How to get better with no competition?

[Frodocious]

I don't mean that I am the best in the class, far from it, but as some of you may have spotted, I started BJJ a few weeks back and am having problems when the sparring section of the class starts. So far I'm just watching the guys spar. However, the class is made up of several blokes, all of whom are much taller and heavier than me (a 5ft, 112lb female). Obviously, this will be a problem when I start sparring, as there is no way (that I can see at the moment) I will be able to submit them, particularly when I am on the bottom. I am trying to find some women who fancy training, but so far have had no luck. Can anybody suggest any useful ways that I could train or any strategies that I could apply so I could actually get some useful sparring in?

[Slindsay]

Your making up a problem here where there isn't one. Sparring against biger stronger more competetnt opponents is a very very good thing, you can't mscle on techniques, you can't rely on any size advantage, everything you do succesfully will be because you got it exactly right. In addition, every mistake you make will be punished and corrections can be made from them.

Sparring is for learning, no winning, just remember that and make sure that the people yor rolling wih aren't cutting you to much slack because of the size difference and you'll improve very quickly even if it takes a while to see the results of it.

[Moi]

Where abouts do you train? & at what times?

[Davey Bones]

As the runt of the gym where I train, all I can tell you is "suck it up". It'll take longer, but you'll also develop a really good defense and become a really technical fighter. Put a positive spin on it. :D

[Hiroji]

I dont do BJJ, but im a shorty at 5'6".

Im nearly always shorter than anyone i train or fight and it is a challenge.

But it makes you think more, like the others have said you have to rely on skill and not size, but you also learn to take the punches and falls which are always going to come your way as a smaller person fighting big rough bears! But like Slinsay said it is only sparring to learn, not to win.

just go out there and enjoy it and show em what you got!

[Frodocious]

Where abouts do you train? & at what times?

http://www.emahouseofchampions.co.uk/

BJJ classes are Wednesday 6-7.30pm (followed by a MMA class) and Saturday mornings at 11.30 am (I think - I don't so the Saturday class).

[Frodocious]

I dont do BJJ, but im a shorty at 5'6".

Im nearly always shorter than anyone i train or fight and it is a challenge.

But it makes you think more, like the others have said you have to rely on skill and not size, but you also learn to take the punches and falls which are always going to come your way as a smaller person fighting big rough bears! But like Slinsay said it is only sparring to learn, not to win.

just go out there and enjoy it and show em what you got!

I do realise that sparring is about learning not winning, and I know I'm being a bit of a wimp over this, but the weight difference between me and the others is so great that the moment I'm on the bottom I don't see how I can possibly get out of it. Even in practising new stuff, the guys have to be careful about putting their entire weight on me as I just can't breathe. So full on sparring actually worries me! I do understand that technically it will be to my advantage in the long term - I would just like to make it to the long term with my rib cage intact! :)

I suspect it will be a case of sucking it up and hoping for the best!

[Florian Lang]

The thing with BJJ is that it will take a long time to get good, regardless of your size. I'm a big, fairly strong guy (6'1", 200 lbs.) and I had loads of trouble in BJJ class, and was unable to submit anyone in the two months I studied it. Even guys a lot smaller than me were beating me. You just have to learn to "suck it up" as the other guys said, and go with the flow until you get good enough that you can roll decently with other guys in the school.

[Hiroji]

I do realise that sparring is about learning not winning, and I know I'm being a bit of a wimp over this, but the weight difference between me and the others is so great that the moment I'm on the bottom I don't see how I can possibly get out of it. Even in practising new stuff, the guys have to be careful about putting their entire weight on me as I just can't breathe. So full on sparring actually worries me! I do understand that technically it will be to my advantage in the long term - I would just like to make it to the long term with my rib cage intact! :)

I suspect it will be a case of sucking it up and hoping for the best!

As well as all the encouragement, i think too we need to look at ti with an eye of sympathy here for you.

It cant be easy, there is no getting away from the fact that if someone is so much bigger and heavier that you its going to be near on impossible to get the better of them. Like you say especially if they get on top of you.

It's a shame there arent more young ladies who train with you there to roll with, or some little guys!

