The right grappling dummy comes down to three choices: its posture, its size and its material. Get those three right and you'll have a training partner that suits your discipline, fits your body and lasts as long as you need it to.
A grappling dummy is the partner that never gets tired, never cancels and never complains about doing the same drill 200 times. It lets you rep throws, takedowns, sweeps, positional transitions and ground and pound at home, in the garage or in an empty gym long after class has finished.
But not every dummy suits every athlete. A wrestler drilling double-legs needs something very different from a BJJ player working guard passes, and a 10-year-old needs a very different size from a heavyweight MMA fighter. This guide walks you through each decision so you can buy once and buy right.
At DAAN MMA we manufacture, export and sell grappling dummies from Melbourne, and dummies are our biggest range. Every tip below comes from helping fighters, parents and gym owners pick the right one. Browse the full grappling dummy range.
Posture: standing or sitting?
Choose a standing dummy if your game starts on the feet, and a sitting dummy if your game lives on the mat. That single question, where does most of your training happen? — decides posture for most athletes.
The standing grappling dummy
A standing dummy is built in an upright, full-body position with straight or slightly bent legs. It mimics an opponent squared up in front of you, which makes it ideal for everything that happens before the fight hits the ground.
What it's used for:
• Takedowns — single-legs, double-legs, high crotch and ankle picks, driving through the hips and legs just as you would on a live opponent
• Throws — hip throws, shoulder throws and suplexes, where you need a body with length and weight to load and turn
• Clinch work — underhooks, overhooks, body locks and collar ties, plus knees from the clinch
• Lifting and conditioning — carries, lifts, slams and sprawl drills that build explosive strength and grip endurance
Best for these disciplines:
• Wrestling (freestyle, Greco-Roman and folkstyle) — shots, lifts and mat returns
• Judo — entries, kuzushi and full throws
• Sambo — throws and leg-attack entries
• MMA — cage and clinch work, takedown entries and wrestling for position
Because a standing dummy has full-length legs, it can also be laid down for ground drills. It just won't hold a seated or guard position on its own.
Shop standing: the Spidy BJJ Standing Vinyl Grappling Dummy is built upright for takedown and clinch drilling.
The sitting grappling dummy
A sitting dummy is built in a seated position, usually with its legs bent or spread and its torso upright. It holds the shape of an opponent who is already on the mat — sitting up, playing guard or turtled — so you can drill from the positions you'll actually find yourself in.
What it's used for:
• Guard passing — working around and through the legs without the dummy collapsing flat
• Positional control — mount, side control, knee on belly and back control
• Submissions — chokes, arm locks and shoulder locks from top and back positions
• Transitions — flowing from one dominant position to the next with correct weight and pressure
• Ground and pound — striking from top position with the dummy held in place
Best for these disciplines:
• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Gi and No Gi) — passing, positional drilling and submission reps
• Submission grappling — back takes, chokes and control
• MMA — ground and pound, top control and submission finishes
• Judo ne-waza — pins, turnovers and groundwork
The seated shape is the key advantage. It stays upright and gives you something to pass, mount and take the back of, instead of a limp bag that flops flat.
Shop sitting: explore our BJJ grappling dummies, including the Spidy and Sentinel ranges built for ground work.
At a glance
| Feature | Standing Dummy | Sitting Dummy |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Position | On the feet | On the mat |
| Main Skills | Takedowns, throws, clinch, lifts | Guard passing, control, submissions, ground and pound |
| Core Disciplines | Wrestling, Judo, Sambo, MMA | BJJ, submission grappling, MMA, Judo ne-waza |
| Choose It If… | Your game starts standing | Your game finishes on the ground |
Train in MMA? You need both halves of the game. If you can only fit one dummy, pick the one that matches your weaker area. Plenty of fighters own both.
Sizing: match the dummy to the athlete
Pick a dummy close to the size of the partner you'd normally train with: 40–47 inches for kids, 59 inches for teens and 70 inches for adults. The right size keeps your technique honest — your hips, grips and angles line up the way they would in a real roll.
| Size | Height | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Kids | 40–47 in (approx. 102–119 cm) | Junior wrestlers, kids' BJJ and judo classes |
| Teens | 59 in (approx. 150 cm) | Teenagers, smaller adults and lighter weight classes |
| Adults | 70 in (approx. 178 cm) | Adult athletes, MMA fighters and heavier grapplers |
Kids: 40–47 inches
Kids' dummies are sized for young athletes learning their first takedowns, rolls and positions. A smaller, lighter dummy lets children lift, throw and control it with good form, rather than straining against something built for an adult. That builds confidence and correct technique early — and it's safer.
Shop kids: our Joker Grappling Dummy for Kids comes in blue, grey, red and yellow.
Teens: 59 inches
The 59-inch dummy is the bridge between junior and senior training. It suits teenagers who have outgrown a kids' dummy but aren't yet ready to handle a full adult size. It's also a smart pick for smaller adults and lighter weight classes who want a partner closer to their own frame.
