Cutting weight for Bjj?

[HockeyBjj]

Hey there, so I've lurked in these forums before but I just now made an account because I could use some help from you guys.

I'm going to enter a local white belt Bjj tournament August 4th (5 weeks) I'm a new white belt with about 2 months of training. I realize I'll probably get knocked out in the first round, but I know I'll still enjoy competing. I'm having trouble deciding what weight class to go for and was looking for some help. Under IBJJF rules, lightweight is 167 lbs and featherweight is 154lbs. Weigh ins are the day of the competition with the ~3lb gi on.

About me. I'm 5'8" and was over 200 pounds and pretty fat at about christmas. I started eating right and running instead of just lifting and now I'm down to 165, looking good and feeling great. I'm not quite as strong as I was before (Bench 5x rep went from 245 to 205 as example) But I am in so much better shape now. I still have some fat I can definitely lose tho. I don't know exactly what my body fat % is, but an average of the online calculators is about 15%.

So I'm 21 years old, 5'8", 165lbs, about 15% body fat. Should I try to get my weight down to 154 in 5 weeks to make featherweight? Or should I stay where I'm at and lift to maybe put a little muscle back on and fight at 167? I'm also not a wrestler so I don't have any experience cutting weight, so for getting to featherweight I'm not sure how much water weight I could expect to lose just before the weigh ins. I could have anywhere from 30 min to 2 hours after standing on the scale to rehydrate and eat. Can I just lose enough last week weight to make up for the added gi or what?

I'm sorry this is so rambling, but I'm wondering if anyone out there could help me?

 

[bradlabo]

Is this IBJJF Toronto? Anyways, it is your first tournament fight at LW the cutoff is 167.5 it is one less thing to stress about going into your first one.

 

[bradlabo]

Also if it is same day weigh ins do not cut water weight, you will have zero energy in the fight. Diet down. I weigh 160 normally and just diet to get to 154

 

[yer man]

Do lightweight.
And you must not go into any tournament with negative thoughts.

 

[Einarr]

I'd say compete as close to your normal weight as possible.

 

[HockeyBjj]

Is this IBJJF Toronto? Anyways, it is your first tournament fight at LW the cutoff is 167.5 it is one less thing to stress about going into your first one.

Do lightweight.
And you must not go into any tournament with negative thoughts.

I'd say compete as close to your normal weight as possible.

Thanks for the input guys. The reason I started thinking featherweight was that I realized I did much better against the guys I had even just 10 pounds on. Figured if I could be on the stronger end of the white belts I'd have a better chance of winning a few matches. But maybe I should just relax for this first one. It would be nice to eat 2,000 cals a day again

And this is just a small local thing for the first one. There's IBJJF Atlanta I'm planning on going to in September. This one here will give me some experience first. And part of me was also thinking that if I go featherweight here, I can go either feather or light in September depending on how I felt at the first one.

Also if it is same day weigh ins do not cut water weight, you will have zero energy in the fight. Diet down. I weigh 160 normally and just diet to get to 154

I was thinking about just limiting water the day before and of. Based off what I've lost before, I could diet and get to 155 the week of the competition. I was wondering if limiting water would be enough to make up for the added gi pretty much. Or I could increase what I'm eating now and stay steady at my weight to go lightweight.

 

[Twon]

Since this is your first competition, I wouldn't worry too much about trying to lower your weight class. Just go for some fun and treat it as a learning experience. I usually find that the guys that try and cut weight tend to gas quickly. It's not like the day before weigh ins where you can hydrate yourself back up and get energized. I think it would be much more benificial to you to compete at your walking around weight...

 

[bradlabo]

I was thinking about just limiting water the day before and of. Based off what I've lost before, I could diet and get to 155 the week of the competition. I was wondering if limiting water would be enough to make up for the added gi pretty much. Or I could increase what I'm eating now and stay steady at my weight to go lightweight.

Do not limit your water the day before or day of. You need water, the nonly time you shuld cut water weight is if it is day before weigh ins....

 

[Melkesyre]

If I were you i'd just try to train BJJ every day, maybe even twice a day. And just look where your weight finally falls to.

 

[KGB256]

Hey there, so I've lurked in these forums before but I just now made an account because I could use some help from you guys.

