Judo calls mat work Osaekomi-waza (holding or pinning techniques) and Kansetsu-waza (Joint techniques (locks)).
Could a judo dude handle a Greco-Roman wrestler using only pinning techniques? What if he could use Joint techniques too?
I can’t recall. Does Greco-Roman wrestling allow joint techniques and locks? If it’s not allowed then I guess our judo guy can only use pinning techniques. Whatever keeps it fair for both guys.
What rules are we talking? G-R wrestling is above the waist, and Judo allows below the waist work. Judo uses a Gi, G-R is a singlet. They both utilize takedowns, but in much different forms. Judo does not have a traditional pin, you must control the opponent for a long period of time, but not with shoulders directly on the mat.
Generally, I’d say the closer you get to one set of rules or the other, the more the match will swing.
When I did Judo, the guys with wrestling backgrounds were always very tough, much tougher than their belt rank would imply.
I hadn’t thought about guys with wrestling backgrounds also doing judo. You say those guys were tougher in matches. So their wrestling background did help them.
I’ve always found the similarities between the two sports interesting. They are very distinct from each other, but have similar objectives (the take down and pin).
There was a very active judo club in my hometown. Quite a few of my classmates were involved and won tournaments. I’ve regretted not taking lessons too. They were held at the local Boys Club.
As noted, GR is above the waist.
Freestyle has a lot more moves and I think would hold up better.
Tougher at the level they were competing. Local Judo tournaments are broken up into novice/expert levels, and a person with 4 years of High School wrestling experience would be slotted into a novice level because he had 1 year of Judo experience and is a Yellow Belt. A player with 5 years of Judo experience is more likely to be a high Brown or Black belt and would compete with the experts.
They did employ a different strategy than players without a wrestling background. Their lack of experience with standing moves that utilize the gi led them to focus on mat work, so they would be more defensive while standing and use moves intended to get them on the ground where they had an advantage.
So, you’re a Green belt competing against a Yellow belt, your coach would tell you “don’t be fooled, he’s a wrestler” so you know he’s not going to be a pushover, try to keep your feet and use choke/joint techniques if you get a chance.
