I’ve been thinking about how useful grappling dummies really are for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA training.

A dummy obviously can’t replace a live training partner. It doesn’t react, resist, escape, or change position. However, it seems like it could still be useful for getting extra repetitions in when a partner isn’t available.

Some of the things that seem practical to drill with one include:

Positional transitions Mount and side-control movements Submission mechanics Guard-related movements Takedown entries Ground movement Conditioning drills

I’m particularly interested in whether experienced BJJ practitioners actually find them useful over the long term, or whether they mainly benefit beginners who are learning basic movement patterns.

There are also quite a few different types of grappling dummies, so choosing one can be confusing. Size, weight, flexibility, material, filling, and intended use all seem to make a difference.

I recently came across this BJJ grappling dummy guide that goes into some of those differences.

For those who have actually trained with a grappling dummy: What techniques or drills have you found most useful, and do you think they're worth having at home?