The Clinch: Position First

Brazilian Jujitsu made a name for itself by performing by its motto, "Position first" or "position before submission". Before its introduction into the submission world, many grappling styles marveled its practitioners and fans with fancy machine-gun like submission attempts. There were many variations of submission in their repertoire, and they often "tried" to use them all. It resulted in a lot of action and excitement, but finesse wasn’t usually apart of it.

Enter "BJJ". This art, like its father, judo, stressed the importance of position before any submission attempts were made. Not only did this revolutionize the grappling world, but in the world of "Vale tudo" , its practitioners were beating people into submission, without having very much in striking skills. How was this possible? Well once a BJJ fighter established a dominating position( for example the "mount") their opponent was helpless in defending the weak but effective punches by the Brazilian fighters.

The Brazilians also brought to the forefront the value of the "clinch", a position in which two fighters are tied together with their arms. This is a standing position just inside of "boxing range". This was no revelation to "old school" fighters like Larry Hartsell, one of Bruce Lee’s original students. Long before the UFC was every a thought, he worked, taught and practiced in this range. He begged anyone to watch a typical boxing match and count how many times boxers clinched. Most times, the numbers were from 15-20, before the referee stepped in to break it up. In a NHB fight or a "real fight", there usually isn’t anyone there to break it up.

The MMA mindset today focuses on submission wrestling/BJJ, Muay Thai, boxing and wrestling. They usually adopt the BJJ clinch as a part of their arsenal, but this is usually only a high percentage move against non-wrestlers. They also utilized the Muay thai "plum" or double necktie. Done correctly, this can negate almost all of your opponent’s offense, but this is a position that most fighters train to defend regularly in the gym. Moreover, most fighters that utilize it keep their elbows too far apart and forget to dig their elbows in their opponent’s chest. This usually comes from not being trained by a real Muay thai fighter, rather someone who has "some knowledge in Muay thai". Boxing has clinch tactics, but they usually leave too much of the body open for attack. The wrestling skills most MMA fighters train are double, single leg takedowns, and the "over and under" position. Some even branch out to include the underhook and "whizzer". Both positions are used primarily as defensive tactics.

But, there is much more to these tactics than defense. They can also be used as dominating ties to launch an aggressive offensive. Just as BJJ showed the world that establishing a dominating position on the ground can lead to unassailable striking and an easy submission, using good wrestling ties to dominate an opponent standing can open your opponent up to effective strikes (regardless of your striking ability) and off-balancing to throw your opponent.

Anyone familiar with Judo or Sambo know the effectiveness of good gripping skills. The match is often determined by who gets the most dominating grip first. So, you would think that jacket grapplers would have an unfair advantage in the clinch on the street and in MMAs. They can, but not always. Especially, Russian jacket styles which utilized more gi-less gripping from wrestling. The grappling jacket isn’t a t-shirt or Polo shirt. Gripping an opponent without a jacket, while being punched or kneed doesn’t quite parallel gripping fighting in a Judo/Sambo tournament.

A great addition to a jacket grappler’s or any fighters toolbox would be learning Greco-roman wrestling ties. Underhook, inside and outside Russian 2 on 1, head and arm, whizzer, front-headlock, collar and elbow, inside double bicep, body locks, over the back lat grip, and seat belting. These positions can be used for more than defense, but also to control your opponents body, while establishing a position to strike or throw. "Attached striking" is the most high percentage form of striking. In a real fight, you got to go with the percentages.

A good clinch man can negate all of a striker’s weapons and lead a good ground specialist offense less as he is unable to penetrate your clinch to take you down. Good clinching skills gives you a choice to either take it to the ground or keep it standing.

One of the best ways to improve your clinching skills is to simply "learn boxing"! Boxing skills will keep you from reaching to establish a clinch position by "allowing the clinch to just
happen". Your striking will set up opening for a clinch by keeping your opponent in a defensive posture. If your try to force the clinch without the support of good set-up strikes, your opponent can avoid your rush and counter you with a strike.

Another good way of expanding your clinch is by utilizing leg tactics, like sweeps, reaps and trips. If you are a Judo or sambo fighter this will be natural, but if not learn the ties first and then just focus on one leg tactic that you use from different ties. Or just sign up for a judo or sambo class. It would be well worth your money to ask for private lessons so you can focus just on what you need at the time.

An essential aspect of clinch training is training to control your opponent in a tie while he is trying to strike you. For example, grab your training partner’s left arm in a Russian 2 on 1. His right arm has a boxing glove on. Your job is to move and control your partner and his job is to nail you with his free hand. This will really tighten
up your technique. You can use the same training method safely with almost any tie.

But it all begins with correct training in using the tie. You don’t have to travel to Japan, Russian or Brazil. You have experts in your local high schools and colleges. For media resources, check out www.championshipproductions.com for great wrestling products. Randy Couture, Ken Chertow and Rich Salamone's also have great clinching products.


"Control the clinch, control the man, and you will control the fight".


Robert Verdell