Fostering adaptive, embodied grappling through sustained struggle over upper arm control.
Physical and emotional safety rules
Fingernails trimmed and filed.
Tight clothing only (e.g., rashguard): prevents fingers from catching or scratching exposed skin. We avoid tank tops at the LMA Learning Lab to minimize scratches and skin infections.
No jewelry, no zippers, no pockets, or holes in shirts: nothing your fingers or your partner’s fingers can get caught in. We recommend MMA shorts.
Keep heads touching or crisscrossed to reduce the risk of accidental clashes.
Keep heels floating or light, and maintain space between your feet to protect your knees and prevent falls. This will also allow you to turn and drive forward. The sapling stance is not fixed or rigid but dynamic and living.
Avoid pinching or scratching while gripping. Match the body’s contours with your hand shape to avoid jamming fingers or injuring your partner. Only the wrist is generally safe for a closed grip. You mostly want to keep your fingers together like a clamp. Know the risks: whenever you detach your thumb from the rest of your fingers, your thumb becomes isolated and exposed.
Avoid grabbing your partner’s fingers.
To fully ensure safe contact, you can wear work gloves (they’ll also be helpful in other activities).
To keep hair out of your face and protect your ears, consider wearing a rugby headguard. Once fitted, make sure you hide or cut off any unnecessary laces in the back to prevent fingers from getting caught in them.
