What is the difference between grappling and BJJ?
Grappling is no-gi: no suit, less grip, a higher pace. BJJ trains with the gi and has a grading system with belts. Beyond that they overlap a great deal.
Grappling
Grappling classes
Grappling is a self defence sport in which the emphasis lies on ground fighting. The sport is comparable to BJJ. Grappling pays attention to throws and wrestling as well, but the focus is mainly on transitions into dominant control positions, locks and chokes on the ground.
Because there is no gi to grab hold of, the pace is higher than in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and it is more about body control than about grip. Grappling suits you if you want to train ground work without a gi and without a grading system. It is also a logical choice if you are working towards MMA: in MMA you do not wear a gi, so a lot of what you learn here applies directly.
Grappling schedule
Monday
[[rooster:grappling]]
Tuesday
18:00 - 19:00
Wednesday
20:00 - 21:00
Learning grappling in Rotterdam
Grappling for beginners
If you are just starting out in grappling, you can join the beginners group on Tuesday at 18:00. There you train with others who are also still getting to grips with the basics. The class is deliberately built for starters, so you can get used to the positions, the movements and the sparring at your own speed.
Straight after that, at 19:00, the advanced training starts. The schedule above shows which other classes run during the week.
Grappling for advanced students
Once you have the basic positions under control, you can move on to the advanced training. The pace there is higher and you work more on combinations, takedowns, timing and chaining techniques together.
The advanced training is every Tuesday at 19:00, directly after the beginners class.
Grappling for women
In grappling women train in the regular groups and follow the same training as everyone else. There is no separate grappling class for women. If you would rather get to know the gym in a women-only group first, you can start with the Ladies Only heavy bag class on Wednesday.
After that you can join the mixed grappling classes at any time.
Your coaches
Grappling is taught by Leandro and Angelo. Both are black belts in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, so the ground work you learn here comes from the same school as in BJJ.
You will find all Ruthless coaches on About us.
Book a free grappling trial class
Your first class is free and you are not tied to anything afterwards. You do not need a gi, so you can come in whatever you have.
What to expect
You start with a warm up on the mat. Then the coach explains a technique, such as a takedown, a control position or a lock, which you practise with a partner. After that you train from set situations, and at the end there is room to roll.
From your very first class you also learn to tap: tapping twice means stop immediately. That is what makes it possible to train safely and under control. Rolling is voluntary and with beginners it goes more calmly.
Grappling often feels a bit faster and more physical than BJJ in the gi, because there is no gi to grab hold of.
What grappling costs at Ruthless
At Ruthless you pay one amount per month and you train in every discipline: heavy bag training, striking, BJJ, grappling, wrestling, MMA and strength and conditioning. If you come for one class and six months from now you want to try another, you pay nothing extra.
Cannot make it every week? There is a 10-class card as well.
There is no registration fee. You choose a membership of six months or a year; after that a notice period of one month applies.
Frequently asked questions about grappling
The questions we get most often about grappling.
Do I need a gi?
No. A rashguard or tight T-shirt and a pair of shorts are enough.
What is the difference with wrestling?
Wrestling starts standing and is about bringing someone to the ground and keeping them there. Grappling carries on into locks and chokes on the ground.
Is there striking in grappling?
No. No punches, no kicks.
Do I need to be strong?
No, but grappling is more physical than BJJ in the gi because there is less grip and the pace is higher. Fitness helps, and you build that here by itself.
Can I do grappling without training BJJ?
Yes, they are separate classes. Many members do both, but you do not have to.
Is grappling self defence?
Partly. You learn to control a fight on the ground, and in practice that is often the decisive moment. Defending against strikes is not part of it. For that there is striking or MMA.
How often can I train?
Grappling is on the schedule more often than any other discipline here.
Can I join without any experience?
Yes. On Tuesday at 18:00 there is a separate beginners class in grappling; the hour after that is for advanced students. So you do not have to start in at the deep end.
Does grappling help for MMA?
Yes, more than gi BJJ. In MMA nobody wears a suit, so the grips and the pace are closer together.
Other disciplines at Ruthless
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: the same ground work, but with a gi and with gradings.
- Wrestling: takedowns and control, starting on your feet.
- MMA: ground work combined with punches and kicks.
Everything is included in the same membership, and you do not have to choose. View our programs
Want to try a class?
Come and join one of our training sessions, no strings attached, and see for yourself