Big guy: You will eventually roll with someone who is so skilled (higher belts, purples, browns, and black belts) that your size and weight won’t matter no matter how hard you try. So, don’t think that you’ll always have to hold back. You won’t. Once your classmates learn enough technique to handle weight and strength, you’ll see that you can go hard too! Your teammates will love training with you cuz they will HAVE to learn to deal with your weight and strength and SKILL!! Just keep training!! Welcome to the family!!
I started at 6'2 295. My coach will bring in guest instructors. We have a 160lb brown who throws my big butt around like it's nothing! Our 160lb blue belt will put his feet on my hips and twist me around in the air! My coach is really good about choosing who I roll with and yells at me when I go easy on someone because I'm afraid of hurting them with my weight. Down to 265, and I get thrown farther now!
I always tell new students- all of them- that advocating for themselves verbally- asking for what they want and setting boundaries is something to do from the very beginning. That’s not limited to size or age or gender though. It’s a culture that we create for ourselves. I have also always said that even though there is struggle being smaller than others, in all reality, I am never tempted to muscle through something because that’s not even an option for me. I also agree though, for the person who expresses concern about being big, I’m not as worried about you because you have self awareness. It’s a give and take for sure. Jiu Jitsu has a way of leveling the playing filed over time.
I understand the apprehension that man had completely. I am 6’3 300 lbs and when I train I am very careful about who I rolled with. I politely declined anyone under a certain size all the way until I was promoted to blue belt. I do have a question and would appreciate your opinion. I trained off and on for 3 years and earned my blue belt and pretty soon after suffered a rotator cuff injury which led to depression and mental struggle. It’s been 3 years since I’ve last trained and I want to return to the mats. Should I restart as a white belt with whichever school I join? I am definitely not as skilled or ready to be in class as a blue. And in my opinion I’ll need a decent amount of time to get back to my previous level. My flexibility, cardio shape, and coordination have all gotten worse from being removed from BJJ. The only advantage I have is improved overall strength and a better mental attitude. I appreciate any opinion on the matter thank you for the great content
Great video! I’m 6’ 290lbs former novice powerlifter and I wish I saw this video before I started two months ago. My instructor told me not to use my strength. I was thinking to myself “It’s the only thing I got”. I didn’t understand what he meant until I started learning techniques. Now when I roll with somebody smaller than me, all I do is work the techniques that I have learned. I do use my strength when I roll with higher belts but it doesn’t really work. They can tap me whenever they want lol. My advice to big guys is to always let a smaller partner start out in a dominate position and just work the techniques that you have been thought. Lastly we all signed a waiver so don’t be so soft that the roll is completely useless for you and your partner.
Wow this guy asked my exact question. Im a 19 year strongman/powerlifter who’s 350 pounds. Im terrified to accidentally hurt a training partner and it’s kept me from the sport. Thank you for this
This is great! I'm a 6'2" 275lbs white belt. Every time I drill or roll I always start off by saying "Hey i'm rolling easy & fun, not to win or crush but to train and learn"
I am mohamed el shenawy from Egypt . I am watching your videos and sound so great to encourage me to start practicing this game. But I am suffering from a sort of breathing illness.and as you know that this game is depending on the proper way of breathing and I am afraid if I start to play this game which might have affected me seriously . Do you have any advice to develope my performance in this game . Thank you so much for your kind care .
I'm 6' , 290 lbs White Belt only a few months in - just basically drilling the fundamentals. With covid I'm now limited to practicing with my 16 yr old son (170lbs) I tell him sorry about weight and he's like "thats fine, give it to me, it'll be easier when I face opponents when I get back to class!" It hasn't been an issue - he's learning real quick to stay off the bottom and wait for me to gas out!
I just started and I had some of the same thoughts. I’m 5’ 10” and 295 lbs. I’ve wrestled since 1992 and have been coaching since 2004. I did pretty well my first class but did get called out by my purple belt drill partner for going to rough during drills. It was an awesome experience though. At this point I am still having a hard time finding a gi that fits properly!!! I have short arms but a large chest and shoulders. Is it okay to have my gi tailored?
