Do Grappling Dummies Help Your Jiu-Jitsu When You Can't Get to Class? 

Of course, nothing beats live classes however I do believe grappling dummies do provide tremendous value. Drilling triangles, arm bars, knee on belly moves and more hundreds of times is a great way to add to your training. Not to mention if you are injured, grappling dummies are a fantastic and safe way to ease back into live drilling.

I feel like saying “don’t buy a grappling dummy” is like telling a boxer “don’t buy a heavy bag” ?

The day they invent a robot capable of doing a guard pass is the day I break out the armory and start hunting down every robot I can find

I've found mine useful as a white belt. Not for drilling, but for between class sequencing. For example, in class my training partner and professor were both telling me what I was doing wrong and why I kept missing my first attempts at arm bars. It was a lot to take in and I couldn't get it figured out in class. But then I came home, watched some tutorials, tried to remember what they had told me, and then sequenced the routines with my dummy. It worked wonderfully. Gave me a chance to process through where to put my weight, knees, feet, etc., without the pressure of having two people trying to explain it to me.

The problem is when you are new at bjj, they only let you practice one move a few times. Then next week you learn a new move, and you will forget the older move. So I think the dummy is good for begginers who are struggling to understand a basic moves.

I love how there was a grappling dummy advertisement before the video. Way to go RU-vid

I think grappling dummies can help. Its like how strikers train with heavy bags. The heavy bags do not hit back but you work on your strikes. Its the same with grappling dummy. You can practice certain moves over again. Throwing dummy can also help for take downs. Obviously live sparring or drills with a partner is best but i think grappling dummy has its place.

If I never had my grappling dummy, I never would’ve mastered the anaconda or darce choke. I drilled those moves over and over one day on my grappling dummy, when I couldn’t make class. The very next class I was tapping out a few people with them. Grappling dummies work, although not as good as real training partners obviously. Repetition is key on both.

I have this huge teddy bear affectionately named “Bear La Riva”. When everyone in my family would get sick of me using moves or trying to demonstrate things, there was always Bear La Riva.

I'm one of the exceptions. I find my DIY dummy helpful to get the positioning right on techniques I learn from videos and to reinforce what I've learned in class. At < 135 lbs, I have little margin for error when sparring.

I use dummies in my 60s because I have joint limitations. I do triathlons so I have energy. Second, classes become expensive. I find it hard to find people to train with. I started in the 1960s. I have done taekwondo, wrestling, boxing, tai chi and muay thai. Dummies allow me to continue to train through the limitations of people around me.

Learned more from the comments than the video

I’ve used a grappling dummy for years, before they were commercially made. It compliments my regular jiujitsu training. I use it for days when I do solo circuit training, 3 minutes on heavy bag, three minutes of of grappling dummy, going non stop moving between positions, flowing from local locks and chokes, and striking on the dummy. Has to be a conditioning tool. It is very beneficial in my opinion.

I have 2 Grappling Dummies, 1 for throws and 1 for bjj, they worth a lot Absolutely useful, you can improve like a beast

I'm a grappling dummy

The dummies are great for beginners to start building muscle memory. They allow you go through the motions, then mirror that same technique in the opposite direction. My classes are 1 hour. I see a new move, try it 2 times as bottom, then switch to top for 2 tries. In that time i have the option to try the move the same way twice, or once in each direction. Neither option good enough for decent muscle memory. Then we are on to the next move. Dummy is good for practice at home.

I like Stephan interacts with his audience. I learn so much from watching you. Thank you for teaching us. Please continue to teach us.

I'm someone who gets easily hung up/confused about the placement of my arms and legs for techniques, and using a grappling dummy has helped me a lot. It's also helped me be able to pull off more submissions from either side. It's obviously not going to be comparable to a live roll.

I'm so pleased I have my Fairtex dummy at this point, given all the gyms are closed.

