Grappling Etiquette

[deadshot138]

If you're the bigger stronger dude, do you start in guard? And if you're really trashing someone through the round, do you start letting them have good positions? I did this today. As a general rule if I get two taps in the first minute or 2 I'll start letting them pass guard or even start from front headlock or something. I'm not there to be a gym champion and I get no defensive practice if I'm just trouncing someone.

 

[ChickenBrother]

Starting in guard is cool if you're much bigger and stronger, as long as you're not bowling them over with midget wrestling from knees. If you're going to give them position, IMO it's more rewarding for both players if you let them work for it by only offering enough resistance to match their size/skill level. That way you're trading positions back and forth - he gets to work and you get movement practice to better understand the techniques both offensively and defensively. Our BB coach is very good about this - it's like he's a video game opponent with a difficulty selector. He will match whoever he's rolling with so you're trading positions and continuing to work.

But unless you're the instructor, you shouldn't have to compromise your training to benefit the other students. Just be reasonable about muscling things if they're much smaller than you.

 

[shunyata]

If you're the bigger stronger dude, do you start in guard? And if you're really trashing someone through the round, do you start letting them have good positions? I did this today. As a general rule if I get two taps in the first minute or 2 I'll start letting them pass guard or even start from front headlock or something. I'm not there to be a gym champion and I get no defensive practice if I'm just trouncing someone.

They get no practice passing guard if you just give up guard.

 

[KikoJones]

IMO, when rolling with smaller people, bigger guys should roll trying to utilize as little strength as necessary and focus on executing the technique. My old coach used to make the colored belts roll holding tennis balls when rolling with white belts. It gave them an advantage and make us think outside the box. An alternative was having us hold or tuck one hand into our belts while rolling with the less experience.

 

[Quebec Nick]

If you're the bigger stronger dude, do you start in guard? And if you're really trashing someone through the round, do you start letting them have good positions? I did this today. As a general rule if I get two taps in the first minute or 2 I'll start letting them pass guard or even start from front headlock or something. I'm not there to be a gym champion and I get no defensive practice if I'm just trouncing someone.

I never tap someone the same way twice

I will start from bottom side control or mount but I never ''let'' someone pass my guard, it's bad habits.

And also, I move a lot and attempt a lot of stuff when I'm passed, no top pressure and waiting on them to do a mistake.

 

[SummerStriker]

If I have an easy go, i pull bottom side mount or give up my back. You'd think people would have some feeling about that, but usually it seems like a relief to the top guy.

 

[Kevza]

How big is your gym? Surely there are plenty guys your size there, unless its a smaller gym, or youre 250lbs LOL

Im a decent 6 foot, 190lbs, and theres plenty guys bigger than me in my gym, and usually everyone is pairing up with similar sized guys. But then again, we have about 50-60 guys on the mats at a time, so there are plenty options.

 

[Evenflow80]

With very new white belts, I can openly wave them over to take side control etc. It's a bit degrading though if you do that to someone who's been training longer. Even with women I try to not make it too obvious. No one benefits from that IMO.

Another way is to ask them if you can start in a bad position because you want to practice it.

 

[freakroor]

if somebody is much smaller than me or much less experienced i will give them whatever position they want to start in. it stimulates them and helps with my defense.

other than that, no mercy.

 

[deadshot138]

How big is your gym? Surely there are plenty guys your size there, unless its a smaller gym, or youre 250lbs LOL

Im a decent 6 foot, 190lbs, and theres plenty guys bigger than me in my gym, and usually everyone is pairing up with similar sized guys. But then again, we have about 50-60 guys on the mats at a time, so there are plenty options.

No I'm a bit larger than 250lbs lmao

 

[Jagcorps_esq]

I start in guard so that my guard won't be trash.

I do so whether I'm bigger or not.

 

[Adjaar]

I mentioned the other day to my instructor that I always felt awkward as a whitebelt because starting from the knees in unnatural. If we start from the knees I tend to sit down, as knee takedowns are silly. I then noted that some whitebelts copy whatever I do: If I sit down, they will as well, and as soon as I prop up to my knees they will too. Sort of like mirroring someone's chess moves who's better than you.

