Which is harder to learn, striking or grappling?

[EGarrett]

I've heard different opinions on this. So would like some good feedback.

 

[NightwingBJJ]

It depends on you, how fast you learn and what you gravitate towards. With that being said I find Grappling easier for me because it was much safer and easier to implement what I've been taught in a competitive situation. With striking, I've got messed up during sparring a lot of times and I am still in the process of figuring out my style and how to implement it.

 

[HHJ]

I find my defense in striking is much harder to pick up than defensive grappling.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Both are easy to learn, but takes years to master a style/technique.

 

[ilfirin]

I've seen more strikers become good grapplers than I have grapplers become good strikes. But I'd argue it boils down to how easy of a time you have learning new things.

 

[HHJ]

It seems in mma the consensus for the longest time its easier to teach the grapplers striking than the other way around...but the results have sort of shifted the other way as time passes,and we've seen some strikers really hold their own on the ground as they progress in their careers. Or some grapplers who train in mma,use their grappling abilities in reserve,like Jose Aldo or Yoel Romero. Those are the really dangerous "this aint even my final fucking form" dudes.

 

[RedSoul]

It's a lot easier to jump into sparring with grappling, IMO.

 

[Kahran]

As has already been mentioned, it's completely dependent on every individual and that's the reason you've heard different opinions, there's no correct answer here. Most people are far more comfortable in one area than the other depending on their body's attributes, the only thing anyone can tell you is what they personally find to be true for themselves.

 

[BrazilianDude]

Offensive striking is easier than offensive grappling
Defensive grappling is easier than defensive striking
That's my opinion up to intermediate level.
Top level requires a combination of a ton of hard work and at least some talent. McGregor can probably grapple the rest of his life and never reach the same level of his striking. For Palhares, it's the other way around.
Body type, explosion, all that counts...

 

[HHJ]

It's a lot easier to jump into sparring with grappling, IMO.

I wouldve thought that to be the case but it wasnt with me...grappling was so much more instinctual...that even if i couldnt beat people in grappling i could at least make a go of it without being taught. Striking,it took forever....i rarely ever saw punches coming,and the punches i did through would be too predictable. I had to learn to feint,to land anything,and that takes alot of time.

 

[HHJ]

Offensive striking is easier than offensive grappling
Defensive grappling is easier than defensive striking
That's my opinion up to intermediate level.
Top level requires a combination of a ton of hard work and at least some talent. McGregor can probably grapple the rest of his life and never reach the same level of his striking. For Palhares, it's the other way around.
Body type, explosion, all that counts...

Good post,id agree with this more or less.

 

[TewPoint0]

Striking is a bitch. First day in kickboxing gym and my instructor had a pro fighter knee me in the body 200 times. They wanted to see if i'd come back. I did, but I was terrified.

 

[HHJ]

Striking is a bitch. First day in kickboxing gym and my instructor had a pro fighter knee me in the body 200 times. They wanted to see if i'd come back. I did, but I was terrified.

My coach knew how to blast hard with knees to the forehead and body,but nothing that would really hurt me somehow.He had good control, It was rough but not that id get koed or anything like that. Fuck i miss that shit even though its horrible at the time,as soon as its done you wanna do it again.

 

[BrazilianDude]

Striking is a bitch. First day in kickboxing gym and my instructor had a pro fighter knee me in the body 200 times. They wanted to see if i'd come back. I did, but I was terrified.

Unless the first thing you did was beat up a girl who was also a beginner, your instructor seems like a jerk...

 

[MMACroatia]

Striking,but it depends on a person most of the time.

 

[HHJ]

This is an interesting thread..as it brings up the point of well rounded fighters. To me guys like GSP,they are built to excel at almost anything,but not everyone is...some people are more naturally gifted in on area and not in others.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

Fuck i miss that shit even though its horrible at the time,as soon as its done you wanna do it again.

True statement

 

[HHJ]

True statement

I think everyone needs something like that in their life.

 

[Headkicktoleg]

Offensive striking is easier than offensive grappling
Defensive grappling is easier than defensive striking
That's my opinion up to intermediate level.
Top level requires a combination of a ton of hard work and at least some talent. McGregor can probably grapple the rest of his life and never reach the same level of his striking. For Palhares, it's the other way around.
Body type, explosion, all that counts...

This is exactly what I was going to post.

 

[TheLuckiest]

Striking is inherently more difficult if you look at what makes you a good striker. Much of what a makes a good striker a good striker are natural gifts such as quickness, durability, coordination, and reflexes. It isn't that you can't improve those things, but just that it involves a lot more attributes than grappling does. Plus, getting hit in the face and still being able to strike is harder than grappling, thus why 90% of the time when someone is rocked, they immediately shoot for a takedown or clinch up. Defensive grappling and stalling is easy to learn and can be drilled constantly. Sparring too much can be a detriment to your health in a big way.

My grappling experience introduced me to a ton of guys who have crap vision, poor reflexes, and aren't what you would consider "tough", but they get into that flow state on the ground and force you to operate at their pace, plus, they don't have to worry about getting tagged in the face or GNP, so they are calm and care free.