GDAYouth Wrestling And Takedowns
Matches start on the feet. GDA athletes ages 4 to 14 train the wrestling side of grappling as part of the program, not as an add-on.
What this is, and what it is not
GDA is a youth grappling academy in San Diego. We are not a scholastic wrestling team and we do not run a folkstyle season.
What we train is the wrestling that decides grappling matches: stance and motion, level changes, takedown entries, finishing on top, and getting back up when you are the one taken down.
If your athlete wrestles for a school or club, this fits alongside it. The standing skills transfer both directions.
Live positions, not choreography
Takedowns are trained against a partner who is trying to stop them, from the first week.
Standing exchanges are scored differently under ADCC, IBJJF and UFC BJJ rules, so athletes learn what a takedown is worth in the ruleset they are competing under.
Monday to Friday, San Diego
Ten hours a week at Rebellion MMA, 9825 Carroll Centre Rd, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92126. Takedown work runs through the no-gi sessions, Monday through Friday.
The full weekly schedule is on the program page.
Where to go next
New to the sport? Start with kids jiu-jitsu in San Diego. Already competing? See the competition jiu-jitsu program.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a scholastic wrestling team?
- No. GDA is a youth grappling academy. Wrestling shows up as the takedown and top-position work our athletes need for submission grappling under ADCC, IBJJF and UFC BJJ rules.
Does wrestling experience help?
- Yes. Wrestlers usually adapt quickly, because the standing exchanges, level changes and top pressure carry straight over into no-gi grappling.
What ages train?
- Ages 4 to 14, in four brackets: 4 to 5, 6 to 7, 8 to 10, and 11 to 14.