Surprise! Russian Kids Are Grappling Savages. Who Knew?

They don't call it jiu-jitsu, but it doesn't stop these Russians kids from being serious badass submission grapplers.

Oct 11, 2017 by Hywel Teague

Surprise! Russian Kids Are Grappling Savages. Who Knew?

They don't call it jiu-jitsu, but it doesn't stop these Russians kids from being serious badass submission grapplers.

United World Wrestling, the governing body for Olympic wrestling, has a sub-style known as "Grappling." Aside from a few differences in the rules, it is -- for all intents and purposes -- exactly the same concept as jiu-jitsu.

Matches are won by points or submission, and can be gi or no-gi. There are no advantages, reaping the knee is allowed (but heel hooks are not), and the referees are very quick to restart the competitors if there's a lack of action.

The competitors in both highlights -- which come from the recent Russian Championships and were hosted by the All-Russian Federation of Grappling -- are all under the age of 19.

With flying submission attacks and takedowns, these kids, mostly in their teens, show the future of grappling in Russia is bright -- whatever you want to call it.