Kinda of a stupid way of wording it but I was trying to get the whole question in the title. I was wondering because today was my first day in training since I got an infection on my arm from sparring and had to leave. I was gone for a month and came back and my first time rolling and I dominated a guy much bigger and more active then I have been and even got a sidearm choke. Then I spar with the gym owner and my head coach and he obliterated me. Usually I can at least hold my own. I was a little out of shape but damn I felt like a newb again. 
I think that you can develop adequate ground skills in a quicker period of time than with stand up.
I think ground styles are not as devastating on the body and people seem to pick up faster at BJJ IMO
I think its easier to learn how to protect yourself on the ground than on your feet. 
JStrongMMA - I think its easier to learn how to protect yourself on the ground than on your feet.This for sure getting used to being punched and returning fire in the middle of someone else's combo takes time
MDKSDMF - I think ground styles are not as devastating on the body and people seem to pick up faster at BJJ IMOThe only ground style I find is very painful is catch wrestling one guy comes to our gym and he's very good and seasoned so he can grab my leg so twist it 50 different ways that all hurt equally as much
Deputy Porker -And neck cranks toMDKSDMF - I think ground styles are not as devastating on the body and people seem to pick up faster at BJJ IMOThe only ground style I find is very painful is catch wrestling one guy comes to our gym and he's very good and seasoned so he can grab my leg so twist it 50 different ways that all hurt equally as much
Its the same for both I think.
I used to think the ground would be easier (boxed and kickboxed for a few years).
When I started the ground game I was like a fish out of water. Feel more confident in it now but get wrecked by brown and black belts!
Same can be said for stand up - you might think your at a decent level till you spar with a technical high level guy. Its like your moving in slow motion!
future_jabroni - I think that you can develop adequate ground skills in a quicker period of time than with stand up.I think learning the mechanics of striking is harder because its easier to slow things down a really show technique in JJ
Slobonmynog - Its the same for both I think.Good point maybe some people are just naturally inclined to excel at different styles
I used to think the ground would be easier (boxed and kickboxed for a few years).
When I started the ground game I was like a fish out of water. Feel more confident in it now but get wrecked by brown and black belts!
Same can be said for stand up - you might think your at a decent level till you spar with a technical high level guy. Its like your moving in slow motion!
To get good at striking you have to be a pretty good athlete. You don't in all grappling styles but the best athletes will rise to the top. Bad athletes that try striking get lit up a lot and quit. But grappling is a overall more effective skill.
It takes more heart and balls to get punched and kicked and dominated standing and come back for more than it does getting wrecked on the ground. Grappling is more forgiving on the body and ego
Bobby Lupo - It takes more heart and balls to get punched and kicked and dominated standing and come back for more than it does getting wrecked on the ground. Grappling is more forgiving on the body and ego
Depends on the style of grappling. High level wrestling is up there.
My opinion is that with the ground game you can train pretty hard for a long time. With stand up you kinda gotta go easy a lot.
If i go hard in jiu jitsu and lose i tap out. If i go hard in striking and lose i get beat up worse. So i end up training more hours in jiu jitsu just pureles based off injuries and such.
Bobby Lupo - It takes more heart and balls to get punched and kicked and dominated standing and come back for more than it does getting wrecked on the ground. Grappling is more forgiving on the body and egoYa man I know what you mean sometimes a high level ground guy dominating you kinda sucks but getting blitzed is worse but I always keep moving forward no matter how bad a beating I'm taking
you can throw a "luckily" punch and get a knock out. I havent seen many accidental armbars in my life
I believe being a defensive grappler is a lot easier than being a true ground fighter.
Also believe it will take years, if not decades, to become an elite striker or grappler. No one will become anderson silva or marcelo garcia in 2-3 years that is for sure
yes. ground is slower.
I've been to many gyms and its harder to find a really good striker then really good ground guys. A lot of guys in the gym can develop good ground skills, very few can be great strikers
I'm the definition of a striker when it comes to Mma because its what I started in Martial arts with and it has always been the priority of my training but even when I had several years of experience under my belt I still didn't feel that I was great at it, until the last year when things suddenly clicked and once it does its amazing. It's not so much that time slows its just that you learn to be able to predict things and the body just reacts and you learn to control people. It's gotten to the point that majority of the time I can mess around and try weird crazy stuff when sparring. There is really only one guy that I struggle against in my gym because he's like 6ft 5 and I have a hard time with such a drastic reach over me. But most guys I'm very comfortable against.
IMO/E, BJJ guys are much more patient with new guys, will take it easy and offer some help. Boxers and wrestlers will ease up a little on the new guys, but they're still going through the meat grinder when it's time to go.
Probably grappling. I feel as though im a natural at both, so I kind of learn them both pretty quickly it seems, but im still a novice for sure.