Advice for small and light person

As an older smaller student myself
what I am doing is focusing on positional escape and my submission escapes.
If I can keep myself safe and escape from bad positions and have a strategy against some sub attempts i feel
I can then be more confident when rolling and focus on implementing my own game

Positional escapes
LINK
Submission escapes
Link

I’m a 47 yr old blue belt 170 cm and 72kg around 150lb I think. I find that a pressure system doesn’t really work for me as most of my peers are larger. Resultantly, I’ve had to aim for a more agile and technical game. Simultaneously, I try to develop a game that focuses on efficient high percentage moves. Try not to get caught on bottom, my pet hate is side control, but make it a goal to be comfortable in uncomfortable positions as it is sometimes unavoidable too.

There are a lot of ways to approach this. Personally, I think safety and longevity are priorities for people who are not doing BJJ as a serious professional endeavor.

1) You can choose your partners and avoid larger partners, or people who are too explosive. This will help you reduce wear and tear on your body by a lot. Even when you’re training with gentle partners, if they outweigh you they are naturally going to be stressing your joints and muscles more than someone your own size. If you’re a competitor maybe that’s okay, but if this is a side hobby and you have other priorities, then choosing your partners can help a LOT with reducing pain and stress and making your hobby more enjoyable. For me, I don’t get much technical benefit out of training with people who are several weight categories above me and equal (or better) skill (assuming normal sparring), and I don’t think they get much out of training with me either.

2) You can change your goals when training with larger partners and try to flow spar instead of hard spar. You still need to protect yourself because you never know when the other person is going to “see red” or accidentally fall on you. But most training partners will probably pick up on the fact that you are a light roller and will start to match your lower level of intensity after a few training sessions. (If someone keeps going hard while you’re trying to flow spar, then maybe scratch that person off your list of “people I want to train with” for now.)

3) You can change your style to focus on avoiding bad positions. For example, if you have good flexibility or you think you are able to develop good flexibility over time, then it might make sense to develop an “outside positioning” guard where you are focused on efficient guard retention and efficient sweeps. If you have good balance or think you are able to develop good balance over time, then it might make sense to develop a top game where you are focused on not getting swept but still able to stay in contact with your partner most of the time. Both of these strategies require some athleticism and a lot of technique. However, these relatively conservative strategies are less likely to get you over-committed to an attack, which can make it much harder for bigger guys who are about your skill level to dominate you. (I stress that you should try to stay in contact and avoid too much disengagement; of course, it’s “safer” to constantly disengage the moment they initiate an attack or win any grip battle, but I feel that that defeats the purpose of training if you over-do it.)

A couple of people suggest focusing on escaping bad positions, and that is a reasonable take too. Just for me personally, I don’t like to spend time in bad positions when training with bigger people, I find it can put a lot of stress on my body and it also increases my risk of injury. If every session with a person is going to result in me receiving a lot of pressure from mount or back or whatever, I’m happy not training with them on the regular. No hard feelings of course, but I don’t get much technical benefit out of those types of rounds, and I don’t think they get much out of it either.

jeiteki, post: 65122, member: 9812

There are a lot of ways to approach this. Personally, I think safety and longevity are priorities for people who are not doing BJJ as a serious professional endeavor.

1) You can choose your partners and avoid larger partners, or people who are too explosive. This will help you reduce wear and tear on your body by a lot. Even when you’re training with gentle partners, if they outweigh you they are naturally going to be stressing your joints and muscles more than someone your own size. If you’re a competitor maybe that’s okay, but if this is a side hobby and you have other priorities, then choosing your partners can help a LOT with reducing pain and stress and making your hobby more enjoyable. For me, I don’t get much technical benefit out of training with people who are several weight categories above me and equal (or better) skill (assuming normal sparring), and I don’t think they get much out of training with me either.

2) You can change your goals when training with larger partners and try to flow spar instead of hard spar. You still need to protect yourself because you never know when the other person is going to “see red” or accidentally fall on you. But most training partners will probably pick up on the fact that you are a light roller and will start to match your lower level of intensity after a few training sessions. (If someone keeps going hard while you’re trying to flow spar, then maybe scratch that person off your list of “people I want to train with” for now.)

3) You can change your style to focus on avoiding bad positions. For example, if you have good flexibility or you think you are able to develop good flexibility over time, then it might make sense to develop an “outside positioning” guard where you are focused on efficient guard retention and efficient sweeps. If you have good balance or think you are able to develop good balance over time, then it might make sense to develop a top game where you are focused on not getting swept but still able to stay in contact with your partner most of the time. Both of these strategies require some athleticism and a lot of technique. However, these relatively conservative strategies are less likely to get you over-committed to an attack, which can make it much harder for bigger guys who are about your skill level to dominate you. (I stress that you should try to stay in contact and avoid too much disengagement; of course, it’s “safer” to constantly disengage the moment they initiate an attack or win any grip battle, but I feel that that defeats the purpose of training if you over-do it.)

A couple of people suggest focusing on escaping bad positions, and that is a reasonable take too. Just for me personally, I don’t like to spend time in bad positions when training with bigger people, I find it can put a lot of stress on my body and it also increases my risk of injury. If every session with a person is going to result in me receiving a lot of pressure from mount or back or whatever, I’m happy not training with them on the regular. No hard feelings of course, but I don’t get much technical benefit out of those types of rounds, and I don’t think they get much out of it either.

