| Many times the following has been seen and | | | | apply a knee bar, arm locks or any other type of lock. |
| experienced. Two martial artists are sparring. They | | | | Being very tight into your opponent is the only way to |
| spar using strikes, clinch fighting, takedowns and ground | | | | create this leverage. So when your opponent moves |
| fighting. There strikes are impressive, there clinching | | | | away from you, the leverage is lost and the lock will |
| fighting is smooth as are there takedowns and they | | | | not be applied. Thirdly, being easier for your opponent |
| move from submission to submission incorporating | | | | to hit you when standing, than when on the ground, as |
| locks to nearly every joint and a variety of chokes | | | | you try to put on a lock from a standing position, your |
| when on the ground. They seem to be experts in | | | | opponent can easily strike you with any limb available, |
| there field, except that not one can apply a lock of | | | | and since you are trying to lock your opponent with |
| any type while standing. Why? | | | | one or both hands, your defence is weak. On the |
| Well the reason why, is because of the fact that they | | | | ground, your opponent may be in a position where it is |
| are both experienced fighters. To be able to apply a | | | | impossible to strike effectively as a lock is being |
| lock (standing or on the ground) a few factors need to | | | | applied which makes it easier for you to apply it. |
| be addressed. Firstly the person being locked must not | | | | This is not to say that locks have no place in standing |
| be able to move away from it. When standing, it is | | | | situations, but they are much harder to apply. Against a |
| very hard to control an opponent from moving away. | | | | trained opponent who may expect locks during |
| On the floor it is much easier especially if they are on | | | | sparring, then there is a small chance of pulling one off, |
| there back or lying on there front. When standing, as | | | | against someone on the street with no fighting |
| soon as your opponent sees that you are going for a | | | | experience, it may be easier. Following up locks after a |
| lock, he/she will quickly move away. On the ground | | | | hard strike are good times to apply them as your |
| your opponent may see that you are going for a lock | | | | opponent may be stunned from the strike, and his/her |
| but it may be nearly impossible for him/her to move | | | | reflexes and attention might not be available to react |
| from it, so there is more of a chance they shall be | | | | to the lock. The bottom line is that practice is needed |
| locked. Secondly, when standing, and after moving | | | | and experience of the best way to apply locks from |
| away from the intended lock, your opponent creates | | | | standing positions is necessary to be able to pull them |
| gaps and breaks the tight hold that is necessary for a | | | | off. |
| lock to be applied. There must be leverage in order to | | | | |