BJJ v MMA training

mirwillbeback

Hi,

Was just wondering what people's opinions are on the differences between the two ( apart from the obvious ) and the way they are thought.

I would have thought that maybe 70% of the styles are the same, as you do have the fundamental positions, and movement.

Obviously the difference is that the set ups in MMA may involve taking a good few punches while you work for it. It does appear that leg locks are far fewer in MMA as it often means giving up position and being in a bad spot if it doesn't work.

There is the flip side of that too, that if you get mount for example, it's a lot easier to set up an armbar if you are punching to the face as the defensive hands come up a lot easier ( in my opinion )

Over the years though, many many great jits players have been unable to replicate their successes in MMA - why?

Anyone have any opinions on fundamental differences?

dunkamania

mirwillbeback wrote: »

Over the years though, many many great jits players have been unable to replicate their successes in MMA - why?

Not liking getting punched in the face

Jason Mc

Jiu-Jitsu fighters with sloppy takedowns is probably the biggest problem.

JJ is only one part of the game.

cowzerp

The top BJJ players use the suit to great affect, in MMA this is gone from there game, also they have risks they dont train for such as been knee'd in the face, punched when holding someone in guard, The BJJ players who make good MMA fighters also train, Muay Thai, Boxing, and other aspects of MMA, if not they will lose in most cases against modern day MMA fighters.


BJJ as a single discipline is brilliant but not enough to make a great MMA fighter.

mark.leonard

The fundamentals are identical in BJJ and MMA, the pressure on the ground is greater because if you fluff it you get face punched.

Jason triangled the correct - in BJJ competition both fighters are heading for the ground, they each hope to be on top, but both are heading there regardless, in MMA you have to take the guy down when he may have no interest in going there, a far more difficult proposition, throw in strikes and it explains a lot!

mirwillbeback

mark.leonard wrote: »

The fundamentals are identical in BJJ and MMA, the pressure on the ground is greater because if you fluff it you get face punched.

Jason triangled the correct - in BJJ competition both fighters are heading for the ground, they each hope to be on top, but both are heading there regardless, in MMA you have to take the guy down when he may have no interest in going there, a far more difficult proposition, throw in strikes and it explains a lot!

Is that why there are so few leg locks in MMA - to do with difficulty of set up when being punched?

cowzerp

mirwillbeback wrote: »

Is that why there are so few leg locks in MMA - to do with difficulty of set up when being punched?

In BJJ the suit would mean its harder to escape leg locks but tbh leg locks are not that common in BJJ either, Maintaining position is probably even more important in MMA due to the GnP so fighters wont risk going for leg locks unless there quite certain they'll get it.

Jason Mc

Control the head - control the body

mark.leonard

mirwillbeback wrote: »

Is that why there are so few leg locks in MMA - to do with difficulty of set up when being punched?

I wouldn't dream of speaking for pro MMA fighters, but its a distinct possibility. There is an additional factor of folks being able to "tough out" some leglocks with the adrenaline (Don Frye vs Ken Shamrock, Frank Mir vs Ian Freeman) that they wouldn't be able to do for a choke and the like.

Nothingcompares

I've never fought in the cage but I've done a bit of BJJ.

I think there are too many differences between MMA and BJJ to compare. You can however, discuss the difference between grappling in a MMA fight and grappling in a BJJ fight.

Yes, I agree the fundamentals stay the same. But if your BJJ is weak it will be exposed in MMA. Furthermore, there is much greater risk and greater consequences to mistakes in MMA. You make mistakes on the ground and your opponent takes mount, you're in a very precarious position in both contexts, but it's much easier to recover in BJJ. You can be pounded out in 10 seconds for this mistake.

Also some of the strategies that make a sports jitjitsu guy very successful in competition may be things like ability to pull guard or the ability to use turtle defence. Imagine using turtle defence in pride rules? These subtle things make the difference between BJJ champion and BJJ black belt. So while Bj Penn may no longer win Mundials he will bash Marcelo Garcia in MMA even under mmaleague rules in my opinion!