Fighting Techniques Encyclopedia

The Strike class encompasses all combat techniques in which a fighter delivers percussive force to an opponent using a part of the body — fist, elbow, knee, shin, foot, or head — to cause damage, create distance, or set up subsequent attacks. [1] Striking is the most instinctive form of unarmed combat, and biomechanical research has shown that the kinetic chain linking the feet, hips, torso, and striking limb is the primary determinant of impact force, with elite athletes generating peak forces exceeding 4,000 newtons in punches alone. [1,2] The class is organised into groups by the primary weapon used: punches (closed fist), kicks (foot and shin), elbows, knees, headbutts, and open-hand strikes, each governed by distinct biomechanical principles and tactical applications. [2,3] Striking arts span the globe and represent some of the oldest documented fighting systems, from Western boxing codified under the London Prize Ring Rules in 1743, to Muay Thai's eight-weapon system refined over centuries in Thailand, to karate's formalisation in Okinawa and Japan during the early 20th century. [3,4] Modern sport science has advanced striking methodology considerably, with three-dimensional motion capture and electromyography studies revealing that sequential activation of lower-limb, trunk, and upper-limb muscles — the proximal-to-distal sequencing principle — underlies maximum-force generation across all strike types. [4,5] In competitive contexts, striking techniques are regulated by sport-specific rule sets: boxing permits only closed-fist punches above the waist, Muay Thai allows the full range of punches, kicks, elbows, and knees, while MMA under the Unified Rules prohibits twelve-to-six elbows and certain headbutts. [5,6] The strategic depth of striking lies in combining these weapons across ranges — long-range kicks to control distance, mid-range punches for volume damage, and close-range elbows and knees in the clinch — to create a layered offensive system that overwhelms defensive structures. [6,7]

Submissions are techniques that force an opponent to concede defeat — typically by tapping out — through the application of joint locks, chokes, strangles, cranks, compression locks, or pain compliance holds. [11] They target anatomical vulnerabilities: hyperextending or rotating joints beyond their natural range of motion, restricting blood flow to the brain (vascular strangles), occluding the airway (respiratory chokes), compressing muscles against bone, or applying pressure to nerve clusters. [3] In competitive grappling, the submission is the decisive finish — the equivalent of a knockout in striking arts or a pin in wrestling. A successful submission requires the attacker to control the opponent's posture and limbs, isolate the target joint or neck, and apply graduated force that leaves the defender no option but to concede or risk injury. [11] The major sub-categories of submission are: chokes and strangles (restricting blood or air), joint locks (hyperextending the elbow, shoulder, knee, ankle, wrist, or spine), compression locks (crushing muscle against bone), cranks and twists (rotational force on the neck or limbs), nerve locks (direct pressure on nerve bundles), pain compliance holds (sustained pressure without structural damage), grip and finger locks (small-joint manipulation), clinch locks (standing submission control), and smother locks (obstructing breathing through chest or body weight pressure). [15] Submissions are scored or permitted in varying degrees across martial arts: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling allow the widest range [2], judo permits chokes (shime-waza) and elbow locks (kansetsu-waza) but prohibits leg locks [1], sambo permits leg locks including knee bars and ankle locks but historically prohibits chokes in sport sambo [5], and mixed martial arts (MMA) under Unified Rules permits nearly all submissions except small-joint manipulation and spine locks applied by spiking.

The Takedown class encompasses all techniques designed to bring a standing opponent to the ground while the attacker remains in a dominant or neutral position. [1] Takedowns are distinguished from throws by their emphasis on changing level, penetrating the opponent's base, and driving or pulling them to the mat rather than projecting them through the air with rotational force. [1,2] This class forms one of the fundamental pillars of combat sports, bridging the gap between standing engagement and ground fighting across wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, mixed martial arts, judo, and sambo. [2] Takedowns are broadly categorised by the primary target of attack — legs, upper body, or clinch position — and by the mechanical principle employed, such as level change with penetration step, body lock compression, trip mechanics, or drag-and-redirect forces. [2,3] Successful takedown execution requires precise timing, explosive penetration, and the ability to chain attacks when initial entries are defended. [3] In modern MMA competition, takedown accuracy and defence are among the most statistically significant predictors of fight outcomes, underscoring the class's tactical importance across all combat disciplines. [3,4]

Techniques that off-balance and project an opponent from a standing position to the ground, using leverage, momentum, and body mechanics as the primary force multipliers.

