as shown in a
combatives manual. Positioning is the foundation of
ground fighting, if one combatant is controlling an opponent from a top position, such as if they are
pinning the opponent to the ground, then that combatant is said to have the top position, while their opponent is said to have the bottom position. Top positions are usually dominant as fighters can use their weight to their advantage, but depending on the set of rules used, it can have notable exceptions such as the
guard. A dominant ground position is usually easier to obtain for the person who initiated the throw or takedown. It may be possible for a fighter in a dominant position to score points or win by pinning their opponent, applying a
submission hold or striking. There is a rough hierarchy of major ground grappling positions from the most advantageous to the least for the
"top" fighter: •
Rear mount •
Mount •
Knee-on-stomach •
Side control •
North-south position •
Turtle •
Half guard • Disengaged* •
Guard : *Fighters are disengaged if neither has a grip on the other they can use to restrict their movement A reversal from a dominant or top position is called a
sweep; these are usually the aim of a fighter in the bottom position, though there are some submissions that can be executed from the bottom, most commonly from the
guard. While a position may be considered dominant in one sport, that may not be the case in another: for example, the closed guard in BJJ may be dominant in terms of submission; in
mixed martial arts (MMA), however, where striking is allowed, while the guard still offers submission opportunities and defence, the fighter on top can strike better than the one on the bottom so the position is usually viewed as neutral in MMA and Budo Moussaraa MMA.
Wrestling is different again, viewing the guard as inferior due to the risk of being
pinned. ==Examples==