| Sprawl and Brawl is the hottest thing in | | | | controlled punches and a knowledge of how |
| Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) right now. Just ask | | | | grapplers think. Even though it sounds |
| fighters like former Ultimate Fighting | | | | simple, learning how to resist and combat a |
| Championship light heavyweight champion Chuck | | | | grappler's game plan is a subtle and |
| Liddell. | | | | complicated endeavour. |
| | | | |
| A kickboxer who prefers to stand and pick his | | | | You'll need to learn that distance is the key |
| opponents apart with strikes rather than | | | | to preventing the takedown, and that footwork |
| grapple either standing or on the floor, the | | | | is what controls distance. Punching from a |
| 'Iceman' is one of the best no holds barred | | | | solid and stable, yet mobile base is |
| fighters in the world, and you can bet it's | | | | paramount. One of the biggest errors made by |
| because he knows how to stop the takedown. | | | | strikers is over-commital, putting everything |
| | | | into shots that miss and allow a grappler the |
| Liddell may be known as a kickboxer, but not | | | | opportunity to take them down. If you fight |
| many people know that before he started | | | | with flat feet, you're asking to be taken |
| training as a striker he competed for many | | | | down. |
| years in both high school and college as a | | | | |
| freestyle wrestler. Not all of us have the | | | | If a grappler does get in range, then the |
| luxury to be able to spend that long learning | | | | last thing you want to do is grapple with |
| the intricacies of the grappling arts. | | | | him. Even sprawling on your opponent gives |
| | | | him what he wants - you've entered his world |
| If you're a boxer or kickboxer who trains in | | | | now, a place where your strengths are negated |
| mixed martial arts, you'll know how difficult | | | | and his will prevail. By entering into the |
| it is to stop a determined grappler from | | | | grappling phase you're deviating from your |
| putting you on your back. Once a submission | | | | strategy, and taking away your ability to |
| artist has you on the canvas, it can feel | | | | knock him out. |
| like you're drowning in quicksand, with a | | | | |
| choke or joint lock only seconds away. | | | | Resisting the temptation to clinch with your |
| | | | opponent is another mistake made by strikers. |
| For a striker, getting drawn into a grappling | | | | Even if you remain on your feet, clinching |
| match is the last thing you want. Even if | | | | with a grappler allows them the opportunity |
| you're on top of your opponent, a skilled | | | | to not only take you down but to tie you up |
| jiu-jitsu exponent can still submit you from | | | | on the fence or ropes and work for position. |
| his guard, ending the fight and taking away | | | | You can't punch somebody in the face with |
| the victory you wanted. | | | | knockout power when you're chest to chest. |
| | | | |
| Learning how to wrestle is one answer, but it | | | | Simply put, if you want to defend the |
| is only one answer to the anti-grappling | | | | takedown then you need to learn how to Keep |
| conundrum; 'Keep it Standing' is another. | | | | it Standing. Leading mixed martial arts coach |
| | | | and trainer of champions Karl Tanswell |
| 'Keep it Standing' is a revolutionary sprawl | | | | understands exactly what you need to do to |
| and brawl strategy, a cutting edge style of | | | | keep it on the feet, and his DVD breaks down |
| fighting that has found it's way into cages | | | | exactly what you need to know. |
| and rings across the world. Everyone from | | | | |
| aspiring fighters to seasoned professionals | | | | Keeping it on the feet is what all strikers |
| are now using this highly effective and | | | | want to do. If you're a boxer or a kickboxer |
| easy-to-learn system. | | | | who fights in mixed martial arts, or even a |
| | | | martial artist concerned with realistic self |
| The keys to staying on your feet and off the | | | | defence applications, then you'll want to |
| mat are simple: good footwork, clean and | | | | discover the secrets to keeping it standing. |