I'm going to enter a local white belt Bjj tournament August 4th (5 weeks) I'm a new white belt with about 2 months of training. I realize I'll probably get knocked out in the first round, but I know I'll still enjoy competing. I'm having trouble deciding what weight class to go for and was looking for some help. Under IBJJF rules, lightweight is 167 lbs and featherweight is 154lbs. Weigh ins are the day of the competition with the ~3lb gi on.

About me. I'm 5'8" and was over 200 pounds and pretty fat at about christmas. I started eating right and running instead of just lifting and now I'm down to 165, looking good and feeling great. I'm not quite as strong as I was before (Bench 5x rep went from 245 to 205 as example) But I am in so much better shape now. I still have some fat I can definitely lose tho. I don't know exactly what my body fat % is, but an average of the online calculators is about 15%.

So I'm 21 years old, 5'8", 165lbs, about 15% body fat. Should I try to get my weight down to 154 in 5 weeks to make featherweight? Or should I stay where I'm at and lift to maybe put a little muscle back on and fight at 167? I'm also not a wrestler so I don't have any experience cutting weight, so for getting to featherweight I'm not sure how much water weight I could expect to lose just before the weigh ins. I could have anywhere from 30 min to 2 hours after standing on the scale to rehydrate and eat. Can I just lose enough last week weight to make up for the added gi or what?

I'm sorry this is so rambling, but I'm wondering if anyone out there could help me?

Eleven pounds in five weeks is easily attainable without an actual cut if you just watch what you eat.

And just to get raw on you, with 2 months of training it is not going to matter which weight class you enter. You are far more likely to lose due to inferior technique than some minor strength advantage. There's not that significant a difference in strength between the 167 and 154 classes anyway.

Crazy idea, but maybe you should stick with the 167 class and don't even try to gain or lose weight. Just work on your technique for the next 5 weeks. Develop a couple of takedown options you feel comfortable with, as well as a couple submissions from your guard and each dominant position. Don't try to learn everything, just 2-3 submissions per position and then drill the crap out of them until you can do them correctly without thinking about it. And spend a lot of time getting smashed by higher belts to work on your defensive fundamentals.

That'll give you a much better chance to win than gaining 2 pounds or losing 11. I promise.

 

[zeuzbmr]

hey, i too will be there(toronto) fighting at blue 167.5.
For my first tourney, i was super stressed about the water cut. after i cut the water i had no energy and woke up the morning of the tourney on weight( meaning i couldnt eat or drink anything). White belts compete last in the day, so i didnt compete till 5ish. I was exhausted and i hadnt even competed yet.
When they finally called me, i walked to the mat, and got ready. Adrenaline took over and i was able to to take him down and jump to side control and then mount. End up winning on points, but i was completely drain. my legs felt like jelly and i no longer had grips. 2nd fight happens, i blow my load taking him down, get swept and mounted.
next tourney, no weight cut i placed 2nd.

TL;DR, dont cut water weight.

 

[HockeyBjj]

Since this is your first competition, I wouldn't worry too much about trying to lower your weight class. Just go for some fun and treat it as a learning experience. I usually find that the guys that try and cut weight tend to gas quickly. It's not like the day before weigh ins where you can hydrate yourself back up and get energized. I think it would be much more benificial to you to compete at your walking around weight...

hey, i too will be there(toronto) fighting at blue 167.5.
For my first tourney, i was super stressed about the water cut. after i cut the water i had no energy and woke up the morning of the tourney on weight( meaning i couldnt eat or drink anything). White belts compete last in the day, so i didnt compete till 5ish. I was exhausted and i hadnt even competed yet.
When they finally called me, i walked to the mat, and got ready. Adrenaline took over and i was able to to take him down and jump to side control and then mount. End up winning on points, but i was completely drain. my legs felt like jelly and i no longer had grips. 2nd fight happens, i blow my load taking him down, get swept and mounted.
next tourney, no weight cut i placed 2nd.

TL;DR, dont cut water weight.

Eleven pounds in five weeks is easily attainable without an actual cut if you just watch what you eat.

And just to get raw on you, with 2 months of training it is not going to matter which weight class you enter. You are far more likely to lose due to inferior technique than some minor strength advantage. There's not that significant a difference in strength between the 167 and 154 classes anyway.

