Grappling martial arts emphasize techniques developed to make an opponent submit by applying skills in throwing, holding, joint locking and in some martial arts, choking. Striking or kicking techniques are less commonly used and opponents are often defeated on the ground rather than standing. A form of grappling is depicted in a painting on an ancient Egyptian tomb and it was practiced in Ancient Greece in the art of pankration. Cultures all over the world have developed their own submission fighting styles, including numerous versions of wrestling.
South, East And Southeast Asia
The martial arts listed this and in the following sections are discussed in more detail in Chris Crudelli's 2008 book "The Way of the Warrior, Martial Arts and Fighting Systems from Around the World."
Several forms of wrestling have developed in the Indian subcontinent, including Mukna or Bengali wrestling, Inbuan wrestling, Talytham or Tamil wrestling and Kushti or Indian wrestling.
Mongolian wrestling is called Bkyukl Bökh. Across the border in China, an early form of wrestling called Go-Ti boxing is practiced, as is Shuai Jiao which means "to throw to the ground through wrestling with the legs." Chinese police practice a system that includes grappling too; it is called Jing Quan Do or Police Combat Method. Koreans practice an art that means "to overcome" called ssireum. Burmese developed a style of wrestling called Naban while neighboring Cambodia specializes in Khmer Traditional Wrestling. Buno meaning "to throw or to kill" originated in the Philippines."
Japan
Jujutsu, or jujitsu, is a Japanese martial art that combines striking and grappling techniques. It is the parent martial art of many others, including Brazilian jujutsu, Aikido and Judo. Judo is an Olympic sport, which usually emphasizes throws but does include a significant number of grappling techniques executed on the ground. A less well-known Okinawan grappling art is Tegumi or "Grappling hands."
Sumo is an ancient Japanese martial art in which contestants win by throwing or otherwise maneuvering an opponent out of the ring or by forcing some part of his body other than his feet to touch the ground. Shootfighting originated in Japan and combines boxing and wrestling.
Europe, Central Asia, Middle East And Africa
Pankration practiced in ancient Greece used techniques similar to contemporary mixed martial arts fighting. The British Isles have a long history of wresting. Variations include Lancashire wrestling, Scottish wrestling, Cornish wrestling and Catch Wrestling. Icelandic wrestling is called Glima.
Lucha Canaria originated in the Canary Islands, Gouren and Greco-Roman wrestling, another Olympic sport, in France.
Kampfringen or "combat grappling" is a German art. Sambo originated in Russia and Kurash in Uzbekistan. Schwingen is an Alpine wrestling art practiced in Switzerland. African styles include Laamb wrestling in Senegal and Evala Wrestling in Togo. Turks oil their bodies for Yagh Gures or "oil wrestling" matches.
Americas
Vale Tudo and Luta Livra originated in Brazil as did a version of Japanese jujutsu called Brazilian jujutsu. Brazilian jujutsu has become one of the most popular grappling styles practiced today due the frequency and success with which its techniques are applied in mixed martial arts competitions. Several successful .mixed martial artists first trained as collegiate wrestlers in the U.S. "Grappling," according to the World Pankration and Grappling Committee, "plays an important role in the practice of Mixed Martial Arts and is considered an effective form of self-defense."