Curious1

To me it seems alot simpler to learn alot less technical, you have alot more time to think as you grapple. It just seems easier to pick up.

Killz

They are both totally different disciplines, and to me, can't be compared.

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G_Land

Agree with Killz they are completly different but to say you have more time in BJJ is false.

Yes some times you can see a set up coming for lets say an ARM bar but not always. You can be sitting in a persons guard and next thing you know you are tapping.

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St.Paul Guy

I'm bias as can be, but grappling is way more complex than striking IMO.... in the context of MMA anyway. You see a lot more grapplers pick up striking than the other way around.

I've never done traditional muay thai, so I can't say with any true expertise how complex it is in and of itself. I assume, like anything worth practicing, you could do it for a lifetime and never come close to learning everything there is to know.

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mrmatt

Saying that BJJ is simple is incredibly false. You could train BJJ for over 10 years and still feel like a complete beginner when training with other black belts. There is an infinity of techniques out there, it's a never ending sport.

That being said, I would be tempted to say that BJJ is more complex, but that simply because I train BJJ and I never tried Muy thai, so I won't.

If there's one real way to find, go train BJJ and Muy thai and you'll be able to compare them.

One last thing, are we talking about no-gi or gi? You couldn't even imagine how more complex the gi game is. My teacher always tell me that no-gi is kind of like "checkers" while gi is a "chest" game.

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When we go to the ground, you are in my world. The ground is the ocean, I am the shark, and most people don't even know how to swim. - Rigan Machado

No_Mercy

This is an excellent question. I've thought about this many times and again today after watching the Gracie breakdown of UFC 152.

The problem with BJJ is that athletic and strong fighters/grapplers can negate some of the technique by using their strength. So they can sort of cut corners so to speak and power their way out of a submission or force even without properly applying it. But competition at a high level it's difficult to discern one martial art from another and say this one is better or that one is easier.

I've taken quite a few different art forms and I have to agree that BJJ is highly complex. The beauty is that for every submission there's a counter and for every counter there's a counter attack.

It's a beautiful artform. It really is because you don't aim to hurt your opponent.

As one poster said you can train a lifetime and still continue to learn because of new variations. If only I could see one seminar live with Rickson Gracie.

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Maximus: For the glory of the Empire, sire.

Baked, not fried... the healthy choice.

mastodon2222

Depends on what you mean by complex. The BIG difference between the two arts are the speed that they happen in combat. BJJ is more complex but happen slower. Muay Thai is less complex but it's faster.

deadmanshand

I've trained bjj for 7 years and muay thai for 15 years. In both I have trained with world champions and I have come to a simple, stark conclusion.

Anyone who says either art is simpler than the other doesn't know what the hell they are talking about. They are both equally complex with an equal variety of moves, methods, and strategies. In both raw athleticism can allow you to cut corners so to speak but you should never do so. Both are reliant upon the four factors of effectiveness for use and both teach all four.

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That is not dead which can eternal lie and withs strange aeons even death may die.