I'd consider Western wrestling more effective in that it helps determine where the fight goes. If the guy is a better striker, wrestling can help to take him down. If the guy's a better grappler, the takedown defenses learned in wrestling can keep the other fighter upright. Saying that, I'd consider BJJ more essential. EVERYONE has to know it.
"2. What advantages does a Jiu Jitsu practitioner have over a wrestler, vice versa?"
Everyone cross-trains these days, so it's sort of a moot point. With that said, before the days of cross-training, BJJ guys were better at submissions and guard work, while wrestlers were better at takedowns and top control.
"3. Do you believe that the current scoring system for MMA favors one art over the other?"
There are several scoring systems used in MMA. I assume you're talking about the Unified Rules. The rules really don't favor either one. However, most judges have a poor understanding of ground grappling. They see takedowns and top control as winning,and in fairness, many times it is. However, I've seen instances where the top guy did nothing- throwing now punches, not looking to improve his position- while the bottom guy would continually go for submission attempts and continue to strike from the bottom, and despite being the more active fighter, would still lose to the top player.
"4. Could you name a successful martial artist with a Jiu Jutsu/Wresling background?"
Jake Shields, Gilbert Melendez, Rashad Evans, Georges St-Pierre, Jim Miller, Frankie Edgar, and more study both. Again, in modern MMA, it's hard to find "pure" fighters of ANY type.
"5. If a martial artist could only chose one of the grappling bases for MMA, which would you suggest and why?"
BJJ. The guard work, submissions, escapes, and positional hierarchy that's emphasized in BJJ are more necessary than the clinch work, takedowns, and top control of wrestling. That said, try to get as much wrestling in as possible. Many people who train BJJ also train wrestling, or have in the past. BJJ by itself isn't as useful as BJJ and wrestling combined.
Not to brag I'm a mixed martial art fighter, I study Thai boxing judo and bjj. Brazilian jiu-jitsu you have submissions when fighting on the ground for e.g armbars chocks all that stuff wrestling helps you get you opponent on the ground like judo does with the throws and stuff. From my point of view there is no point in going in an mma fight with no ground experience you will get taken to the ground and submitted depending on what art the guy studies, on the other hand if your a brawler their mainly stand up guys like boxing but even they have a little experience in bjj for e.g Kimbo slice.
The only thing I'd add to callsigns answer is shoot wrestling and catch wrestling as wrestling mma bases compared to bjj. But there not relevant if you want extra marks say something about the term wrestling incorporating many diffrent grappling based styles with there own rules and ways they teach some of which include submissions and strikes.
Wrestling, because being on top, in MMA, they consider a advantage.
BJJ has more technique on submission, wrestling has more technique on getting control, for Ground, and pound.
Yes, it favors Wrestling.
Chris Weidman, is the best at blending them together, Jon Jones is probably 2nd best.
Wrestling, because MMA favors it, also being on top, and punching is great. Cain, Jones, Weidman, Hendricks, all are wrestlers, with solid striking.
Try this out!
www.arofitnesskickboxing.co.uk
Bravo, Callsigns answer is as thorough as you will get
Why not both?
None you should read a book.
BJJ
I'm asking which is a better art for MMA. (This is for a research paper)
1. Do you consider Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Wrestling more effective in MMA?
2. What advantages does a Jiu Jitsu practitioner have over a wrestler, vice versa?
3. Do you believe that the current scoring system for MMA favors one art over the other?
4. Could you name a successful martial artist with a Jiu Jutsu/Wresling background?
5. If a martial artist could only chose one of the grappling bases for MMA, which would you suggest and why?
