Which is harder to learn, striking or grappling?

[LilMountain]

Yes but, when you get into a fight, what is the first thing you do? You punch, grappling may come in later.

I would've said charge/tackle when it's legit rage

 

[Redmondo]

Striking is tougher for me. I have good dexterity with my legs so can kick pretty well and defend to an extent but I eat shit at boxing. It's like my mind just isn't built for it and I am one of those people who doesn't like to get hit. It actually angers me how bad I am at boxing!

Grappling, like a few have already said feels more natural, to me at least. I feel I could become really good at BJJ if I upped my training regime. Have no experience with straight up wrestling but with there being no submission I doubt I'd fair too well due to my body type

 

[discrawg]

It depends on the person. Also, the phrase "harder to learn" is too broad, learn to what level? And under what circumstances? What form of grappling? What form of striking? I'm not nit picking, these questions matter, these specifics actually change the answer to the initial question.
Defensive grappling is easier to learn than defensive striking, & that's generally speaking. In saying that, if you want to learn to stop the NCAA DIV 1 champ from taking you down, that defence is going to take a long long long time to learn. Then, how long will it take you to beat that NCAA DIV 1 champion in a straight wrestling match? Probably forever, so it can't get much harder, by definition, than that.
Striking in terms of boxing, it is very hard to learn how to defend at a high level, but that is within the realm of pure boxing. Meaning: If you are forced to BOX with prime Tyson in a ring without holding onto him, it is going to take you you're whole life to learn how to survive, and then you probably still won't. Now, if you are allowed to tie him up, then it makes it easier obviously. Some striking arts, involve a tie up as an offence, and as a defensive technique. So it matters which specific art/sport we're discussing.
The argument of strikers moving to grappling easier than grapplers moving to striking isn't valid in my opinion. The nature of being fundamentally sound striker does not go against the fundamentals of grappling, also as prior mentioned, generally speaking grappling DEFENCE is easier to pick up than striking DEFENCE, which means if the striker survives the better grapplers submissions, which is often the case, that is why. Now, on the other hand, we don't often see "strikers" submitting "grapplers", but we do see "grapplers" knocking people out after learning how to strike.
The phrase is too broad, it is a complicated question with no universal answer in my opinion. Way too many variables to consider.

 

[cassius84]

AJ and Deontay Wilder became olympic medalist within a couple of years of training. You will never see that in Judo/Wrestling. Deontay starter at 21 years of age. If anyone can name a judo/wrestler that became world/olympic medalist that startet at a later age then 20 I will be impressed.

If you look at MMA. There is a lot more grappling based fighters that have become good strikers by MMA standards then vice versa. Almost all UFC champions have quality striking by MMA standards from a grappling base.

Several grappling based fighters have beat good K-1 level strikers in K-1. Have you ever seen a striker beat a grappler in a grappling competition? Bob Sapp beat Ernesto Hoost twice in K-1...

Both striking and grappling is of course very difficult to master but its a lot easier for a less skilled fighter to win i striking match by the possibility to land a good strike and finishing the fight then landing a takedown and submission.

The room for error is much more devastating in striking then grappling coupled with the history of grapplers being more competative in striking then vice versa gives a pretty clear indication that grappling is harder to learn. Basing your argument on your own experience isnt good enough. We are all different. Some prefer striking and its more natural to than. Some prefer grappling.

 

[Deleted member 220895]

Striking is easier to forget. Because all of the concussions.

 

[tasticles]

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

I must be a genius or some striking savant then because I picked up boxing very fast. I do not have bad technique at all even under pressure but I have a very long ways to go before i can say i've mastered grappling. I've trained Judo for 3 years and BJJ around 6 months. I have some throws and submissions but I haven't mastered shit.

 

[Legendary]

Depends on what you define as grappling.

BJJ can be learned by anyone, I would say its the easiest to learn because its very technique based and you dont have to worry about taking strikes or getting taken down.

I feel that there is a little more of an athletic curve for learn striking at a decent level

Wrestling seems to be the hardest to learn.

There are also not many ways you can learn it unless you did it as a youth and or competed in college. If you happen to live in a area where there is a OTC, chances are they are gonna be busy with their training and the skill gap will be too much if you are lucky enough to spar. I would also say its the hardest to learn from a motor-memory point of view. You don't just start double legging guys at 30+ if you have never had experience.

So BJJ<Striking<Wrestling.

 

[Legendary]

Considering many top ten guys have top level grappling but almost none have top level striking it's probably the latter.

Honestly, even many UFC champions have had some pretty ordinary technique when it comes to striking offense, and yet they'd have success anyway because the striking defense of their opponents was so shithouse. With footwork alone I can count on two hands the number of UFC fighters who should be considered black belts in striking.

Who are the two guys?

 

[kflo]

Grappling practice / drills simulates grappling competition a lot more than striking practice / drills simulates striking competition.

But how fast you pick either up depends on your aptitude which can be different across each.

 

[nately]

It seems to be that there is a much higher degree of athletic talent required to be an elite striker than an elite grappler. So I'd say striking is much harder to learn.

 

[Bowel-forged Stool]

Easily striking. Career grapplers while they may develop punching power lack the reflex for great striking.

 

[Rum]

Who are the two guys?

Being able to count on two hands means at least 6 guys but less than 11.

What the hell is wrong with you?

Also, it was two and a half loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong years ago when I posted that, in who knows what state of inebriation. What in tarnation possessed you to think anyone who posts on an MMA message board would remember something like that?

 

[neverwas]

i think equal, top level grapplers are never great strikers and vice versa. you always get the anomalies who excel in one then pick up the other very easily.

 

[Brock-B-level-Athlete]

imo grappling, because it is much more natural than striking/boxing.

 

[MechMA]

Id argue more people can become decent at grappling. Imho it comes more naturally to most people.
That said, i think there are more people who are just gifted in striking than grappling. Like a month in a striking gym and they start being tough matchups for even some of the regulars who have done it a long time...
That doesnt happen as much in grappling. especially bjj... ive seen D1 wrestlers with superb athleticism get tapped by unassuming black belts several times within a few minutes.
However ive seen veteran strikers struggle with relative newcomers with insane intangibles.

Idk

 

[Wariowokecancel]

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

Go to a gym.

Grapple a dude.

Do some pummeling. Feel his weight on you.

Vomit from exhaustion.

That’s grappling.

Striking is a lark.

BJJ same.

Anybody who voted otherwise has never trained.

 

[Fortniter33]

Just about anyone can get a decent level of grappling if they train hard enough. To be a good striker means you either naturally have it or you don’t.

 

[Fortniter33]

Striking by far. Natural abilities won't take you nearly as far in striking as they will in grappling.

More like the other way around. Striking depends mostly on natural god given ability. Where as grappling just about anyone who puts in the time and dedication can get good at it.

If you’re naturally an uncoordinated guy you will always suck at striking but you could eventually become a decent grappler

 

[Fortniter33]

Striking, striking is very complex. Grappling is much more natural.

No way. Striking for me is way more natural. Grappling is way more complex. Have you even trained both before?

 

[BadJuju]

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

Grappling is harder