How does one learn Wrestling for MMA?

chamcham

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There are plenty of BJJ, Judo, Muay Thai, Boxing, and Kickboxing videos out there.
But it seems that many of the UFC fighters that specialize in wrestling learned it in school (high school and college). Seems like the only way to learn wrestling from scratch is while you are in school.

How does someone learn folk/freestyle/catch/other wresting after college?
I like Neil Malenson's instructional videos for BJJ Fanatics, but they seem to be for people who are already wrestlers. Also, I've seen many wrestling for BJJ videos. But nothing from scratch.

Wrestling doesn't seem to have as well organized a curriculum as BJJ and other martial arts.
Seems like wrestlers have different names for the same moves and they each might do it differently.

Maybe the closest thing I've found are the Snake Pit Catch Wrestling Tutorial videos.
How does an adult learn wrestling suitable for MMA and self-defense?

Thank you.
 
Learn the Single, Double, and High-Crotch.

Learn the level change as a technique, similar to a jab or cross.

Learn to punch, or react to a punch, to set up a level change, to set up a single, double, or high-crotch.

One of GSP's former coaches told me how whenever someone threw a hook at GSP he would know to shoot the takedown because they measured the range for him.

Addendum: Do not hit the knee on the ground in an MMA takedown. In MMA takedowns it is sufficient to squat slightly and simply step forward.
 
shoot double legs all day when you get in trouble you can always rely on pinning
 
There are plenty of BJJ, Judo, Muay Thai, Boxing, and Kickboxing videos out there.
But it seems that many of the UFC fighters that specialize in wrestling learned it in school (high school and college). Seems like the only way to learn wrestling from scratch is while you are in school.

How does someone learn folk/freestyle/catch/other wresting after college?
I like Neil Malenson's instructional videos for BJJ Fanatics, but they seem to be for people who are already wrestlers. Also, I've seen many wrestling for BJJ videos. But nothing from scratch.

Wrestling doesn't seem to have as well organized a curriculum as BJJ and other martial arts.
Seems like wrestlers have different names for the same moves and they each might do it differently.

Maybe the closest thing I've found are the Snake Pit Catch Wrestling Tutorial videos.
How does an adult learn wrestling suitable for MMA and self-defense?

Thank you.

I agree with you 100%, the only hope to really learn wrestling as an adult seems to be joining a MMA specific gym and hoping they have a wrestling class lol.
 
There are plenty of BJJ, Judo, Muay Thai, Boxing, and Kickboxing videos out there.
But it seems that many of the UFC fighters that specialize in wrestling learned it in school (high school and college). Seems like the only way to learn wrestling from scratch is while you are in school.

How does someone learn folk/freestyle/catch/other wresting after college?
I like Neil Malenson's instructional videos for BJJ Fanatics, but they seem to be for people who are already wrestlers. Also, I've seen many wrestling for BJJ videos. But nothing from scratch.

Wrestling doesn't seem to have as well organized a curriculum as BJJ and other martial arts.
Seems like wrestlers have different names for the same moves and they each might do it differently.

Maybe the closest thing I've found are the Snake Pit Catch Wrestling Tutorial videos.
How does an adult learn wrestling suitable for MMA and self-defense?

Thank you.

tbh i find best way is u gotta do lots of research and be good enough at grappling to really know whats best i actually have flowcharts written down to where in each tie up in mma i have set techniques i use from over under double unders off punches off kicks ect so in every single position in the fight i have the answer and dont have guess work
 
Learn the Single, Double, and High-Crotch.

Learn the level change as a technique, similar to a jab or cross.

Learn to punch, or react to a punch, to set up a level change, to set up a single, double, or high-crotch.

One of GSP's former coaches told me how whenever someone threw a hook at GSP he would know to shoot the takedown because they measured the range for him.

Addendum: Do not hit the knee on the ground in an MMA takedown. In MMA takedowns it is sufficient to squat slightly and simply step forward.
not quite true on the not hitting knee down tbh i feel if you are a beginner you def should be doing heel toe knee shots to develop your drive and penetration into the hips once you have a great shot then yeah the slight level chance and blasting the hips is fine but u gotta first be quite explosive to pull it off on good guys especially if you are tall for the weight class

lots of guys still drop to knees tj dillashaw gregor gillespie khabib ect i think tis completely situational i find myself dropping to knees when fighting shorter guys since im 6 1 for 170 fighting a guy at 59 58 i really need a super strong fast level change to get those hips
 
There are plenty of BJJ, Judo, Muay Thai, Boxing, and Kickboxing videos out there.
But it seems that many of the UFC fighters that specialize in wrestling learned it in school (high school and college). Seems like the only way to learn wrestling from scratch is while you are in school.

How does someone learn folk/freestyle/catch/other wresting after college?
I like Neil Malenson's instructional videos for BJJ Fanatics, but they seem to be for people who are already wrestlers. Also, I've seen many wrestling for BJJ videos. But nothing from scratch.

Wrestling doesn't seem to have as well organized a curriculum as BJJ and other martial arts.
Seems like wrestlers have different names for the same moves and they each might do it differently.

