Wrestling vs BJJ – Everything You Need to Know

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Are you confused between wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)? Well, look no more. Here’s everything that you need to know about both of them. Also, if you are a small guy and have a love for martial arts, we will also go through some top martial arts for smaller guys. So this article is an ocean of knowledge regarding martial arts. Let’s start with the difference between wrestling and BJJ. 

Wrestling Vs BJJ

Wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) are two famous grappling styles that can support each other, but the dispute over which is superior continues. Purists of Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) declare that takedowns are unnecessary and that the guard is king, while wrestlers argue that you don’t need Jiu-Jitsu to win a ground fight. 

In this article, we will go over all there is to know about Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling and which is the superior type of grappling. We will hopefully give you all the information you need before deciding which path you want to take. 

Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling martial art that emphasizes ground fighting and opponent manipulation through different postures and techniques. The guard is one such position. The guard was a type of self-defense devised to allow a person to protect himself while lying down. Jiu-Jitsu’s goal is to force the opposing player into submission by forcing a grip, severing a limb, or choking them unconscious.

Wrestling is a type of grappling that emphasizes takedowns and the strong position of being on top. The idea is to stay on your feet while knocking your opponent to the ground. Being on your back and knees, in contrast to Jiu-Jitsu, are poor positions to be in and should be avoided.

Also read: BJJ vs. Sambo – Which One Is Better?

The Origin of Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)

Mitsuyo Maeda, a well-known judo expert of Japan, relocated to Brazil in order to promote the sport. He contacted Gastao Gracie, a politician of Brazil. He formed a contract with him, pledging to show his judo techniques in a number of Brazilian cities in exchange for assisting Maeda in becoming a citizen. Gastao’s son, Carlos Gracie, became one of the pupils of Maeda and began teaching his sibling Helio this type of martial art. They developed their own style of judo throughout time, prioritizing submission grips such as chokes and certain joint locks through strikes and takedowns.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) was developed to help smaller people to defend themselves from larger opponents. When it comes to self-defense and combat, size no longer mattered because of an awareness of one’s own weight, technique, and leverage.

Also read: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu vs. BJJ – What’s The Difference?

The Origin of Martial Arts – Wrestling

The earliest images of wrestling techniques have been discovered in some cave drawings that were thousand-year-old in France, demonstrating how far the sport has progressed. Wrestling was a point of pride for each young soldier in Ancient Greece, and it was a technique to teach both fighting skills and courage.

Wrestling has taken on a variety of forms in different parts of the world. It is now a part of the Olympic games. 

Differences Between Rules Between Wrestling & BJJ

Well, both combat styles have their own competition rules. You have to follow them if you want to win a game in any organization. Let’s start with the competition rules of BJJ.

Competition Rules of BJJ

BJJ usually consists of three different ways. You have to follow each rule to win a BJJ match.

  • The first method is to submit your opponent using any lawful submission that you are capable of at your present belt level.
  • Sweeps and guard crossings are the second way of winning a BJJ match.
  • The third method to win is if your competitor is disqualified for doing something illegal. This is beyond your control. This includes failing to meet the weight requirements for your division, engaging in any unlawful techniques not permitted by your belt level, smashing, and violating other rules.

Competition Rules of Wrestling

The rules of wrestling usually involve forcing your competitor to the mat while showing dominance from a strong position. If you’re the one on your knees or, even worse, or you fell on your back, you’re the loser.

Your objective is to knock down your opponent and hold their shoulders to the mat for almost two seconds. In Jiu-Jitsu, a pin is the equal of submission, and if somehow you get one, you win the match right away.

You can also win by decision if you don’t get to win by pin and the period has expired. You can win the match if you have placed your opponent in several more dominating situations as determined by the referee. If you gain a ten-point advantage over your competitor at any point during the match, you win by technological pin.

Also read: What To Wear Under A BJJ Gi?

Pros & Cons of BJJ and Wrestling

Let’s start with the pros and cons of BJJ.

Pros of BJJ

  • BJJ is a good martial art for beginners as there is no need for any previous experience in martial arts.
  • It is an effective martial art that can be used for your self-defense.
  • Everyone can learn BJJ martial arts.

Cons of BJJ

  • The BJJ is a difficult type of martial art to master. You have to try harder and harder to master this art.
  • You are not taught any striking technique in a typical BJJ class. Everything is forbidden. 

Now let’s get to Wrestling.

Pros of Wrestling

  • Wrestling is one of the best sports if you really enjoy taking down your enemies. It gives mental fortitude.
  • This sport will help you enhance cardio fitness because of the workouts you have to do in wrestling.
  • It is a great sport for self-defense.

Cons of Wrestling

  • There are not enough good wrestling schools in some countries.
  • You can have good control over your body, but you may lack your submission technique when the time comes.
  • The allowing of slams in wrestling is a risky aspect of it. 

Also read: How To Start BJJ At 30?

Which One is Better? Wrestling or BJJ?

As we have discussed above, both kinds of martial arts have their pros and cons. If you are looking for which one will get you to knock your opponent down, it all boils down to the fighter and how he can use his skills and fighting techniques. 

If we are going with the facts, it is pretty clear that wrestling is better than BJJ. With the number of champions who began their careers as wrestlers, it’s clear that wrestling is more significant than pure Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) for success. 

Final Thoughts

Well, that’s everything that you should know about wrestling and BJJ. Between wrestling and BJJ, I would say wrestling is the best martial art if you want to defend yourself and make a living out of it at the same time.

I’ve tried my best to cover every detail regarding the title. Of course, we are still lacking many aspects of this sport. That’s why we always need your suggestions and feedback. So if you have any suggestions for us then let us know in the comment section. We love to hear your feedback.

Origin fighter

Origin Fighter is a blog for athletes and fitness enthusiasts to learn about Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Wrestling, Boxing, Health & Nutrition, Performance and more. Origin Fighter also provides information on how to train smarter with resources such as workout plans and diets tailored for your goals.

About the Author

I am a huge fan of both BJJ and MMA. Jiu-jitsu is my biggest passion, and I’ve been training it for more than 5 years. I have recently been promoted to a purple belt. In this blog, I will be giving you tips on how to improve and how to choose the best BJJ equipment! Learn More