I searched the course database here to see if one covers this topic
I am sure there must be some but didn't find any

If you search on YouTube for Brian Glick he has shown some techniques that he was taught, to help him manage to train with (bigger, stronger faster etc ) heavier partners

I may have some saved I will look for them tonight or as soon as I get a chance and link them here for you

kalel, post: 65134, member: 3023

I searched the course database here to see if one covers this topic
I am sure there must be some but didn't find any

If you search on YouTube for Brian Glick he has shown some techniques that he was taught, to help him manage to train with (bigger, stronger faster etc ) heavier partners

I may have some saved I will look for them tonight or as soon as I get a chance and link them here for you

I will go look at Brian Glick now

Yep, I confirm that playing guard and bottom game in general when you are lighter and not that young has consequences on your body. I try to stay on top and avoid sweeps at all cost. Not pressure top, but agility and quickly flow from different positions (preferably side control, knee on belly, mount, and NS; top half is acceptable). Keep moving to tire the partner and attempts subs whenever you see openings. If I pressure I try to avoid having both arms blocked because I get swept. I also like to stand up, move and re-engage, even passing guard multiple times The idea is that standing up to avoid a sweep is better than being swept. This approach needs cardio, agility, speed and balance.
When I end up on bottom, it's difficult to use explosive escapes, so develop solid defense. I don't know about instructional on GG but check diamond concept by Xande Ribeiro, defensive BJJ by Priit Mihkelson, and smaller instructors such, as mentioned before, Brian Glick and I like a lot Pedro Sauer.

My t2 cts, hope it helps, oss!

John Kerr, post: 65114, member: 30155

Hi all

Quick background: I’m a small built (65kg) light framed (ankles and wrists thin etc) guy. Average height 176cm. 40yrs old.

I’ve trained for a good few years altogether. I’ve long tried to resist focusing my learning through my body type but I’m now thinking I should focus on this. Having been smashed once too often last night under guys who are mostly 80kg+ to 110kg!

I know there should be a natural learning in that I should adjust my game to suit. However, I’m wondering if there is any advice/ courses etc that I should focus on to try and tailor my game?

Any and all advice welcome.

Thanks

You're a small guy and I'm an old guy, I would work on guard retention because people tend to get frustrated because they cannot pass and then they make a mistake and then you capitalize and sub them or sweep them. That's how I play them.

kalel, post: 65134, member: 3023

I searched the course database here to see if one covers this topic
I am sure there must be some but didn't find any

If you search on YouTube for Brian Glick he has shown some techniques that he was taught, to help him manage to train with (bigger, stronger faster etc ) heavier partners

I may have some saved I will look for them tonight or as soon as I get a chance and link them here for you

John Kerr, post: 65114, member: 30155

Hi all

Quick background: I’m a small built (65kg) light framed (ankles and wrists thin etc) guy. Average height 176cm. 40yrs old.

I’ve trained for a good few years altogether. I’ve long tried to resist focusing my learning through my body type but I’m now thinking I should focus on this. Having been smashed once too often last night under guys who are mostly 80kg+ to 110kg!

I know there should be a natural learning in that I should adjust my game to suit. However, I’m wondering if there is any advice/ courses etc that I should focus on to try and tailor my game?

Any and all advice welcome.

Thanks

Try the Lachlan Giles no gi material and Marcus Johnson's spider guard, Andris B's worm guard, Craig Jones knee shield.
And Jason Scully's knee shield and over under passing.

sovann, post: 65146, member: 14430

I just got his half butterfly instructional and it is excellent.
The past few years have butterfly and half guard have been key to not getting smashed too much.

I would say whichever one is on daily deals.

sovann, post: 65155, member: 14430

I would say whichever one is on daily deals.

kalel, post: 65134, member: 3023

I searched the course database here to see if one covers this topic
I am sure there must be some but didn't find any

If you search on YouTube for Brian Glick he has shown some techniques that he was taught, to help him manage to train with (bigger, stronger faster etc ) heavier partners

I may have some saved I will look for them tonight or as soon as I get a chance and link them here for you

In my opinion just searching for athletes your size is too short sighted. In my case I always tried to adapt things from Marcelo, Lachlan, Garry but it never fit my physical and psychological attributes. Ask yourself what type of a grappler you are. Are you athletic? Strong? Aggressive? Defensive? Flexible? Methodical? Playful? Chaotic? Stiff? Find an athlete that has most of your attributes, not those you admire. Was super hard for me to acknowledge I'll NEVER be able to grapple like my idol Garry Tonon. I'm methodical and non athletic, the opposite of him. It is what it is. Maybe some heavyweights game fits you perfectly (like for myself). My personal game changer against bigger, stronger guys was frames, misdirection/off-balancing and not fighting against their frames when I'm on top. Last but not least, we're all different. The only one who knows you best is you. Check what's working for you personally, what doesn't, why is it working/not working, think about solutions, try them, fail, try other solutions, succeed. Trial and error. Sorry for the long post and keep rocking those mats

Christiano, post: 65159, member: 14987

In my opinion just searching for athletes your size is too short sighted. In my case I always tried to adapt things from Marcelo, Lachlan, Garry but it never fit my physical and psychological attributes. Ask yourself what type of a grappler you are. Are you athletic? Strong? Aggressive? Defensive? Flexible? Methodical? Playful? Chaotic? Stiff? Find an athlete that has most of your attributes, not those you admire. Was super hard for me to acknowledge I'll NEVER be able to grapple like my idol Garry Tonon. I'm methodical and non athletic, the opposite of him. It is what it is. Maybe some heavyweights game fits you perfectly (like for myself). My personal game changer against bigger, stronger guys was frames, misdirection/off-balancing and not fighting against their frames when I'm on top. Last but not least, we're all different. The only one who knows you best is you. Check what's working for you personally, what doesn't, why is it working/not working, think about solutions, try them, fail, try other solutions, succeed. Trial and error. Sorry for the long post and keep rocking those mats