Combat Submission Wrestling is a reformulated Shoot wrestling curriculum as taught by Erik Paulson, world light heavyweight champion of Shooto. The curriculum is a three dimensional martial artform involving striking, takedowns and submissions. The base of CSW is shoot wrestling, which was introduced to Paulson by Yorinaga Nakamura, an instructor from Japan.
Starting with Judo in 1974, Erik Paulson has trained in many disciplines including Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling, Tae Kwon Do, Boxing, Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Kali/Eskrima, Catch Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has studied with 40 different teachers over his 30 years of training including Rick Faye, Greg Nelson, Charlie Gergan, Yorinaga Nakamura, Larry Hartsell, and the legendary Dan Inosanto, who claims Erik is one of the world’s most dynamic grapplers.
Erik Paulson’s Combat Submission Wrestling is said to be most dominant Mixed Martial Arts training system available. CSW is a blend of STX Kickboxing, Jun Fan Kickboxing, Muay Thai, French Savate, Western Boxing, Greco-Roman and Freestyle Wrestling, Shooto, Filipino Dumog, Judo and Brazilian Jiu -Jitsu. It encompasses three areas: Kickboxing, Clinching and Grappling which focuses on Submission Wrestling, Submission Fighting and Self-Defense.
Erik Paulson currently owns and runs the CSW Training Center in Fullerton, CA where he trains MMA fighters such as Josh Barnett, Ken Shamrock, Cub Swanson, Ginelle Marquez, and is closely affiliated with Sean Sherk and Brock Lesnar of the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy. Erik Paulson is the three time World Shooto Champion, the only American to ever achieve this.
What is submission Wrestling?
Submission wrestling, also known as submission grappling, is a type of grappling combat sport that has its roots in catch wrestling. Unlike other forms of wrestling, submission wrestling places greater focus on ending a fight by forcing the opponent to give up by submission.
History of Shoot Wrestling
Shoot wrestling is a general term that describes a range of hybrid fighting systems originating in Japan in the late 1970s, in close association with Japanese professional wrestling. Shoot wrestling has several sub-disciplines eg. Shootfighting, Shooto, Pancrase, RINGS submission fighting, Shoot boxing and Combat Submission Wrestling.
The term “shoot” refers to the fact that the techniques are applied for real, as opposed to a “work”. The shoot wrestling techniques are often applied in shoot-style professional wrestling matches, which feature predetermined outcomes, but with much technique applied in a stiff or full contact manner.
History of shoot wrestling and shoot-style wrestlingHistorically, shoot wrestling has been influenced by many martial arts such as catch wrestling, freestyle wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling and Pehlwani/Kushti in the beginning and Karate, Muay thai and Judo in the final stages. The strongest influence on shoot wrestling though, has been that of catch wrestling.
In 1984 many wrestlers became interested in promoting an even more realistic style of professional wrestling and thus the Universal Wrestling Federation was formed. The UWF was a professional wrestling organisation, which promoted the strong shoot style/strong style wrestling. This essentially meant that it employed effective and practical martial arts moves, which were applied with force. The organization even hosted some real mixed martial arts matches, where the wrestlers were able to test their shoot wrestling techniques against other styles.
After the breakup of the original Universal Wrestling Federation, shoot wrestling branched into several disciplines. Each of the disciplines were also strongly influenced by other martial arts. Shoot wrestling branched into several sub disciplines after the breakup of the original Universal Wrestling Federation. The main forms are listed below.
- Yoshiaki Fujiwara’s students Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki formed Pancrase, which is also a fighting style under shoot wrestling.
- Another Yoshiaki Fujiwara student Bart Vale formed Shootfighting.
- Tiger Mask Sayama’s style of shoot wrestling also includes Muay thai kicks and is called Shooto.
- Akira Maeda’s version of shoot wrestling emphasises on submissions and is known as RINGS submission fighting.
- Kickboxer Caesar Takeshi formed Shoot boxing with standing submission aspect influenced by catch wrestling and shoot wrestling.
- Erik Paulson modified Shooto to form Combat Submission Wrestling.
- World renowed gyms like the Lion’s Den, Takada Dojo and Shamrock Martial Arts Academy propogate shoot wrestling based styles of martial arts.
Submission Wrestling Classes in Lynchburg
Do you want to become a submission wrestling champion? Then you need to train at The Renaissance of Martial Arts. At RAM, we offer premier submission wrestling classes that will help you hone your skills and become the best submission grappler you can be.
Our classes are led by experienced instructors who have competed at the highest levels of submission wrestling. They know what it takes to win, and they’ll share their knowledge with you so that you can reach your full potential.
In our classes, you’ll learn all the techniques you need to dominate your opponents. You’ll learn how to take them down, control them on the ground, and submit them with a variety of different holds.
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Learn practical martial arts while developing the qualities of a true black belt: Modesty, Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, and Self-Control. Classes are held daily for all ages and all levels.
