any advantages in BJJ for tall and lanky guys?

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krunko

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so I'm about 6'2"-6'3" and walk around at about 165-170lb. I'm in pretty good shape, I just have a very long/lanky build. I've only been doing BJJ classes for about 4 months now, and I was wondering if there are any areas that I could concentrate on that would take advantage of my long thing legs or reach. I have found that I can usually keep people in my closed guard easier because of having long legs.

Are there any particular moves where people of my build have an advantage at?

Maybe some of you other spider-monkey like guys can chime in....lol
 
The bigger/ Longer your frame is the better IMO. You'll have to develop a style based around that kinda like a 5'8'' 200 guy will develop his style that works for him . Watch Roger Gracie, you can be like asmaller version
 
I am 6'1 and 160-165. Against someone my weight, I will have longer arms and that helps with Gi chokes.

As a newbie, you will get frustrated because most people that do jiu jitsu will be stronger than you. It will take some time to develop your game.
 
Brabo/Darce chokes, Triangles, Omoplatas, Armbars, Spider and De La Riva Guard work well for tall and skinny BJJ players. Learn to be aware of leg attacks from those weary of a difficult to pass and dangerous guard.
 
I'd rather go against a short stocky guy anyday versus someone tall and lanky. Even wrestling in H.S. I dreaded going against guys with extremely long limbs for the weight class because they could cradle me like a newborn. In terms of BJJ though it definitely assists with submissions like the triangle and keeping someone at bay (open guard/spider guard) with your long legs.
 
I started BJJ at the same time as this one guy who was almost exactly the same tall, lanky build as you, and super flexible. He learned how to play a real dangerous guard game, real fast. I remember him getting very good at triangle from guard and very good at taking the back (long legs = deep hooks). The dude got his blue belt in 6 months!! He won his division in NAGA at white belt, then he went back and won his division again at blue belt only a few months later.

Tall and lanky can definitely be good for ground game. Long limbs can make for a killer open guard as well as closed. Spider guard and De La Riva guard are both pretty good for long legged guys. And practice that triangle choke, it will be deadly.

Your biggest disadvantage is that your lanky frame will make you easy to take down until you learn some judo or wrestling technique. In the meantime, you might consider pulling guard in competition.

Also, work on your armbar defense, keeping your elbows tight to your body. Long, skinny arms are much easier to armbar than short, stocky arms.
 
The biggest advantage of being lanky is triangles imo. The biggest disadvantage is guard retention.

I find usually when someone is 200lbs or bigger its very hard if not impossible to close a triangle on them. I get in the position easy where if I had long legs I would triangle them no problem but since they are so think and my legs kind of short my only hope is teepee or transition to armbar. Kind of anoying as triangles one of my favorites. That being said my shorter legs make my guard very hard to pass as I can slip them back in a variety of ways easier than someone with long legs. I can also set up the intial triangle position easier sneeking my leg up.

Either way it doesnt make much difference If im against someone 5'5 or 6'2 I wouldnt find eatheir more difficult if they were on the same level. Maybe even the shorter guy would be harder as he would have more muscle mass for the same weight. Im 5'9 170.
 
It's BJJ. it's such an expansive art that you can always develop your game to have an advantage.
 
Personally, I'd say the biggest advantage a lanky guy has is that it is awkward for his opponent. Particularly if you're talking about being competitive in a particular weight class, most people are used to a pretty limited range of body types.

I suppose this advantage is mitigated as you move up in skill levels, but I'd say that at least up to purple belt, people will have some trouble with the mechanics of some of their moves on a person of an unusual build.
 
i have a friend who is 6'2 and around 150lbs and his long legs are hard to deal with. on bigger guys its easier for him to throw up triangles and already have his legs locked tight. he almost has to do no adjusting. his legs being longer making passing his guard a little harder. its an advantage.
 
Thanks guys! You've been really helpful. It seems like the triangle and open guard maneuvers seem to be something to maybe focus on for a while. Of course I won't ignore everything else, but I think I just do better when I can focus on a certain area for a while.

I'm lucky to have two great BJJ professors, Romulo Barral (just took black belt gold in his class and 2nd up to Roger Gracie in absolute, woo hoo!) and Alberto Crane. I'm sure I'll probably fine their expertise to be even more helpful when I get to more advanced mechanics.
 
tri4ben said:
I am 6'1 and 160-165. Against someone my weight, I will have longer arms and that helps with Gi chokes.

As a newbie, you will get frustrated because most people that do jiu jitsu will be stronger than you. It will take some time to develop your game.
Click to expand...
i have the exact same build as the TS (6'2"-6'3", 175lbs) , and this is something i've noticed since starting. it is frustrating as all hell

i've noticed that triangles are definitely easier for me, and my favorite thing to do is to use a body triangle as my goto closed guard, people hate it
 
jyork said:
i've noticed that triangles are definitely easier for me, and my favorite thing to do is to use a body triangle as my goto closed guard, people hate it
Click to expand...

i too am a lanky spider monkey (6'3 160) why on earth would you sacrafice those long legs in a body triangle from the bottom... unless your stalling open that shit up and work sweeps and subs.
TS i havnt been training that long, about 2 years, ive found that longer levers can help in almost any position. i suggest working alot of open guard, even if a guy is bigger stronger and more technical your long legs+technuiqe can prove to be a bitch for almost anyone
 
Lanky people hate being on bottom in side control. They have to shrimp out for days to fit their long ass legs back to guard.

I wouldn't worry too much about developing an attribute based game. Just learn what the instructors teach and you will develop your game soon enough, and find what works for you.
 
Wrestleban what are you talking about?

All you need to do get your knee through. The next bit is easy because of the leverage.

If the length of your legs is a factor you are doing it wrong.
 
In my experience, longer legs have made for very good guards. Almost all the exceptional guards I have gone against have been against people who are long limbed.
 
wellwell said:
Wrestleban what are you talking about?

All you need to do get your knee through. The next bit is easy because of the leverage.

If the length of your legs is a factor you are doing it wrong.
Click to expand...

Wrestleben is correct. Getting the knee through is the problem. Tall guys have longer thighs than short guys hence tall guys have a harder time getting the knee through because we have to bridge higher and shrimp much much further and more often to fit the knee through a competent opponents pin.

Don't try to argue with me. It's science. :D *twitches mustache*

Basically defense wise it takes more work to get around a tall guys legs, but once you are passed them the tall guy has to work much harder to retain his guard.

Obviously the reverse is true for the short guy. Not as hard to get passed his legs but very difficult to keep his legs pinned because he doesn't have to move his legs far to fit them between his opponent.

I also think lanky people have very stable and dangerous full mounts since they can grapevine easilly while still attacking, while shorter limbed guys have better side mounts because they are more compact and because of their short legs they can create a pin that distributes their weight across a larger surface.

My thoughts. If you hadn't noticed, I am a lanky guy and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Edit- It's also extremely difficult to get achilles locked if your legs are much longer than your opponents.
 
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