Should my kid do BJJ or Wrestling first? (An HONEST answer from BJJ Athlete & Ex Wrestler)

[@stayathomedad75]

I have 7 and 9 year old girls. I think BJJ is better for the very young kids to start with (the older has been training since 4 yo and the younger started at 6 yo). Both train exclusively in the gi. Its slower and less explosive. Based on their personalities, I highly doubt they would have stuck with wrestling. That said, I've taught them a number of wrestling fundamentals to fill in holes in their bjj.

[@brandonreed3x]

That’s great! Personalities really do make a difference. Thanks for that informative perspective

[@todd2324]

So, you think BJJ is better to start with based on personality types? Kids being exposed to wrestling because it's explosive and fast-paced to me is one of the best reasons to start wrestling early.

[@DanveerSingh-py9ix]

My biggest regret was never doing high school wrestling. I will encourage my children boy or girl to do wrestling because of all the important lessons it teaches

[@brandonreed3x]

I agree!

[@Tpwn3d]

Never too late. I took my first shot at age 20 and had my first collegiate (Junior College) wrestling match at 26. We had guys on the team as old as 40. I took the time to really take care of my body and with 2 years of college wrestling I don't feel all beat down.

[@Wavyso]

@@Tpwn3dsame here in my third year of college wrestling I’m 25

[@brandonreed3x]

@ that’s awesome.

[@todd2324]

​@@Tpwn3dTrue, but if you're not in college the time has run out.

[@todd2324]

I'm glad you talked about this. It's good information for parents. I agree with you 100% on wrestling first. I regret not wrestling in middle and high school. The wrestlers who come into my gym always give the traditional jiu-jitsu guys a harder time. My sons for sure are going to start with wrestling, especially because it's little to no cost. And then BJJ when they are older.

[@natureboyzay3928]

My son started football first at 6 and learned a lot of lesson’s he took interest into wrestling and started after the football season at 6 I can say wrestling has really brought his athleticism out and put a passion of conditioning and hard work into him! He’s on his second year and loving it.

[@brandonreed3x]

That’s awesome!

[@MrCmon113]

Football and rugby are amazing martial arts although most ppl don't conceptualize them like that.

[@MrCmon113]

The main reason is that wrestling for adults simply doesn't exist in many places. Also the most important question isn't what's better for your fighting ability, but what's better for the child to make friends and have fun.

[@ItsTruthMedia]

Iroquois Misses you man!! You’re Definitely a LEGEND in the wrestling room!

[@brandonreed3x]

Thanks!

[@Kuduloka]

100% agree. I myself got into Jiu-Jitsu right out of high school and wish I'd wrestled prior. But throughout my career in BJJ I've gotten more and more into wrestling. I've been fortunate that I'm quite healthy and have been able to pursue acquiring wrestling skills in my adult years (despite all the injuries I've racked up in BJJ 😅).

[@brandonreed3x]

That’s awesome to hear

[@Howleebra]

The biggest difference between wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu is that one is a publicly funded competitive sport where athletes have to compete for spots on a team and the other one is a private business where you're the client of the instructor whose risk-averse and Profit minded compared to the wrestling coach whose primary motivation is to win and has the power of the state behind them... If Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was free in the public school system and wrestling was only available as a hobby under a client coach relationship things would look radically different, it's actually has very little to do with the techniques but the culture as your competitive class ages with you

[@brandonreed3x]

Great points

[@donaldnewell4868]

My son is 13 years old and started both wrestling and BJJ in 2021. For a couple of years, he trained in each discipline three days a week. Last year, he decided he wanted to win our county’s Middle School Wrestling Championship, so he focused almost entirely on wrestling, training six or seven days a week. At this age, the difference in training intensity between wrestling and BJJ is significant. Wrestling workouts are typically one and a half to two hours long, with strength and conditioning included. There’s also more live wrestling and positional sparring than in BJJ classes. Because youth wrestling is so intense, there is a lot of turnover; the kids who stick with it tend to be those who embrace the harder workouts. Wrestling also requires more time commitment for middle and high school students compared to BJJ. I’m glad my son decided to concentrate on wrestling at this age, but I know it’s not the right choice for everyone. Some kids will be turned off by the frequent, randomly called set of 20 push-ups, 20 sit-ups, and 20 burpees thrown in between drilling stand-ups, but those same kids might thrive in a 50-minute BJJ class.

