Bobsdf - Grappling strength is real. As is Retard strength, and Old Man strength.Just remember to be careful if you ever have to grapple with an old retarded guy who trains.
Dad strength is also real.
I think much of grappling strength comes from the proper use of leverage. I remember i think Colman said Big Nog had the strongest grip strength he ever felt. Maybe gi training is good for developing grip power.
Just thinking that speed or quickness plays a large part in this as does timing. If you can get to a better leverage point sooner than your opponent it makes you seem stronger than him. Josh Kosheck had the quickest double leg takedown i ever saw in mma. Was interesting when GSP outwrestled him using perfect timing and the threat of striking to keep Josh off balance and negate his wrestling.
Grappling strength a lot of the time is the opposite of lifting strength.
Pulling more than pushing.
Most MMA guys don’t have big pecs. All that extra muscle makes the heart beat faster (example: Vitor in early days)
But they do have strong triceps from posting up.
The best in the world combine the two + sleep 9-10 hours per night.
I could only basically offer that grappling strength is more like lifting and holding a load like a squeeze rather than how many times you can lift the load.
Does that make sense it's a bit like lifting sand bags the load moves around rather than a dumbbell.
Its called functional strength and just because some guy can do heavy shoulder presses or bench press or leg press etc doesn't equate to functional strength on the mat.
I think part of “grappling strength” is that you are using multiple muscles at once and additionally have certain muscles stronger proportionally to others because they get worked more(like hips and grip). Also, you are using your muscles differently, where you explode into moves. While many weightlifters have great grips, they isolate muscles and tend to not be explosive.
Attila -I think "grappling strength" mainly just comes down to technique...
Sylvia said Pudzianowski didn't seem strong at all to him, and that was because Pudz's technique and cardio were both atrocious and he blew out his muscles in the first minute without any benefit. It's absurd to think Pudzianowski's muscles and tendons lacked some mysterious quality called "grappling strength" - he just didn't know how to use them.
Then take Matt Lindland who's probably a wimp in the weight room in terms of bench press and squat, yet he would feel like a monster to a 250 lb juice head as he gets tossed around on the mat. That's 90% technique and efficiency of movement.
Couldn't agree more. If you combine strength with technique you have grappling strength. Theres no magic thing "grapplers strength"
A pure weight lifter wouldn't have the fine motor patterns of a grappler, he'd fatigue and become out of breath against a grappler.
But its important to realise, he wouldn't suck because of weight lifting, he'd suck due to a lack of grappling practice.
A skilled grappler with lifting strength is a huge problem.
Grappling strength is real, and related but not proportionate to gym strength. You could have shoddy grip strength, for example, and an amazing bench press.
The worst kids to wrestle were the hick farming kids that had been doing real manual labor since kindergarten. Coming from smaller schools they usually wouldn’t have high level technique/coaching/training partners, but they’d be dynamically ape-strong from throwing thousands of haybails.
The dudes from the podcast mind pump have their gym by aka and have said that when they go roll with the aka dudes (forgot who specifically) that they felt supper stronger than they did, but when the aka dudes would come to the mind pump dudes gym for strength and conditioning, the mind pump guys would lift so much more.
GayBred -The best in the world combine the two + sleep 9-10 hours per night.
This. Now if only I could get 9-10 hours of sleep.
colubrid1 - Most MMA guys don't have big pecs. All that extra muscle makes the heart beat faster (example: Vitor in early days)But they do have strong triceps from posting up.
That sounds liks bro science
It’s so hard to mimic what you’re doing while grappling with weights. Lots of static squeezing with legs, posturing, bridging, etc... It’s so easy to blow your wad fast and then your suffering just defending. Just a whole different way of training.
e. kaye -Grappling strength a lot of the time is the opposite of lifting strength.
Pulling more than pushing.
This. A strong grip will also has outsized returns in being perceived as strong when grappling.
Also, pressure. Good base/balance with knowledge of leverage and positioning allows you to apply large amounts of pressure effectively.
Marcelo Garcia isn’t some super strong guy, but he was strong enough to use technique to smother you like a heavyweight.
wres157 -e. kaye -Grappling strength a lot of the time is the opposite of lifting strength.
Pulling more than pushing.
This. A strong grip will also has outsized returns in being perceived as strong when grappling.
Also, pressure. Good base/balance with knowledge of leverage and positioning allows you to apply large amounts of pressure effectively.
Marcelo Garcia isn’t some super strong guy, but he was strong enough to use technique to smother you like a heavyweight.
Add timing. Good grips, base, leverage and timing will fuck anyone up.
Strength is strength
Grappling strength is the technique and the level to which the moves are natural
It is interesting to roll with REALLY strong, untrained guys. You can feel how strong they are, but with basic grappling knowledge, it’s like their strength is almost wasted.
Now when that same guy gets a little technique --doesn’t need all that much-- he can become quite formidable.