Boxing/Wrestling vs. Karate/Judo*

**Mercurius** · Posted On: 10/03/2002 11:38pm

In the cage, who would win between someone who crosstrained Western boxing & wrestling (i.e. Greco-Roman) and someone who crosstrained karate & judo?

About boxing vs karate, although karate men often criticize it for using only two of the body's weapons, the 'simplicity' of the sweet science may be an advantage in that its training is more focused than karate's. At the right moment, the old one-two is worth more than an entire arsenal of karate weapons put together.

The stand-up game between boxing and karate would go to whoever could employ their weapons & strategies most effectively: for a boxer, to hit powerfully and in combination; for a karate man, to find some way to put his blocks to use in defending his jaw & target the opponent in areas the boxer is not used to protecting to do damage or create openings.

As for the ground game, between the wrestler and the judoka, the wrestler might have more control of the action on the mat (especially against a style without much newaza), but would not be as well versed in submissions as the judoka. Again, it depends on opportunity, if the boxer/wrestler could get in a position to strike at the karate/judoka, or if the judoka could gain a submission or escape, then they would be that much better off.

<sup>*</sup>notice I said Judo and not BJJ since that would draw out the Gracie nutriders who think BJJ is effective for everything from knife disarms (pull guard, get stabbed in the crotch, hope the knife sticks) to asphyxiation kama sutra (rear naked choke, anyone?)

--------------------
And that's what I call REAL Ultimate Power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited by - Mercurius on October 03 2002 23:46:30

**Choke** · Posted On: 10/04/2002 12:04am

I think you answered your own question. Like you said it all depends how each fighter utilizes the strength of their styles and the weaknesses of their opponent's.

Cast in the name of God. Ye not guilty.

**darkface** · Posted On: 10/04/2002 6:27am

The winner of a fight is decided through the sum of 5 facts:

1) Physical attributes (strength, agility, speed etc)
2) Technique
3) Motivation
4) Weapons
5) Luck

I think wrestling (Greco/Roman) is rather complementing Judo than replacing it. I although think that shooto and shootwrestling combines Judo, wrestling and BJJ to the best combination. So decision in winning in your scenario (if all the facts above are summed up equal between the two fighters) is not in the grappling technique, its in the striking. Boxing always rules over Karate.

**SLJ** · Posted On: 10/04/2002 7:10am

I would say Boxing/Wrestling would win.

**kronos** · Posted On: 10/04/2002 8:16am

Many boxers will win over karate. I don't say all boxer will 100% beat all karateka but it's rare to see a karateka beat a boxer (Choki Motobu is an exception..but he's a reputable Okinawan strongman as well as an Okinawan karate fighter).

As for Judo against wrestling...I don't have anything to say.

**Choke** · Posted On: 10/04/2002 5:27pm

Are there a lot of Karate vs Boxing matches? I take Karate and I spar with my roommate who is a boxer. He's definitely more creative with his hands than I am but he never dominated me in any of the bouts we have. As a rule we fought hands only and I kept up with him fine.

Cast in the name of God. Ye not guilty.

**samantha711** · Posted On: 10/05/2002 3:36am

Western boxing & wrestling (i.e. Greco-Roman) and someone who crosstrained karate & judo?

If those were the only two (sets) of choises, I would say, probably West boxing/Wrestling.

I think that's close to a pretty rounded combo.

<img src=icon_smile_blackeye.gif border=0 align=middle> Sam