The Introduction of International Grappling

Coach Karl Webber demonstrates a submission on
Todd Group Christchurch chief instructor Tim Wright

By now readers will be aware that the New Zealand Olympic Wrestling Union has begun establishing submission grappling in New Zealand under the control of FILA and their world grappling committee. Crighton Cobbers wrestling tournament recently included submission grappling and was very successful. Reading the mission statement from FILA on international grappling and the intention to make it a worldwide practice and ultimately gain Olympic status outlines how committed FILA are to this new code.

The Combat Sport School Olympic Wrestling Club fully supports the New Zealand Olympic Wrestling Union and its establishment of the new code at wrestling tournaments throughout New Zealand.

The previous article outlining the establishment of submission grappling at the Combat Sports School Olympic Wrestling Club utilizing a long time Todd Group member and practitioner of CQB submission grappling and mixed martial arts in Karl Webber.

Saturday the 4th and Sunday the 5th of April towel travel to Dunedin from Christchurch and conducted training in submission grappling for the first time. Unfortunately some of the wrestlers interested in attending were way at the secondary high school wrestling champs and will have to wait until the next workshop set down for May 23rd and 24th. The next international grappling workshop under Karl Webber will be on Saturday, May 23 at the Todd Group headquarters in Dunedin and on Sunday, May 24th there will be some introductory grappling competition to familiarize competitors and coaches with the rules before registrations are required for official competition. For further details and to register for the workshop e-mail [email protected] or phone 03 4778902.

This is the link to the FILA World Grappling Committee rules and regulations – https://www.fila-grappling.com/filaregulations/

The training included not only instruction in the submission skills but also an introduction to the rules and some mock bouts outlining the rules and point scoring the international grappling.

There were 16 attendees over the two days coming from BJJ, wrestling, Judo, MMA and CQB backgrounds. Karl was most impressed with Joe, a CQB exponent without a grappling background, who learned the skills quickly and his strength and fitness made him difficult to submit. Two wrestlers, Hayden and Caleb, participated in several mock bouts and very quickly adjusted to the new code with enthusiasm.

This inaugural training weekend was an excellent start to an exciting new code that will provide a competitive forum suitable for grapplers of all styles and it truly is universal. This grappling code is truly moving with the times and there has been considerable thought and practice put into the establishment of the rules.

Competitors coming from serious grappling styles will now have an official international amateur competition open to all styles and codes and like amateur boxing is a feeder to professional boxing for elite athletes so to submission grappling would most likely be to MMA.

Spectators truly enjoy action-packed competition like freestyle wrestling where there is no room for stalling or being submissive and bouts can end in seconds. Competing in shorts shirts and wrestling boots without gi’s provides an even more streamlined side to grappling that makes the grappler have to seize and maintain control of his opponent and not their clothing and although international grappling is a modern hybrid code it really does reflect the ancient European grappling aspects of minimal clothing and seizing and securing the man over the uniform.

The next board meeting of the New Zealand Olympic Wrestling Association is on the 18th of April and immediately after this meeting full details will be released to all interested parties on the submission grappling mailing list in relation to registration of clubs and grapples and all other relevant details.

If you go to the use Olympic Wrestling Union site and check out the events calendar. You'll see that grappling is going to be conducted in 2009 at numerous wrestling championships including the nationals throughout New Zealand.

Larry Papadopoulos is the Oceania representative for FILA and the world grappling committee and I have been in contact with him regarding international grappling and clarification in relation to the rules and regulations.

Any clubs or individuals interested in grappling and competing officiating or coaching can contact me at [email protected] to lodge their interests and be included on the official mailing list.

Whether your base style is Judo, BJJ, MMA, Hapkido, Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, shoot fighting, aikido or any other combat or martial art if you want to gain maximum competition and be part of a massive global organization then international grappling is for you.

FILA has 80 million registered wrestlers globally and a history in combat sports that dates back to its establishment. This makes them the ideal individual body to control this new code after all Greco-Roman wrestling is truly the earliest of Olympic combat sports and has a history of unequalled.

We have received a commitment from a wide range of former combat sports competitors and officials interested in being involved in international grappling and this is most pleasing. To see a former leading national judo player and New Zealand team member attend the workshop and wrestling officials and former competitors equally as enthusiastic demonstrates the support of this modern code.

Now is the time for coaches, judges, and referees to get on board as we will learn and work together to establish this current modern and user-friendly grappling code in New Zealand.

The goal of having a New Zealand team compete internationally and especially at the world champs is a reality and grapples need to get involved right away and establish themselves as serious competitors and provincial championships and at the nationals in order to make international teams in the future.