[@brandonreed3x]

Thanks for sharing your experience, that’s a great point!

[@rns7426]

I agree with you. Wrestling first. BJJ will always be there. Wrestling is available for a very finite time scholastically. Once the time is done there is no recreational wrestling. BJJ or Judo is there for when wrestling is over. Unless you are overseas then Judo is as competitive and intensive as wrestling but still available recreationally.

[@brandonreed3x]

Forsure! Thanks and that was a great way to add depth to the convo for others who may not understand

[@patman4635]

I have personal experience with me and my kids. First me. I was a orange belt and had my @ss handed to me by a guy same size but I was stronger, I worked out. It was in Kenpo, we never hit a bag and basically shadow boxed. And as everyone in Martial arts knows when you punch and never hit a solid object you wrist will break or hurt and make you useless. I soon quit and started wrestling, and it was the best thing I ever did. Wrestling was the only thing that enabled me to overpower a significantly larger person, not Kenpo, Taekwondo, or Karate. Bjj is just wresting but +++. I was going to put my kids in wrestling but Covid hit. They are now in Bjj and thriving. Wrestling is good and mostly integrated into schools, so maybe a scholarship in the future, not in Bjj. If I had to choose again, I am cheating, I would do both, but add Free Style Wrestling too. I see it now in the classes. The timing of your post is perfect, my family just watched UFC2, a skinny not imposing Brazilian man 170lb 6ft. beat some very dangerous fighters from multiple martial arts to win the championship. I highly recommend you watch it. No weight classes few rules, BJJ was the winner that day.

[@Blackout-q9j]

Started wrestling young. State level team that competed against some of the best teams on the east coast. Wrestled a good portion of the year. Practiced almost everyday of the week, including holidays. Started BJJ at 38. Now, as an adult in my mid-forties, I can tell you that wrestling is a great foundation, not only for Jiu Jitsu but for life!

[@brandonreed3x]

I love that - congrats on your long grappling career!

[@awesomeGking]

3:55 thats definitely not how it is in most public schools but im happy to hear thats how it was for you. My district charges $300 per sport unless you play all three seasons or have multiple kids playing

[@awesomeGking]

I guess my district might be the outlier though. Couldve worded that better sorry. More of a question than a statement

[@brandonreed3x]

I was in a school full or poor kids. Iroquois high school. No one could afford $300 a year for sport. Government funding pretty much allowed for us to have the most limited schedule possible, but at least it was free. The con of this system is we often missed out on the bigger comps because we couldn’t afford to drive far. This is the reality of many poor urban schools like Iroquois

[@awesomeGking]

@@brandonreed3x that's actually really refreshing to hear. Glad you saw and responded. I remember it being hard on some of the families in my district and the kids being aware of it even at that age

[@brandonreed3x]

Yea, it's the harsh reality of things. But at least I was able to compete for free (even against lesser comp), the same can not be said for BJJ kids. Man travel fees, hotels, food, no public backing. It's becoming a Blue Collar-Rich Kid sport.

[@sammyjiujitsu]

Haven’t finished the video and wrestling is my choice. Jiu Jitsu doesn’t develop athletic ability in the way wrestling does. Even retired wrestlers are a problem in JJ, some of the older fellas I train with still have very dialed in reflexes. Judo is similar in this way. I wish I wrestled at least 1 year in highschool but they added it after I graduated. Also while Jiu Jitsu is becoming more mainstream, Wrestling can pay for your education. I tell all the youngsters if they pay for your education. Go wrestle, you can always train Jiu Jitsu.

[@devlinwissig655]

Wrestling first in my opinion and experience. Wrestled young and started no gi JJ at 47. The wrestling base compliments jiu jitsu and is easier to merge. If you anticipate a wrestling pace going into JJ, you are pleasantly surprised at how much easier it is physically. I couldn’t imagine starting bjj first and then entering wrestling practice. Even in my youth.

