• Jiu jitsu is one of the most widespread submission fighting styles.Jiu Jitsu t-shirt design image by 10th Way from Fotolia.com
  
  With the emergence of mixed martial arts and its worldwide popularity, submission fighting styles have increasingly drawn from one another, often using the same or similar techniques in order to achieve a similar end goal: to force the opponent to submit, and therefore win a fight or competition. Submission fighting styles, while varying in some technique and practices, all use joint manipulation, locks and a variety of chokes in order to subdue an opponent.
  
  

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

• Made famous around the world by Royce Gracie at the first Ultimate Fighting Championship in 1993, Brazilian jiu jitsu has developed to become one of the most popular submission fighting styles in the world. The techniques developed in Brazilian jiu jitsu are primarily intended for both positional control while grappling as well as submission techniques such as arm locks, chokes and leg and ankle locks. Theoretically, these techniques can be used successfully against bigger and stronger opponents unfamiliar with them. Brazilian jiu jitsu also incorporates take-downs, allowing practitioners to bring their opponent to the ground, where they can then use any of hundreds of techniques to subdue the opponent.
  
  

Submission Wrestling

• Submission wrestling is a term used for the specific aspect of any martial art with a grappling element where the end goal results in submission. Submission wrestlers employ the techniques of Brazilian jiu jitsu, sambo, shootfighting and traditional American wrestling in order to take an opponent to the ground, gain a superior position and then use joint locks and chokes to force him to submit.
  
  

Shootfighting

• Shootfighting is a martial art that draws from several other fighting arts and uses both stand-up and ground fighting techniques to end matches. Ken Shamrock, a fighter in the UFC, commonly used shootfighting techniques such as the guillotine choke and the rear naked choke in order to force his opponents into submission in the cage. The specific positions and submissions used in shootfighting are similar to, and sometimes even exactly the same as, those of Brazilian jiu jitsu and submission wrestling. However, while on the ground, shootfighters can also use strikes to end a match.