Types Of Grappling Arts

There’s only one human body, default is four limbs and one head. There are many variations on how to grab each other to control, submit or inflict pain.

One modern way to categorize might be

• Sport (Rule sets)
• MMA / Vale Tudo (Rule sets + striking awareness)
• Self-Defense (No rules + striking awareness)
• LEO, Military (heigthened stakes up to death)
• Art (intellectual and aesthetic pursuit via the body)

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Wrestling Japanese Jiu Jitsu Judo
American Jiu Jitsu
Sambo 修斗（しゅうと、英: Shooto) but there’s more… so much more…

…

chronological overview of grappling traditions starting from the earliest recorded systems and moving toward modern codified styles. Dates are approximate because history is messy.

Ancient Grappling Traditions

𓂀 Egyptian Wrestling

Date: ~2000 BCE
Region: Ancient Egypt (Beni Hasan tombs)

• One of the oldest recorded grappling systems.

• Tomb murals depict hundreds of techniques: throws, trips, joint locks.

• Suggests a highly structured wrestling curriculum.

Pankration

Date: 648 BCE (Olympic introduction)
Region: Ancient Greece

• Combination of wrestling and striking.

• Allowed submissions, chokes, joint locks.

• One of the earliest mixed combat sports.

Shuai Jiao (摔跤)

Date: possibly ~2700 BCE roots (legendary), documented ~200 BCE
Region: China

• Jacket wrestling emphasizing throws and balance breaking.

• One of the oldest continuously practiced grappling systems.

Indian Malla-yuddha

Date: ~1500 BCE references
Region: Indian subcontinent

• Classical Indian wrestling.

• Included throws, locks, ground grappling, and striking variants.

• Later influenced Pehlwani.

Celtic Wrestling

Date: ~500 BCE onward
Region: Western Europe (Britain, Brittany)

Examples:

• Gouren – Brittany

• Cornish Wrestling – England

• Scottish Backhold Wrestling

Mostly upright jacket or belt wrestling styles.

Medieval / Early Asian Grappling

Sumo

Date: documented ~700 CE
Region: Japan

• Originally ritual combat for Shinto ceremonies.

• Focus on balance, force, and ring control.

Japanese Jujutsu (柔術)

Date: ~1500–1600s
Region: Japan

• Battlefield grappling used by samurai when weapons were lost.

• Included throws, joint locks, strangles, weapon control.

Modern Grappling Systems

Judo

Date: 1882
Region: Japan

Founder: Jigoro Kano

• Systematized from jujutsu.

• Strong pedagogy and randori training method.

• Spread worldwide.

Catch Wrestling

Date: ~1870s
Region: United Kingdom / USA

• “Catch-as-catch-can”

• Known for submission holds and leg locks.

• Influenced pro wrestling, sambo, MMA.

Sambo

Date: 1920–1930s
Region: Soviet Union

• Synthesized from judo, catch wrestling, local folk wrestling.

• Strong emphasis on leg locks and dynamic throws.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Date: ~1925 onward
Region: Brazil

• Derived from Kodokan Judo / Maeda lineage.

• Developed emphasis on guard and ground submissions.

Shooto

Date: 1985
Region: Japan

Founder: Satoru Sayama

• One of the earliest modern MMA rule systems.

Other Notable Grappling Styles

Additional grappling traditions worth listing:

• Glima — Iceland (~900 CE)

• Kurash — Central Asia (~1000+ years)

• Bokh — Mongolian wrestling (~13th century)

• Luta Livre — Brazil (~1920s)

• Kosen Judo — Japan (~1914)

• Freestyle Wrestling — Europe / USA (~1904 codified)

• Greco-Roman Wrestling — France (~1848 codified)

• Combat Sambo — USSR (~1938)

• Submission Grappling / No-Gi — Global (~1990s)

a taxonomy could be:

1. Folk Wrestling Systems

2. Jacket Wrestling Systems

3. Submission Grappling Systems

4. Hybrid Combat Systems