). United World Wrestling. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  10. "Regulations - Grappling" (PDF). United World Wrestling. Retrieved 2024-01-20.