Submission Arts Wrestling (SAW) [サブミッションアーツレスリング] is a modern Catch Wrestling based Japanese Martial Art and Combat Sport that incorporates elements from Sambo and Judo. Founded in the 1980′s by Hidetaka Aso, a student of Karl Gotch, SAW constitutes a NO-GI grappling system that focuses in forcing ones opponent to submit by employing “chains” of chokes and joint locks. One of the trademarks of SAW are its many variations of devastating leglocks. Like its predecessor, SAW supports the belief that a submission can be obtained by establishing either a position or a hold. The practice of Submission Arts Wrestling relies on solid technical principles, live sparring sessions and specific conditioning.
Technical elements of SAW:
- Kumiwaza (to grapple)
- Nage (to throw)
- Osaekomi (to hold down)
- Suīpu (to sweep)
- Shime (to strangle)
- Kansetsu (to joint lock)
Submission Arts Wrestling is practiced on a wrestling mat (tatami). Being a NO-GI hierarchical art, the practitioners commonly wear a t-shirt or rashguard, shorts or tights and a Japanese belt (obi) of the proper color according to its grading system.