But dont give it up, just have fun with it and don’t get stressed over it as it will make it worse! and you can always nipple twist!
:D

[EternalRage]

I don't mean that I am the best in the class, far from it, but as some of you may have spotted, I started BJJ a few weeks back and am having problems when the sparring section of the class starts. So far I'm just watching the guys spar. However, the class is made up of several blokes, all of whom are much taller and heavier than me (a 5ft, 112lb female). Obviously, this will be a problem when I start sparring, as there is no way (that I can see at the moment) I will be able to submit them, particularly when I am on the bottom. I am trying to find some women who fancy training, but so far have had no luck. Can anybody suggest any useful ways that I could train or any strategies that I could apply so I could actually get some useful sparring in?
Don't worry too much about finishing off submissions on much bigger guys, especially if you just started, that comes later. For now, work on your positions, your transitions/escapes, and sweeps. Get a good feel for making space when you need it and using it effectively, and also eliminating all space when you need to as well.

When the instructor is showing the moves he wants you to learn for the day, pay extra attention to the small details, because that's what will help you the most against bigger guys. And work on explosive strength and speed.

I am not a woman, but I'm usually one of the smallest guys in class.

[pauli]

first off, pay attention to any advice your instructor gives you. chances are he knows your game better than we do ;)

now, that said... you are small, light, and new. one of the many phrases that blue belts like to chant and white belts rarely grasp is "distance favors the defender." if you're stuck in an inferior position, make space. if you're under side control, work towards shrimping back to guard, and then sweeping. if you're in guard, make space, and work towards passing. these are pretty universal; when you bring small and light into the matter, however, you get to try some options that bigger people don't use much - specifically things like escaping mount out the back door, scrambling up from under side control, etc.

once you've learned how to do that, you can do what comes next - taking your opponent (or training partner)'s back. if there's one thing i've learned from my female training partners and observing the women's and youth matches at tournaments, it's that bony little arms + rnc = tap. my throat hurts already, come to think of it.

also, learn how to sprawl. for the past few months, i've been working with the one lady at our school right now on shutting down sweeps by sprawling instinctively. when she remembers to sprawl, i have a great deal of trouble breaking her base (despite a size, strength, and experience advantage), and when she forgets, i knock her over with ridiculously bad techniques.

as for submissions, from the bottom or elsewhere - if you use proper technique, you can submit people of any size. period. the fact that you're essentially never going to be able to outmuscle anybody works in your favor; you have to do things right, so, all else equal, you're apt to get better faster than the bigger guys.

an armbar is an armbar. a cross choke is a cross choke. is a triangle going to be harder to setup? sure. is it going to be tight enough to choke someone out? absolutely.

oh, and don't stop moving. static positions favor the larger, stronger player.

[EternalRage]

oh, and don't stop moving. static positions favor the larger, stronger player.
Good piece of advice there - this is something I struggled with before (and still do), resist the urge to sit in one position for an extended period of time and fight to the death for a sub or a sweep or whatever. Not only do you burn energy, but it's just a matter of time before Goliath plows through whatever position you've put him in.

I had the hardest time doing this with side mount on a larger guy, since it took so much work to get there in the first place. I'd sit there and sit there trying to force some sort of keylock/kimura/armbar combo and then get catapulted off when the guy on bottom decided to go hulk mode. Then I started to move into other positions like knee on stomach, or N&S, just keeping my weight moving (while still keeping an eye out for opportunities) so that he couldn't focus his strength on one position all at once.

[Su lin]

Hey Frodo

I may be started jujitsu in the new year so I'll give you a call when I have been going a bit for some sparring if you like! :D

I'm the only woman at my kung fu club and have to fight some pretty big guys, I know it's different as I don't have to floor them really or roll with them but it's a case of just trying it really and working on your own personal strengths.

[Frodocious]

As well as all the encouragement, i think too we need to look at ti with an eye of sympathy here for you.

It cant be easy, there is no getting away from the fact that if someone is so much bigger and heavier that you its going to be near on impossible to get the better of them. Like you say especially if they get on top of you.

