Grappling Body: Big or small?

[Tony Manifold]

Question for you guys. Basically, should you try and get as small as your body type will allow or as large? I am 5'8", if I fought MMA I would probably try to get down to 170 (I have actually fought as low as 152 but that was almost ten years ago) because 5'8" is too short for 185. Right now I am 192 and climbing. I have a reasonablly large frame for my height (I have to wear a 46 jacket even though I have a 34 inch waist) and I go to the gym 4-6 times a week. I do a mix of strength (mainly O-lifts) and cardio (running usually) and flexibility. Being in the military, I have some other requirments then strictly grappling (like long ruck marches) but my size isn't really an issue one way or the other.

Previously, I have been trying to get down to 180-185 range, so I could cut down to my fighting weight of 170 but I am wondering if that is really needed. I don't really plan on fighting MMA just a few BJJ or sub grappling tournaments so reach isn't a huge issue. I am thinking that maybe I should just let my body go where my training takes it. I am picturing Jeff Monson with a rubber guard but not a communist. Or should I really concentrate on Dieting and cardio to get down to the 180ish range?

 

[Deloitte]

170lbs is more ideal for your height.

 

[Saith]

Optimally, you want the most lean body mass you can get at the lowest weight class you can reach.

 

[DaRuckus337]

Just have low body fat and learn to fight a style that works with your body type. The weightclass isn't so important as long as you're lean and use a style that works with your attributes and against the body types you are likely to encounter.

 

[johil d'o]

Get as enormous as possible so you can have the glory of competing with the big boys.

 

[KickBoxer23]

I'm 5'8 130lbs and I compete 129.9 and under. I'd like to get to 139.9 and below though.

 

[redeyez]

size makes a big difference in jiu jitsu. you can easilly win a jiu-jitsu tournament by just wrestling and holding dominant positions. i learned this the hard way last year where i lost in the southeast asia grappling games to this guy who cut about 15-20 pounds to make weight for the tournament. i ended up gettin 2nd place and the guy who got 1st is still undefeated in jiu jitsu and already has 8 gold medals.

 

[Czyivn]

Well good news, you're already there! Just don't cut that 0.1 pounds that you currently doing to make 129.9!

 

[Tony Manifold]

size makes a big difference in jiu jitsu. you can easilly win a jiu-jitsu tournament by just wrestling and holding dominant positions. i learned this the hard way last year where i lost in the southeast asia grappling games to this guy who cut about 15-20 pounds to make weight for the tournament. i ended up gettin 2nd place and the guy who got 1st is still undefeated in jiu jitsu and already has 8 gold medals.

I plan on cutting some but I don't like to cut more than 8- 10 pounds given most tournaments seem to have a same day weigh in. With a night before weigh in, I am willing to cut more.

Get as enormous as possible so you can have the glory of competing with the big boys.

There are big boys and then there are BIG boys. I will stick with the big boys.

 

[Deloitte]

Well good news, you're already there! Just don't cut that 0.1 pounds that you currently doing to make 129.9!

LOL!

 

[OwMyArm]

I'm 5'6 and I walk around at about 180 and am planning to fight at 155 once I'm ready to fight, so I think the best idea would be to get as small as you can w/o sacrificing anything you actually need to compete ie. large amounts of strength

 

[IChinaManI]

I'm 6'2 240 pounds, and enjoy being a fatass

 

[Tony Manifold]

I should be clear, I am not talking about get Huge, just letting my body get a big as the training takes it then cutting down to the closest weight class. For example, to get to say 220 I would probably need help that I am unwilling to take for more than one obvious reason. I just have to sacrifice a lot of power training if I want to stay small because my body naturally gets big.

 

[tinker_190]

Just have low body fat and learn to fight a style that works with your body type. The weightclass isn't so important as long as you're lean and use a style that works with your attributes and against the body types you are likely to encounter.

QFT DaRuckus always seems to know whats up. Focus on getting your overall athleticism and conditioning optimized, adapt your style to your body mechanics, and go from there.