The Defence class encompasses all techniques designed to prevent, neutralise, or mitigate an opponent's offensive actions across all ranges and phases of combat. [1] Defence is the complementary pillar to offence in every martial art and combat sport, covering the full spectrum from striking defence (blocks, parries, evasion, head movement) through takedown defence (sprawls, whizzers, underhook battles) to submission defence (grip fighting, posture control, escape mechanics) and guard retention on the ground. [1,2] Effective defence is not merely passive resistance but an active tactical system that creates opportunities for counter-attack, positional improvement, and energy conservation. [2,3] The class is organised by the type of attack being defended against — strikes, takedowns, submissions, weapons — as well as by the defensive mechanism employed, such as evasion, interception, structural framing, or technical escape. [3,4] Mastery of defensive technique is widely regarded as the hallmark of elite-level competitors across all fighting disciplines, as the ability to neutralise an opponent's best weapons forces tactical adjustments that favour the defender. [4]

The Position class encompasses all distinct body configurations and spatial relationships between fighters that define the tactical landscape of grappling and striking combat. [1] Positions are the foundational framework of fighting — every technique exists within the context of a position, and positional hierarchy determines who has the mechanical advantage in a fight. [1,2] This class covers ground positions (mount, side control, guard variants, back control, knee-on-belly, north-south, turtle), standing positions (stances, distance management), and the transitions between them. [2,3] Understanding positional hierarchy — which positions are dominant and which are inferior — is the most fundamental concept in grappling, forming the basis upon which all offensive and defensive technique is built. [3,4]

The Clinch class encompasses all standing grappling positions where two fighters are in direct body-to-body contact, using grips on the opponent's body, limbs, or clothing to control distance, posture, and positioning. [1] Clinch fighting is the transitional bridge between striking range and ground fighting, serving as both an offensive platform for takedowns, throws, and short-range strikes, and a defensive tool for neutralising an opponent's attacks. [1,2] The class is organised by the primary point of control — head, arms, body, upper body ties, grip configurations, and wall/cage positions — each creating distinct tactical frameworks with specific offensive and defensive options. [2,3] Clinch work is central to virtually every combat sport and martial art, from Muay Thai's famous plum clinch to judo's sophisticated grip fighting (kumi-kata), wrestling's tie-ups, and MMA's cage clinch exchanges. [3,4] Mastery of the clinch requires sensitivity to weight distribution, an understanding of leverage and frames, and the ability to transition fluidly between positions as the battle for inside control unfolds. [4]

Techniques used to free oneself from disadvantageous positions or to reverse positional control, transitioning from a defensive state to a neutral or dominant one.

The Weapon class encompasses all fighting techniques that employ an external implement — whether bladed, blunt, flexible, or projectile — as the primary means of offence and defence. [1] Weapon-based combat is the oldest and most widespread category of martial practice in human history, predating unarmed fighting systems by millennia, as the use of tools for combat parallels the use of tools for survival itself. [1,2] This class covers sport fencing (foil, epee, sabre under FIE rules), Filipino martial arts (Arnis/Eskrima/Kali stick and blade systems), polearm arts (naginata, sojutsu, halberd), sword arts (kenjutsu, HEMA longsword, iaido), short blades (knife fighting, tanto-jutsu), staff weapons (bojutsu, jodo), and thrown weapons (shuriken-jutsu, javelin). [2,3] Weapon techniques fundamentally differ from unarmed combat in their biomechanics: the implement extends the fighter's reach, amplifies force through leverage, and introduces cutting, thrusting, and impact mechanics that do not exist in empty-hand fighting. [3,4] The study of weapons also shaped unarmed martial arts — many empty-hand techniques in Japanese, Chinese, and Southeast Asian systems were derived from or designed to counter weapon attacks, making the Weapon class foundational to understanding the complete martial arts landscape. [4,5]