Why Are Wrestlers & MMA Fighters So Damn Explosive In BJJ ?

What's the difference of rolling with a pure BJJ practitioner vs MMA fighters or people with a Wrestling background? That's the question that comes from our friend in Australia. He asks the question because when he rolls with people that have this kind of background he struggles to deal with their pressure, speed and explosiveness.

In the video I share some of the differences of rolling or training with someone from a pure Brazilian Jiu-jitsu background vs a wrestling or MMA fighting background. My experience is based on my own experience as a former wrestler who got into BJJ and as someone who had over a dozen mixed martial arts fights.

I hope the video helps you understand some of the differences rules have on the way people grapple.

Thanks for watching.
-Chewy
-----------------

If you’d ever like to train with the team and I. Check out my gym Derby City MMA in Louisville,KY.

[jacobday]

Love rolling wrestlers, it's a massive wake up call.

Jiu Jitsu, like any other martial art, isn't perfect, and wrestling reveals some of the holes in Jiu Jitsu.

[levone]

I wish I had a chance to roll with more wrestlers. Sometimes it's just really fun to go head to head with a stubborn explosive athlete.

[raymondbaker]

As a wrestler it's fun to switch it up and roll with people at bjj gyms because it's kinda calm but you still have to work hard at the same time.

[KneeStrikes]

I have the wrestlers/mma guy reputation at my nogi gym and I noticed bjj guys give a bit more respect if you're a good wrestler. They even praise you for having the wrestler's mindset. Nonstop go!

[genghiskhan]

I met an MMA guy at Jiffy Lube. I'm an old man (56), but back in my youth I was an All State wrestler and I've wrestled in D1. I saw the kid across from me (he was, maybe, 22 or so) and he had a black eye and looked pretty beat up. He was wearing a T-shirt with the local MMA outfit logo on it. I laughed out loud, and he looked up. I said "tough sport, huh?". He laughed and said "yeah". I asked what his specialty was and he replied "BJJ". I expressed admiration for his martial art, and said that I was a fair wrestler in my youth. He started asking me questions about wrestling, and spoke with such respect/reverence that I was stunned. BJJ guys seem to have genuine respect for wrestling. It makes me want to head down to the local place and learn some BJJ, if I'm not too old.

[thomasb]

“My meditation after evening class”
Yes chewy I smoke pot after class as well.

[SuperhumanFitness]

Notification squad! This is facts. I wrestled in highschool and when I started bjj I was EXHAUSTED literally 5 min in rolling. We had 7 min rounds and I was used to 2 minute rounds. Insane

[pvlapa]

People get mad when I use wrestling... Like these losers haven't seen "The People's Elbow" before.

[dan_thesaint]

Mma guys in particular have massive heart, they'll just keep going till they pass out or nap. Not necessarily a good thing lol but you gotta respect it

[shawnmccuen]

My first day I was paired with a 23yo wrestling coach. He was kind, but when he flicked the switch it was over quickly.

[ThursdayMonkey]

I like this topic. Great explanation. I remember getting that wake up call when rolling with super strong, Rutgers wrestlers. They won't sub you like a slick, knowledgeable purple, but they make you work. Like, a fucking lot. It's also weird at first when you see a very unassuming guy who is not much bigger or smaller than you and when you roll with him, his aggression makes him feel immensely stronger. Like, you get a brief "oh, shit" go through your head. Especially when they just power through your go tos. Prior to those sessions, I was always the "yeah, wrestlers are strong, but let me find an open neck and it's over, boi." Post, I wished I had wrestled all through highschool and then transitioned to bjj. Anyone who is at least decent at wrestling, bjj, and judo simultaneously is a very scary bastard.

[lucadworakowski]

I’m a wrestler and had my first bjj class yesterday and realized I was going a lot faster than everyone else’s but I was with a purple belt so it didn’t seem to matter

[xxilvia]

Im 14 and 6ft, im starting BJJ, next Monday in adult classes. Your videos have helped me so much and im sure I will be coming back for more. Thank you for what you do for the BJJ community and giving weak guys like me a little bit of hope. Thank you.

[savvasstavridis]

When u roll with mma/judo/wresting guys its like a different world!

[hinglemccringleberry]

I started at a BJJ gym as a guy who wrestled in HS like 3-4 years prior at the time. Wasn’t in incredible shape endurance wise, but was physically strong with explosiveness and retained the wrestling technique. So I would go hard for TDS, get top position, be tenacious until they would just give up position and pass their guard. My first day I was passing guard on purple belts and could sub the whites and some blues and I felt proud of it, then after rolling with the BJJ guys one after another I would always eventually gas out with my style and get my ass kicked consistently until the day was over. Big takeaway was, they conserve energy for the right moments while the wrestling mind constantly expends energy over time to grind them down. Thing is they’re cool with stalling til you make a mistake because you don’t realize some of the bad positions you put yourself in as a wrestler sometimes and wind up getting subbed by the higher belts especially. They’re very patient

[kallepikku]

Great breakdown. Much appreciated. Full of neat info and examples, instead of hostile "we against they" mentality which you find in most of these BJJ vs [insert another martial art] videos.

[TanyerLamb]

If I go "oh Christ I can't tire this maniac out", then they're mma and wrestling

[joshuamorales]

I was looked down on because i was using speed and urgency, they told me i was being aggressive. I wasnt being a spaz i was wrestling. I also keep an insane pace and im decently strong for my size. To the point where i messed up a few blue belts who havent felt that intensity.
Edit: i thought i was being playful, they took it as i was angry.

[andrewgrignon]

Being a wrestler who just finished my 1st full week in BJJ, every guy I rolled with said" you must be a wrestler" cause of how much energy I have.. even though I'm 42, I still have that constant " go, go, go" mentality! Love your videos Coach

[Feminismisfornobody]

I moved from an mma gym to a mostly bjj gym, and the thing i miss most is there are far fewer rolls where wrestling is involved, so people are way less likely to stand to pass guard, or to stand up if someone isn't applying pressure while they're in your guard.