Wrestling and jiujitusu have many things in common. They are both styles of grappling. Both are contests fought between two individuals who vie for control over the opponent's body. They both use throws and takedowns as a means to achieve victory. However, the particulars of competition vary widely, meaning that some moves -- like the hip throw -- must be executed very differently.
Wrestling Throws
Wrestling throws have a single purpose: to take the opponent to the mat and score a takedown, worth either one or two points, depending on the style of wrestling in which you are participating. The throws used in wrestling have evolved over thousands of years of sporting competition, going all the way back to the Olympic Games of ancient Greece. This means that wrestling throws are more about scoring points than about injuring an opponent with a martial arts move.
Jiujitsu Throws
Jiujitsu developed on the battlefields of ancient and feudal Japan, and jiujitusu throws are intended to injure or harm an opponent. In sporting competition, these throws are mitigated by a soft landing surface and specific fighting techniques. However, the purpose of jiujitusu throws can be either scoring competitive points or seriously injuring an attacker.
Hip Throws
Wrestling and jiujitusu hip throws use nearly the exact same technique when it comes to executing the throw. In both cases, the attacker immobilizes the defender's upper body while pulling on his arm and pushing his hip backward with his own hip. The result is an opponent's body flipping in midair to land as the attacker directs it. Wrestling hip throws often capture both the head and the arm, while jiujitusu throws usually capture just the arm, or the arm and upper chest.
Body Slam
The main difference between a jiujitusu hip throw and a wrestling hip throw is the landing. In wrestling competition, an attacker who executes a throw must go to the mat with his opponent. If he doesn't, the move is a body slam, and the attacker may lose points or be ejected from the competition. Jiujitsu hip throws can go to the ground with the defender, or the attacker can simply fling him to the ground with a body slam.
Bottom Line
Wrestling and jiujitusu hip throws are very similar, and you can legally use a jiujitusu hip throw in competition. However, you must be certain to go to the mat with your opponent if you want the throw to be legal in sanctioned wrestling competition.
References
- NCAA Publications: 2010-11 Wrestling Rules
- "USJA Basic JuJutsu Manual"; Phillip Porter; 1996
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