Popular grappler Garry Tonon has been critical of the most prestigious submission wrestling organisation/event in the World: ADCC.
There have been many grappling fans that have also criticised the current ADCC rules and the way matches happen. At ADCC 2015, Orlando Sanchez was able to win the heavyweight crown using a very conservative game (some would call it stalling). He didn’t score one takedown, didn’t score a guard pass, didn’t score a sweep in the whole tournament. He won 3 matches in a row, including the final, without scoring one single point.
Vinny Blasts Orlando Sanchez: ‘He Won ADCC Without Scoring A Single Point’
Tonon shared his opinion on Twitter:
As per the current rules, a Submission aware D1, or Olympic wrestler, could beat most ADCC competitors.
— Garry Tonon (@Garry_Tonon) August 28, 2016
If you showed a d1 or Olympic wrestler a tape of the finals of last year’s ADCC in each category they wouldn’t be able to bear watching it.
— Garry Tonon (@Garry_Tonon) August 28, 2016
6 minutes 3 of which are unscored is not an adequate assessment of a competitors abilities in a 10 min ADCC match. #rules #adcctrials
— Garry Tonon (@Garry_Tonon) August 28, 2016
In conclusion I love ADCC. I just wish competitors chose to try to submit each other, and didn’t just look to not lose.
— Garry Tonon (@Garry_Tonon) August 28, 2016
The ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) Submission Wrestling World Championship is a grappling’s competition involving professional athletes who have been successful at the highest levels of jiu-jitsu, grappling, wrestling, judo, sambo, shooto and mixed martial arts. The rules of the event disallow strikes while promoting grappling and submissions.
The competition was created by Sheik Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the son of the former United Arab Emirates president Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, together with his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsuinstructor Nelson Monteiro. Royler Gracie characterized this as the beginning of “the modern era of submission grappling”.
Thousands of Submission grappling tournaments around the world use elements of the ADCC format and rule structure. To date, the great majority of ADCC champions have had experience studying the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, whose rules are the most similar to. However, there have been notable exceptions to this, such as Japanese Sanae Kikuta (Judo/Shoot Wrestling), South African Mark Robinson (who was a champion in judo, Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling, Sumo, and power lifting), and American Mark Kerr (Collegiate/Freestyle Wrestling).
Tonon has competed in two ADCCs (2013 and 2015) and has a a 2W -5L record against the world’s best.
He holds a much better record in submission only/no points type of matches because of his submission focused game.
Tonon’s ADCC stats from BJJ Heroes:
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