grappler

A grappler is a practitioner of grappling, a form of close-quarters combat that stresses control, leverage, and technique over sheer force. Grapplers aim to take an opponent to the ground, control them, and force a submission or a pin, or to win by points in a sport context.

Grappling encompasses several disciplines, including wrestling (folk, freestyle, Greco-Roman), judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, sambo, and catch wrestling. Each discipline emphasizes different aspects: wrestling prioritizes takedowns and pins; judo emphasizes throws and pins; BJJ emphasizes ground control and submissions; sambo blends throws with groundwork; catch wrestling emphasizes pins and submissions.

Techniques involve clinching, takedowns, takedown defense, guard work, top control, pins, joint locks (armbars, kimuras), and chokes (rear-naked, guillotine). Training focuses on drilling technique, conditioning, and sparring, with safety and rules varying by sport.

Grappling has ancient origins in wrestling traditions around the world. In modern combat sports, grappling arts were codified during the 19th and 20th centuries, influencing the development of judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and modern mixed martial arts. The term grappler is commonly used in sports and self-defense contexts to describe someone skilled at ground-based fighting and control.

In mixed martial arts, grapplers often rely on takedowns to bring the fight to the ground, then use positional control and submissions to win. Notable grapplers have achieved recognition across BJJ, wrestling, and MMA, contributing to the evolution of sport grappling and technique sharing.