Crazy idea, but maybe you should stick with the 167 class and don't even try to gain or lose weight. Just work on your technique for the next 5 weeks. Develop a couple of takedown options you feel comfortable with, as well as a couple submissions from your guard and each dominant position. Don't try to learn everything, just 2-3 submissions per position and then drill the crap out of them until you can do them correctly without thinking about it. And spend a lot of time getting smashed by higher belts to work on your defensive fundamentals.

That'll give you a much better chance to win than gaining 2 pounds or losing 11. I promise.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll just go in at 167. I can up my eating and see about turning a little fat to a little more muscle in the 5 weeks. I guess I was obsessing about weight cause I've lost 40 pounds this year and my weight is always on my mind. Technique and skill are far more important that which weight class I end up in.

If I were you i'd just try to train BJJ every day, maybe even twice a day. And just look where your weight finally falls to.

Haha, I wish I could train every or twice a day. I've got a full time job as an electrical engineer, so I train Bjj after work from 6-9 MWF, Tues and Thurs I get up and run 3 miles before work and then lift after. I try to get another run/lift in on the weekend.

 

[KGB256]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll just go in at 167. I can up my eating and see about turning a little fat to a little more muscle in the 5 weeks. I guess I was obsessing about weight cause I've lost 40 pounds this year and my weight is always on my mind. Technique and skill are far more important that which weight class I end up in.

No, no, no, no, no. Do not up your eating. Do not try to muscle up. Listen to what I'm telling you.

You are still obsessing about weight and strength. You said you are 165lbs, which is perfectly fine. You don't have to be exactly 167lbs...and if you're concerned about the weight of the gi, you don't want to gain any weight from where you are right now anyway. Two pounds is not much wiggle room. Eating more is likely to get you into a spot where you'd have to cut to make 167. Likewise with trying to gain muscle mass, which weighs more than fat.

Here's a hint that most white belts get told a thousand times, but completely ignore: jiu-jitsu is not about who is bigger & stronger. It's about who can use leverage, balance, and weight distribution to their advantage. The irony is you will probably get beaten by someone that is weaker than you, because he will have better technique. He's going to feel pretty strong, because he's got leverage on his side. That's what good technique does.

Don't be another idiot meathead that says "KGB is full of crap man, I gotta get swole to win". Take the next few weeks, and just focus on your technique. What I am explaining to you is how to build a tournament game. Developing 2-3 reliable submission options from each dominant position (and your guard) is no small task. Developing 2-3 takedowns you feel comfortable with is not easy in just a few weeks. You have your work cut out for you. Five weeks is not much time at all.

If you want to keep getting stronger and leaner between competitions, I'm all for that. Right now, I think you need to stop distracting yourself with strength & conditioning and learn some jiu-jitsu.

 

[BCNASH]

Dont cut water weight for an IBJJF tourney. When I did the worlds last year you weighed in on your way to the mat and have zero time to rehydrate

 

[HockeyBjj]

No, no, no, no, no. Do not up your eating. Do not try to muscle up. Listen to what I'm telling you.

You are still obsessing about weight and strength. You said you are 165lbs, which is perfectly fine. You don't have to be exactly 167lbs...and if you're concerned about the weight of the gi, you don't want to gain any weight from where you are right now anyway. Two pounds is not much wiggle room. Eating more is likely to get you into a spot where you'd have to cut to make 167. Likewise with trying to gain muscle mass, which weighs more than fat.

Here's a hint that most white belts get told a thousand times, but completely ignore: jiu-jitsu is not about who is bigger & stronger. It's about who can use leverage, balance, and weight distribution to their advantage. The irony is you will probably get beaten by someone that is weaker than you, because he will have better technique. He's going to feel pretty strong, because he's got leverage on his side. That's what good technique does.

Don't be another idiot meathead that says "KGB is full of crap man, I gotta get swole to win". Take the next few weeks, and just focus on your technique. What I am explaining to you is how to build a tournament game. Developing 2-3 reliable submission options from each dominant position (and your guard) is no small task. Developing 2-3 takedowns you feel comfortable with is not easy in just a few weeks. You have your work cut out for you. Five weeks is not much time at all.

If you want to keep getting stronger and leaner between competitions, I'm all for that. Right now, I think you need to stop distracting yourself with strength & conditioning and learn some jiu-jitsu.

