I was out of shape and overweight but still going to class 3-4 times a week till I got my blue belt. Due to life circumstances I needed to take a step back from bjj for a while and during that time I focused on weightlifting and losing body fat. Now that I've come back to jujitsu with more athleticism, my performance on the mats has jumped considerably despite the time away from direct bjj skills development. It's not just the added strength benefits either but also the ability to execute techniques I already know better due to not being physically exhausted and weighed down.
I’m 6’5 and when I started bjj around 6 years ago I was about 190lbs. Being taller and lanky I focused on playing guard and developing good triangles, arm bars, omoplatas etc. I’m about 220lbs now and that extra muscle certainly has helped my takedown and pinning ability. I have continued to develop my guard and it’s still probably the strongest part of my game, but I’ve found myself hitting north south kimuras as much or more than triangles off my back. Developing strength and muscle mass is never a bad thing unless you get to the point where you’re sacrificing a large degree of endurance and/or flexibility.
51 here. Grizzled and seasoned on the mat. My first 2 years white to blue, I relied on my wrestling and physical and S&C capacities. Twas only a matter of time before the purples would catch up to me and submit me. Then, I met this high level elite blue belt instructor who introduced me to defense. My strength vs him was nothing even though he was smaller than me. My frustration today is we have a young purple belt whose game is relying on haymaker speed, going ham on explosivness and yanking, jerking and poping his submissions. Worst, he got his purple cause he spent a few years living with a BJJ black belt instructor, that helps a lot. Dont mean to judge the guy but as he joined our school he was already purple, but giving the opportunity to begin with us, he would have never become purple in the first, I swear. Our standards arent just speed, explosiveness and athleticism. I use my physical asset (former powerfliter), only when necessary, cause power can enhance techs, but it can alter and deteriorates your moves a lot too. I guess I'M jealous of the few purples in our club who were crowned purples, almost y the grace of God, so to speak (figure of speech). Some are lucky to have been promoted cause they were at the right place, at the right time, and that sucks a lot. Nough venting. MY game is now focus on earning all the leverage points, all the pressure, all the timing, etc, etc I can manged to develop. So far, works very well, I can hang with purples, even though I'm just a decent blue.
Do you rely more on your physical assets more than you should?
I was out of shape and overweight but still going to class 3-4 times a week till I got my blue belt. Due to life circumstances I needed to take a step back from bjj for a while and during that time I focused on weightlifting and losing body fat. Now that I've come back to jujitsu with more athleticism, my performance on the mats has jumped considerably despite the time away from direct bjj skills development. It's not just the added strength benefits either but also the ability to execute techniques I already know better due to not being physically exhausted and weighed down.
Great video!
I’m 6’5 and when I started bjj around 6 years ago I was about 190lbs. Being taller and lanky I focused on playing guard and developing good triangles, arm bars, omoplatas etc. I’m about 220lbs now and that extra muscle certainly has helped my takedown and pinning ability. I have continued to develop my guard and it’s still probably the strongest part of my game, but I’ve found myself hitting north south kimuras as much or more than triangles off my back. Developing strength and muscle mass is never a bad thing unless you get to the point where you’re sacrificing a large degree of endurance and/or flexibility.
I’m that 40 year old hobbiest
51 here. Grizzled and seasoned on the mat. My first 2 years white to blue, I relied on my wrestling and physical and S&C capacities. Twas only a matter of time before the purples would catch up to me and submit me.
Then, I met this high level elite blue belt instructor who introduced me to defense. My strength vs him was nothing even though he was smaller than me.
My frustration today is we have a young purple belt whose game is relying on haymaker speed, going ham on explosivness and yanking, jerking and poping his submissions. Worst, he got his purple cause he spent a few years living with a BJJ black belt instructor, that helps a lot.
Dont mean to judge the guy but as he joined our school he was already purple, but giving the opportunity to begin with us, he would have never become purple in the first, I swear. Our standards arent just speed, explosiveness and athleticism.
I use my physical asset (former powerfliter), only when necessary, cause power can enhance techs, but it can alter and deteriorates your moves a lot too.
I guess I'M jealous of the few purples in our club who were crowned purples, almost y the grace of God, so to speak (figure of speech).
Some are lucky to have been promoted cause they were at the right place, at the right time, and that sucks a lot.
Nough venting. MY game is now focus on earning all the leverage points, all the pressure, all the timing, etc, etc I can manged to develop. So far, works very well, I can hang with purples, even though I'm just a decent blue.