@@gracieohio I just ordered a A3H! I’m at Gracie Cleveland and they gave me a A5 which fits in the chest but is way too long in the torso and sleeves. I’m excited to try the A3H! Thanks so much! Love your videos. Hope to meet you at our place sometime!
I’m 160 and love rolling with heavier bigger guys because well. It’s not to call them bullies but most bullies on the street are bigger guys who would pick on smaller framed guys
What about people who are just obese -- 300 lb of mostly fat? I'm assuming there's a slightly different set of challenges compared to 300 lbs of mostly muscle?
It probably balances out tbh! The weight is spread across more surface area instead of denser muscles. But they'd also have mobility issues, and difficulty controlling their mass - leading to more involuntary falls or splays!
nonsense. just roll roll roll. just control the weight a bit and let lighter lower belts start in more "dominant" positions and then you work to reverse the position. like rolling with children you would not go all out all the time. you play with children and make it fun for them and yourself.
I’m 6’6” 380 and I wanted to start bjj so badly especially so I can get healthy and loose weight. Unfortunately the two schools near me told me I can’t train at their gym for the fact that I am to big. I’ve don’t martial arts my whole life and am conscious not to use my weight wish they would allow me the chance before shutting me down
That’s terrible. I’m 6’2” 365 and my daughter has been doing it for 2 years and wanting me to do it. I kept saying I had to get in better shape and one day her instructors heard me and said “when ya coming to class?” Here I am 8 months later and training for my first comp. I would keep looking for another school. That’s total bs.
I'd love to train. I'm a bit smaller at 6'3 300, but god it'd feel great not to worry about crushing the other person throughout a roll. Know that there are people out there very willing to train with you - don't give up!
I am 5'6" 155lbs white belt and love the challenge of rolling with a big guy. It's a whole different game.
Big guy: You will eventually roll with someone who is so skilled (higher belts, purples, browns, and black belts) that your size and weight won’t matter no matter how hard you try. So, don’t think that you’ll always have to hold back. You won’t. Once your classmates learn enough technique to handle weight and strength, you’ll see that you can go hard too! Your teammates will love training with you cuz they will HAVE to learn to deal with your weight and strength and SKILL!! Just keep training!! Welcome to the family!!
I started at 6'2 295. My coach will bring in guest instructors. We have a 160lb brown who throws my big butt around like it's nothing! Our 160lb blue belt will put his feet on my hips and twist me around in the air! My coach is really good about choosing who I roll with and yells at me when I go easy on someone because I'm afraid of hurting them with my weight. Down to 265, and I get thrown farther now!
I always tell new students- all of them- that advocating for themselves verbally- asking for what they want and setting boundaries is something to do from the very beginning. That’s not limited to size or age or gender though. It’s a culture that we create for ourselves. I have also always said that even though there is struggle being smaller than others, in all reality, I am never tempted to muscle through something because that’s not even an option for me. I also agree though, for the person who expresses concern about being big, I’m not as worried about you because you have self awareness. It’s a give and take for sure. Jiu Jitsu has a way of leveling the playing filed over time.
I understand the apprehension that man had completely. I am 6’3 300 lbs and when I train I am very careful about who I rolled with. I politely declined anyone under a certain size all the way until I was promoted to blue belt.
I do have a question and would appreciate your opinion. I trained off and on for 3 years and earned my blue belt and pretty soon after suffered a rotator cuff injury which led to depression and mental struggle. It’s been 3 years since I’ve last trained and I want to return to the mats. Should I restart as a white belt with whichever school I join? I am definitely not as skilled or ready to be in class as a blue. And in my opinion I’ll need a decent amount of time to get back to my previous level. My flexibility, cardio shape, and coordination have all gotten worse from being removed from BJJ. The only advantage I have is improved overall strength and a better mental attitude.
I appreciate any opinion on the matter thank you for the great content
Do you mind if we do a video on it? Let me know if it’s okay to use your name and question.