I have been using a grappling dummy for years. 1. I have to modify mine. (For mine, the arms were too short, too much stuffing...) 2. They absolutely don't replace class training time. They are limited tools useful for certain BJJ based drills in much the same way a speed bag, or bladder is used by a boxer for specific speed/coordination drills for example. They are not good for perfecting the nuances of training, like adjusting the machanics of cranking an armbar or a choke to get the tap, or moves that require your partner/uke to react as it's obviously not a real living anatomical person. In much the same vein, a boxing speed bag doesn't replace sparring, heavy bag, mitt training, etc. It's just another tool that some people like. 3. I specifically use mine for walking through the steps of techniques I learned in class. They are good for walking through the broad stroke steps. For example, today to walked through a full guard pass series we did in class yesterday (1. tech. stand up. 2. hip grip, and elbow in thigh for break. Transitioning to the grips in the proper order and way. 3. Mule kick and into the cross-knee slide position. Then I followed up with multiple different finishes we learned in the series walking through each step properly. I also have a gi on it.). Not everyone learns in this step-by-step way, but it's how all instructors teach a class full of people, so it's important to adapt to this style of learning in my honest opinion.

I was planning on making one so I can watch videos and actually do the moves while I watch. I learn more from muscle memory. I can’t tell u how many time I watched a video. Went to class only to miss a small detail that I would have remembered if I actually worked the move.

im using a teddy bear and training dilligently with it XD

Idk man Whoever mass-produces a robotic grappling dummy is just asking for the robot apocalypse

i used to mostly drill with a dummy as a blue belt because i couldnt make it to class. i am 140lbs and i was beating big purple and brown belts with my dummy techniques. there are certain moves that can be done on them and ones that cant. ring to cage sitting dummy is good and i think the submission master is just like it though ive never used it. i dont have autism wtf. that is a piss-poor theory. i also have the cxt and let me tell u its 1000 times better than not doing anything at all. if u have limited time forget conditioning like stephan says. sharpen your techniques instead. if u have limited time do it. spend the money. totally worth it.

They are like punching bag. You can do drills to improve fitness and work on different things. But it's will never replace proper instruction and sparing

"Dummy users may be authistic" ... well that escalated quickly 😅

The first two grappling dummies I made, mysteriously disappeared when I left the house for work. My wife says she knows nothing. The last one, hangs out in one of my closets most of the time. However, when I truly want to get the concept of a technique I will pull it out and work my way through it. Sometimes, no matter how much I try to visualize something, I can't figure it out. The grappling dummy helps with that. The dummy also helps with working on understanding the general concept of submissions. I also put in a lot of time with the heavy bag. I would use it to practice knee-on-belly, side control, mount and north south.

I think you're taking this out of context a bit. You didn't go over two key scenarios....using grappling dummies together with online training from your instructor and using the dummy to recap some technique you just learned. Think about it, you get home, you're all pumped from what your black belt just taught you and you want to go over what you just learned to keep it fresh and nobody's home - GD are perfect for that scenario. No, you shouldn't rely on a dummy to learn in full at all but they are without question useful. Also, when you're training with just one other person you can show each other how you're doing the move on the dummy.

My idea was so that when I watch instructionals I can work the motions with the tape. But I do agree it would likely end up in my closet eventually

I bought one for 20 dollars. I hope to practice some techniques I learn on RU-vid. I can't afford Jiu-jitsu training now, but I always try to learn anyway I can.

I've had my grappling dummy, De La Retardo, for a while now. Not only has he become a friend, but he helps me with my technique. It turned out to be a good investment and I actually use it to practice new techniques or the positions I need work on.

Grappling Dummies are fantactic for drilling technique solo after class or just practicing positions changes while maintaining proper pressure placement. As long as you stay dedicated & consistent with your training you'll find the old leather uke to be a great asset. Especially if your training solo.. Train smart & Train Hard!

I've had a BOB dummy for about five years and I still use it almost daily and I put a sweatshirt on or a gi and grapple with it... I've kept it up for about five years and just finished an hour long grappling working rubber gaurd and triangles. I never had another dummy but plan on buying one soon just because I want something that replicates the human body better

If you get a grappling dummy you need to make sure you set time to workout with it. It's just like a heavy bag. I have seen many people sell their heavy bags because they never use it. Basically it's like any workout equipment that you buy and you never find the time to workout with it... it will just collect dust.

I bet dummies are effective for practising guard-pass entries from standing. That’s why I ordered one. Its very hard to practice the knee-cut entry or the leg drag entry 100 times consecutively with anything other than a dummy.

I use my dummy to help me think about moves in 3 dimensions. Videos are fine but you need to lock in your visualizations with physical movement. Classes are essential to experience your visualization against a RESISTING opponent.

