At 10th Planet Ont. Inc., we often see new students asking what the best martial art is for MMA. While striking arts like boxing and Muay Thai get a lot of attention, and Jiu-Jitsu dominates on the ground, wrestling is often overlooked. But in reality, wrestling may be one of the most important and underrated disciplines in the sport.
Why Wrestling Matters in MMA
One of the biggest reasons wrestling is so valuable in MMA is control. Wrestlers develop the ability to take an opponent down and, just as importantly, maintain dominant positions once they’re there. That kind of takedown control gives fighters a serious advantage. If they’re more confident on the ground, they can bring the fight there. If they prefer to strike, they can shut down takedown attempts and keep the fight standing.
Wrestling for MMA isn’t just about brute force it’s about timing, pressure, and relentless technique. Wrestlers learn how to chain attacks together, wear opponents down, and stay in control round after round. Even when a takedown doesn’t land, the constant threat forces opponents to change their strategy. That’s why wrestling is often considered the best base for MMA. It gives fighters the tools to dictate the pace, location, and flow of every fight.
Takedown Defense and Pressure
Students at 10th Planet Ont. Inc. quickly see how wrestling shapes a fighter’s ability to control pace. Good wrestling forces an opponent to constantly worry about takedowns. That worry can lower their guard, making it easier to land punches or kicks.
On defense, wrestling teaches how to sprawl, defend against throws, and create distance. In live sparring, students who wrestle often control the tempo of the match. Whether on the feet or the mat, they’re rarely caught off guard.
Wrestling and Conditioning
Wrestling is also one of the best ways to build fight-specific conditioning. The drills, scrambles, and positional battles develop explosive strength and cardio. Wrestlers are used to working hard for every second of the round, which makes them hard to break mentally and physically.
Fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, and Henry Cejudo all used wrestling to dominate their divisions. At the amateur level, wrestlers often make a strong impact early in their MMA careers because they already understand how to control position and pressure.
Integrating Wrestling with Other Martial Arts
We focus on no-gi Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Boxing, and Wrestling, which gives our students a well-rounded base. Wrestling blends well with Jiu-Jitsu, especially for positional control and takedown setups. Adding Muay Thai or Boxing helps fill in the striking gap, giving wrestlers the ability to pressure opponents with punches before shooting in.
We encourage our students to explore wrestling even if they come from striking or Jiu-Jitsu backgrounds. The balance it providesespecially in takedown defensecan be a game-changer. Students who invest time in wrestling quickly feel more confident during live sparring and become harder to deal with in every situation.
Who Should Train Wrestling?
Wrestling is for everyone. Whether you’re training for fitness, self-defense, or future competition, wrestling gives you tools that work. It teaches grit, mental toughness, and body awareness. Even a few classes a week can drastically improve your balance, strength, and timing.
If you’re in the Etobicoke area and want to learn wrestling for MMA or self-defense, check out our Wrestling program at 10th Planet Ont. Inc. Our coaches work with complete beginners and advanced athletes alike.
We offer a free trial class so you can see how wrestling fits into your training plan.
Visit https://10thplanetetobicoke.com/ or call (647) 231-6711 to get started.