By Emily Hauser
Athletes are always looking to find a competitive advantage, and many wrestlers are turning to a whole new sport to find opportunity: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Over the past few years, both women's wrestling and women's jiu-jitsu have seen a rise in popularity. The sports are similar but not quite the same, which has led many athletes to try both. Several notable female wrestlers, including Helen Maroulis and Amit Elor, have shared their jiu-jitsu training on social media. So how can female wrestlers leverage jiu-jitsu classes to their advantage?
What's the difference between Jiu-Jitsu and Wrestling?
So what’s the difference between wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? The most simplified answer is the objective of each sport. In wrestling, the goal is to take your opponent down and pin them to the mat on their back. Matches can be won by pin or by points. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, (sometimes also referred to as jiu-jitsu, grappling, or submission grappling), the goal is to take your opponent down and get them to “tap out” to a submission, such as a joint lock or choke. Depending on the ruleset, jiu-jitsu matches can generally be won by submission or points. There are a few other notable differences, such as jiu-jitsu athletes being encouraged to grapple while on their back, which is an obvious no-no in wrestling.
However, despite differences, there are many similarities between the two sports as well. Both sports involve takedowns, hand-fighting, and learning to control opponents through positioning. Many wrestling takedowns are used in jiu-jitsu, such as single-leg and double-leg variations. Having a background in one discipline definitely helps while training in the other. But why train both?
1. BJJ provides increased Training & Competition Opportunities
Opportunities for female wrestlers are increasing everyday - but sometimes it still isn’t enough. Finding other girls to train with and compete against can be tricky, especially in more rural areas. By choosing to add jiu-jitsu to their training regiment, athletes open themselves up to a whole new world of possibilities. More mat time is more mat time, regardless of the ruleset. Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling are certainly not the same, but have enough similarities that spending time doing one can increase performance in the other.
2. Training in Grappling can help you develop a More Well-Rounded Skill Set
Becoming a well-rounded athlete doesn’t happen by doing the same things all the time, it comes from being exposed to new environments. New problems require new solutions, and new solutions come from developing new skills. The same way an athlete may train both freestyle and folkstyle, cross-training in jiu-jitsu exposes wrestlers to varied styles of movement. Building a strong athletic base in multiple mat sports can help athletes become more resilient.
3. More Connections & Stronger Social Network
Everyone knows everyone in combat sports. Training with new people opens doors to new opportunities. Jiu-jitsu coaches oftentimes can connect athletes to recruiters, nutritionists, physical therapists, and athletic trainers they may not have met otherwise. Not to mention the number of new training partners who may turn into friends! Pursuing jiu-jitsu in addition to wrestling widens athletes' horizons in the world of combat sports, and gives them access to things and people they would otherwise miss.
Final Thoughts on Building a Strong Combat Sports Athlete
Cross-training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu doesn’t take away from wrestling; it enhances it. Having more training partners, developing a stronger athletic base, and building lasting relationships with new coaches can be a huge asset to any wrestler. If you’re a female athlete looking for ways to add new skills to your arsenal, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu may be the thing you’ve been looking for!
About the Author
Emily Hauser is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt and coach, working with athletes as young as five all the way up to adults. She is also an avid competitor, winning countless regional competitions, as well as qualifying for Team USA the past four years. She has represented USA Grappling in championships in Spain, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, and Serbia.