It's a shame there arent more young ladies who train with you there to roll with, or some little guys!

But dont give it up, just have fun with it and don’t get stressed over it as it will make it worse! and you can always nipple twist!
:D

I will remember the nipple twist for future applications! :D

The place I train has a women's martial arts class on a Monday and I'm going to try and go to that and see if I can't persuade some of them into BJJ!

Thanks for the encouragement guys, I will try to remember and impliment it when I get the chance - squashed ribs permitting! ;)

I do enjoy training but, as you can probably imagine, it gets frustrating sometimes. I have the same problem in Ninjutsu. I see others seemingly nailing techniques straight off, whilst I'm struggling with them. However, often they're actually muscling their way through and when I get the specifics of that movement, I can just as easily do it to them. They then can't do the same technique to people bigger than them because they were using brute force not technique.

The class is relatively new so I'm hoping, as word gets out, some smaller guys or ladies might start training!

And Su Lin, I would love to spar with you later in the year, if the chance presents itself! :D

[Moi]

My wife has similar problems in muay thai being the same size as you, my son also as he's only slightly bigger but we can't put him with other kids. Wednesday is out though so my idea of a trip into England has ended.
Have you tried looking into a bit of judo? Just to find a training partner once a week. There is a teenage girl about the same size as you in the judo club in Deeside, a blue or brown belt she would be good for you, just a thought.
Good judo club in Brombourgh I believe.

[Frodocious]

Have you tried looking into a bit of judo? Just to find a training partner once a week. There is a teenage girl about the same size as you in the judo club in Deeside, a blue or brown belt she would be good for you, just a thought.
Good judo club in Brombourgh I believe.

Yes, I have been considering judo for a while now. There is a club that trains in Wallasey, I think, but they seem to be mainly aimed at kids. Do you have any details of the Bromborough judo club. I was also considering jujitsu, as the chap who I used to do Iaido with is a highly rated black belt and runs his own dojo. I'm just playing with options at the moment.

A friend of mine in work was going to start her daughter at the Deeside Judo club until she broke her arm a few weeks ago. I think the Doctor has told her to wait 6 months before doing anything though, as it was a bad break.

[Moi]

Yes, I have been considering judo for a while now. There is a club that trains in Wallasey, I think, but they seem to be mainly aimed at kids. Do you have any details of the Bromborough judo club. I was also considering jujitsu, as the chap who I used to do Iaido with is a highly rated black belt and runs his own dojo. I'm just playing with options at the moment..

I don't know about the Wallasey club but have heard great thinks from a couple of scousers I work with who were prepared to travel there to train.
I'll phone tomorrow if I remember ;)




A friend of mine in work was going to start her daughter at the Deeside Judo club until she broke her arm a few weeks ago. I think the Doctor has told her to wait 6 months before doing anything though, as it was a bad break.

It's a good club, you get to train with some really serious players. Still can't get over the price though. Too cheap!

[money]

As the smallest guy at my gym, I'll echo the sentiment of "suck it up and train". :)

Being small can sometimes be an advantage, since you can move faster, fit through spaces others can't and won't tire as quickly once your technique improves. If your team mates are smart and wanting to improve (not just 'win'), they'll take the opportunity of rolling with you to try and not use a lot of strength, since they can focus on technique without worrying about you strong-arming them.

It seems like the longer I train, the higher the weight of opponents I can roll without feeling totally overpowered. Stick with it and you'll improve.

[Sindrath]

I don't mean that I am the best in the class, far from it, but as some of you may have spotted, I started BJJ a few weeks back and am having problems when the sparring section of the class starts. So far I'm just watching the guys spar. However, the class is made up of several blokes, all of whom are much taller and heavier than me (a 5ft, 112lb female). Obviously, this will be a problem when I start sparring, as there is no way (that I can see at the moment) I will be able to submit them, particularly when I am on the bottom. I am trying to find some women who fancy training, but so far have had no luck. Can anybody suggest any useful ways that I could train or any strategies that I could apply so I could actually get some useful sparring in?

Can you work any escapes at all? If the weight/strength imbalance is so great that you can't even work side control/mount escapes... then you're probably wasting your time.