Good video - I’m one of those weirdos who still uses his dummy - had it for a year & a half - just allows me to figure out moves/positions physically after watching a video - sometimes doesn’t makes sense to me until I can physically do it/feel it - would obviously be better to have a person to try it with, but I often don’t have access to a partner - I go to group class twice per week & do privates on the weekends I can + Hapkido once or twice a week - I haven’t yet been diagnosed autistic, but maybe I have a few traits e.g. obsession 😎

I feel like grappling dummies would be good if you're going to learn a technique from online that way you can drill it at home and then go into your gym and try it there with already having a bit of knowledge on it

Im autistic and i used to love wrestling my giant teddy when i was a little kid. And wrestling a dummy avoids social pressure. Maybe your theory is correct

I’ve got a grappling dummy, which I bought for £58 (so pretty cheap). I’m finding it really useful atm. Admittedly, I’m new to BJJ & have only had the dummy a few weeks. I train BJJ twice a week, with the occasional open mat when I’m able. So, for me, the dummy is extremely valuable to repeat the movements I learn in class.

I found my grappling dummy really useful to get certain moves into my head, but I'm borderline retarded, so someone with an iq slightly greater than a dandelion might be able to just visualize moves instead of having to roll with a corpse. Plus, a grappling dummy became my first and only friend.

I’m 67 years old with arthritis so severe that beef, pork, sugar, salt, caffeine, spices, and herbal stimulants make my joints throb for days at a time! So, I might have problems training with anyone in a dojo. I do have a 1st Dan in Judo, a Nidan in Uechiryu, a red sash in Qigong, and experience in 6 forms of taijiquan, 3-section staff, 11-section chain, nunchaku, Bo, tonfas, and sais from 45 years ago.

I've had a training dummy for over 10 years. It has helped me tremendously , I have life size it weighs over 100 lbs. During covid i did go to class for 3yrs. I would preview video and practicing technique. The key is that the person really wants to improve who can't go to class and if you can go to class, I can come back and improve on what was taught in class.

What about now in quarantine?

I feel like it does help when you are just trying to remember the gross movements of whatever technique you're trying to do.

big difference between air and a dummy. they are a great tool, as part of a training plan. they are like sandpaper, they take off the rough edges. having a dummy doesn't preclude everything you recommended.

Those dummies are not great for newbies. They're Best for a trained & skilled grappler to practice on because theyve already internalize active resistance, so no BS what if's

I find using a dummy very useful. It's good for when you don't have the time to hit your mma gym all the time. It's also good when you are injured and just want to train techniques. I use instructional videos and do many reps on my dummy. They don't cost much. You can buy a cheap one on eBay. They sell you the shell but you can just stuff it with some old shredded clothes.

grappling dummies work great for me,,,, repetition repetition repetition,, kimora, rear naked choke, triangle choke, arm triangle , sweeps ,, my dummy sharpened my game,, i now wear my brown belt proud...

Built a dummy with PVC and pool noodle inner anatomy...used it and it was great for locking down the techniques learned in class before I forgot them. BUT...when I tore meniscus the dummy paid itself off in gold. Only way I could have still rolled...and its really helped with thinking outside the box and trying different techniques as well. Every good fighter has their own style!

Particularly relevant to these quarantine times, this is good information. Not once in Danaher's Solo Drill DVD did he mention grappling dummies. He hit all the points mentioned here: movement drills, conditioning, strength, diet. Good stuff!

I'm just adding jiu-jitsu after having trained, and still training, muay thai and chaiya and purchased a dummy for drilling basic white belt level kind of stuff. When I started studying Muay Chaiya I found that I simply had to set aside extra time to do footwork drills and conditioning specific to it(it is a lot harder than muay thai) and the same is true for jiu-jitsu. I'm in very good shape in general but I'm not in jiu-jitsu shape yet. I found a great video called something like "42 solo bjj dummy drills" which covers a lot of basics that I can build into a training schedule and fill a hour pretty easily. I have one hour 5 days a week to train jiu-jitsu with my coach but I have another hour I could spend every day, 7 days a week, working on solo dummy drills and jiu-jitsu specific conditioning. Unless something changes I imagine I'll be using the dummy daily during my white belt at least.

Stephan - I'm a fan and have purchased quite a few of your stuff. Especially you and the Island Top Team course's. I have them all. BUT, with respect - It's not a Dummy or training situation. You can do both. I have a grappling dummy And a standing Century dummy, held up by a Wide Bag hanging Frame and a strong Bunggie Cord. For entering, clinching attack's and Striking etc. If you Flow between both training with Human's and With Dummies (When ur injured, can't make class etc) will definitely improve your Jui-jitsu. Especially your street Jui-jitsu. Much Love and respect 🙇 💚....

