It certainly is a buzzword that is bandied around quite a lot , grappling is just another method of attack.
What I mean is that we don't hear of "Anti-punching" , "Anti-kicking" , "Anti-nipple twisting" , "Anti-insert whatever is the current flavour of the decade".
It's just another way to draw in students and increase revenue.
We must understand that we already practice a form of grappling called Chi Sau , in which anything can and does happen , when the terms of reference are broadened.
The best deterent against grappling is the ability to control the centerline and be able to generate power at extreme close range.
But having said that , the term grappling can encompass many types of attacks , everything from an attempted bear hug , a rugby tackle , or someone shooting down for the legs or ankles.
Anything directed at the upper body or the waist I believe we can pretty much maintain our normal posture to deal with the attack.
One of the important things is not letting them complete the grip , once the arms are around our waist or legs the opponent has a direct link to our stance and balance , and gone is our ability to absorb and redirect force with our arms , and our job has suddenly become a whole lot harder.
As I said upper body to waist directed attack we can rely on stock standard Wing Chun , but when the attack is directed at our lower legs and ankles , then I believe that we do have to change level with the opponent and drop into a lower stance.
Before anyone says "Blasphemer , that is not proper Wing Chun" we already have scope for this drop in stance with the semi-crouch position seen in the Bart Jarm Dao form and with kneeling elbow strikes etc.
There is no sense trying to keep a high stance when somebody is diving parallel to the ground for your boot laces.
I also do not advocate trying to strike with a knee , don't use your legs for anything but footwork , at least until his forward drive has been neutralised and you have him under control.
His objectives are to grab both or one of your legs , so why go giving them to him!
My students and I practice defending low tackles and the like from Chi Sau , I believe it is a great platform for sharpening reflexes to deal with the initial attempted grapple, so that the grip cannot be completed and the attack is neutralised before it has barely started.
Because Chi Sau is conducted at close range , there is barely any warning that a tackle attempt is coming so the student must learn to simultaneously lower the stance , control the opponents arm and use footwork to absorb the forward drive of the partner.
Once the guy has learnt to defend from this range , then you would start having him defend against them from further out of range , mixed in with other attacks ,and different directions.
This is in line with Wing Chun's approach of learning from the most dangerous range first which is close range , then further out at more conventional ranges.
