Freestyler777
Blue Belt
For a long time, I tried to play judo, thinking 'since its the origin of BJJ, than it must be somehow better or at least equal to its descendent'. But if you assess things according to the gold-standard of MMA (which you may approve or deny of in the first place) the two must successful styles are freestyle wrestling and BJJ. Karatekas and Judokas did not fare well in the early MMA events, and later, most traditional styles (excluding judo, which is quite a combative sport) practically boycotted these events.
But now I have come to grips that I am a wrestler, not a judoka, and I should stop pretending. I only did judo two years, and that does not qualify me to be an authority on the subject.
However, it is my conclusion, based on objective analysis, that wrestling and BJJ seem to have dominated, and continue to dominate, the MMA events. Even the kickboxers who do well in MMA have either wrestling or bjj backgrounds.
So there are two approaches to groundfighting, the aggressive G n P guy or the passive guard expert. Basically, top man and bottom man.
While I am a former wrestler, I am only a white belt in BJJ, but I see the efficiency and subtlety of my training buddies' technique. I tap often.
I am really happy to have wrestled, and now have the opportunity to learn BJJ.
But now I have come to grips that I am a wrestler, not a judoka, and I should stop pretending. I only did judo two years, and that does not qualify me to be an authority on the subject.
However, it is my conclusion, based on objective analysis, that wrestling and BJJ seem to have dominated, and continue to dominate, the MMA events. Even the kickboxers who do well in MMA have either wrestling or bjj backgrounds.
So there are two approaches to groundfighting, the aggressive G n P guy or the passive guard expert. Basically, top man and bottom man.
While I am a former wrestler, I am only a white belt in BJJ, but I see the efficiency and subtlety of my training buddies' technique. I tap often.
I am really happy to have wrestled, and now have the opportunity to learn BJJ.