BJJ vs wrestling, what are the differences?
Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are two forms of grappling that can complement each other, but there is still a debate about which style is superior.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purists swear that you don't need takedowns and that guard is enough to win.
There are wrestlers who claim that you don't need Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to win a fight on the ground.
In this blog, we cover all the differences about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling.
Hope you'll learn something and start training!
Rickson Gracie and Alexander Karelin.
Both the best in their respective sports.
What are the main differences between BJJ and wrestling?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a self-defense sport that focuses on ground fighting and manipulation of the opponent through various positions and techniques.
One position is the guard.
The Guard is a form of self-defense in which you can defend yourself from your back.
The ultimate goal of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is to force your opponent into submission.
Wrestling's priority is to take someone down.
Stay on top and maintain a dominant position.
The goal is to remain standing while throwing/downing your opponent on the mat.
This Unlike Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where you can start on your back and knees.
In wrestling, this is absolutely a no-no.
History and origins of BJJ and wrestling
Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese judo master, moved to Brazil to spread the art of judo.
He met a Brazilian politician, Gastao Gracie, and struck a deal with him, agreeing to demonstrate his judo techniques in several cities in Brazil, and in return he would help Maeda become a citizen. Gastao's son, Carlos Gracie, became a student of Maeda and began teaching this martial art to his brother Helio.
Over time, they devised their own variation in judo, favoring submissions such as strangulations and clamps over throws and knockdown techniques.
Helio Gracie 1952
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was developed for the smaller person to defend themselves against larger opponents.
Control over your own body (weight), leverage and technique, there was no longer any reason why size mattered when it came to self-defense and fighting.
On Nov. 12, 1993, Royce Gracie, the son of Helio Gracie, showed how effective BJJ was after winning the very first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Royce defeated three larger opponents using Jiu-Jitsu against multiple fighting styles.
It made this new martial art that his father Helio and uncle Carlos had been perfecting for decades, world famous.
From then on, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu spread like wildfire around the world.
Read our previous blog on the history of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for more information.
The origins of wrestling
The first depictions of wrestling have been found in 15,000-year-old cave drawings in France, showing how much this sport has evolved over the centuries.
In ancient Greece, wrestling was a way to separate the wheat from the chaff.
For any young warrior, it was a way to learn self-defense and train your mentality.
The rules of wrestling then were simple.
Push your opponent out of the circle or throw your opponent and bring him to the ground, and you win.
These rules, with a few minor modifications and technicalities, have been maintained over the past decades and have been the basis of Olympic wrestling ever since.
Wrestlers in 510 BCE
In countries where wrestling is alive, each region has its own style.
Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling are the most popular.
These have been an official part of the Olympic Games since 1904.
Other forms of wrestling include Sambo and Catch wrestling.
These styles have the same elements as Olympic wrestling.
Within these styles, you have the ability to force your opponent into submission and to pin them down.
Rules differences between BJJ and wrestling BJJ
Match rules.
There are three ways to win a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu match:
1: Submission.
2.Points.
3.Disqualification
Team BJJ Amersfoort at a BJJ match.
If no submission is made at the end of the match, the BJJ player with the most points wins the match.
Below is the points system :
Throw or takedown 2 points
Mount 2 points
Knee on belly 2 points
Sweep 2 points
Guard pass 3 points
Backmount 4 points
Freestyle Wrestling
In Freestyle, it's all about getting your opponent to the mat.
Preferably flat on your back.
The goal is to take your opponent down and pin his shoulders to the mat for two seconds.
Getting the pin in wrestling is equivalent to a the feeling BJJ'ers have when they get a submission.
It is then abundantly clear who the winner is.
If you don't win by pin when the match is over.
You can also win by decision.
This is determined by your dominance in the match.
If you have a ten-point lead over your opponent in the match, you win by a technical pin.
Wrestling match.
Point system in wrestling:
Techniques Points
Takedown 2 - 5 points
Reversal 1 point
Exposure 2-3 points
Penalty 1-2 points
Outbound 1-2 points
Takedowns
Can be scored depending on style.
In general, the riskier and more explosive a takedown is, the more points are awarded.
Reversal
A reversal is when a wrestler changes from a defensive position to an offensive position.
Exposure
When a wrestler puts the opponent on his back for a few seconds - but not enough to get a pin.
