Tactics of SAMBO Wrestling

Chapter 3

Enduring Pursuit to Clean Victory or Victory by Evident Advantage

1. Pursuit from Standing to the Hold Down

After a throw or throw transition is finished, the SAMBist can pursue the opponent to the mat for a hold down grip. This requires forethought to have the ploys and training to realize this transition. This must be done before the opponent becomes oriented to the shifted situation and mounts a powerful opposition to the follow on techniques.

If the opponent ends up in a strong position on his knees or on all fours, the SAMBist must immediately shift to new grips that are appropriate to hold down the opponents based on the opponent's new body position. For example, if the opponent is on his right knee, the SAMBist should pull downward and to the left on the opponent's arms from behind the sleeves. This shifts the opponent's stance on the mat while simultaneously contributing to turning the opponent over on his back to hold him down by his torso and right leg. The opponent has a stance on his knee(s). Grip him. Turn him over by his legs and lay him on his back and hold him down from on top.

After conducting this turn over to the opponent's back, use both hands and grip the opponent by one arm and one leg from the inside. This should be an easy transition in the hold down.

A hold down beside the head may be easily conducted off a transition grip on a cuff and pulling on the opponent's head from beneath his arm to somersault him across his head with the hold. Finish the hold down by moving atop the opponent.

When the opponent is lying prone (on his stomach), transition to one side and take the hold down grip from on top. The manner of the hold down must be chosen from the circumstances dictated by how the opponent's defense has been deteriorated by the throw or take down.

If the opponent's position has decayed to his side or back on the mat, reach behind his sleeve for a convenient hold down grip from the side after completing a rear body drop, forward sweep, side sweep after a rear reap attempt, an inside clip, hip throw, pick up, or rear sit through with a shin elevator kick.

If the opponent landed on part of his back, take a hold down from on top. The ability to pursue this option is realized after a rear body drop, forward body drop, side sweep, inside front clip, head and arm throw, or reversed grip double leg throw.

If the opponent is thrown on his side, it is expedient to augment the hold down with the weight of your chest to assist in wearing him down whenever he must fight out the hold to improve his situation. Pursue only the hold down opportunity presented after conducting the forward body drop, side sweep, front clip, hip throw, or double leg reversed grip throw.

If the throw decays the opponent's position to his side, but closer to his back, and he is nearest to your head, base on your knees and use a hold down near both of your heads. For example, if the fireman's carry throw grip is maintained beyond the throw, it is an easy transition to a side hold (head and arm hold down).

If the opponent lands partly on his back, but nearer to your legs than your head, work the hold down form the side of his legs. The pursuit of such a hold down is easy after a double leg grip throw, front clip, inside sweep (uchimata), rear reap from an outside grip on the other leg, or rear sweep with an outside grip on the other leg. After any sacrifice throw there may be a successful transition to a hold down without changing grips. However, the success only occurs if the opportunities for the appropriate maneuvers present themselves. For example, a hold down from the side may appear after conducting a head and arm hip throw without altering the grips on the opponent's extremities.

A side hold down may be pursued after a throw with a grip under the opponent's arm providing that the grip is maintained to attack the opponent's head.

To pursue a hold down after a throw across the chest, you must lock hands around the opponent's arm and shift him to a sitting position to move the opponent from either his side or his stomach to his back. To pursue a hold down across the opponent's body after a throw, grip beneath his arm and bend his torso away from lying on his side and move him to his back. Your position should be on your knees to cross over his chest to use both of your hands to attack his free arm to pull him to his back.

Pursue a hold down on top after a throw across the head (stomach throw) by somersaulting backward over your downed opponent to mount him.

2. Pursuing the Successful Ploy to Develop the Throw