List of Grappling Martial Arts Styles

This page provides details about major and minor martial arts styles focused primarily on grappling and wrestling. It covers martial arts such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Shuai Jiao and many more. Hybrid systems are harder to classify because many have a grappling component. Nevertheless, we try to list those hybrid systems that contain a significant amount of grappling training (i.e. part of most training sessions).

If you think a style should be added to this page, please contact us. However, we will only accept martial arts styles that have many schools, an active style association/federation and/or a detailed Wikipedia page.

For martial arts styles from specific countries (i.e. Japan, Korea and China) and non-grappling martial arts, please visit the main Martial Arts Styles section.

Grappling Martial Arts - Click on each style for more information

1. Bokh - Bokh is a traditional wrestling martial arts that was practiced by Mongol warriors. It is better known today as Mongolian Wrestling.
2. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a Brazilian martial arts style focused on ground fighting (i.e. grappling).
3. Catch Wrestling - Catch Wrestling is a grappling martial arts created in the late 1800s that combines techniques from wrestling, Judo, Jujutsu and other grappling martial arts.
4. Danzan Ryu - An American hybrid form of Jujutsu. It is also known as Kodenkan.
5. Judo - Judo is a Japanese martial arts style focused on grappling, joint locks and throws.
6. Jujutsu - Jujutsu is a Japanese martial arts style focused on joint locks, holds and throws. It tries to redirect or manipulate the force of an attack in order to defeat the attacker.
7. Luta Livre - Luta Livre is a Brazilian grappling martial arts known in Portuguese as "Free Fighting".
8. Pankration - This Greek martial arts style combines grappling, kicking techniques and boxing. It was part of the first Olympics in 648 BC.
9. Sambo - Sambo is a Russian martial arts style. There are two main types of Sambo; Combat Sambo and Sports Sambo. Nevertheless, Sports Sambo is focused on grappling.
10. Shuai Jiao - A Chinese martial arts focused mainly on wrestling and grappling techniques.
11. Ssireum - Ssireum is a Korean martial arts focused on wrestling.
12. Sumo - Sumo is a Japanese martial arts focused on wrestling.
13. Wrestling - Wrestling, while used mainly for sports today, is an ancient martial arts style of fighting. It focuses on grappling, throws and "pinning" your opponent.

Martial Arts with a Significant Grappling Component

1. Daido Juku Kudo - Daido Juku Kudo is a Japanese martial arts that utilizes mixed martial arts techniques while wearing a traditional gi (uniform).
2. Mixed Martial Arts - Mixed Martial Arts utilizes techniques from a variety of different martial arts styles (i.e. wresting, jiu-jitsu, boxing, karate, etc.) in order to defeat an opponent.
3. Shootfighting - Shootfighting is a combat sport similar to Mixed Martial Arts. It is focused on techniques from "Muay Thai Kickboxing" to "Total Body Submission Grappling".
4. Vale Tudo - Vale Tudo is a Brazilian martial arts system that is similar to Mixed Martial Arts but with even fewer rules. The limited number of rules can result in more injuries during Vale Tudo contests.