I started BJJ just three weeks ago and I go to classes 4x a week. The reason I want one is because I noticed I get taught 2 or 3 new techniques each class but then never see them again. How am I supposed to get good at any of them if I don't get to practice them, so this is when I think a dummy may come in handy.

Curious if you could try the Grappling Smarty! It seems to be one of the most realistic one?

Heck yeah they do I'll comment before even watching this vid Edit: all good points and true they end up collecting dust but if you've got a space you can dedicate on the floor for your dummy, like your workout room, so you don't have to worry about lugging it around, it's a great way to conveniently practice moves beyond just visualizing.

A dummy is the equivalent to a punching bag for a boxer. A punching bag doesn't punch back, just like a dummy doesn't resist. This video is misleading and shouldn't be titled "Do grappling dummies work" Instead should be "Why I don't think a grappling dummy will work for me"

so his complaint is with most individuals not utilizing the dummy, not whether or not it is effective way to train. So the answer is yes training solo at home with a dummy is effective, but you have to use it...

Did you say steal? I would caution that if you are going to attempt to steal a grappling dummy, that you first determine if the person whom you are attempting to steal it from is not a higher belt than you, else you may become their grappling dummy.

I was curious about dummies because as a white belt whose just started, im currently reading up on techniques through the internet as well to compliment my in case training - because sometimes I feel like my academy doesnt give us enough time to drill/refine our techniques for some reason - so luckily I had a cuddle long pillow hanging around to try to apply what I learend about "side control positioning" and I found it helpful to slow down, and have the chance to analyze my positioning at my own pace without intimidation or nerves. Also to go back to the text/books and work on the next refining details/ other moves. I think that's one reason why a dummy seems very tempting for some.

Long as its not a substitute for live drilling etc its a great suppliment. If you find yourself with spare time at home and wishing to train then there you go.

Main thing with it is repetition you keep practicing the same submissions it’ll help you in live sparring for sure it’s just like A boxing heavy bag you keep practicing the same combos and learning how to move your body it’ll transfer to sparring the combos will come naturally

I think a Sex Doll will be a far better investment, you think

Same goes with having a Dumbbell at home, you dont expect to be a bodybuilder but it will help in maintain condition. If you want to be a bodybuilder go to a gym. Same with grappling dummy, helps with conditioning and some techniques to help muscle memory, but if you want to be pro, go to a dojo

thank you!

I have a cheap one & I used tightly rolled & packed paper surrounded in clothes to make it more lifelike & it is. I put a gi top on & hoddies. I have very little grappling training but I’m a fast learner & practice all sorts of stuff. I have taught myself loop chokes & I have tapped out black belt judo people with my self taught loop chokes I drilled on my dummy. It depends on the person if you can learn off videos & correctly drill it’s worth it. Tust me you can effectively learn most techniques on a good dummy. Mine cost £50 on eBay & two hours to stuff it. I taught myself armbars & triangles & I have successfully hit them all on skilled grapplers. But I haven’t used it in a while. But it did serve a purpose I have learnt alot from using it. I also used it to for ground n pound pressure drills & legs locks. THEY CAN HELP

I can't wait for my son to be large enough to be my grappling dummy.

What people need is a grappling robot with DOF (degree of freedom -> robotic term) that resemble a real human. But you can not practice throw and takedown since it will be very hard to provide a suspension for such robot

Lol some grappling dummy marketer was watching this "omg on the spectrum!?!?Honey!!!i just found a whole new market for these!!!" 😂lol

I’m a dummy who grapples and has a job, so yes. We work.

Id like to know more on your theory on autism = liking grappling dummys

Grappling dummy is good if the visualization and put your 💯 effort.

It's never going to replace force on force

I just recently bought one for practising throws. To be honest, it is still very new, meaning it is in use. But I totally can see your point.

Hi I've just got a grabbling dummy had it about two months and I watch beginners moves on bjj and judo I personally find it very useful for practice thank you

I didnt read down to all the comments, but I did not run into one that agree they dont work. Everyone i read seem to have helped them a lot...

Well....I just bought one. We'll see how it goes.

