Grappling (No-Gi) at the USC

Technically, grappling is an overarching branch within martial arts. Therefore, sports involving training in a gi (such as BJJ, judo, or sambo) also fall under this category. However, in practice, grappling almost always refers to 'no-gi'. This means without a gi or any other clothing that can be grabbed.

Grappling is usually practiced wearing shorts and a compression shirt (BJJ rashguard). Grabbing clothing is not allowed.

There are various terms used interchangeably but mean the same thing in practice: grappling, submission grappling, submission wrestling, and no-gi. Grappling is often referred to as no-gi BJJ.

Submission grappling vs. wrestling

Wrestling is the oldest Olympic sport and has two main forms: freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. The aim in wrestling is to throw or takedown the opponent to the ground and then pin them on their shoulder blades.

Submissions such as chokes, arm, and leg locks are not allowed in wrestling. The biggest difference between grappling and wrestling is that grappling allows wrestling techniques, but wrestling does not allow grappling techniques.

Grappling in MMA

Grappling is widely used in modern MMA. Nowadays, there is no professional MMA fighter who does not have grappling skills. Many UFC champions have backgrounds in wrestling or Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Well-known MMA fighters known for their grappling skills include Khabib Nurmagomedov, Georges St-Pierre, Demian Maia, Ben Askren, Daniel Cormier, and many others.

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