UBCNews - Business - The Catch Wrestling Difference: The Brutal Edge it Gives to Modern Grapplers

Episode Date: February 4, 2026

So, you know, there's been this huge resurgence in catch wrestling lately. And I've gotta say, I'm curious—why is catch wrestling suddenly everywhere again? What's driving this comeback? Scientific Wrestling City: Arvada Address: 5610 Ward Road, Ste 300 Website: https://scientificwrestling.com

You know, there's been this huge resurgence in catch wrestling lately, and I've got to say, I'm curious, why is catch wrestling suddenly everywhere again? What's driving this comeback? It's really the evolution of the submission grappling meta. Over the past few years, leg locks have exploded in competition. And here's the thing. BJJ historically neglected leg attacks for decades

because of competition rule sets. But catch wrestling? it's been teaching Achilles' locks, toeholds, and knee bars from the beginning. So grapplers are rediscovering this brutal art because it fills those gaps. Right, and when you say brutal art, that's the reputation Catch has, isn't it? I mean, BJJ is called the gentle art. Catch is the opposite. Exactly. Catch wrestling centers on aggression. The goal is quick pins and submissions. But here's what makes it different. Catch wrestlers use pains.

strategically. They apply pressure and discomfort to create openings for submissions or to improve position. You get finesse combined with force, pain compliance, and relentless forward pressure. So it's like using pain as a tactical weapon, not just waiting for the perfect submission setup. That's a different mindset entirely. Absolutely. A core principle is rubbing-induced pain, or terrar are an IP. You use techniques like face-like, locks, neck cranks, and cross faces to break your opponent's turtle, or force them into bad positions. It's brutal, but it works. I remember the first time my coach put a proper cross face on me. I thought my jaw was going to break. That pain immediately made me move exactly where he wanted,

and modern fighters are catching on, pun intended. Ha, I see what you did there. But seriously, we've seen guys like Kazushi Sakuraba use catch wrestling to beat high-level BJJ practitioners. What did they do differently? Well, Sakaraba famously beat Royce and Renzo Gracie using systematic catch tactics. These guys understood that wrestling up, chaining submissions, and using pain to control opponents, gave them a brutal edge that traditional BJJ doesn't emphasize. That point about using pain and pressure to create openings sets up our next. next piece. The specific techniques catch provides that you won't learn in most BJJ gyms,

but first, a quick word from our sponsor. Scientific Wrestling is the global leader in Catch's Catch Can Wrestling Education, offering certifications, events, and affiliate programs for gyms and combat sports entrepreneurs. For over two decades, they've worked with Hall of Famers and World Champions to develop the gold standard curriculum in my... catch wrestling. Whether you're looking to sharpen your skills or grow your gym community, find out more at the link in the description. Picking up on that pain and pressure principle, how do catch techniques actually translate into the modern grappling game? What are grapplers

learning that BJJ doesn't cover? Great question. Catch brings a whole arsenal, double wrist locks, what BJJ calls the Kimura, toe holds, neck cranks, and hammerlock variations. Catch Tee teaches a rich repertoire of lower body techniques like Achilles locks, toeholds, and knee bars. Some of these are legal in IBJF competition, though many of Catch's more aggressive leg attacks aren't, but Catch also teaches you to chain submissions together. If one attack fails, you transition immediately to the next, you maintain relentless pressure. That mentality is different from the more patient positional approach in BJJ. Mm-hmm, that makes sense. Yeah, Catch wrestling

is raw and fast. BJJ is methodical and control focused. But here's where it gets interesting. Catch wrestling allows wins via takedowns, pins, and submissions. BJJ focuses primarily on submissions. So catch gives you a balanced blend of wrestling's brute force and submission finesse. And in modern MMA, that's huge. You mentioned MMA. Some stars have said catch wrestling is actually better for MMA than B.JJ. Why? Because MMA has evolved to mirror catch principles. Fighters are constantly wrestling up, getting back to their feet. That's central to catch but often discouraged in traditional BJJ academies.

Even fighters with BJJ backgrounds are abandoning guard-based tactics in favor of wrestling up. Catch has always emphasized takedowns and mat wrestling techniques like rides and pins. Those translate directly into MMA. Right. And when people talk about modern catch wrestling, who's really carrying it forward today? What does that look like now? It's less about one single authority

and more about how the system shows up across MMA and grappling. You saw it early on with fighters like Frank Shamrock who applied pressure first grappling and positional dominance long before those ideas were mainstream. Then you've got coaches like Pat Milletic whose wrestling-based philosophy

produced champions by prioritizing control and forced reactions. More recently, figures like J.J. Howland have brought catch wrestling concepts to a new generation, showing leg locks, pain-based control, and aggressive transitions that work under real resistance. And at the elite level, coaches like Carolyn Wester, integrating wrestling first principles into championship camps, proves the system is still evolving. What all of that shows is that catch wrestling isn't just about rough tactics. It's a complete grappling approach with structure, adaptability, and real strategic.

So for anyone listening who trains BJJ or MMA, have you thought about what's missing from your current grappling toolkit? Because it sounds like catch wrestling fills some serious gaps. Absolutely. Catch can be a valuable compliment to BJ. You're going to get techniques that aren't commonly taught, specific leg attacks, pain-based strategies, and an aggressive mindset. It's physically demanding, too, so you build strength.

mental toughness, and endurance. And with competitions using catch rule sets, like three count pins and all submissions legal, it's becoming more accessible. I mean, the history alone is fascinating. Catch-influenced Olympic freestyle, folk-style wrestling, even Brazilian jiu-jitsu through Mitsuyo Maida, and early MMA organizations leaned heavily on it.

Right. The rise of the UFC was really the KATHLEENDS catalyst for the intermingling of catch and BJJ techniques. Fighters like Sakaraba brought catch back into the spotlight. And now with the leglock revolution in submission grappling, catch is more relevant than ever. It's come full circle. So to everyone listening,

whether you're a submission grappler, an MMA fighter, or someone who wants to sharpen their game, catch wrestling brings that brutal edge. It's aggressive, it's strategic, and it gives you tools you won't find L.S. elsewhere. Thanks for breaking this down today. My pleasure. Catch wrestling has so much to offer, and I think we're only seeing the beginning of its coming.