There is a mentality in BJJ that technique can overcome everything. It's true to a certain extent, but there's not much you can do with an opponent whos much stronger and heavier than you. At your stage in training, you should be looking for POSITION before SUBMISSION, concentrating on holding the mount, holding the side control for decent periods of time. If your weight is low compared to the other persons strength, then you're wasting your time.

I used to roll with a guy who was much lighter than me and he couldn't hold anything because I could literally bench press the guy. This meant I could out manouever him with technique and just power out of anything he put on me if I made mistakes.

[Stevebjj]

My daughter's the smallest by far in her class. At 10 years old, she's still barely over 4' tall and weighs maybe 50 lbs. She's learning quickly to use her size and flexibility to her advantage. While she may not be able to shrimp out 4 feet and create a lot of space, she doesn't NEED that much space. She can get her knees into little spaces. She's also becoming very technical. It's a long road, but in the end, she'll have real skills.

So, keep it up.

It's a shame you're only able to make one class each week. 3 classes each week would really help, I think. Good luck!

[Fusen]

I don't mean that I am the best in the class, far from it, but as some of you may have spotted, I started BJJ a few weeks back and am having problems when the sparring section of the class starts. So far I'm just watching the guys spar. However, the class is made up of several blokes, all of whom are much taller and heavier than me (a 5ft, 112lb female). Obviously, this will be a problem when I start sparring, as there is no way (that I can see at the moment) I will be able to submit them, particularly when I am on the bottom. I am trying to find some women who fancy training, but so far have had no luck. Can anybody suggest any useful ways that I could train or any strategies that I could apply so I could actually get some useful sparring in?

If there too egotistical to drop there strength and only use body weight against a newbie who weighs less then them, then they need to reasses how they train.

''

Non-Attribute-Based Training
The benefits behind of this training philosophy are two-fold. First of all, when you purposely shelf your attributes in training, you are forced to rely solely on, and develop the element of timing in order to improve your skills. The attributes of speed, strength, and agility, are a great gift and it's a positive thing to try to develop them. However, they can also be used in place of solid fundamentals and to cover up the flaws in your game. Attributes will fade with age and time, but a solid set of fundamentals will ensure that you are able to enjoy training in the combat sports even past the point which would be typically considered an athlete's physical prime.

This can be performed by simply adjusting the pace and pressure of your daily training and as always, focusing on the fundamentals of your given delivery system, not the fancy or trick moves that are often popular crowd-pleasers. Training in this manner has often proven to increase the learning curve of an entire class, simply because it allows you to roll with more people of all different experience levels since the absence of attributes tends to level the playing field a bit more for the vast majority who aren't gifted athletes or in their physical prime.

Secondly, and perhaps the more important by-product of this is that it ensures a challenging, yet safe and rewarding training environment for everybody at our gym.
''

[PASmith]

I used to train with the lady in this interview.
Perhaps her story will serve as inspiration.

Helen Currie (http://www.onthemat.com/articles/Helen_Currie_Interview_07_06_2007.html)


She's a small woman but obviously developed the skills needed to become a BJJ black belt. And when I trained at Combat Base there were some big guys there and some great grapplers.

[Frodocious]

Can you work any escapes at all? If the weight/strength imbalance is so great that you can't even work side control/mount escapes... then you're probably wasting your time.

There is a mentality in BJJ that technique can overcome everything. It's true to a certain extent, but there's not much you can do with an opponent whos much stronger and heavier than you. At your stage in training, you should be looking for POSITION before SUBMISSION, concentrating on holding the mount, holding the side control for decent periods of time. If your weight is low compared to the other persons strength, then you're wasting your time.

I used to roll with a guy who was much lighter than me and he couldn't hold anything because I could literally bench press the guy. This meant I could out manouever him with technique and just power out of anything he put on me if I made mistakes.

It depends who I'm training with. There are a couple of lighter guys that train and I try to pair up with them, in which case I can try some escapes, but when I'm training with one of the bigger guys, there really isn't anything I can do. I have to give it to the big guys though, they do take it easy on me and try to let me get some technique practice. I've started Judo as well, so I get to practice the BJJ stuff when we do the groundfighting randori there.

