BJJ Strength

Huxoin

I've only been to 3 or 4 BJJ/MMA classes, and in the class I'm the youngest, skinniest lad there. There's mostly grown men, who have a bit of weight and muscle on their side. And anyone my age actually fights properly. I'm wondering if I should start to focus on getting a bit stronger or if it's just that I'm inexperienced? Maybe I should start weight training?

Sid_Justice

What age are you?

If you can get a good weights program to supplement you bjj training it won't do any harm. But I think grappling strength is something than can't really be trained in the weights room.

you could use this opportunity to develop a tight and technical came that when you naturally become bigger, you'll be a beast.

Huxoin

Sid_Justice wrote: »

What age are you?

If you can get a good weights program to supplement you bjj training it won't do any harm. But I think grappling strength is something than can't really be trained in the weights room.

you could use this opportunity to develop a tight and technical came that when you naturally become bigger, you'll be a beast.

I'm 16 and quite skinny, but not too weak. It's just frustrating when it comes to sparring and my partner has to take it easy or else I'm crushed

Gorman

This is actually a bit of a blessing, right now everyone can out-power you. So you will have to rely on technique from the very start. First you'll find that all you're doing is getting subbed, but you'll also be getting good at defense.
In the short term it sucks, you won't be subbing many people.
You'll get stronger the more you roll and the older you get, spend the time now trying to focus on getting good technique don't worry about winning a roll.
Getting stonger is much easier than getting good at BJJ

Clive

Huxoin wrote: »

I've only been to 3 or 4 BJJ/MMA classes, and in the class I'm the youngest, skinniest lad there. There's mostly grown men, who have a bit of weight and muscle on their side. And anyone my age actually fights properly. I'm wondering if I should start to focus on getting a bit stronger or if it's just that I'm inexperienced? Maybe I should start weight training?

Don't worry about getting stronger - that will happen naturally if you keep training (especially with the gi). Focus on getting the fundamental techniques right and then in a year or two you can decide if you want to add in a specific strength training program.

Your training partners are helping you by giving you room to work - as you get better and better they'll ramp up the pressure to keep pace.

spiral

As said by the others dont worry too much about a weights programme, grappling will increase your strength to a certain extent anyways. Doing pullups/chinups/pressups would be a good addition as well.

Jason Mc

Patience young grasshopper. Give it time and learn the techniques. We've all been there and the only answer is train hard and focus on drilling the basic techniques.

If you have free time outside your classes I would definitely start doing some lifting, e.g. deadlift, squats, pull ups (weighted), benching etc.

But of course your main focus should be technique. There is no substitue for time spent on the matt

Unpossible

Wasn't this how BJJ was created? Helio adapting the judo techniques to suit his smaller stature?

OP work on technique and beat people that way, as the others said you can always try to bulk up later.

Martin Walker

I like this for grappling conditioning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-Tqv4TK7xk&feature=related

But be careful with it dont use alot of weight and keep good posture. The last thing you want its to bust your back dead lifting.

Ive noticed a difference in my ability to cope with the bigger stronger guys since i started doing this.
Also listen to the guys above technique matters big time. I remember reading and article by John Kavanagh about how to deal with bigger stronger guys if i can find it ill post you a link.

dasmoose

OP The thing you need to remember is that yes these guys are bigger and stronger but they've also probably been training a lot longer than you. So you should take comfort in that, no one's expecting you to start murdering everyone so there's no pressure

Marty, someone on cagewarriors posted JK's tactics for dealing with big strong guys here - the only thing is JK's tactics are just that, a strategy for dealing with a bigger opponent that relies on you having the experience and technique to pull it off, so I'm not sure how much good it'll do someone who's only had 4 classes!

OP, just keep training. I don't know if you're training BJJ with the belt system but the same philosophy applies - white belt is about paying your dues and just getting back on the mat and getting a little better each time. Another favourite of mine is "a black belt is just a white belt who never quit."

Keep training and one day you can have fun being the example to the new small guys as they see you torture a big monster with ease

Martin Walker

dasmoose wrote: »

Marty, someone on cagewarriors posted JK's tactics for dealing with big strong guys here - the only thing is JK's tactics are just that, a strategy for dealing with a bigger opponent that relies on you having the experience and technique to pull it off, so I'm not sure how much good it'll do someone who's only had 4 classes!

Thanks for posting that up Mark i havnt read it in ages. I completley forgot what it contained and after reading it i see your point. Its not really useful unless you can understand what to do and when.
Tell me have you ever came across other writings like this? If so can you PM them to me dont want to take away from the purpose of this thread.:)