[@zyncarla]

I wrestled for 8 years made it to once in out of state as a 240lb heavyweight. Didn’t find bjj till I turned 39. My three year does it with me. Granted his classes are just rerolling around learning body control. He’ll start wrestling around 6. I feel like the bjj aspect makes the kids I’m seeing more confident on the ground searching for their pin. More calm and collected controlling others.

[@brandonreed3x]

That’s awesome

[@ByronC900]

Wrestling is typically free. The competitions are free. If you have to pick one, go with wrestling. Once your kid graduates high school, there is a high percent chance he will never "wrestle" again. You can join a local BJJ gym at any time.

[@drag11ish]

Bjj and - Wrestling or Judo?

[@brandonreed3x]

Ideally all

[@ijrebuck]

All of these are great points for wrestling first. One addition I’d make is the end goal: wrestling is all about controlling positions and pinning, so it is inherently and psychologically less violent (although you may get injured more). The end goal of BJJ is to submit someone using a weakness in their joints/choke them. I understand the practical outcome can be case-by-case, but this is just the root goal of each sport and what it’s teaching kids. This is coming from a non-wrestler and a bjj practitioner

[@brandonreed3x]

Great points

[@beastieking1]

Started wrestling at 13 and besides the initial getting caught in guillotines and triangles, wrestling has given me a head and shoulders advantage positionally and base wise to defend sweeps. Plus side control pinning until I know where I want to go. At blue belt I could outpoint upper belts frequently and now that submissions have come more into my game at purple belt. I think the best choice is wrestling in early childhood/adolescence,teenage years then jiu jitsu is the perfect combination. Not the other way around imo. I incorporated some judo too since I’m primarily in the Gi

[@brandonreed3x]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@Graffight]

I agree... Wrestling also has conditioning, intensity and explosiveness that BJJ doesn't necessarily have. Also for now the better athletes and competition is in wrestling... That may change but for now if you want to be the best athlete against the best competition, wrestling has the advantage.

[@brandonreed3x]

I agree!

[@Jonesislearning]

Im a 7 1/2 jits guy just got my purple belt. I wish we had more wrestling based classes. When 😢he wrestlers come in, these 18-19 yr old kids who wrestled give me such the hardest time

[@brandonreed3x]

Understandable!

[@tathanarmas]

My bjj instructor told me this exactly, better start with wrestling because of the gymnastics and I can do bjj with them on the sides

[@samuelbeza1710]

Takedown, pass the guard, control, submit According to this timeless algorithm, you got to get the take down first; so any form of stand-up grappling is a necessity! I think the big thing that's important is not developing the habit of exposing your back. Thoughts?

[@brandonreed3x]

I think you underestimate the human ability to adapt to different rulesets. I play on my back everyday for 4 years of BJJ, but if I was in a wrestling match I wouldn’t

[@samuelbeza1710]

@brandonreed3x definitely a fatal flaw of bjj- getting use to play on your back. Thank you for connecting with the fans 😁

[@USALibertarian]

Whichever is cheapest. BJJ seems like more to learn. So I'd start BJJ, then wrestling as soon as it is offered at school, then back to BJJ. Different regions have different availability for each.

[@brandonreed3x]

Wrestling is much cheaper than BJJ

[@thecaribbeanhashira]

Great video, appreciate the info brother💪😎

[@MuayThaiDreadlock]

I have five children between ages 3-16. Two boys, three girls. Everyone wrestles besides the bby (for now) They started with BJJ for a few months but the fell in love with wrestling.

[@brandonreed3x]

That’s so awesome

[@GaijinEagle7]

Thanks for the useful info. We live in a country where wrestling is not as available, so we have our 4 year old son in judo (once a week) and BJJ (twice a week). What do you think of this combination, in terms of pros & cons?

[@brandonreed3x]

Sounds great!

[@yvnginfinity]

I didn’t know you were from Louisville, that’s crazy!

[@brandonreed3x]

Yup!

