Rolling with smaller, fragile guys

trfcrugby · 07-26-2005, 10:14 AM

Was reading the thread about the guy rolling with the bigger, stronger guy. I have the opposite experience in my gym sometimes. I am 5'10", around 200lbs. Used to do a lot of weight lifting, in fact I started BJJ at 235lbs, and have dropped all the weight for MMA (plan on going to 185lbs).

Lately, with the summer weather and all, the classes have been very small. Usually its me and few smaller guys, 150lbs or so, all white belts. It's difficult to not take advantage of the size difference, especially when the smaller guy is going balls out trying to sub me, and I can easily overpower him or counter. I am not great in BJJ, only been here 3 months, but just shedding some light from the other side of the mat. I feel stupid when I hold back, but at the same time, I'm sure it's no fun for the smaller guy to be completely smothered by me all the time.

I can't wait for summer to end and the rest of the guys to come back.

cb9fl · 07-26-2005, 10:25 AM

I guess the best way to look at training is exactly that .. as training. I'm not going in to sub someone, I'm going in to learn and if a sub comes along I'll take it. Just yesterday I was grappling with someone around my weight and he was using all his power to try to force subs or whatever the hell he was trying to do. Instead of playing that game I remained at a lower power level and just looked for position using technique. Same thing when I'm with a much larger guy. Only time I had to really use a lot of power was in scarf control. Man I hate being in someone's scarf control.

If the guy is using power and not technique then don't hold back. I think it's really important to learn that bjj is all about technique not brute strength. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying strength is a bad thing, just that technique is much more important. Only way someone is going to learn they can't overpower you is for you to show him.

cb9fl · 07-26-2005, 10:26 AM

Just wanted to add. On the other hand when I'm trying to work technique and a bigger guy just uses his power instead of technique it kind of pisses me off.

Moving Shadow · 07-26-2005, 11:38 AM

if a guy is much smaller than me i try pulling half guard and work from there, so if get in a better position i know i didn't just power my way there. i feel cheap if i tap a smaller guy after playing top game, as my weight no doubt gives me a big advantage.

that said i find smaller guys harder to deal with as they are faster and harder to control, they can find space to shrimp and wriggle where bigger guys can't and just explode instead.

technique > size/strength 8/10

Stoic1 · 07-26-2005, 12:03 PM

There's always someone bigger/stronger. When you meet up with them you will be glad that you had more in your game than simple strength.

trfcrugby · 07-26-2005, 12:48 PM

I totally agree with the technique over strenght in BJJ. I was just commenting on the fact that it's not all roses for the bigger guys rolling with the smaller guys. You get used to rolling with little guys, and when someone bigger comes around, a lot of what worked before suddenly is nullified.

Corey123 · 07-26-2005, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoic1

There's always someone bigger/stronger. When you meet up with them you will be glad that you had more in your game than simple strength.

Agreed.

When you're working with smaller guys and even bigger guys, still work on your technique. After all, it is training. But if you're competing, then use any advantage you can get; weight, strength, technique, etc.

Gsoares2 · 01:48 PM

When i work with bigger guys who are trying to muscle me and dont have the technique to go with it,i just relax and keep tight so they cant do much. Try to save my energy just put enough in to make them spend all of theirs. 3 minutes into the match they are dead tired and i pick them apart......

Im not saying i dominate every 1 by any means. Im talking about newer guys. If a guy has same technical skill as you but he is also just bigger and stronger.... Well then you my friend have fallen victim to natural selection.. nothing u can do about it but train harder.

If your a small guy with good technique that is your advantage. That is what the Bjj game is, agaisnt people who dont do it... You know how to survive in the fight so do so and then expose his tired weakness with technique.........

Watch royces early UFC fights, it is exactly what he does with the bigger guys. Try to stay safe, wait for the mistake and exploit it.

I personaly like fighting stronger bigger guys..They are easy to maneuver around once they are tired.. and they dont keep tight and get out of small openings like the little guys. No wagain some can become frustrating... but normaly that is when im trying to match them strength vs strength..

jahred · 07-26-2005, 02:36 PM

i'm only 5'10" 170 so it's rare when i roll with a smaller guy. one time that sticks out actually it was a girl came to a few classes, and not only was she totally new with no technique but she was probably only 110-115 lbs. a lot of idiots were treating her like someone of their own size and skill, just totally giving her no chance at all to learn and really beating her around. what's the point?

when i actually rolled with her you could really feel it though, she was weak as a kitten. i didn't really know what to do other than give her tips and let her practice sweeps and submissions on me.. it was pointless to do anything else. technique is 100% necessary for a smaller person and she didn't have any at all. it's probably best to let smaller guys (or girls) practice up on you if they're not near your level.

Jinzumkei · 07-26-2005, 03:29 PM

I roll with some smaller guys, guys who I have 30+ lbs on. (i'm @ 185lbs). With those guys I try not to go to easy as to not patronize them, but it does give me a chance to try to focus on technique and less on power/weight.