Strategy against Larger Opponent

[Mago_Negro]

Hey Everyone,

I am a little guy 5'7, 150lbs, and been training in BJJ for about 10 months. And I would like to know what is the best takedown strategy when dealing with a much larger opponent?

Some traditional strategies like double leg, dont work when i go against 200lb+ opponents. Also trying to get into a clinch just seems like i am walking into a bad situation.

Please advise.

Thanks!

[bodhisattva]

Originally Posted by Mago_Negro

Hey Everyone,

I am a little guy 5'7, 150lbs, and been training in BJJ for about 10 months. And I would like to know what is the best takedown strategy when dealing with a much larger opponent?

Some traditional strategies like double leg, dont work when i go against 200lb+ opponents. Also trying to get into a clinch just seems like i am walking into a bad situation.

Please advise.

Thanks!

You're the same size as one of the toughest guys I know. I've seen him wrestle big, big guys and just mistreat them. It's awesome.

He used a lot of upper body throws from the clinch. I never saw him use a double or a single leg. He never wrestled greco (he wrestled all through high school) but that was what his style was like.. lots of upper body throws.

[Hardball]

Originally Posted by Mago_Negro

Hey Everyone,

I am a little guy 5'7, 150lbs, and been training in BJJ for about 10 months. And I would like to know what is the best takedown strategy when dealing with a much larger opponent?

Some traditional strategies like double leg, dont work when i go against 200lb+ opponents. Also trying to get into a clinch just seems like i am walking into a bad situation.

Please advise.

Thanks!

It's better to stay in your own weight class. Don't F with anybody that big.

[koto_ryu]

One thing I've noticed:

I roll with some friends on occasion and one of them is a husky (read: fat) guy who's in decent, he's just really overweight and can't burn off the fat (probably due to his god-awful diet). He's so big in fact it's harder for some of the smaller guys to even get him in their mount, much less their guard. What would the strategy there be for a chubby guy like that?

[Mago_Negro]

Originally Posted by Hardball

It's better to stay in your own weight class. Don't F with anybody that big.

Hardball,

I do not want to have a defeatist attitude.

My goal is to develop my technique to the point where i can overcome the size mismatch. For example, leveraging my quickness...etc.

Also part of the reason i train in BJJ is so that i can learn some SD skills. In which cases the person is probably bigger than me, but less skilled.

Any usefull tips would be appreciated.

[Hardball]

Originally Posted by Mago_Negro

Hardball,

I do not want to have a defeatist attitude.

My goal is to develop my technique to the point where i can overcome the size mismatch. For example, leveraging my quickness...etc.

Also part of the reason i train in BJJ is so that i can learn some SD skills. In which cases the person is probably bigger than me, but less skilled.

Any usefull tips would be appreciated.

O.k. then you're not a practical joker. Your log on id made me wonder. Let me think about things and get back to you on a more serious tip. Meanwhile keep you eyes and ears open.

Peace out

[Tant01]

Originally Posted by Mago_Negro

Hardball,

I do not want to have a defeatist attitude.

My goal is to develop my technique to the point where i can overcome the size mismatch. For example, leveraging my quickness...etc.

Also part of the reason i train in BJJ is so that i can learn some SD skills. In which cases the person is probably bigger than me, but less skilled.

Any usefull tips would be appreciated.

Very good post. So what is the answer? Judo. You know how you can be very good against larger opponents with a lower center of gravity. The "trick" is getting him to break his balance in the desired direction for you to sweep, reap or lever him over your hip. For instance if he is pushing you pull or if he's pulling you push but with the throwing techniques he will fall much harder than a smaller person.

Go to the Judo info site and look at Harai-goshi, Uchi-mata and Tai-otoshi.
(three of my personal favorites that work well in combinations) Study them carefully and read each description as you visualize the throw. You can easily throw much larger guys than yourself. Gravity is cool. They are even MORE top heavy than us regular size and smaller guys!

[95 Mystic TA]

Originally Posted by Mago_Negro

Hey Everyone,

I am a little guy 5'7, 150lbs, and been training in BJJ for about 10 months. And I would like to know what is the best takedown strategy when dealing with a much larger opponent?

Some traditional strategies like double leg, dont work when i go against 200lb+ opponents. Also trying to get into a clinch just seems like i am walking into a bad situation.

Please advise.

Thanks!

Glad you posted this. I'm 6'1 and right at 150lbs and have been at grappling (along with several others styles) and my sparring partner is right at 205, built with a bit of boxing expierience so I get worked pretty well repeadedly. The double leg doesn't work so well for me either.

[Spider Web]

Originally Posted by 95 Mystic TA

Glad you posted this. I'm 6'1 and right at 150lbs and have been at grappling (along with several others styles) and my sparring partner is right at 205, built with a bit of boxing expierience so I get worked pretty well repeadedly. The double leg doesn't work so well for me either.

Are you bumping your opponet before you attempt to lock his leg's to take him down?

[Tom Yum]

Originally Posted by Mago_Negro

Some traditional strategies like double leg, dont work when i go against 200lb+ opponents. Also trying to get into a clinch just seems like i am walking into a bad situation.

Thanks!

I'm no expert on this subject, but what I find that seems to work is to lock up during the stand up and work some upperbody throws since a big guy is more likely to push you, there's the added momentum for getting the throw.

Maybe your double leg shoot is slow (pleae do not take offense to this, mine is)? Are you setting it up or do you go straight in? Are you telegraphing anything? Have you had any luck with a single leg (high and low)? Are you giving him a cut 90 if you shoot in? Is the guy really good at double leg takedown defense?

[Tant01]

There are fifty odd OTHER throws (read "takedowns") in Kodokan Judo if the three I listed don't work for you. A hip throw is easy enough but you don't have to take my word for it...

Sweeping hip throw http://www.judoinfo.com/images/anima...haraigoshi.htm

For you taller guys a rising hip throw might be better. Check out O Goshi. http://www.judoinfo.com/images/anima...lue/ogoshi.htm

Gotta get low and close, you just help him down.

[Mago_Negro]

[quote=Tom Yum]I'm no expert on this subject, but what I find that seems to work is to lock up during the stand up and work some upperbody throws since a big guy is more likely to push you, there's the added momentum for getting the throw.


I often find that when get into a lock up, that i am the one getting tossed because i am lighter. Am i missing something?

[Tom Yum]

Originally Posted by Mago_Negro

I often find that when get into a lock up, that i am the one getting tossed because i am lighter. Am i missing something?

How fast is your duck under? Pull it off immediately after locking up, then you can work to get his hip or back. You can also push his head in the lock up and use it as a chance to shoot.

Better yet, do you set it up by changing levels? Get him to push back or post, pull a quick hard arm drag to change his balance and then shoot in for your double. It might work??

I've had some success with the duck under against bigger guys, since I am lower and fast.

[bvermillion]

I am not a real big take down guy but I have always found little guys harder to take down because they had such a low center of gravity. Use your size to an advantage you should have so much leverage over him it is not even funny. Hip throws and the likes should work. If you have the time and are really interested in self defense look into hapkido. Pain compliance is also a great strategy.

[Tom Yum]

Hey bvermillion, I am glad to see you back. Hope all is well.