I started no gi BJJ about 3 months ago and I usually drill/roll with people around my weight class. Recently someone who is a lot more experienced + heavier than me by almost 30kg approached me for a roll, saying that he will be gentle and will guide me through. But I ended up hurting my neck in both rolls which were two weeks apart. On both occasions where I injured my neck, I was rolled on my back (something similar to this picture here.) I have now decided to go on an indefinite hiatus from BJJ until my neck is fully recovered.
My question here is, what is the maximum weight difference that I should accept when rolling with someone? And also, is there anything that I can do to prevent getting caught in such kind of situation where I get rolled on my back and risk injuring my neck again?
Sorry to hear about your injuries. That sucks. I don't have any advice as far as weight difference since I am usually the bigger guy. However, I do have a recommendation if you find yourself in a situation where you are afraid injury could occur: tap out. Just tap and reset. Tell them your neck is tweaked. Tell them you have a bad back. Tell them you think that position is too dangerous for your weight difference. Or don't tell them anything at all. It sucks to tap out, but your health is worth more that winning that roll.
As I got older and have more to lose by sustaining a serious injury, I tend to prefer rolling within ~40lbs or so especially for training partners I’m unfamiliar with and even more so for takedowns. That position, usually called being “stacked” is such a common submission defense and guard pass position that it would be hard to describe all the multitude of ways to prevent the stack from all the different scenarios. If there is a specific sequence that you are often finding yourself being stacked in perhaps that would narrow it down.
Being willing to tap is really important to training bjj in a sustainable way. Training is about learning and it's far better to tap because you're new and feel like you may get hurt in a situation or you're unsure, than to 'tough it out' and end up injured. I'm not saying that injuring your neck was in any way your fault, but when you do go back try to do so with the knowledge that it's perfectly ok to tap when you need to, even if you're not in a submission at the time.
For me when the person reaches about 30lbs (about 13.5kg) I tend to not roll with that person with that weight difference. I'm 41 years old, have been training for 21 years and have nothing to prove. If I know the person is well experienced and is also safe when training with then I will roll with someone bigger than 30lbs.
I’m 5’4, 135lb. I have herniated two discs causing severe sciatica, torn my labrum, torn my PCL, torn meniscus over the past 3 years and each time it has been by rolling with white belts that had 30-40 pounds in me (which are average sized people). I’ve found that the really big guys roll safer but average to bigger people (30-40lb+) who are newer and can’t modulate intensity is a recipe for disaster.
The other thing I would add is to work on hamstring flexibility (yoga for BJJ) and dedicate days just for core and glute strength. This will help keep your spine healthy. Neck/spine injuries are the worst so prioritize keeping those healthy.
So I have some questions about this. I am the largest person at my school. (6'1" 300 lbs) and there are a few other white belts maybe in the 225-240 range. I am really self conscious about certain positions like knee on belly and knee cut passes against most of the people because I don't want to hurt anyone. Now when I spent a class rolling with the solid 230 lb brown belt, he was unfazed and told me to go ahead and really apply the pressure. When I am rolling with the other white belts who are maybe 200ish pounds, just my weight and pressure from side control or mount really wears them out. I want to be someone people don't mind rolling with while I am losing all my weight, so what should I do to be the best training partner I can be? I want to help people get better but I don't want to hurt anyone. I feel like maybe someone like PTBeast has some insight since he is such a large dude, but anyone with experience on this would really help me out.
Dwreck, post: 62061, member: 33927
So I have some questions about this. I am the largest person at my school. (6'1" 300 lbs) and there are a few other white belts maybe in the 225-240 range. I am really self conscious about certain positions like knee on belly and knee cut passes against most of the people because I don't want to hurt anyone. Now when I spent a class rolling with the solid 230 lb brown belt, he was unfazed and told me to go ahead and really apply the pressure. When I am rolling with the other white belts who are maybe 200ish pounds, just my weight and pressure from side control or mount really wears them out. I want to be someone people don't mind rolling with while I am losing all my weight, so what should I do to be the best training partner I can be? I want to help people get better but I don't want to hurt anyone. I feel like maybe someone like PTBeast has some insight since he is such a large dude, but anyone with experience on this would really help me out.
It is good to roll with a wide variety of training partners. That said, rolling with big, strong White belts can be dangerous. They still don't know how to relax and avoid the "spaz." When you want to roll up size, look to roll as far up color as possible. I am a 330 lb brown belt and roll in with kids in the kids class and they are perfectly safe. A giant white belt or newer blue belt? Nah, not so much.
As far as the person who hurt you, it is not rude to pass on a roll with someone who may put you at risk, especially if they are near your rank. If a brown or a black belt asked, it might be a little rude. But, even in that case, it is your call. It is your safety on the line and you never have to feel to obligated to roll with someone you don't want to.
If you DO want to roll with someone, but are concerned about safety, ask an instructor or senior belt to watch the roll and make sure that you and your partner are rolling safely.
Jiu Jitsu is a combat sport and there is always some risk of injury. You should do everything you can to build trust, protect yourself and your training partners, and help each other improve. Sometimes, this may mean saying "no" when asked to roll.
I'm newer to jujitsu, about a year and a half. I'm a smaller guy 145-155 5'7". But I'm one of the smallest guys in the gym I go to but I find it beneficial to rolling with guys much heavier than me. Going against guys that are 50+ lbs heavier than me requires me to really have my technique correct and takes most of my strength out of the equation. Plus getting crushed in side control by someone that's much bigger than you is super uncomfortable so if you're going to compete having someone in your weight class try and crush you doesn't feel bad. I pull guard 95% of the time though. Having someone giant sprawl on you is gonna be a bad time. Use things to your advantage like speed. I play alot of open guard and do alot of grip fighting to keep distance becuase once they close the distance you'll have trouble getting away.
