Positions 1

There are three main types of positions in the ground grappling game: Pins, Holds, and Transitions.

Pins
This set includes the three main positions from which one can a) keep a dominant position and b) strike one's opponent (MMA and self defense). From a pin, the main offensive option is to strike the opponent. A backup option is an arm lock. As always, the practitioner must be prepared to transition to other positions in order to maintain control in the fight / match.

Nomenclature
The pins are:
Tateshiho gatame - Mount
Yokoshiho gatame - Side
Kesa gatame - Headlock or scarf hold
Face down mount - opponent is face down, spread out on ground.

Face down mount note: this is not a pin that can be used to win a Judo match by being held for 25 seconds, as are the other positions. However, it falls into the category of pin, as when applied properly, the opponent will have great difficulty in getting up or escaping. Also, the opportunity to strike is clearly present.

Strategy
As mentioned, the primary objective in a pinning position is to strike the opponent.
The secondary attack method is to use an arm lock. Ironically, the main arm lock to be used is ude garami ("Kimura" or "Americana" depending on angle) in three of the positions - mount, side, and scarf hold.

It is possible to secure other submission holds from these three positions. Among the possibilities are:
Juji gatame (straight arm lock) - possible from all of these positions.
Hadaka jime (rear naked choke) - possible from face down pin.

Sportive collar chokes
Juji jime (cross choke) - possible from the mount.
Katate jime (paper cutter choke) - possible from the mount and the side.
Yoko sankaku jime (side triangle choke) - possible from the scarf hold.

To be sure, there are many other possibilities, however, these listed are the most common historically. However, the true caveat is that these are all used only in sporting competition: Judo and BJJ most notably.



From a strategy standpoint, in self defense, it is enough to strike, arm lock, and move in transition from a pin position.


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