It does show dominance.
Penalty
Penalty points can be given for various reasons.
For example, just taking a timeout, not attacking or running around the mat.
Wrestlers are given a warning.
Three warnings= disqualified.
Outbound
If the wrestler's feet are outside the circle.
Band system and progression in BJJ vs wrestling
Your progress in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu depends on how often you train.
The hours you spend on the mat by drills and rolls(sparring in BJJ)
Are eventually rewarded with a band.
The one who trains more is more likely to be considered for promotion(logical).
Below is a good explanation of the belt system by Dave Kama.
Dave has been a student under Rickson Gracie for over 30 years.
At Brazilian JiuJitsu Amersfoort we teach according to the Rickson Gracie guidelines.
There is no official progression system for wrestling.
Unlike Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Statistics and rankings determine who the "best" wrestler is.
The more you win, the better you are.
In high school and college in America, you are ranked with all your opponents of the same weight class.
You go through rankings and the top 10 in each division would be the best of the best.
The NCAA is the most prestigious tournament and is divided into Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3 wrestling.
Those who wrestle at the Division 1 level are the most competitive and of the highest caliber.
Class classification in BJJ and wrestling
A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class usually lasts 1-2 hours and usually goes in this order:
Warming up and drills (30 min)
Ground drills such as forward roll, backward roll, turn-off, etc.
Technique and position sparring (1 hour)
Techniques
Position sparring
Sparring (30 min)
This can be from standing or already on the ground.
Sparring with contact, without hitting submissions are allowed
A round can last 5 to 10 minutes depending on your goal
Each BJJ school has its own traditions and rules.
With some it is formal and with others it is not.
BJJ Amersfoort uses the curriculum of Rickson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
A wrestling class lasts about an hour and a half to two hours and has a similar sequence to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:
Warm up and ground drills (20 minutes)
Rolling, cartwheel and other ground drills
Technique (55 minutes)
Technique explanation
Technique drills
Wrestling (20 - 30 mins)
Drilling under resistance, this goes hard for (30 seconds)
Sparring- 3 minute rounds
Conditioning (10-20 minutes)
Strength and fitness drills depending on your goals
Clothing and equipment in BJJ and Wrestling
BJJ equipment
There are two ways to practice BJJ, read it further in our blog on gi and no gi .
Gi
BJJ kimono/Gi made of strong cotton.
Rash guard(prevents chafing of the Gi on your skin)
Bit
BJJ band
No gi
Fight shorts/shorts
Rash guard
Bit
Gi and No-Gi
Wrestling equipment
What you need during a wrestling class:
Training/wrestling class
Short pants/Long may also be
Rash guard/T-Shirt
Bit
Earmuffs
Wrestling shoes
Wrestling competition
Wrestling singlet
Bit
Earmuffs
Wrestling shoes
Cross training in wrestling and BJJ
It is more common for wrestlers to train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to broaden their wrestling knowledge and get out of their comfort zone.
It is less common for Jiu-Jitsukas to do the same with the
standing game.
This is quite strange because at Amersfoort BJJ we insist that the fight starts standing.
You will therefore find me on the wrestling mat weekly with my coaches to work on my technique.
Therefore, all of our classes begin with standing techniques.
This can be self-defense, Judo techniques or Wrestling.
Here is a short clip of respected MMA coach Firas Zahabi explaining why wrestling is essential for your BJJ.
Why you should add wrestling to your BJJ arsenal.
You develop a powerful base.
It develops strength and athletic ability, which many BJJ purists lack
It's a lot of fun especially when submissions are added!
"Wrestling opens up a whole new dimension to your Jiu-Jitsu "
Firas Zahabi
Wrestlers can be difficult opponents for BJJ purists.
It is very difficult to sweep them.
This is because of their good base.
They are tough opponents who do not give up easily.
Submissions really need to be applied correctly otherwise wrestlers will bite through the pain.
It will be a long training session if you do not have a good strategy against these types of wrestlers:
Here are some tips
Pull guard at an angle.
Bend forward, avoiding both hips flat on the mat. Butterfly hooks tight for maximum control.
Wrestlers tend to base out, giving you room to deploy sweeps and submissions.Leg clamps.
Wrestlers are often not familiar with leg clamps.
This is also not allowed in wrestling.
