The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset · Data Study
Is Wrestling the Key to Winning Jiu-Jitsu? The ADCC Takedown Boom
For years, jiu-jitsu treated the takedown as optional — just pull guard and go to work. The data from the sport's biggest no-gi stage says those days are over. At ADCC 2024, the men's division produced a record 62 takedowns, more than every other scoring action, and more than all takedown categories from 2022 combined. Here is why wrestling has become the key to winning.
Takedowns now outnumber everything else
Successful scoring actions in the ADCC 2024 men's division.
Takedowns did not just lead — they dwarfed back-takes, sweeps, and guard passes. Considering ADCC actively penalizes guard pulling in overtime, finals, and the points rounds, the message is clear: getting on top under your own power is the highest-value skill in the ruleset.
The wrestling toolbox
Most-used takedowns at ADCC 2024 (men's division).
The leg-attack wrestling of freestyle (single and double legs) leads, but the mix of judo throws (uchimata, de ashi barai) and body locks shows how ADCC wrestling blends freestyle, Greco, and judo into one game.
Top position is where matches are won
Wrestling matters because of where it puts you. At ADCC 2024, roughly 32 finishes came from top-position dynamics — nearly triple the number from the bottom. The division saw 63 guard pulls, but with guard pulling discouraged by the ruleset and the top game producing most of the finishes, the fighters forcing the action on the feet held the advantage.
Does this mean you should drop your guard?
No — context matters. ADCC's ruleset specifically rewards wrestling and punishes passive guard pulling, and in the IBJJF gi game the guard remains central. But the trend is unmistakable: as the talent pool levels up, the ability to dictate where the fight happens — and to get on top — is increasingly decisive. Even most ADCC 2024 champions leaned on their wrestling to get there.
Frequently asked questions
Is wrestling important for BJJ?
Increasingly, yes. At ADCC 2024, takedowns were the single most common scoring action and top position produced about three times the finishes of the bottom. Wrestling is the most reliable path to the dominant positions where matches are won.
Do you need wrestling to win ADCC?
Very nearly. The ADCC ruleset penalizes guard pulling and rewards takedowns, and most recent champions used wrestling as a primary tool. A grappler without a credible takedown game is at a real disadvantage.
Is guard pulling dead in jiu-jitsu?
Not dead, but discouraged at ADCC, where it is penalized in overtime, finals, and points rounds. The guard still scores — the data shows sweeps and back-takes from the bottom — but top position remains the higher-percentage path.
Sources & method
Figures from BJJ Heroes' ADCC 2024 data analysis. Current as of July 2026.
Related reading: The most common submissions in jiu-jitsu · The greatest finishers in ADCC history · Catch The Jiu Jitsu Mindset on YouTube and Spotify.