is grappling all you need?

I love grappling. I’ve been doing ground fighting literally all my life. Grappling is a great sports, with lots of applications to the real world when done correctly. In fact, those of you who know me, know how much time I devote to street grappling, and street wrestling in my training. For being able to survive a fight, the knowledge of how to wrestle and grapple is a must.
However, thinking that doing only grappling is good enough for wining a fight for the life in the street is a big mistake. Yes, many fights end up on the ground, but all fights start on the feet. Furthermore, even if you're a world-class grappling artist, you can only fight one person at a time. In the streets, multiple opponents is common, and without aggression, and leg work, you'll find out really quickly the limitations of grappling.
Grappling alone is not enough to win an MMA fight, you have to have striking, and clinch work as well, if nothing more, so you can use your grappling skills effectively. All the more so, in a real world life or death situation grappling alone isn't enough.
To all the grappling lovers out there, much respect. Grappling is in my blood forever, but don't fool yourselves. If you can't strike, you can't fight. Mix it up.
Train smart, stay safe,
Sharir R, ICCS head instructor