You can relieve forward pressure by turning on leg clamps and keep the wrestler busy defending leg clamps.Kimura grips.
Kimura grips work great against a wrestler whose shoulders are putting pressure on your legs.
You can often grab a kimura grip from this angle.
This can be done from standing or from guard.
This works great as a sweep or reversal.
Is BJJ better than wrestling or vice versa?
So, which sport is better?
Each sport has its strengths and weaknesses.
Both Wrestling and BJJ can give you advantages.
If we break down the discussion into subcategories, you will see that each sport specializes more in one area than the other.
Damian Maia, is a great example of this.
Instead of focusing solely on his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he still invested quite a few years in wrestling.
Combining the concepts and principles of wrestling with his BJJ skills allowed him to win against one of the very best wrestlers the UFC has ever known.
BJJ Amersfoort has the pleasure of training with Damian Maia every year.
At Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Amersfoort, we also add wrestling into the BJJ classes.
BJJ vs wrestling: pros and cons.
BJJ
If you are someone who has never done martial arts before, BJJ is a great sport to start with.
It is beginner-friendly, but at the same time it is one of the most challenging sports you will ever try.
Mentally and physically.
Advantages
Beginner friendly. No experience required.
Effective self-defense.
In BJJ you learn many techniques to restrain an opponent and force them into submission(pain free).Exhaust valve.
End your day and just work out all the stress off you.
Every night a moment for yourself, learn something new, apply it to your BJJ buddies and no SMART PHONE for a while!!!BJJ is for everyone who doesn't like violence.
No one is waiting for hassle, you learn techniques where you don't have to hurt people.
Also, it is the only sport in the world where you can go 100% without hurting each other!Jiu-Jitsu fit.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu helps tremendously to increase your fitness.BJJ is a global community.
Being on vacation or away for work for a while is no excuse not to train!
Because Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be practiced worldwide.
Cons
Complex.
Jiu Jitsu is not something you learn overnight, so think of it as a long study.Quality/Dilution of Sport.
Always research the lineage of your instructor, if it is not easily ascertainable there is a catch!Sport BJJ
It is beautiful to watch, but this has nothing to do with self-defense.
There is often confusion about this among beginners.
Want to learn self-defense?
Learn Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
At Jiu-Jitsu Amersfoort, we therefore follow the guidelines of Rickson Gracie.
Wrestling.
Wrestling is a great sport to get into if you love takedowns and explosive training.
Advantages
Mentality.
Wrestling training is some of the toughest in the world.
If you can get through this, you can handle anything.Fantastic takedowns.
Dominate people standing and take them to the ground when you want!Tough workouts.
Wrestling workouts will keep you in top shape.Control.
Wrestling is control, when you control someone you determine what happens to them.
Cons
Schools.
In countries like America, Iran, India and Russia, wrestling is part of the culture.
Consequently, in the Netherlands, wrestling is not very popular.High entry level
Wrestling is not really for the "hobbyists" unlike Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.No submissions.
The essence of wrestling is control and "pinning" people down
Therefore, the fight is never finished with a submission.Throwing.
In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you are not allowed to throw someone down.
In wrestling you are and that is also one of its biggest dangers.
You can do this through a suplex or a dump/slam.
Frequently asked questions about BJJ and wrestling.
Which is better for MMA? Wrestling or BJJ?
Both!
Wrestling is a great way to take your opponent to the ground and keep them under control and then move on to ground and pound.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is there to make opponents give up through submission, even if you are on your back.
Is BJJ or wrestling better to learn if you are over 40?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is recommended if you are over 40.
It is not as taxing on the body as wrestling
Do I have to be athletic to start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or wrestling?
Definitely not!
That's like saying, I'll wait a little longer to learn that Spanish course because I need to know some more Spanish words!
Which is more injury prone, wrestling or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Wrestling is more injury prone than BJJ.
Knocking someone down from standing time after time is a drain on your body.
In Jiujitsu, you spend more time on the ground and it's a lot less explosive.
If you want to learn more about injuries in BJJ, check out our blog about it:
Is BJJ dangerous?
Conclusion
Both sports are great to practice.
Because of common currents, Wrestling and BJJ have much in common.
It is valuable to understand the differences between the two sports.
At BJJ Amersfoort, wrestling is therefore part of the curriculum.
Try both and become a resilient machine!