I was talking about upping my eating from where I am now. I was still in the eating 1400 cals a day because I've been losing weight for the past few months. I wasn't talking about bring it up to a surplus, I was talking about getting to 2,000 or so for maitinence. I could keep eating like I am to lose more weight and go for feather, but I'll stay where I am.

I do know that technique beats strength every time. not just 9/10, Maybe 99/100. I was originally hoping that since we're all white belts, I could use a strength advantage to muscle out an americana or something. That seems to be my go-to move when rolling in the gym. I for sure am focusing more on my jiu-jitsu. I wish we did more from standing than kneeling tho, I don't have the wrestling background and know my takedowns and takedown defence is the worst part of my game. I try to avoid out muscling the smaller white belts, because that doesn't teach me anything. Still working on relaxing and going with what the other guy gives me.

And I was just talking about the running and lifting to get and stay in shape. I won't be putting on mass at all. Thank you for the advise about just focusing on a few submissions from each position.

 

[KGB256]

I was talking about upping my eating from where I am now. I was still in the eating 1400 cals a day because I've been losing weight for the past few months. I wasn't talking about bring it up to a surplus, I was talking about getting to 2,000 or so for maitinence. I could keep eating like I am to lose more weight and go for feather, but I'll stay where I am.

I do know that technique beats strength every time. not just 9/10, Maybe 99/100. I was originally hoping that since we're all white belts, I could use a strength advantage to muscle out an americana or something. That seems to be my go-to move when rolling in the gym. I for sure am focusing more on my jiu-jitsu. I wish we did more from standing than kneeling tho, I don't have the wrestling background and know my takedowns and takedown defence is the worst part of my game. I try to avoid out muscling the smaller white belts, because that doesn't teach me anything. Still working on relaxing and going with what the other guy gives me.

And I was just talking about the running and lifting to get and stay in shape. I won't be putting on mass at all. Thank you for the advise about just focusing on a few submissions from each position.

You're making this way too difficult. Just do whatever you've been doing. It's not like you're going to be a beast at 165, but a doormat at 160.

If you have to register early, take the 167. You know you can make it without changing anything at all. If you don't have to register early, just wait and see where your weight is naturally on the day you'll compete. Who knows? You might make 154 without even trying. If not, no big deal.

Talk to an instructor or some teammates (especially ones that compete) about wanting to do some extra work outside of class. Maybe the weekend, or one of your off nights. Get some work drilling those takedowns and submissions.

And for heaven's sake, put the scale away for a few days. It's not nearly as important of a factor in competition as people make it out to be.

 

[Vitamin C]

And for heaven's sake, put the scale away for a few days. It's not nearly as important of a factor in competition as people make it out to be.

No wai! Everyone knows we have weight classes because the bigger guy will always win!

Spoiler

totally cereal bro.

 

[HockeyBjj]

You're making this way too difficult. Just do whatever you've been doing. It's not like you're going to be a beast at 165, but a doormat at 160.

Thanks for the Gibbs slap to the back of the head of reason through the internet. I've just been obsessing about my weight because that was the only way I could stay focussed enough to get myself down from borderline obese to an athletic build. I just need to learn to let this go and relax. Thank you

 

[bradlabo]

Like KGB said work on a gameplan. 5 weeks is not much time. Sit down and write out 2 things you want to do from each position.

Closed guard..... Sweeps or subs
Half guard.... Sweeps or subs
Open guard... recover full, sweeps or subs
Turtle... Escapes
Mount...escapes
Sidemount..... escapes
Turtle....Taking the back
Halfguard top....pass submit

etc...

I have a gameplan for every tournament and only work things that I have drilled and can do consistantly and with success in the gym. Everyone is different but a gameplan is huge. Now you have only been training a couple months so you prob don't have an answer for each position so focus on what you can do well and how to get to that position if you are not in it...

 

[crazyjames1233]

im literally almost the exact same size as you (now AND before) right now im 5'8 and walk around at about 160 with about 13% body fat. I also used to be 200 lbs a few years back before mma and bjj.
anyway, point is ive competed twice at 155 and never had trouble making the weight when weigh ins are the day of the tournament. if you have 5 weeks thats plenty of time to lose a few pounds naturally then if need be cut the rest before the tournament. i say do it, and if it doesnt work out well then just go back up to 167 and not worry about cutting weight.