Wrestling vs Jiu Jitsu

Grappling has many faces my friends. And most countries have their version of it. India has it’s Kushti - Russia, it’s Sambo, Freestyle and Greco - Japan it’s Jiu Jitsu, Judo and Sumo, Africa it’s Senegalese Wrestling, South America the wrestling of the Xingu high plains, the folkloric styles of Cumberland, Westmoreland and Lancashire in England, Glima in Iceland and on and on. Bottom line - humans grapple! Here’s a brief, and by no means concise, comparison of Freestyle Wrestling and Jiu Jitsu. Just some initial thoughts ...

Wrestling positives:

• train harder - better conditioned
• unbeatable at takedowns
• pathway to Olympics possible
• lot of emphasis placed on strength and conditioning and explosive movement

High level wrestlers: usually have wrestled their whole lives; beginning in their school programs.

For who: wrestling is a sport that tends to attract athletic young men. Not so many wrestlers still active in their late 20’s or 30’s.

Jiu Jitsu positives:

• train relaxed - can train their whole life
• unbeatable at submissions
• highly effective for self defence and real fights
• a lot of emphasis put on relaxed and strategic movement

High level Jiu Jitseiros: very often made their start later in life. As Adults.

For who: Jiu Jitsu attracts people from a very wide demographic; boys, girls, men, women, professionals, blue collar workers … even it’s share of the elderly.