Any BJJ training advice for a small guy rolling with a much larger training partner?

Question

I'm 5'6 (generous) and 145lbs. I've been training for about 10 months, and i currently have a 4 stripe white belt. I hold my own (i don't embarass myself) against most blue belts within about 20 lbs of my weight, but after that i can't seem to handle the heavier guys. None of my sweeps work, i can't budge their arms for arm bars, they break my grips with little effort, and they peal my guard open like nothing. I know i have to improve my technique overall, but its tough to practice the technique on guys that size. I'd say 2 out of 3 rolls will be with a guy atleast 20lbs heavier than me. We have a lot of big guys at my academy. Any advice as to how i can get the most out of training with big guys.

Answer 1

Other than improving your game, work on tiring them out. Setup subs, but then switch for a sweep/escape. I'm on the bigger side myself, so I really can't help too much. But even at 193 lbs, I hate rolling with guys that are more than 20lbs heavier.

Answer 2

Well, I feel for you man. I train No GI BJJ, and get owned alot when rolling at my gym. I just has to do with the bigger guys being physically stronger than you. You're still learning, but my advice would be to just get a bit stronger, but don't get frustrated.

Answer 3

my advice would be to yeah, just get stronger, not necessarily bigger, but just stronger, more fit, and even Faster! because with speed comes power, then you may be able to sweep them, strike them or avoid their attacks, and with more overall strength (including body, lower, and upper and mental strength) you can take bigger guys, because its about who wants it more. and simply because the bigger guys will have advantages, you must work more on your manuevering, especially on the ground,  try workouts that involve being pushed down on the ground. but overall, my best advice is to get as strong as you can, be smart, and even sneaky. the bigger the guy the harder he falls, and the bigger the guy, the Slower he is (maybe even cuz you can see what he is doing more clearly). Oh and remember, the more energy in a fight the better, so try to spark up that energy as much as you can, even in practice.

Answer 4

welcome to being a little guy i am '9 and about 140lbs been doing BJJ/no grapling man same problem all i can say is use your speed use your hips and learn to fight form your back becuase your gonna end up there alot with bigger guys trust me

training with big guys is not bad your sweeps have to be perfect and use other submission chokes work for me arm bars of any kind are almost useless kimura americana standdard armbar form any position your gonna get out powered had it happen to me a million times chokes are good they still have to breath and your necks only so stroung and if you can use leglocks (I do alot od catch wrestling in my academy so we trian them alot most BJJ does not) go for the ankles that the weak point

plus after you trian with guy 80 or more pounds heavier then you then you go back to guys your size it seems almost easy

Answer 5

You gotta get really strong.  5'6 145 is decent, but 5'6 and 155 would be better given your situation.  Joe Stevenson in the UFC is 5'7 and 155, so you'd be about as strong as him.

The main thing you gotta work on is locking in submissions really quickly that your opponents can't break.  What gives your opponents their advantage isn't their sheer size, but their strength.  So you should work on making your arms and legs ridiculously strong.  And in a street fight, your best bet is to stand up ASAP if you get taken down, and use Krav Maga.

Answer 6

I'm a bigger guy 220.  When I wrestle smaller guys it is the guys who are good with submissions and active that give me a hard time.  If they constantly go for submissions I am defending so much I can't get my offense going.

Answer 7

Speed and setting up your moves are key, but heres the trick....you gotta actually get them reacting and defending  your moves. If you are trying to set them up, or sweep them, or attack them, and all they do is drop their weight on you and sit there, then youll lose 100% of the time.

The more you keep them moving, the more you can manipulate their balance and thus have a better chance of catching them slipping. Attack on one side, sweep to the other. Sweep on one side, and kimura on the other..

Just keep it moving.