[Frodocious]

My daughter's the smallest by far in her class. At 10 years old, she's still barely over 4' tall and weighs maybe 50 lbs. She's learning quickly to use her size and flexibility to her advantage. While she may not be able to shrimp out 4 feet and create a lot of space, she doesn't NEED that much space. She can get her knees into little spaces. She's also becoming very technical. It's a long road, but in the end, she'll have real skills.

So, keep it up.

It's a shame you're only able to make one class each week. 3 classes each week would really help, I think. Good luck!

Unfortunately, for the time being (due to work and study commitments) I can only make one class a week. There are times when I can get out of small spaces and awkward holds purely because of my size. The instructors are trying to persuade women from other classes (and some younger guys) to join up, and, if they do, then I will have more of a chance in sparring.

[Frodocious]

If there too egotistical to drop there strength and only use body weight against a newbie who weighs less then them, then they need to reasses how they train.


The guys are great. They try their hardest to give me a chance, but with some of them the weight difference is just too great.

[Stevebjj]

It depends who I'm training with. There are a couple of lighter guys that train and I try to pair up with them, in which case I can try some escapes, but when I'm training with one of the bigger guys, there really isn't anything I can do. I have to give it to the big guys though, they do take it easy on me and try to let me get some technique practice. I've started Judo as well, so I get to practice the BJJ stuff when we do the groundfighting randori there.
I can't completely buy into the "They're too big" argument. I understand that there isn't much that you can do when someone is a lot bigger, but we have guys in my gym who outweigh me by between 50 and 100 lbs. I'm 180 lbs and we have a number of guys bigger than me. When I spar with them, I still have stuff to work on. I won't necessarily get to work on the same things, but defending submissions, good technique, creating space to breathe in tight spots... at least that stuff. There's always something to take away from sparring.

And take heart. Having women in a class might just encourage others. We have several women who train with us and they're great. It started with just a couple and now more and more are coming in. When they see other women training, it makes them feel more comfortable. So, if you stick it out and persevere, you might just be the impetus for other women to begin training.

[Frodocious]

I can't completely buy into the "They're too big" argument. I understand that there isn't much that you can do when someone is a lot bigger, but we have guys in my gym who outweigh me by between 50 and 100 lbs. I'm 180 lbs and we have a number of guys bigger than me. When I spar with them, I still have stuff to work on. I won't necessarily get to work on the same things, but defending submissions, good technique, creating space to breathe in tight spots... at least that stuff. There's always something to take away from sparring.

Let me rephrase then... at my current level of experience when I'm training with one of the really big body builder type guys, it seems that there is nothing I can do. I can't bridge up because of his weight, I can't wriggle out of things because of his strength and I can't do locks or chokes, because my arms and legs are too short! :D However, I still try and I'm enjoying myself, so I don't really mind! :)

[Su lin]

I just joined MMA (you'll be aware as I keep going on about it!) and am the only woman, so I'm thinking the same as you Frodo! It's fine with my bf as he's pretty lightweight, but I look at some of the guys and do wonder how I could ever manage to get out of certain things.

[Sindrath]

What about your top game? Do you ever get on top? How is your weight distribution and positioning? Do you feel you can hold full mount/side mount/back mount? Is it difficult for people to escape? So they need to work techniques or can they just power out?

[Frodocious]

I do get on top occasionally (but generally, only when the guys let me). My top game is fairly non-existant at the moment, but I've only been training for just over a month now and can't remember the techniques that well. I did almost manage to get a couple of armbars and guillotines on in sparring last week, so I am making some progress!

[Sindrath]

How many times a week do you train? How are you getting on now?

[Frodocious]

At the moment I can only train once per week. I do a BJJ class and then go elsewhere and do a Judo class. There are some smaller folk at the Judo group so I get a better sparring session there. The size of the guys in BJJ is a problem but I occasionally get into a position where I can actually do a technique!

[Moi]

Which Judo club did you choose?

[Frodocious]

The Wirral Judo Club, based at the Beechwood recreation centre (5 mins from my house!).