[@yvnginfinity]

@ if you don’t mind me asking, where do you train (if you still do actively)

[@brandonreed3x]

I live In Montreal Canada. I train all over the place. I am no longer in the 502

[@darrenphillips2188]

I have to disagree with you that wrestling doesn't produce world class athletes, all the studies show it literally produces some of the most explosive dynamic strength that is unmatched in comparison to other sports, especially Greco, producing unfathomable explosive power from shortened muscles positions, other athletes have to train years of sports and conditioning to even get to the base level of a wrestler, it's quite insane

[@brandonreed3x]

Great points

[@breaker3269]

@@brandonreed3xthe best athletes are in wrestling…

[@brandonreed3x]

@@breaker3269 we have very different definitions of athletes because Pro basketball and football are killing wrestlers by my definition. Being an athlete isn't who is the toughest or has the best cardio. Wrestling wins that for sure. Being an athlete is who can run the fastest, jump the highest, move the most weight, all while being huge. The average Professional Basketball Player is 6'6 250lbs. The average Professional wrestler is 5'7 and 165lbs. They are not the same.

[@breaker3269]

@@brandonreed3x yes we definitely do have different opinions on what makes a great athlete. For me I never understood why jumping high and running fast is what defines athleticism in a whole.. doesn’t make a lot of sense to me on a physiological level. There are like 10 other athletic attributes in the human body that people ignore. But because of the popularity of a game/sport that requires it the most..there’s an inherent bias.. And size and height are not athletic abilities. That’s a physical attribute.. like in the game of basketball you could be tall and just jump high.. I’m some cases not even jump high jus tall. But you can play in the NBA if you have The basketball skill set.. with a physical attributes and singular one dimensional athletic ability for the most part.. I’ve seen lots of football players in basketball players come on the mat and they are shit athletes for the sport of wrestling. Don’t care how fast you can run or high you can jump.. they’re missing like 7 more Athletic attributes

[@brandonreed3x]

@@breaker3269 great points. I don't think we will agree. But, I don't hate your points.

[@sincityinfinity6255]

Wrestling

[@tribalman9668]

Let him do the three.. judo, wrestling and bjj.. that way it will become one as it supposed to be ..

[@brandonreed3x]

Did you listen to the part about the 2hour time constraint

[@tribalman9668]

@ one hour GI another no GI.. one hour judo/ bjj another hour wrestling/ bjj. Do not make a distinction on styles just teach the proper techniques and applications.. mixed grapplings arts since the beginning and integrate the GI and non GI techniques

[@siramoncai]

Then be mediocre at everything. I hate parents that try and live vicariously through their kids.

[@brandonreed3x]

@@tribalman9668 that’s not how it works. You don’t just get to leave wrestling practice after an hour at a school. They have kids. Kids go to school from 7-2:30. They practice from 2:45-4:45. You can’t just leave in the middle of a scholastic wrestling practice. Now add the time it would take to get to BJJ class, which usually don’t start till night time 5/6pm. Most parents don’t have the privilege to do both with time constraints. They have work, kids have homework, chores, family time, etc.

[@siramoncai]

@@brandonreed3x yea very few kids get the opportunity to train all three to a level worth it if they train them simultaneously. Financially it's also not feasible for most parents. Luckily wrestling is generally going to be cheaper and some youth wrestling programs are even free. Unless a kid is home schooled and manages to get practices during the day it's my belief that kid is going to be "ok" at everything. Kids wrestle naturally where as trying to teach advanced guard movements to a child is far more difficult and honestly some of these BJJ schools have snake oil salesman as instructors creating additional fake belt colors or stripes to prolong kids from promotion not for skill acquisition but to squeeze as much money as possible from each parent. A lot of times especially kids who have parents trying to get their kids to do BJJ at like 4 years old aren't paying for BJJ..they are paying for childcare and their kid to play stupid games completely unrelated to learning how to grapple.

[@InvisibleHotdog]

Wrestling. They can get good then go to BJJ blue belt and dominate lol

[@brandonreed3x]

True!

[@ll2nycell]

my gym offers bjj and wrestling, and my girls go there and they don't want to do wrestling they want to do bjj. They like the submissions. I think it would be more beneficial for the body mechanics and the grit, but I do like they know how to choke the shit out of some kid or break their arm. I don' think theres subs in wrestling.

[@brandonreed3x]

There are no subs in wrestling

[@SillyRobot]

@@brandonreed3xwe have headlocks, and we can go to a choke position from head throw