@@gracieohio I don’t mind at all. My name is pronounced “High thum” . I appreciate the time you are taking
Love this conversation, great videos all around - thanks for sharing!
Great video! I’m 6’ 290lbs former novice powerlifter and I wish I saw this video before I started two months ago. My instructor told me not to use my strength. I was thinking to myself “It’s the only thing I got”. I didn’t understand what he meant until I started learning techniques. Now when I roll with somebody smaller than me, all I do is work the techniques that I have learned. I do use my strength when I roll with higher belts but it doesn’t really work. They can tap me whenever they want lol.
My advice to big guys is to always let a smaller partner start out in a dominate position and just work the techniques that you have been thought. Lastly we all signed a waiver so don’t be so soft that the roll is completely useless for you and your partner.
Wow this guy asked my exact question. Im a 19 year strongman/powerlifter who’s 350 pounds. Im terrified to accidentally hurt a training partner and it’s kept me from the sport. Thank you for this
This is great!
I'm a 6'2" 275lbs white belt.
Every time I drill or roll I always start off by saying "Hey i'm rolling easy & fun, not to win or crush but to train and learn"
I am mohamed el shenawy from Egypt . I am watching your videos and sound so great to encourage me to start practicing this game. But I am suffering from a sort of breathing illness.and as you know that this game is depending on the proper way of breathing and I am afraid if I start to play this game which might have affected me seriously . Do you have any advice to develope my performance in this game . Thank you so much for your kind care .
I'm 6' , 290 lbs White Belt only a few months in - just basically drilling the fundamentals. With covid I'm now limited to practicing with my 16 yr old son (170lbs) I tell him sorry about weight and he's like "thats fine, give it to me, it'll be easier when I face opponents when I get back to class!" It hasn't been an issue - he's learning real quick to stay off the bottom and wait for me to gas out!
I just started and I had some of the same thoughts. I’m 5’ 10” and 295 lbs. I’ve wrestled since 1992 and have been coaching since 2004. I did pretty well my first class but did get called out by my purple belt drill partner for going to rough during drills. It was an awesome experience though. At this point I am still having a hard time finding a gi that fits properly!!! I have short arms but a large chest and shoulders. Is it okay to have my gi tailored?
Definitely. Try an A3H by Fuji. I like the superaito the best.
@@gracieohio I just ordered a A3H! I’m at Gracie Cleveland and they gave me a A5 which fits in the chest but is way too long in the torso and sleeves. I’m excited to try the A3H! Thanks so much! Love your videos. Hope to meet you at our place sometime!
I’m 160 and love rolling with heavier bigger guys because well. It’s not to call them bullies but most bullies on the street are bigger guys who would pick on smaller framed guys
I'm 300 lbs and an experienced guy said I looked like I was floating
When I roll with small people, i just work on my guard game.
What about people who are just obese -- 300 lb of mostly fat? I'm assuming there's a slightly different set of challenges compared to 300 lbs of mostly muscle?
It probably balances out tbh! The weight is spread across more surface area instead of denser muscles. But they'd also have mobility issues, and difficulty controlling their mass - leading to more involuntary falls or splays!
nonsense. just roll roll roll. just control the weight a bit and let lighter lower belts start in more "dominant" positions and then you work to reverse the position. like rolling with children you would not go all out all the time. you play with children and make it fun for them and yourself.
I’m 6’6” 380 and I wanted to start bjj so badly especially so I can get healthy and loose weight. Unfortunately the two schools near me told me I can’t train at their gym for the fact that I am to big. I’ve don’t martial arts my whole life and am conscious not to use my weight wish they would allow me the chance before shutting me down
That’s terrible. I’m 6’2” 365 and my daughter has been doing it for 2 years and wanting me to do it. I kept saying I had to get in better shape and one day her instructors heard me and said “when ya coming to class?” Here I am 8 months later and training for my first comp.
I would keep looking for another school. That’s total bs.
I'd love to train. I'm a bit smaller at 6'3 300, but god it'd feel great not to worry about crushing the other person throughout a roll. Know that there are people out there very willing to train with you - don't give up!
she can't stay still for 20 seconds lol