Horsetooth Hybrid Grappling Club

If you care about grappling as deeply as we do, you might want to be concerned about the future of BJJ as both a combat sport and martial art.

Check out the data from this event (courtesy the always excellent Grappling Conjecture blog). Keep in mind this invitational showcased some of the most elite BJJ-players on the planet–12 matches were conducted, which encompassed over 2+ hours of ‘submission-only’ grappling.

Let’s highlight some crucial numbers that each graph illustrates. For the 12 matches combined, there were:

– 8 total takedowns

– 7 total sweeps

– 3 submissions

Certainly, the lack of submissions stand out. One can defensibly argue that catching a well-trained and knowledgeable opponent with a strangle or joint lock is difficult–perhaps nearly impossible–at this level of competition.

But consider the preceding two data points, i.e., only 8 successful takedowns and 7 sweeps/reversals. These suggest a lack of scrambling (plus a lot of guard pulling and/or stalling) in the matches, which further negates high-paced situational exchanges, and consequently, submission attempts.

So without the action that takedowns and reversals (and resultant positional scrambles) plus few submissions, can we expect grappling to become anything more that a niche sport?

Hopefully, venues will institute rule-sets that penalize guard pulling, butt-scooting, and passivity–such changes will both improve BJJ as a sport worth watching and as a martial art worth practicing.

But consider that you don’t have to wait for rule changes to make your grappling approach more well-rounded. Find ways to add folkstyle wrestling to your repertoire…the takedowns, breakdowns, riding, and escapes in this difficult combat sport will hopefully become prevalent as grappling looks to become more exciting. Plus these standing and scrambling skills will make your martial arts practice more holistic and pragmatic for real-world self-defense situations.

http://www.horsetoothgrappling.com

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