Maybe the closest thing I've found are the Snake Pit Catch Wrestling Tutorial videos.
How does an adult learn wrestling suitable for MMA and self-defense?

Thank you.

Where do you live? It seems like Americans have trouble being able to play sport once they've reached adulthood. It's funny that someone like me from probably the worst wrestling country in the developed world seems to be able to go do some wrestling more easily than someone in the toppest tier of wrestling countries. I think it's easier to do recreationally as an adult in parts of Europe (so long as there is a club nearby). But there are some clubs for adults in America too I gather.

2ndly, there are MMA gyms of some sort in just about every town and city now in quite a few countries, so you should be able to do some 'wrestling for MMA' in such a place...

As for a syllabus, you could look at the USA wrestling curricula and go through each of the videos for each of the levels, and grade yourself ;)
https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Coaches/Core-Curriculum

They also have one part of the older USA syllabus from the 90s (which they uploaded at my behest! but I was hoping they would have the complete set, as I'd already seen this part and the 2nd part on takedowns which were the best instructionals I'd seen IMO so I was hoping to find a way to see the rest of it - if it even exists :rolleyes:).
 
I like Neil Malenson's instructional videos for BJJ Fanatics, but they seem to be for people who are already wrestlers. Also, I've seen many wrestling for BJJ videos. But nothing from scratch.

There is a fuckton of wrestling videos online. No need to watch any catch wrestling crap from people who haven't won anything or stuff from Neil Malenson on oil checking people.
You should be learning wrestling in MMA at a MMA gym.
 
There is a fuckton of wrestling videos online. No need to watch any catch wrestling crap from people who haven't won anything or stuff from Neil Malenson on oil checking people.
You should be learning wrestling in MMA at a MMA gym.
Neil Malenson is the head grappling coach for Blackzillians. He trains Kamaru Usman and others. I've never seen any vid where he teaches oil checking, but maybe there is one out there. AFAIK, oil checking was popularized in the Submission Master video by Yoshiaki Fujiwara.
 
Where do you live? It seems like Americans have trouble being able to play sport once they've reached adulthood. It's funny that someone like me from probably the worst wrestling country in the developed world seems to be able to go do some wrestling more easily than someone in the toppest tier of wrestling countries. I think it's easier to do recreationally as an adult in parts of Europe (so long as there is a club nearby). But there are some clubs for adults in America too I gather.

2ndly, there are MMA gyms of some sort in just about every town and city now in quite a few countries, so you should be able to do some 'wrestling for MMA' in such a place...

As for a syllabus, you could look at the USA wrestling curricula and go through each of the videos for each of the levels, and grade yourself ;)
https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Coaches/Core-Curriculum

They also have one part of the older USA syllabus from the 90s (which they uploaded at my behest! but I was hoping they would have the complete set, as I'd already seen this part and the 2nd part on takedowns which were the best instructionals I'd seen IMO so I was hoping to find a way to see the rest of it - if it even exists :rolleyes:).
Thank you so much. I think the Core Curriculum videos are really good. Very comprehensive and to the point. Maybe i would have never found them on my own.
 
Neil Malenson is the head grappling coach for Blackzillians. He trains Kamaru Usman and others. I've never seen any vid where he teaches oil checking, but maybe there is one out there. AFAIK, oil checking was popularized in the Submission Master video by Yoshiaki Fujiwara.
 
Thank you for the details. I think i will look elsewhere for videos.

i have flowcharts for wrestling for mma that i use for each position if u like i could give it to you 90% of moves listed can be found on youtube if you search it

i feel most pros have issues due to not having enough tools most guys i know only do like 3 takedowns they will shoot a single run the pipe if doesnt work try to turn into a double and body locks from double unders
 
Neil Malenson is the head grappling coach for Blackzillians. He trains Kamaru Usman and others. I've never seen any vid where he teaches oil checking, but maybe there is one out there. AFAIK, oil checking was popularized in the Submission Master video by Yoshiaki Fujiwara.

neil may be a great ground grappling coach but is he actually teaching the wrestling there too? with guys such as michael chandler rashad evans ect? i hope not
 
There is a fuckton of wrestling videos online. No need to watch any catch wrestling crap from people who haven't won anything or stuff from Neil Malenson on oil checking people.
You should be learning wrestling in MMA at a MMA gym.
tbh your only gonna get that at one of the very top gyms most mma gyms only show very basic stuff due to lack of technique and dont use any wrestling techniques on the ground
 
tbh your only gonna get that at one of the very top gyms most mma gyms only show very basic stuff due to lack of technique and dont use any wrestling techniques on the ground

No need for wrestling techniques on the ground when you can train high level top and bottom game BJJ.

But definitely a need for a solid takedown game.
 
No need for wrestling techniques on the ground when you can train high level top and bottom game BJJ.

But definitely a need for a solid takedown game.
very wrong i wish it were that easy theirs a reason bjj guys cant hold guys down today guys get right up now people dont engaged in grapplng anymore be honest how often do you see guys get taken down put into half guard passed to side then mount then the back lol very very rarely
 
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