So I bought one because we’re in Quarantine now and i’m very hungry to practice new techniques. I think it’s definitely helping me learn new techniques much better than by just watching but it’s obviously not as engaging as training with a live person

I also have an inoperable bad knee and heart problems.

Thank you.. I just got one very cheap used.. Was buying a wave bag and they have the dummy so I bought that also.. Have Century Bob with the Bob jacket that I do like and use a lot for karate more than grappling.. will keep it and try it for a while.. Enjoying your videos..

You mentioned visualising. Maybe the 1/20 people that find it useful visualise very well what the opponent would be doing

I believe drilling technique on a dummy has its merits. Rather than trying to apply a new technique on a resisting opponent and never having the chance to master the basic movements first. Obviously training against a resisting opponent is best. But surely drilling on a dummy first would help. I found my arm bars were a lot smoother during sparring after drilling them over and over on a dummy.

There are a lot of moves I can practice/drill on my grappling dummy Ex: triangle choke, or americana from mount, rear naked choke, leg locks. There are some moves I cant practice

No No No. Grappling dummies are great when you watch a move RU-vid you drill with the dummy. Then execute the move when you do roll with a live partner you can me more efficient that way. I have the pro boxing dummy / submission master and fillable dummy.

And for Sheets and Giggles, you can use them for Pro Wrestling too!

Sometimes i stuff my gi with a pillow. I had memorised sequences from videos with practicing on it. But not even a non resisting humans feel like somebody who you are grappling with, so i don't think your technics could improve from that. Same thing if your training partner just falling flat on their back if you touch them. You can't practice sweeps or takedowns like that. You can't unbalance sb who has no ballance in the first place

Dummies are only for people who are beginners who don't know a single technique. They can at least implement these techniques on a dummy also learning the terminology in the process. Just my two cents...

I have that submission master and it does help, I'd say it's most valuable use is guard work. Breaking posture drills with its dead weight and doing sweeps is great.

grappling dummies won't work for those who are good wrestlers, because their technique is much more complex - though if you are an amateur mma fight that who has limmited grappling technique and you don't have enough time at gym - grappling dummy is as good addition as boxing bag. 20 arm bars, 20 triangles, 20 kimura, 20 oma-plata from guard lead to the point when they actually started working for me. Though once you come to the point when transitions are much more important and you need to react to opponents move - wrestling dummy won't help.

I love my grappling dummy. We’re going to catch a movie later after dinner. Good times.

I disagree! I think you are putting everyone in a pot! I agree what you are saying but the grappling dummies are not for substitution for class! I believe the dummies are for drilling, sometimes you dont have training partners! Its like saying a basketball pass and catch machine is useless lol instead of finding people to rebound and pass you yhe ball the machine does it so you get 500 shots in 30 mins! Dummies are perfect to help you rep

I have to go work in a remote area for months at a time. No BJJ gym in the area. Nobody I work with does BJJ. There's room for mats to work with a dummy. I'm wondering if it's worth the money to keep my skills up while I can't attend a bjj gym.

I think I know what's different about us few who do keep up with a dummy... we're not doing it because of time constraints. If saving time is your reason don't do it.

I don't know about the bags I'm now I. A wheelchair I have mobility issues now but before I had nerve damage I have jujitsu training but in wheel chair it's about impossible to grab someone by wrist and arm and then take them off balance or put other foot around there's but I can't still practice grabbing arms. I don't know if one of those bags are even worth it.

Like where is the dummy? Not even an attempt to show why the thing does not work.

I love this line, "Training with a humanoid body in the form of an actual human."

Do you even lift Bro

Thousands join martial arts do keep with it too.

Grappling dummies are just like any other training tool. Just like buying a punching bag, the people who train outside of class will use them, the people that do not train outside of class will not. The problem with grappling dummies is you definitely get what you pay for. I can only recommend two. There is one made by Hawk you can get from amazon for 20 bucks. I know I said "you get what you pay for" but before spending hard earned cash, fill it with towels and t shirts and see if you will actually use it or if it sits and collects dust. If you stop using it after a couple months or get nothing out of it, you are only out 20 bucks and now know that grappling dummies are not useful to you as a training tool. If you find you use it a lot, and it is helping you train....... shell out the 600 bucks for a submission master from pro boxing supplies, or something similar. Of the high end grappling dummies, it is the only one I personally like (though I do recommend putting a gi on it to protect the bungee cords some what).

What If you are learning from RU-vid and no one you have ?