Grappling is one of the core foundations of mixed martial arts (MMA) and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ). It involves close hand-to-hand combat to take down, control, submit or gain a dominant position over an opponent. While grappling arts have existed for centuries across various cultures, BJJ and its evolution in MMA have made it an intricate science and art form. This article delves into the grappling world, its history, techniques, strategy and impact on MMA.

A Brief History of Grappling Arts

Grappling traces its origins back thousands of years as a form of unarmed close combat designed to subdue or incapacitate an enemy. Various ancient cultures developed their grappling styles, including folk wrestling styles in Europe, Shuai Jiao Kung Fu in China, and Malla-buddha in South Asia.

In the early 20th century, Brazilian businessman and politician Mitsuyo Maeda brought the Judo skills he learned in Japan to Brazil. This planted the seeds for the development of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which incorporated grappling techniques from Judo and influences from other martial arts. BJJ began establishing its own identity and ruleset for competition, founding the first BJJ academy in 1925.

Over the decades, BJJ expanded internationally and focused heavily on ground grappling arts like transitions, submissions, pins and dominant positions. This proved incredibly effective for real-world self-defence and MMA competition.

Core Concepts and Strategies of Grappling

While grappling styles can vary, there are some core concepts and strategies common across BJJ, wrestling and MMA grappling:

Controlling Positions

The goal is to gain and maintain dominant positions where you can control your opponent while nullifying their offence. Examples are full mount, side control, knee on belly and taking the back.

Escaping and Reversing

When caught in a disadvantageous position, the key is learning to escape and reverse the position to gain the advantage through precise movements and technique.

Submission Holds

Whether using chokes, joint locks or compression, grapplers aim to force their opponent to submit through pain compliance or threat of injury. Famous examples are armbars, triangle chokes and kneebars.

Takedowns and Throws

Takedowns allow grapplers to get the fight to the ground. Variations like suplexes, slams and single or double-leg takedowns are trained extensively.

Transitions and Sweeps

Fluidly transitioning between positions and performing sweeps to reverse positions requires excellent technique and timing. These skills take extensive drilling and practice to perfect.

Grappling Techniques in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu utilises hundreds of specialised grappling and submission techniques. Some of the most common and effective include:

The Rear Naked Choke

This blood choke cuts off blood to the brain from the back position. It’s one of the highest percentage submissions in BJJ and MMA.

The Triangle Choke

The triangle choke uses the legs to cut off carotid arteries and blood flow to the brain. It can be locked in from various positions.

The Armbar

Armbars hyper-extend the elbow joint, forcing opponents to submit or risk serious injury. This can be applied from both top and bottom positions.

The Kimura

The Kimura shoulder lock places rotational pressure on the shoulder joint. It provides substantial control and submission potential.

The Omoplata

This shoulder lock submission uses the legs against the shoulder joint. It’s applied frequently from guard positions.

Mastering these and countless other techniques takes years of practice. But they provide a deep toolbox for BJJ practitioners to dominate grappling exchanges.

Grappling in Mixed Martial Arts

Grappling proved to be the difference-maker in the early days of MMA. Royce Gracie demonstrated the supremacy of BJJ on the ground, winning 3 of the first 4 UFC tournaments in the 1990s. This showcased how grappling could neutralise more prominent and more skilled strikers.

Today, grappling remains a core area of training for every MMA fighter. Fighters must blend wrestling, Judo and BJJ skills to succeed. Having great takedowns, the ability to control opponents on the mat and lock in fight-ending submissions are enormous assets.

However, MMA has evolved to require well-rounded skills. Fighters must rely on more than just grappling to reach the highest levels. The best fighters blend excellent striking skills with a solid grappling base. This allows them to compete in every phase and capitalise on openings to take opponents down and dominate on the ground.

Grappling Specialists in MMA

While rare today, some fighters use world-class grappling skills to find success in MMA:

• Khabib Nurmagomedov is arguably the most excellent MMA grappler ever. His relentless sambo and wrestling helped him become the UFC Lightweight Champion.
• Demian Maia – A multiple-time BJJ world champion. His grappling skills led him to a long UFC career and title shot.
• Jacaré Souza – A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling legend. He twice challenged for the UFC Middleweight title.

Conclusion

Grappling arts have evolved over centuries into intricate combat systems designed to control, submit and defeat opponents in close quarters. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has refined wrestling into a science with countless techniques and strategies. And its impact on MMA is undeniable, where grappling remains at the sport’s core. Mastering the art of grappling takes immense skill and discipline. But for those dedicated to it, grappling represents the beauty of overcoming opposition through sheer technique and determination. For more information, click here.