Submission Arts Wrestling vs. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: A Historical Showdown

The Roots of Catch Wrestling

Catch Wrestling, the predecessor to Submission Arts Wrestling, has its origins in the rough-and-tumble world of 19th-century carnivals and fairs. Traveling wrestlers would challenge locals to matches, often with high stakes and few rules. This environment bred a pragmatic, no-nonsense approach to grappling.

Key Historical Points:

1. Lancashire Roots: Catch Wrestling’s earliest formal development can be traced to Lancashire, England, in the 1800s. Miners and factory workers developed techniques for close-quarters combat and entertainment.
2. Carnival Circuit: By the late 19th century, Catch Wrestling had become a staple of traveling carnivals in both Europe and America. Wrestlers had to be prepared for all types of opponents and styles.
3. Farmer Burns and Frank Gotch: These American wrestlers helped popularize and codify Catch Wrestling in the early 20th century. Gotch’s 1908 world championship victory over George Hackenschmidt brought international attention to the sport.
4. Worked Matches: As professional wrestling evolved, many Catch wrestlers transitioned to predetermined outcomes, but the techniques remained deadly effective.

The Birth and Rise of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s story begins much later but is no less fascinating. It’s a tale of adaptation, family legacy, and global expansion.

Key Historical Points:

1. Mitsuyo Maeda: This Japanese judoka and prizefighter brought his art to Brazil in 1914. He became known as “Count Koma” and began teaching his style of judo (then called Kano Jiu-Jitsu) to locals.
2. The Gracie Family: Carlos Gracie, one of Maeda’s students, taught his brothers, including Helio Gracie. Helio, being smaller and weaker, adapted the techniques to rely more on leverage and timing than strength.
3. Vale Tudo: The Gracies popularized their art through challenge matches and Vale Tudo (no-holds-barred) competitions in Brazil, proving the effectiveness of their ground-fighting style.
4. Global Expansion: Rorion Gracie brought BJJ to the United States in the 1970s, eventually leading to the creation of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 1993.

Philosophical and Technical Differences

While both arts focus on ground fighting and submissions, their approaches differ significantly:

1. Catch Wrestling Philosophy: “There’s always a hook.” Catch emphasizes aggressive submission hunting, often using pain compliance and a wider variety of submission holds.
2. BJJ Philosophy: “Position before submission.” BJJ focuses on controlling an opponent through superior positioning before attempting a submission.
3. Standing Techniques: Catch Wrestling traditionally places more emphasis on takedowns and throws, influenced by its wrestling roots.
4. Guard Play: BJJ has developed a complex system of guard positions and sweeps, while Catch Wrestling traditionally emphasizes passing or avoiding guard entirely.

Cross-Pollination and Influence

Despite their different origins, Catch Wrestling and BJJ have influenced each other over the years:

1. MMA Influence: The rise of mixed martial arts has led to practitioners of both arts adopting techniques from each other.
2. Leg Locks: Once more associated with Catch Wrestling, leg locks have become increasingly popular in BJJ competitions.
3. Modern Catch Wrestling: Some modern Catch Wrestling schools have incorporated BJJ-style positional training and guard work into their curriculum.
4. No-Gi BJJ: The popularity of no-gi BJJ competition has led to increased emphasis on wrestling-style takedowns and pressure passing, areas traditionally associated with Catch Wrestling.

Key Figures in the Modern Era

Both arts have seen influential figures shape their modern forms:

1. Catch Wrestling:

• Karl Gotch: Brought Catch techniques to Japan, influencing professional wrestling and MMA.
• Josh Barnett: Former UFC heavyweight champion known for his Catch Wrestling style.
• Sakuraba: Japanese MMA fighter who famously defeated several members of the Gracie family.

1. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:

• Rickson Gracie: Considered by many to be the greatest BJJ practitioner of all time.
• Marcelo Garcia: Innovator of many modern BJJ techniques.
• Gordon Ryan: Dominant force in modern no-gi grappling, known for blending BJJ with leg lock systems.

The Future of Grappling

As both arts continue to evolve, we’re seeing a convergence of styles in competitive grappling:

1. Submission-Only Formats: Competitions like EBI and Polaris have encouraged a more submission-hunting style reminiscent of Catch Wrestling.
2. ADCC Influence: The ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) World Championships have become a melting pot of grappling styles, showcasing the best of both Catch Wrestling and BJJ.
3. Cross-Training: Many top grapplers now cross-train in both arts, creating well-rounded skill sets.

Conclusion

The historical showdown between Submission Arts Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not a story of opposition, but one of parallel evolution and eventual convergence. Both arts have proven their effectiveness in combat sports and self-defense, and both continue to adapt and evolve.

For martial arts enthusiasts in Austin and beyond, understanding this rich history provides valuable context for training. Whether you’re drawn to the aggressive submission hunting of Catch Wrestling or the strategic positional control of BJJ, both arts offer a lifetime of learning and challenge.

As we continue to explore other martial arts in our blog series, we’ll see how these grappling arts fit into the broader landscape of combat sports and self-defense systems. Stay tuned for more deep dives into the fascinating world of martial arts!