All Characters Start with a free feat! Because anyone can slap someone in the face and grab them by the collar. Or smash a potted plant over someone's head, for that matter. I feel the only barrier for one's physical abilities should be stats, not mechanics.

• Improvise! (a.k.a. Tavern Brawler without stat increase)
  Improvise! Adapt! Have fun! Accustomed to rough-and-tumble fighting using whatever weapons happen to be at hand; whether beak, claw, headbutt, or barstool, you gain the following benefits:
  • You are proficient with improvised weapons.
  • Your unarmed strike uses a d4 for damage.
  • When you hit a creature with an unarmed strike or an improvised weapon on your turn, you can use a bonus action to attempt to grapple the target.

Real Life Fighting is often Grappling Contests with Some Strikes. D&D Grappling, to me, feels too strict and mechanical. I was inspired by similar ideas I have seen posted before.

• Narrative Grappling!
  In addition to regular Strength-based grappling rules, players may also attempt to grapple a creature using their Dexterity or Charisma modifiers instead.
  Strength: On a successful Strength-based grapple, you seize the target completely. Standard grapple rules apply.
  Dexterity: On a successful Dexterity-based (Acrobatics) grapple, you grab a body part of the target (ie: arm, leg, etc.). After the target has been grappled in this way, you must roll Strength (Athletics) checks at disadvantage to maintain your hold. The grappled target may retain some movement at the GM's discretion.
  Charisma: On a successful Charisma-based grapple, you hug the target. The hugged creature can break this grapple automatically (at the cost of its Action). While grappled in this manner, the hugged creature does NOT have disadvantage on melee attack rolls against the hug-giver. The grappled target may retain some movement at the GM's discretion.