Why Grappling Takes Longer to Master Than Striking
Why It Takes Way Longer to Get Good at Grappling Than Striking
What’s up, guys? Today, we’re getting into one of the most common frustrations in martial arts: why does grappling take so much longer to master than striking? Whether you're just starting out or you’ve got some years under your belt, this is something every athlete wonders at some point. It’s not just your imagination—it’s actually true, and there’s one main reason behind it.
Let’s dive in, break down the comparison between grappling and striking, explore how reps work, talk about the body’s limits, and figure out what you need to do to improve faster (especially if you’re still young and hungry). We’re going through everything the video covered, in more detail, with plenty of visuals and practical advice.
Introduction: The Main Question
Ever notice that guys who train in striking seem to get good much faster? Or maybe you’ve put in months or years on the mats, and you’re still not feeling as confident with your grappling as you do with your hands? You’re not alone. Let’s nail down why.
“It’s really one, one answer honestly and the answer is simple: you get more reps in striking than you ever do grappling.”
Just like in the video, we’re keeping this simple and real. Reps are the key. The more you do something, the faster you get better at it. With striking, you get a lot. With grappling? Not so much. Let’s break it down.
The Real Reason Strikers Improve Faster
You may think talent, athleticism, or even coaching makes the difference—but in reality, it’s all about how many opportunities you get to practice. Let’s use a super basic example: the jab.
If I come in as your coach and say, “Guys, let’s do one three-minute round of jabs. Throw as many jabs as you can!” In that three minutes, most people can easily throw hundreds of jabs.
Now let’s flip it for grappling. What if I said, “Same deal, three minutes. Hit as many double leg takedowns as you can.” Sounds great, right? But unless you’re drilling with a compliant partner, you might only get ten, maybe fifteen—max—before fatigue, safety, and complexity kick in.
Striking vs. Grappling: How Many Reps Can You Get?
Let’s get even more specific. Take a typical round:
| Technique | 3-Minute Round | 5-Minute Round ||Jab (Striking) | 200+ | 350+ || Double Leg (Grappling) | 10-15 | 20-25 || Armbar Drill (Grappling) | 20-30 | 30-50 |
You never get as many reps with grappling as you do with striking. The complexity, the need for a partner, even safety issues all limit how fast and how often you can repeat grappling movements.
Why the Difference?
- Striking is fast and repeatable.
You can combo a jab-cross-hook over and over without needing a reset. - Grappling is more taxing per rep.
Double leg, armbar, triangle—each requires setup, resistance, and often full-body effort. - Safety:
Can’t just slam a training partner 100 times in a round. People get hurt.
A Typical Training Session Breakdown
Let’s imagine your daily training plan looks like this:
Striking Session
- Warmup (10 min)
- Jab Drills (3 min, 200 reps)
- Combo Drills (5 min, 350 reps)
- Heavy Bag (10 min, 700+ strikes)
- Pad Rounds (15 min, 1,000+ strikes)
Grappling Session
- Warmup (10 min)
- Double Leg Drills (10 min, 50 reps)
- Armbar Drills (10 min, 60 reps)
- Live Rolling (20 min, maybe 10-15 successful techniques)
Simple math shows why, in a month, strikers rack up thousands more reps than grapplers.
The Time Factor: Years vs. Months
“You can get more reps in striking in probably a two year time period of just training striking… than you can sometimes in that 8 or 10 year time period of grappling.”
Let that sink in. What feels like fair progress for boxing over a summer might take you a decade in grappling. It’s frustrating, but understanding the mechanics helps.
How Many Reps Does Mastery Take?
While there’s no magic number, coaches estimate:
- Striking: ~10,000 reps per technique to get “good”
- Grappling: ~10,000 reps, but much slower to accumulate (and technique is more complex)
In two years, the average striker easily passes the threshold for fundamental techniques. But grapplers? It’s a grind.
Why Drilling Matters But Doesn’t Close the Gap
Drilling is key. The more you’re willing to drill, the closer you get to narrowing the gap between striking and grappling—but you’ll never completely close it. You might get more double legs if you’re the hardest worker in the room, but you still won’t out-rep the guy throwing jabs.
“No matter how much you’re willing to drill, you’re still not doing more double legs in one round or one practice than someone is throwing jabs.”
Drilling Tips:
- Drill daily, if possible—especially while young.
