Pat Downey recently provided insights into the stark financial differences between professional grappling and amateur wrestling.
He pointed out that unless an athlete is among the elite 1% who make a national wrestling team, financial opportunities remain scarce – making professional grappling a far more appealing career option.
Downey expressed his enthusiasm for the future of professional grappling, making it clear that he sees the sport continuing to grow in popularity and financial potential – especially for wrestlers:
Keep moaning, because we’re just getting started. This is like the tip of the iceberg.We’re just starting this infiltration.
The takeover has merely just begun.F*cking better learn how to wrestle, huh?
He continued to explain his perspective and approach to improving in BJJ:
For me, at least, it became imperative to learn Jiu-Jitsu in order to consider myself a complete grappler.Right now, once I master my top system and my positioning – I’m very close – I’m going to start developing a guard.
Nobody’s going to take me down. I’ll just sit down and f*cking pull guard.Not even wrestle up.
I just want to develop and play the whole game.That’s why I started as a white belt.
Downey elaborated on the difference between competing in BJJ and wrestling:
CJI is like: “Hey, you get paid $10,000 to show up.”I’m like: “Oh, sh*t! I usually pay to wrestle!”
And unless you’re a world team member – like, the heights I’ve reached, which is only the 1% of the 1% – there’s only one slot at each weight class.
There’s only one guy getting the monthly stipends, all the sponsors, the insurance, getting flown around the world.It’s not everybody.
Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: you can be slow and unathletic and still kick butt in Jiu-Jitsu.
