What attributes make a great Grappler?

[Jack Handy jr]

or gifts or what not.

After years of grappling I've come to the simple equation of "the grappling efficient of the fours"

1.Technique
2.Weight
3.Cardio
4.Strength

My formula is if your positive three on any one you will always win, or dominate another grappler,Jiujitseiro,judoka, or wrestler.

If you're equal two then it's a toss example you're stronger and have better technique vs a dude that has superior cardio and weighs more

What say you grappling brethren?

 

[Was at Pride GP 2000]

Commitment

 

[davou]

/thread

 

[Gambledub]

Mindset, Grappling IQ, Strategy also play a pretty big part imo. Hell even "toughness" or the unwillingness to quit.

 

[T-Bone]

I know I am a new white belt, but is Weight really an attribute to consider? Asking because we have weight classes, generally speaking.

Could replace it with Commitment and then have a good list IMO. But I am thinking Commitment in the match itself, and not in general. Like "who wants it more" mentality, or when boxers "go to the well" to muster everything they have.

-T

 

[jack36767]

I know I am a new white belt, but is Weight really an attribute to consider? Asking because we have weight classes, generally speaking.

Could replace it with Commitment and then have a good list IMO. But I am thinking Commitment in the match itself, and not in general. Like "who wants it more" mentality, or when boxers "go to the well" to muster everything they have.

-T

Come back in 5 years. Commitment in a match doesn't mean shit if you aren't committed to showup everyday. Sore, tired, hurt etc.

No the better word is obsession. Obsession is an attribute of all great grapplers.

 

[cjd]

Come back in 5 years. Commitment in a match doesn't mean shit if you aren't committed to showup everyday. Sore, tired, hurt etc.

No the better word is obsession. Obsession is an attribute of all great grapplers.

I think for most people, yes. Unless you kill yourself training, you'll break in matches.

But there are those rare birds who sleepwalk through practice and then just have a different gear in competition.

 

[jack36767]

I think for most people, yes. Unless you kill yourself training, you'll break in matches.

But there are those rare birds who sleepwalk through practice and then just have a different gear in competition.

I'm aware of those people. But you see an extremely common trend of unhealthy levels of obsession with all of the great grapplers more than anything else

 

[Jack Handy jr]

I know I am a new white belt, but is Weight really an attribute to consider? Asking because we have weight classes, generally speaking.

Could replace it with Commitment and then have a good list IMO. But I am thinking Commitment in the match itself, and not in general. Like "who wants it more" mentality, or when boxers "go to the well" to muster everything they have.

-T

I put weight down for like open weight match ups take me I'm a legit big gun. I know that my weight has allowed me to hang with far superior grapplers from a technique stand point.

So that's why I consider weight one of my four triangle points to what makes the primary grappling attributes. ( I know a triangle has two sides just go with it)

 

[davou]

eh, the question is what makes a great grappler. Being strong, heavy or having great cardio might help you win fights, but it does not make you a great grappler. Everything except point one in OP's list can be undone by butting heads with someone who has more of that attribute than you.

You can be strong as fuck, but it wont show much if you meet someone twice as strong.
Same goes for being big.
Same goes for being unstoppable for cardio.

However, if someone with amazing technique meets someone with amazing technique, you're going to see great grappling. Sure someone can still be smoked by someone with twice the skill, but that does not mean that there isn't a great grappler there.

Was-at-pride was spot on. Commitment is the only attribute that makes a great grappler. Ive seen people who come in strong, fast, heavy, big, flexible and have all those things help them find some small level of success. I've never seen someone start bjj and have innate understanding of grappling. It comes only with commitment.

 

[CYKO]

No the better word is obsession. Obsession is an attribute of all great grapplers.

Obsession, technique, strength, power, endurance... can apply to just about any sport if you want to be elite.

 

[Crotalis]

I like the list in the OP, but I feel like it applies more heavily to the lower belt levels. I would also change "weight" to "understanding how to use your weight". There's a lot of amazing grapplers who weigh less than a stapler but understand how to use what they've got to generate momentum, apply pressure etc.


At the higher levels though, IDK. For example, I'm a blue belt. There is a purple belt (pretty close to getting his brown) at my gym whom I have the advantage of weight, cardio and strength. His technique is so much better though, that my three advantages help me to accomplish jack squat against him when we roll. If it's whites or blues against other whites/blues though, I think you're absolutely right.

 

[Jack Handy jr]

Obsession, technique, strength, power, endurance... can apply to just about any sport if you want to be elite.

I like obsession. Guys that can hit like Bryce Harper in his book he said he spent ours at batting cages, a guy like Anderson silva said he would punch and kick an old punching bag in his yard for hours on end.

And though I've dropped gallons of sweat on the mats over the years I've never hit a punching bag for five hours or stayed at a batting cage all day.

People that when gold medals are obsessed take Jordan Burroughs from everything I can gather he is an obsessed workout freak of nature.

Just said all that to say I agree with Obssesing about Grappling taking one to the zenith of the sport.

 

[Chinaboxer]

high level efficiency.