Adults: 70 inches
The 70-inch dummy gives adult athletes a full-size partner with realistic body length and reach. It's the size for serious takedown drilling, heavy throws, full-length guard passing and ground and pound. For most adult wrestlers, grapplers and MMA fighters, this is the standard choice.
Between sizes? Size for the partner you want to drill against, not the space you have. A dummy that's too small encourages sloppy habits, like shooting too low or finishing throws without proper hip placement. If a teenager is still growing, the 59-inch dummy will serve them longer than a kids' size.
Material: canvas, PU leather or vinyl?
Canvas suits beginners on a budget, PU leather suits intermediate athletes who want looks and performance, and vinyl suits anyone who wants the longest-lasting dummy. The outer material decides how the dummy feels, how it handles sweat and how long it survives hard training.
Canvas: for amateurs and beginners
Canvas is a lightweight material, which makes a canvas dummy easy to move, lift and store. It's the most affordable way into dummy training and a good fit for beginners, kids and anyone testing whether solo drilling suits them.
The trade-off is longevity. Canvas absorbs sweat and wears faster under constant throws, grips and friction against the mat. For light, occasional use it does the job — but it isn't built for daily, high-volume training.
• Choose canvas if: you're new to grappling, training occasionally or buying for a child who may outgrow it
Shop canvas grappling dummies — including the Flexi and Apex ranges.
PU leather: for intermediate athletes
PU leather gives a grappling dummy a sleek, premium look — the kind of dummy that looks at home in a well-kitted gym or a home setup you're proud of. It feels good to grip, wipes clean easily and handles regular training well.
It sits in the middle of the range: more durable and better-looking than canvas, and a step below vinyl for all-out, long-term punishment. It's the sweet spot for athletes who train consistently and care about aesthetics as much as performance.
• Choose PU leather if: you train regularly, want a dummy that looks the part and need a solid balance of looks, feel and durability
Shop PU leather grappling dummies — including the Elite Power Partner and Sentinel Leather ranges.
Vinyl: built to last
Vinyl is the most durable of the three. It stands up to repeated slams, throws and heavy ground and pound, resists tearing and is easy to wipe down after sweaty sessions. That makes it the go-to choice for gyms, clubs and serious athletes who drill every day.
If you want a dummy that keeps its shape and keeps going session after session, year after year, vinyl is the long-term investment.
• Choose vinyl if: you train hard and often, run a gym or club, or simply want to buy once and not think about it again
Shop vinyl grappling dummies — including the Premium Vinyl, Spidy and Spidy Pro ranges.
Material comparison
| Feature | Canvas | PU Leather | Vinyl |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Amateur / beginner | Intermediate | Serious athletes, gyms |
| Weight | Lightweight | Medium | Medium to heavy |
| Look | Basic | Premium, sleek | Tough, practical |
| Longevity | Lowest | Good | Longest |
| Best Use | Light, occasional drilling | Regular training | Daily, high-volume training |
Quick picks: which dummy is right for you?
| If You Are… | Posture | Size | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| A junior wrestler or judoka | Standing | 40–47 in | Canvas |
| A kid starting BJJ | Sitting | 40–47 in | Canvas |
| A teen competing in wrestling or judo | Standing | 59 in | PU leather |
| An adult BJJ player drilling at home | Sitting | 70 in | PU leather |
| An adult wrestler or judoka | Standing | 70 in | Vinyl |
| An MMA fighter training daily | Standing and/or sitting | 70 in | Vinyl |
| A gym or club kitting out a mat room | Both | Mix of sizes | Vinyl |
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a standing dummy for ground work?
Yes. Lay it down and you can drill mount, side control and submissions. What it can't do is hold a seated or guard position, which is where a sitting dummy earns its place.
Is a sitting dummy any good for MMA?
Very. It's one of the best tools for ground and pound, top control and submission finishes — the positions that win MMA fights on the mat.
What size should a smaller adult buy?
If you're on the lighter or shorter side, the 59-inch dummy often feels more realistic than the 70-inch, because it's closer to training partners in your own weight class.
Is canvas worth it if it doesn't last as long?
For beginners and kids, yes. It's an affordable way to start. If you know you'll train hard and often, going straight to PU leather or vinyl saves you buying twice.
Which material is easiest to clean?
PU leather and vinyl both wipe clean quickly after a sweaty session. Canvas absorbs more sweat, so it needs more care.
The bottom line
Start with where your game happens: standing for takedowns and throws, sitting for guard, control and submissions. Then size the dummy to the athlete — 40–47 inches for kids, 59 inches for teens and 70 inches for adults. Finally, choose your material by how hard you'll train: canvas to get started, PU leather for regular training with a premium look, and vinyl for the long haul.
Get those three choices right and your grappling dummy will be the most reliable training partner you've ever had.
Find your training partner at DAAN MMA
Ready to choose? Shop all grappling dummies and filter by material to find your match. We ship free across Australia on orders over $59.99 and worldwide on orders over $100.
Kitting out a gym, club or school? As a manufacturer we take bulk and custom orders, including private-label dummies. Get in touch and we'll help you choose the right mix of postures, sizes and materials.