[Aztlan] K2352

[Sam Edgerton]

Listeros:  As an old college wrestler (U of Pennsylvania, '49, '50 and 
after college, coached high-school wrestling for a  dozen years -  - I even 
wrestled Donald Rumsfeld when he was at Princeton, but lost 5-0), I must 
comment on Allen Johnson's interesting observation below concerning the 
Maya "wrestlers" and "hair-pullers" on vase K2352. From my experience, I 
see no evidence among these figures that anyone is administering an 
arm-twisting "submission hold." What is actually going on between the pair 
in the center is this: the right warrior (I'll call him "B") has attempted 
a choke hold on left warrior "A", but "A" has cleverly grasped inside B's 
right arm, pulling B's right arm away from his neck and at the same time 
holding tight to that arm and straightening up, pulling B slightly forward 
and off balance. With his left hand A grasps B's right leg below the knee 
(very important). In the next instant, A will try to  lift B's right leg 
up, and with his own right leg, trip B from inside B's left leg. This will 
throw B on his back with A on top. In free-style wrestling this is known as 
a take-down, and A would have scored two points. In the meantime, B should 
resist, not by pulling on A's hair as here (a foul in amateur wrestling) or 
continuing his choke attempt, but more effectively by leaning hard into A, 
removing his right arm free from A's neck and reaching over  A's back and 
inside his right arm-pit, at the same time B must throw both his own legs 
straight  back as hard as possible to break A's grip. Legs are four times 
stronger than arms, and B must avoid at all costs being tripped. B's head 
hold is actually rather useless, and if he keeps it up, it will probably 
have cost him his life.  I don't really see any of the warriors depicted on 
this vase in position to employ an arm bar.   To do that you need to get 
behind your opponent, which would only be possible in the struggle between 
A and B  if A's forward trip maneuver is successful.
Sam Edgerton

"...That vase image of K2352 really speaks volumes for me with a very 
effective submission hold at the same time that the hair is being 
pulled.   Over the weekend I worked this technique with a friend of 
mine.  It works really well.  If I pressed the arm bar in the back just a 
little bit, my parter was in some very quick and real pain.  You could
  very easily separate someones shoulder from that position.
   Thanks all!
   -Allen"