In the early days of S.A.W in the 1980s, Shihan Aso was actively developing a grappling style useful for comprehensive combat.
He recognised the importance of close-combat striking with clinching (especially elbows and knees) and defence & counter-takedowns against them.
He then found that Muay Thai clinching techniques are effective, and to incorporate it into S.A.W, he traveled to Thailand and held a month-long training camp at a gym that was famous for its strong fighters in the field of clinching.
He combined these with S.A.W’s standing wrestling to establish his own unique close combat striking techniques, which he passed on to his students to further strengthen their skills.
SAW’s current “Daihyo Shihan” Toshiyuki Ito, teaches these techniques at the S.A.W world headquarters Dojo in Brisbane.
