GROUND GRAPPLING (Kato) sparring exercise

Ground sparring will sharpen the grappling skills and give opportunity for escapes from the ground.
The practitioner of Pankration Orthomaxia assigns "last" to ground skills in the order of priority of his/her abilities. Concrete and other hard ground necessitate this mindset.

Having a black belt in Jiu Jiutsu is not the “be-all-and-end-all” of fight supremacy.
A stand-up classical black belt, with boxing and ground-fighting upgrades, has higher practical benefits concerning real combat. Particularly against multiple opponents, a small fight area and on hard ground surfaces.

Knee and elbow guards can change the conditions but as stated previously, that’s not a practical and always-available way to get around anticipating the possibility of a fight.

Ano (stand-up) Pankration skills should be learnt before Kato (ground).
Ground Escapes are the Essential Priority concerning Kato skills.

"Humility permits a skill to test it."

An excerpt from, "The Longest Fight" by Jim Taousanis authour.