Dealing With Bigger Stronger Opponents

This video I discuss the mindset I have about rolling with bigger stronger opponents and how I approach adapting my game to fight them effectively.

[@streetsmartswing]

I appreciate your principled approach to Jiu Jitsu. It’s helping me not just see moves, but see through them.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Thanks buddy I’m enjoying making more of these conceptual talks on top of the technique breakdown stuff. Gonna try to put a lot more out soon.

[@streetsmartswing]

@@JonThomasBJJ keep going!

[@richarddukard8989]

I remember the first time I tried to do a hip bump sweep on a big guy. Eye opening.

[@josephbreza-grappling9459]

Exceptional advice, as always

[@scootertribeg1708]

Helpful as always, thanks!

[@Gunslinger088]

It makes sense. Thanks.

[@jon0830]

thanks boss, very interesting to hear your thoughts on this. As a brown belt roosterweight i've always trained with all sizes and have always considered how my game "scales" as i've developed it. Experiments in creating some sort of big guy game have never really been as effective as addressing the situation in the moment with the same fundamental game I use with everyone

[@theticoboy]

Much props. I’m a similar weight but really tall for my weight. The perseverance it took for you to get to that level giving up so much weight and size is amazing. Hope to get there one day

[@bytor754]

Thank you! Coach Jon.. I m a little smaller guy, aged like 53-yr-old, n still rolling with younger & bigger ones. I m absolutely with your BJJ philosophy as ~OSSA

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Thanks buddy it’s important to have a strong mind set in belief that technique will overcome the challenges.

[@MrSaurus]

Hey, I really like your videos! Your de la Riva, lasso, and collar sleeve guard videos have really helped me out. I have a question though about the guards in general. I'll for example have my left leg as the de la Riva hook, and I will try to use my right leg and put it on their biceps. However, a lot of times, my opponent will try to straight ankle lock my right leg. I was wondering how I can prevent that.

[@wendymarshall2132]

Thank you!!

[@Thecelestial1]

I’m a big guy. There are even bigger guys. Like 350 pounds. When we roll there is so much meat and gi that several moves are impossible: closed guard, kimuras, any head arm triangle lol.

[@ryanbammer7546]

Easy tell of the bjj youtuber is you can always hear their washing machine in the background. Thanks as always jon

[@melero33]

Thanks for the vid always very informative , i'm myself weight 190 lbs and i find sometimes lighter opponents try to use a more aggressive rush technique instead of focusing on the technical part of it if i make any sense

[@definitelynottigerwhitten5865]

Go slow w us little guys plz. This ain't the defensive like and you don't gotta sack us lol.

[@jtom416]

​@@definitelynottigerwhitten5865 he's saying the little guys are the aggressive rushers. Which I've found generally true in my experience

[@041882]

I totally disagree. Size *changes body positioning*. I can't hold mount the same way on a man that's 450 lbs. with a big belly vs. one that's 150 lbs. If my knees don't touch the mat or he's too wide to get my legs around him or his big belly means I can't get my legs around him, his size changes my positioning. Automatically.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Did you listen to the end of the video? I discussed this a bit with the point of excluding options. I don’t think it’s bad to eliminate certain options if the person is of a certain size but I don’t look for a particular technique on a person just because they are bigger I base my attacks off the positioning they are in. It’s really rare that I have to change much though mount or triangle choke on 300 lb plus, yea I might avoid but it’s very few positions.

[@theREALducktape000]

What if he's in my guard and just laying on me and I can't do anything

[@BPchadlite]

How do I deal with tapping to people less real life cool and more on the spectrum than me?

[@huisman111]

english?

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Hahaha just try to stop them before they tap you and give them advice on how to do the submission better.

[@nicolasa6789]

@@JonThomasBJJ lol

[@matsuwd-emethdaath4002]

@@JonThomasBJJ that always works LMAO 😂

[@jsklair]

How do I deal with faster, fitter (and smaller) opponents?

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Realistically it shouldn’t change too much for their size, only difference is if the person is faster your reaction time needs to be a bit better. So good distance management in beginning helps a lot with that as you won’t need to be as fast in your movement the more distance you have from a guard perspective at least.

[@gunarleishman4174]

😂 p̶r̶o̶m̶o̶s̶m̶