Can I Use a Grappling Dummy for Pro Wrestling
Can I use a grappling dummy for pro wrestling? Are they useful aids for this sport? Read this to find out everything you need to know with Maxx Pro Boxing.
Thinking of putting some time into wrestling, but you aren’t sure what you can or should use? Are you asking yourself, ‘can I use a grappling dummy for pro wrestling’? There are probably a lot of things that you aren’t sure about, and that’s to be expected.
Sports can be difficult to navigate, and it can be daunting, but we want to help you through it. At Maxx Pro Boxing, we have a wide variety of products and posts that can help you – from learning about grappling in different sports to supplying you with your next punch bag or speedball platform. If you want to find out about the uses of grappling dummies in pro wrestling, we will cover everything you need to know.

A grappling dummy is a useful training aid for a variety of sports that involve grappling, and even allow you to practise alone or at home. These include BJJ, Judo, MMA, wrestling, and more. There are several kinds of grappling dummies, with some that have joints to help practise your moves, and others that are closer to sacks for less precise movements.
Different kinds of grappling dummies can serve different purposes, so make sure you know what you want before buying one yourself. With the right dummy, you can practise all kinds of moves and techniques, including ground transitions, takedowns, and more – making it a very handy aid.
Along with differences in size and shape, you need to remember that every grappling dummy can be a different weight, too. The weight can be changed depending on the filling you decide to go with, and you could even choose to go with a combination of fillings to get the perfect weight for practice. If you’re getting your own grappling dummy, it may come empty so that you can choose what to put inside it yourself.
Popular grappling dummy fillings include:
- Sand
- Foam
- Plastic pellets/beads
- Cloth
You should determine how heavy your grappling dummy should be based on your age, weight, height, and skill level. There are grappling dummies of all sizes out there to suit everyone’s needs, with weights ranging from 25 kg up to 90 kg – so do your research to find your best match.
Are Grappling Dummies Useful Aids?
Yes, grappling dummies are fantastic aids, and are absolutely worth it if you want to take your wrestling or any similar sport seriously. Like a speedball platform, a grappling dummy will allow you to hone your skills and become a master.
Training with a grappling dummy might not be easy at first or come naturally, but using them will ensure that you learn the right techniques and moves. It’s just important to remember that these dummies aren’t people. So, while you can use as much force as you like on them, you need to be mindful when you switch to training with a real person.
Pair your grappling dummy training with the right strikes and all the crucial warm-up drills, and you are going to notice a marked improvement in your skills.
Pro Wrestling: A Breakdown
Pro wrestling is different from other forms of wrestling because of the scripted and choreographed nature of the sport. This type of wrestling, while definitely challenging on your body and highly skilled, is a form of staged entertainment.
This doesn’t take away from the skilled athletes who take part in the sport. Because of this, anyone who wants to take part in pro wrestling needs to train and perfect techniques – possibly to an even higher standard, because you are not trying to hurt the other person in order to ‘win’.
To win in pro wrestling, the aim is to pin your opponent’s shoulders to the mat, and the match is held in a ring.
Pro Wrestling vs Freestyle Wrestling
Freestyle wrestling, on the other hand, is a very different sport to what we call pro wrestling. This form of wrestling, along with Greco-Roman, gets contested in the Olympic Games and other international competitions.
Most freestyle wrestling is done in low positions since competitors are allowed to attack their opponent’s feet, legs, and hips. This kind of wrestling is done in two 3-minute sets, with a 30-second break in the middle, like Greco-Roman. The wrestling is done on a 9-metre diameter mat, with the objective being to pin your opponent’s shoulders to the mat for a few seconds.
Can I Use a Grappling Dummy for Pro Wrestling?

You can absolutely use a grappling dummy for pro wrestling. In fact, we would recommend that you do use a training dummy for a lot of your moves!
Grappling dummies are always a useful tool to have, as it allows you to train on your own and master the moves that you might not have the confidence to try on a person yet. It can teach you a lot of valuable skills and allow you to grow your confidence to become the pro you want to be.
Improve Your Grappling With These Useful Tips
It’s important to remember that, while we love our grappling dummies and know how useful they can be, they are not the be-all-and-end-all. There are lots of great ways to improve your grappling skills, and training with other people is ultimately going to be the best option when it’s possible.
Whether you want to enjoy pro wrestling as we know it, or a type of wrestling that you can play in the Olympics, you need to know your techniques and moves. You need to know how to let your ego go in this sport, especially when you’re learning about it and are trying to improve your skills.
Put yourself in all those unpleasant positions so that you can learn how to get out of them instead of trying to stay on top. Pick opponents that are bigger and better than you so that you can learn from them – it might be frustrating, but it is a sure fire way to improve your skills.
Some ways to improve your grappling games include:
- Don’t be afraid of being manhandled
- Compete when you can
- Train until you are exhausted
- Teach others
- Drill again and again and again
- Focus training sessions on learning, not winning
- Make use of your training partner’s strengths
- Ask lost of questions
- Have one-on-one training with instructors
- Never forget about the core basics
- Set goals for yourself
- Train in positions where you don’t have the advantage
- Try new things (especially on beginners)
- Specialise in useful techniques
- Train consistently and frequently
Shop with Maxx Pro Boxing

Maxx Pro Boxing can offer you everything you could need to hone your skills and become a force to be reckoned with in pro wrestling and grappling. We have everything you could be looking for, from our top-of-the-range equipment like boxing gloves and punching bags, and accompanying blog posts on how to take care of them, you can find everything you need right here.
We want to see you win. If you want to step up your game and learn grappling techniques for wrestling, our grappling dummies could be what you’re looking for. So, if you have been wondering ‘can I use a grappling dummy for pro wrestling’, the answer is a clear and simple yes.
Utilise this handy learning aid and master your techniques, but don’t forget that dummies aren’t the real thing. If you truly want to perfect your techniques, make sure to use both grappling dummies and humans – because humans are the ones that you will be going up against in the end!