While Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the most lauded and romanticised art, the discrepancy in the gentle art and the reality of a free-for-all fight is often overlooked. As the sport evolved and the secrets of BJJ unravelled to the greater public, the effectiveness of BJJ was stifled by a wash of grappling competitors and MMA fighters who sought to deconstruct the art rather than indulge in it. What has emerged for better or worse - depending on who you ask - is a modern take on the martial art and the refinement of grappling as a whole. There are fighters in the world of MMA who are world class grapplers only, yet no striking based fighters who refuse to respect the grappling aspect and will at the very least, train to avoid it.
To our fighter friends who fall into this category we say that the grappling exchanges in fights are very much a reality, and very much undeniable.
The divide between traditional grappling arts and an MMA fight has been met head on by Lockdown. With competitions held in a fenced enclosure a la MMA, the detachment of grappling and MMA is nullified for an increase in action and a focus on winning via domination of the entire confrontation. No stalling, no tug-o-war, and no resets at the edge of the mat. MMA fighters and grapplers alike can harness their cage control, takedowns, submission skills, and defensive grappling while testing their mettle against competitors you might not find at your local open mat.
With a kids division, colts, and beginners and advanced split into male and female divisions there is ample room for competitors to meet and greet opponents/new friends with a slap, bump, roll.
Beginning in 2011, Lockdown has hit Queensland, Victoria, West Aus and plans to move into other states in the very near future. With such grappling athletes and fighters as Reece McLaren, Tim Moore, Damien Brown, Ben Nguyen, Jessy Jess, and Megan Anderson competing in competitions gone by, there is clear relevance and value for fighters and grapplers alike to unite at Lockdown. Taking part in a fenced environment that provides unique benefits to the development of their art, there is also a simplicity in no long term dogmatic rulesets and patterns or forms, while competitors can rely on only their expression of their art to reach victory.
The Lockdown rule-set leaves a lot to get excited about if you like your grappling intense and close to the adrenaline pumping proposition that MMA provides, find the rules here. The next Lockdown takes place August 26th in Brisbane so follow their movements here and give their page a like to be part of their exclusive brand of competition that you will not experience anywhere else.
As a thank you for checking out this article and in turn supporting Lockdown, we'd like to offer you 10% discount on the online store!
Use the code LOCKDOWN when you check out with your new gear.
- Jake Anderson