Submission wrestling (also known as submission fighting, submission grappling, sport grappling, or simply as no-gi) or combat wrestling (in Japan), is a formula of competition and a general term for martial arts and combat sports that focus on clinch and ground fighting with the aim of obtaining a submission through the use of submission holds. The term "submission wrestling" usually refers only to the form of competition and training that does not use a gi, or "combat kimono", of the sort often worn with belts that establish rank by color, though some may use the loose trousers of such a uniform, without the jacket.
The sport of submission wrestling brings together techniques from folk wrestling (catch wrestling a.k.a. catch-as-catch-can), judo, Greco-Roman wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, jujutsu (of the traditional form), and sambo. Submission fighting as an element of a larger sport setting is very common in mixed martial arts, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, catch wrestling, and others. Submission wrestlers or grapplers usually wear shorts, skin-sticky clothing such as rash guards, speedos, and mixed short clothes so they do not rip off in combat. They are also known for using submission techniques normally banned in other arts or competitions such as heel hooks, toe holds, wrist locks.
Mixed martial arts schools and fighters may use the term submission wrestling to refer to their grappling methods while avoiding association with any one art. The label is sometimes also used to describe the tactic in mixed martial arts competition of relying primarily upon submission wrestling skills to defeat an opponent.