Martial Arts is a commonly known sport that is practiced widely around the world. This combat sport includes striking, wrestling & grappling. It is more about fighting on the feet and tapping your opponent on the floor. Grappling is one of the major components of MMA.
Its effectiveness varies in different martial arts. Learning the proper art of grappling is significantly important for the professional career of an MMA fighter.
What is Grappling?
Grappling art refers to the techniques that are used in a variety of combat disciplines that falls under the broad umbrella of martial arts. By definition, Grappling doesn’t involve any kind of striking or additional equipment. In hand-to-hand combat, is about sizing the opponent. Grappling is used in the martial art for getting a physical advantage over your opponent, by imposing the position. It can be practiced as self-defense too. It often involves takedowns & ground control. It is mainly used for gaining a physical advantage over the opponent or forcing them to submit. For knowing more about combat sports click here. Here are some grappling techniques that are used in different combat sports.
1. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Undoubtedly, Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most effective grappling Martial arts. It shares several similarities with grappling techniques used in other combat sports, but the finishing particularly offered by BJJ is unmatchable.
Executing BJJ techniques is no easy, no matter how dominant you are or how much weaker your opponent, you always have to struggle. You need the opening for securing the joint lock and refrain from giving your opponent any opportunity of executing any chock. There are uncountable chokes, submission, and & reversals in jiu-jitsu.
Something exclusive about BJJ grappling is that it allows its practitioners to end the fight at their back. Jiu-jitsu classic guards go against the conventional ways. It makes people assume that the person laying at the bottom tends to lose the fight. However, in BJJ there are more submissions & attacks that a person can execute from this position than being on the top. The ability to finish by classical disadvantageous positions makes Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master of grappling arts.
2. Wrestling
Wrestling lies among the best mixed martial arts. It lacks uncountable submissions. But the pining techniques & holds it has been unmatchable. Jiu-Jitsu is more about finishing the fights. However, wrestling revolves around controlling the opponent.
Generally, wrestlers are comparatively better at taking down than defending. This combat sport focuses more on attacking than defending. Wrestlers are also better at keeping their opponents on the mat. A fine wrestler is capable of simply taking his opponent down & beating him into submission, or dominate the round with better ground control. A lot of top MMA champions come from wrestling backgrounds.
3. Judo
The grappling techniques of judo are highly effective in Mixed Martial Art. Many combat sports have their roots tied with judo. BJJ is also a judo derivative. Judo has a lot of submission techniques.
The famous triangle choke that is executed in several combat sports is a choke popularized by the Judo players. The exclusive technique that separates Judo from the rest of grappling arts is the emphasis it throws on chokes executions from different angles. Even the disadvantageous where the opponent hooks are secured on you. A judo player who has a command over his game is capable of throwing stuns on the opponents.
4. Sambo
Sambo is a relatively lesser popularized grappling style. But, a highly effective one. It is played by Russian fighters. This sport offers a diversified takedown range, its variety makes the defense harder. Many of the sambo used aren’t used in modern martial arts. Without any doubt, sambo is the proper grappling-based combat sport. Unlike other martial arts, sambo has submissions, sweeps, & striking techniques. The range of techniques gives its practitioners an edge to get prepared for all the moves that can be executed in the fight.
The art of grappling in MMA encompasses skills that extensively hold the opponent down. These four grappling styles are typically seen in mixed martial arts. All of these combat sports have similarities, it’s their uniquely distinguished differences that make them different from each other. Modern mixed martial art is different from the classical ones, it makes the art of grappling more comfortable. No sport is superior in terms of techniques and chokes. All of them are beneficial in their way. Many useful styles can be learned from different styles. If you observe an MMA champion you will see how finally he has borrowed the techniques from different grappling styles. We would suggest you get training from at least two grappling arts if you are looking forward to pursuing a career in MMA. Equipping yourself with different fighting styles always adds up to yours.