What’s the Difference Between Submission Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

What’s the Difference Between Submission Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Submission wrestling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) are two grappling martial arts that share many similarities but also have distinct differences. Both disciplines focus on ground fighting, submissions, and positional control, but their origins, rulesets, and training methods set them apart. Let’s take a closer look at each style to understand their unique characteristics.

Submission Wrestling:

Submission wrestling is a term used to describe a hybrid grappling style that draws techniques from various martial arts disciplines, including BJJ, Catch Wrestling, Judo, Sambo, and others. It emphasizes submission holds such as chokes and joint locks to force an opponent into submission.

Training Methods:

• Sparring: Submission wrestling practitioners engage in live sparring sessions where they try to submit their opponents using a combination of techniques from different grappling arts.
• No-Gi Focus: Unlike BJJ, submission wrestling primarily focuses on training without the traditional uniform known as a gi. This means practitioners wear rash guards or t-shirts and shorts or spats during training.
• Takedowns: Submission wrestlers often incorporate takedowns from wrestling and judo to gain an advantageous position on the ground.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu:

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a martial art developed in Brazil that evolved from traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu. It places great emphasis on leverage, technique, and strategy rather than relying solely on strength or size. BJJ practitioners aim to control their opponents through dominant positions and eventually submit them using joint locks or chokes.

Training Methods:

• Gi and No-Gi Training: BJJ training is commonly practiced with the traditional gi, a jacket-like uniform, which provides additional grips and opportunities for control. However, no-gi training without the gi is also common.
• Positional Drilling: BJJ practitioners spend a significant amount of time drilling specific positions and transitions to develop a solid foundation of techniques.
• Tournaments and Belt System: BJJ has a well-established belt system, ranging from white to black belt, that represents an individual’s skill level. Competitions are held at various levels where practitioners can test their skills against others.

The Differences:

While both submission wrestling and BJJ focus on ground fighting and submissions, there are several key differences between the two styles:

• Origin: Submission wrestling is a hybrid martial art that draws techniques from multiple grappling styles, while BJJ originated in Brazil as an adaptation of Japanese Jiu-Jitsu.
• Rulesets: Submission wrestling does not have standardized rules since it incorporates techniques from various arts. In contrast, BJJ has specific rules governing competition matches.
• Gear: While no-gi training is prevalent in both styles, BJJ often involves training with the traditional gi, which adds another dimension to the grappling game with additional grips and strategies.
• Takedowns vs. Guard Pulling: Submission wrestlers typically focus on takedowns to gain control on the ground. In BJJ, practitioners often pull guard to initiate ground engagements and work towards establishing dominant positions.

In Conclusion:

Submission wrestling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu share a common foundation in ground fighting and submissions. However, their origins, training methods, rulesets, and approaches to grappling distinguish them from one another. Whether you choose submission wrestling or BJJ, both disciplines offer effective techniques for self-defense, sport competition, and personal development.