BJJ is tough for small guys...

[pstevens]

Despite what you've heard, BJJ is actually quite tough for smaller guys when you consider that your training partners will have the same knowledge with more size advantage. Don't confuse this as a contradiciton to Helio Gracie's original statement: a smaller person can use BJJ to defeat a larger opponent. Helio was suggesting that if you were smaller and had training in BJJ, you could defeat a larger opponent who didn't know BJJ.

If you're a newbie joining a BJJ gym, this won't be the case... You will be everyone's toy for a very long time, even those who came after and are bigger and stronger. I can tell you that I was tapping striped white belts and some blue belts who were considerably lighter, smaller and weaker than myself, on many occassions. It wasn't that I was more skilled... I was simply stronger, heavier and larger. Also, I knew enough to save myself.

That's not the right route to go ofcourse, but it happens a lot. Basically, it's hard for small guys in any sport or martial art.

[vincechoo]

generally i will agree with that observation as i've been on the receiving end of stronger, heavier opponents and had to fight tooth and nail for a submission...

[OmaPlata]

new guys join the classes all the time, as you advance you get better and become more advanced than the newer students, its tough for anybody. Good thing guys like Nelson Monteiro, a 6th degree black belt who is like 165lbs, a little guy, didnt think like you, Ive seen him toss around black belts bigger than himself with ease.
Techinque always overcomes size and strength

[pstevens]

new guys join the classes all the time, as you advance you get better and become more advanced than the newer students, its tough for anybody. Good thing guys like Nelson Monteiro, a 6th degree black belt who is like 165lbs, a little guy, didnt think like you, Ive seen him toss around black belts bigger than himself with ease.
Techinque always overcomes size and strength

Well... I'm not saying small people shouldn't do anything. I'm merely pointing out the facts. It's a big people world. Small people will struggle more often. The technique vs strength argument varies with each individual and situation, so I don't want to get into that. I do know that technique takes a very long time to master, so most people will rely on strength when they're unsure. For that reason, strength and size plays a huge part.

To elaborate on my point, I'll share a story. When I first joined BJJ, a guy who was about 5'6" 160 lbs with one year experience, tapped me out relatively easy, because I had no idea what he was doing. Although, during the match, I was clearly overpowering him with my strength. After about 4 months, I began tapping him because of my size, strength and weight. So what happened here?

I'll tell you. The playing field was level again and I had the size advantage. Now that I knew how to defend against some attacks, I had my size advantage to use. Now the little guy still had more experience and more techniques to draw from, so in that regard he could equal my strength. But after a year, I was tapping him regularly because I had strength, skill and size. Because while his skill could improve, his strength and ofcourse size remained the same.

Ask any instructor and they'll tell you, it becomes increasingly harder to tap out larger students.

[CKD]

Size will defenitely matter if both people have a similar amount of skill. That is why there are weight classes. Of course if someone has really good skills he can beat a bigger guy with a little skills. Example Gracie vs Akebono, Serra against some big dude in a streetfight and a lot of other examples. For example when I was in high school we had a huge 250 pound guy nearly all muscle. In the begining he got beat by another wrestler who weighed about 171 pounds and had gone to regionals before. After a while the 250 pounder learned some technique and was not getting schooled by the 171 pounder anymore.

[Ronson]

whoooohooo pstevens! Captain F_ckin' Obvious!

What's next? You don't want to be in someone's mount or give your back when rolling?

Your pount to this thread, other than wasting my time and getting fired up to flame you was what?

[JaredExtreme]

Winner of the "No shit Sherlock" award.

[OmaPlata]

???? thought it became easier as ones skill developes? do u smoke crack?

[HtTKar]

Techinque always overcomes size and strength

Not true.
Every 20lbs your opponent has on you is equivalent to a belt rank higher. (Think Karate belts, not BJJ).

Look at it this way. Do you think a 150lb guy could submit Shaq?
a 150lber could probably do pullups on Shaqs arms, it would be nearly impossible for him to submit or even fend off a guy like Shaq, no matter how much skill he had.

[JaredExtreme]

Look at it this way. Do you think a 150lb guy could submit Shaq?
a 150lber could probably do pullups on Shaqs arms, it would be nearly impossible for him to submit or even fend off a guy like Shaq, no matter how much skill he had.

You don't think Royler Gracie could beat Shaq?

[HtTKar]

You don't think Royler Gracie could beat Shaq?

Nope..not a chance.
Why would you pick Royler anyway. Yes he would kick my ass in a minute. But hes only fought 7 matches and lost 2 to KO's, both from people in his weight class. OK Sakuraba weighs like 180. Shaq weighs between 325-370lbs. Come on! Ok I'll ask you; do you think Royler could beat any professional athlete that outweighs him by over 200lbs? You cant put an armlock on someone that can bench you one-handed.

[shamster]

Nope..not a chance.
You cant put an armlock on someone that can bench you one-handed.

He's still vulnerable to a choke though. And Shaq is not the fastest mover out there. While strength is one factor, speed is also another. And technique of course.

[OmaPlata]

Nope..not a chance.
Why would you pick Royler anyway. Yes he would kick my ass in a minute. But hes only fought 7 matches and lost 2 to KO's, both from people in his weight class. OK Sakuraba weighs like 180. Shaq weighs between 325-370lbs. Come on! Ok I'll ask you; do you think Royler could beat any professional athlete that outweighs him by over 200lbs? You cant put an armlock on someone that can bench you one-handed.

-this is from people who know nothing about BJJ. Shaq would tap within 3 minutes via a choke and he could be armbarred easy. Genki Sudo tapped out Butterbean in 1 minute via a heel-hook. Royler could KILL any athlete that out weighs him by 200lb no problem, especailly if they have no ground skills. Matter of fact, ANY BJJ BLACK BELT of any size would own Shaq so easily, are you guys fucking kidding me?

[Armadon]

Not true.
Every 20lbs your opponent has on you is equivalent to a belt rank higher. (Think Karate belts, not BJJ).

Look at it this way. Do you think a 150lb guy could submit Shaq?
a 150lber could probably do pullups on Shaqs arms, it would be nearly impossible for him to submit or even fend off a guy like Shaq, no matter how much skill he had.

lol this is too funny. shaq probobly doesnt even know how to fight. shoot i bet a blue belt could tap out shaq.

[OmaPlata]

lol this is too funny. shaq probobly doesnt even know how to fight. shoot i bet a blue belt could tap out shaq.

-a good blue could . People dont really know how good a blue belt really is compared to someone WHO KNOWS NOTHING, then talk about a purple, then a brown, then a fucking black belt, lol, goodnight Shaq