Submission wrestling, also known as submission fighting and submission grappling or simply grappling, is a martial art and combat sport that focuses on ground fighting and submission techniques. It is a hybrid discipline that incorporates elements of various martial arts such as various wrestling styles, judo, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Submission wrestling is practiced both as a competitive sport and as a training method for self-defence and mixed martial arts (MMA).

Submission wrestling is a grappling-based combat sport and martial art that focuses on controlling an opponent through techniques such as joint locks, chokeholds, and positional dominance. Competitors may win matches by forcing an opponent to submit, usually by “tapping out,” or by earning points through takedowns, reversals, guard passes, and dominant positions depending on the ruleset used. The sport combines techniques from several martial arts and combat systems, including catch wrestling, freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, judo, sambo, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Training commonly includes drilling techniques, live sparring (often called “rolling”), and conditioning exercises designed to improve technical ability, endurance, flexibility, and overall physical fitness.

Safety is considered an important aspect of submission wrestling, as athletes are taught to recognize dangerous positions and submit before serious injury occurs. Referees may also stop a match if a competitor is unable to defend themselves or is in immediate danger. Unlike some martial arts, submission wrestling does not follow a universal ranking structure. Certain disciplines, such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu, use colored belt systems to indicate experience and progression, while other styles, such as catch wrestling, place greater emphasis on competition performance and practical skill development rather than formal ranks.

Submission wrestling has gained international popularity due to its effectiveness in mixed martial arts (MMA), where grappling ability is considered a major component of fighting strategy. Organizations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) have helped increase public awareness of grappling-focused combat sports, as many successful fighters rely heavily on submission techniques and ground control. According to the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), grappling arts emphasize “technique and leverage over strength,” allowing smaller competitors to defend themselves against larger opponents. Many practitioners also train in submission wrestling for self-defense, physical fitness, and competitive achievement.

Background

In Ancient Greece, pankration emerged as a popular combat sport around the 7th century BCE. Pankration combined striking and grappling techniques, including joint locks and chokes, and was even included in the Ancient Olympic Games. In Japan, jujutsu became prominent in the 17th century. Jujutsu focused on using an opponent's energy against them and included techniques like joint locks, throws, and pins.

The term "no-gi" usually refers to a form of competition and training that does not use the gi, the "combat kimono" worn in traditional martial arts. "No-gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu" is often used as a synonym of submission wrestling in some circles, thanks to this art being a primarily ground fighting and submission seeking fighting style.

Objective

In submission wrestling, the primary objective is to force an opponent to submit through the application of joint locks, chokes, or other submission holds. Unlike freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, which often involve pinning an opponent's shoulders to the ground for victory, submission wrestling emphasises techniques that can lead to a submission such as tapping out or verbally submitting.

Submission wrestling competitions, often referred to as no-gi, grappling tournaments or submission-only events, can vary in rulesets. Some competitions allow competitors to use strikes, while others focus solely on grappling techniques. Points may be awarded for takedowns, dominant positions, and near-submissions. However, the ultimate goal is to secure a submission, which ends the match. Inspired from Pancrase matches as well as from the original Gracie Challenge. Combat Jiu-Jitsu gained wider exposure after partnering with UFC Fight Pass through Eddie Bravo Invitational events.The ruleset differs from traditional Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition by allowing open-handed strikes on the ground while prohibiting closed-fist punches and standing strikes. Eddie Bravo later expanded the format through Combat Jiu-Jitsu World Championships and the female-only Medusa tournaments.

CJJ incorporates No-Gi BJJ techniques while adding open palm strikes allowing competitors to strike each other on the ground to open up the defense, CJJ matches are won by submission within the regulation period, or a winner is determined by EBI overtime rules.

First ran as competitive matches during his invitational events, starting with EBI 11 in 2017, the first Combat Jiu-Jitsu World event took place in 2018.

Combat Submission Wrestling

Combat Submission Wrestling (CSW) is a modern form of submission wrestling (and MMA system) developed by Erik Paulson, former Shooto light heavyweight champion.

It includes grappling, submissions, and striking.

It is a style that borrows elements and techniques from grappling styles including catch wrestling, Shooto, judo, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu along with striking styles such as boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai. CSW was designed as a complete mixed martial arts system integrating striking, clinching, takedowns, and submission grappling. Paulson developed the system after training extensively in Shoot Wrestling, catch wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, Muay Thai, and Jeet Kune Do concepts. The system has been used to train numerous MMA athletes, including former UFC and PRIDE competitors such as Josh Barnett, Sean Sherk, and Brock Lesnar.

Erik Paulson is recognized as the first American to win a Shooto world championship in Japan.

Hayastan Wrestling

Hayastan Grappling System or Hayastan Freestyle Wrestling, is a submission grappling style developed by multiple grappling black belts Gokor Chivichyan and Gene LeBell that blends elements of judo, sambo, catch wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling.

This system includes all forms of submissions, including leg locks, footlocks, kneebars, heel hooks, shoulder locks, wrist locks, neck cranks, body cranks, chokes and others.

American Jiu-Jitsu

American Jiu-Jitsu is a combination of wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu developed in the US. The first person who was associated with this term was MMA fighter Jake Shields, who stated that it was an "Americanized" form of BJJ.

In 2019, Keenan Cornelius, a BJJ black belt from San Diego, founded his personal academy that he named Legion American Jiu-Jitsu (AJJ).

After that, he started to explain the style to the media, which caused a backlash from the Brazilian community, although Cornelius continued promoting his academy.

Grappling tournaments and organizations

  • ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship
  • International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation
  • World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship
  • European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship
  • Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship
  • Brazilian Nationals Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship
  • Polaris Pro Grappling
  • United World Wrestling
  • NAGA
  • Grapplers Quest
  • ONE Championship

See also

  • Styles of wrestling

References