Growing up in Oklahoma and wrestling from a young age all the way through gave me and many others some "life" skills in redirecting a persons advance. One thing you will notice about most Russian martial arts is that grappling is included in them all. Ever wonder why a MMA fighter doesn't want to go to the mat with a former college wrestler==they have had a lot of mat time and if they learn to work in some other modes for being on their feet it is something to be reconned with. Anyone remember Dan Severn, college national champion that fought in the early days of MMA. Lost in a finals match first time because he did not have great striking skills once he hit the mat, but the next year he won because he had learned how to punch and already knew how to keep them down. The main thing is to always know your surroundings and be ready!