- Don’t just drill easy techniques. Mix in transitions, escapes, and positional sparring.
- Try solo grappling drills for movement and mat awareness.
The Age Factor: Why Grappling Is for the Young
One of the standout messages from the video is about age. The seasoned grapplers almost all strike more as they age, not because they want to—but because their bodies force them. Bodies break down. The grind of shooting, scrambling, and smashing takes its toll.
“This is also why I suggest, I always say you need to grapple as much as possible when you’re younger as well, because you can do more live when you are younger, your body handles it better.”
When you’re young, everything recovers faster. Joints bounce back, your cardio is endless, and limits feel far away. Use that window!
Live Rounds vs. Drilling: The Role of Your Body
Older wrestlers like Dan Henderson, Daniel Cormier, and plenty of others have Olympic-level backgrounds, but often choose to strike as they get into their 30s or 40s—even if grappling was their bread and butter.
Their bodies just can’t handle the same grind of “live go” sessions as before. So they preserve their longevity by picking up their hands.
“Most people’s bodies just don’t hold up the same when they get older. So it’s very important to grapple as much as possible…”
The Science of Recovery
Younger bodies:
- Quicker to heal
- Can handle more intense, frequent sessions
Older bodies:
- Need more recovery time
- Risk of overuse injuries, long-lasting joint pain
Why Older Fighters Become Strikers
Ever watch MMA legends evolve over time? Many who started as grapplers end up known for their striking later in their career.
- Dan Henderson: Olympic wrestler; became famous for his knockout right hand.
- Daniel Cormier: World-class wrestling base; but a lot of his finishes and highlights are from his hands as he aged.
- Randy Couture: Classic grinder, but used boxing and clinch work strategically as he got older.
Why?
Because after decades on the mats, the body says: “Enough.” Punches and kicks—while taxing—don’t wear you out the same way endless wrestling/grappling sessions do.
How to Counter the Grappling Gap
There’s no magic shortcut, but there are ways to make your grappling progress a little less painful.
“So obviously one way to counter that is you need to drill grappling and make that a priority. But even if you do make it a priority, you’re still… the striker still able to get more reps.”
Key Course Corrections
1. Drill, Drill, Drill
- Don’t just spar—set aside regular time for repetitive grappling movements.
- Train with a willing partner to avoid injury and maximize reps.
2. Prioritize Grappling Early
- Younger athletes should grapple as much as their bodies allow. Later, you’ll be glad you did.
3. Condition Your Body
- Invest in joint health, proper warm-ups, and recovery routines.
- Listen to your body—rest when needed, so you can keep the volume high.
4. Mix Technique With Live Work
- Drill the move, then immediately use it during situational sparring.
- Build muscle memory, then pressure test it.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Training
Here are real-world strategies for maximizing your grappling growth, even if you’ll never quite catch up with your striking “reps.”
Daily Habits for Grapplers
- Set a minimum drill goal for each session (ex: 50 double legs, 50 guard passes).
- Use positional drilling—start in common “problem” spots and escape/submit as much as possible.
- Increase session frequency as your body allows, especially during youth.
Protect Your Longevity
- Take care of your joints: knees, shoulders, wrists.
- Don’t be afraid of rest days and active recovery.
- Use foam rolling, stretching, and proper nutrition.
Train Smart
- Focus on efficiency—don’t waste reps with sloppy technique.
- Keep motivation high by watching progress videos, competing, or tracking stats.
For Coaches
- Structure practices so grapplers get more opportunities to repeat movements.
- Mix in fun, competitive drills (who can hit the most clean takedowns in 5 minutes?).
(Visualization: Young grapplers in a busy gym, each hammering at technique with focused effort.)---
Final Thoughts: Grapple While You Can
“You get more reps in striking than you do grappling and that’s why it takes longer. So take your grappling serious when you’re younger guys.”
Bottom line? Grappling is a long grind, and the only way to speed up improvement is to do it more, especially while your body still works in your favor. No shortcuts, no hacks—just work.
If You’re Just Starting Martial Arts
Find a gym with great grappling coaches. Ask questions, drill non-stop, and don’t be discouraged if progress is slow.
Want to choose the right school? Check out The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Your Martial Arts School and Instructor.
If You’re Older
- Take care of your body. You may need to shift to more drilling, less live sparring.
- Enjoy what you can do, and adapt. Many veterans become technical savants even if live rounds get rarer.