My instructor responded to this by saying that the technical rule is that the higher belt is supposed to decide how to start. It's nothing really seen nowadays, but he said that he used to be told this when he was a lower belt, and when he asked other blackbelts, they agreed that it is technically the rule. Obviously this comes from a more traditional time. We want to allow people to confidently say "Can you start on my back?" or "I have some injuries, can we just start from the knees?", but often when there is this awkward confusion of where to go, I'll say to a lower belt "you're passing my guard", and then I'll sit down. After I work for a submission, I might say "Alright, I'm passing now", but usually I'll sweep lower belts fast enough that I stay on the ground for the roll

 

[EndlessCritic]

Knee wrestling is one of the most idiotic practices in BJJ. If you're starting on the ground, start in an actual position.

If there's a massive skill discrepancy (in your favour) take the opportunity to work on implementing new techniques -- or old techniques on your bad side. Or as others have suggested, let your partner start in side control (preferably on your weaker side.)

imo there's tons of improvements you can make in training with lesser skilled guys.

 

[Foppa21]

IMO, when rolling with smaller people, bigger guys should roll trying to utilize as little strength as necessary and focus on executing the technique. My old coach used to make the colored belts roll holding tennis balls when rolling with white belts. It gave them an advantage and make us think outside the box. An alternative was having us hold or tuck one hand into our belts while rolling with the less experience.

I've always hated the hand in the belt thing. I get clautrophobic and always think so crazy is going to jump on me and my arm will get caught up

 

[Bigboot]

I never tap someone the same way twice

I will start from bottom side control or mount but I never ''let'' someone pass my guard, it's bad habits.

And also, I move a lot and attempt a lot of stuff when I'm passed, no top pressure and waiting on them to do a mistake.

I will do the same submission over and over again if they keep making the same mistake helps both of us work on technique. It’s like drilling with resistance. With that said I won’t fight for it just politely and repeatedly do it if that keep making the same mistake. My 1st instructor always handed out “free arm bars” if they were there. Kinda his joke if I asked him to roll he always said “Ok free arm bars”

 

[Thrawn33]

(Wrestler and Judoka turned BJJ)
At my last BJJ club I pulled guard on WBs and Blues with no stand up skills when we started on the feet. Needed the bottom work.

 

[ChickenBrother]

I will do the same submission over and over again if they keep making the same mistake helps both of us work on technique. It’s like drilling with resistance. With that said I won’t fight for it just politely and repeatedly do it if that keep making the same mistake. My 1st instructor always handed out “free arm bars” if they were there. Kinda his joke if I asked him to roll he always said “Ok free arm bars”

LOL sounds like the Judo club I started at where the coach and one of the BBs who was better than everyone else would hand out "free frequent flyer miles" during randori.

 

[DoctorTaco]

I will do the same submission over and over again if they keep making the same mistake helps both of us work on technique. It’s like drilling with resistance. With that said I won’t fight for it just politely and repeatedly do it if that keep making the same mistake. My 1st instructor always handed out “free arm bars” if they were there. Kinda his joke if I asked him to roll he always said “Ok free arm bars”

I’m a boxing coach with a little grappling experience from years and years ago. I jumped into jits class a while ago for fun and had a purple belt do this to me. Guy hit a triangle off of the same set up twice in a row before I saw the trap on the third go and avoided it. It was a really cool way for him to teach and work at the same time.

(Wrestler and Judoka turned BJJ)
At my last BJJ club I pulled guard on WBs and Blues with no stand up skills when we started on the feet. Needed the bottom work.

I like letting guys hit what ever take down they want and then having the live roll start when they hit the mat.

 

[shunyata]

I don't give out free guard passes, but if there's a big weight difference or with youth, lower belt women, etc I'll just sort of hold the position in dominant places without actually putting any weight on them in mount / side control.

Hold the space, show proper form, but zero crush, no weight bearing down, no squeeze.

That way they can see what it's supposed to feel like but they can work escapes without being smeshed.

If it's a guy who's 170lbs or more and has some experience or even just an athletic white belt, they're getting the smesh from mount.

 

[mattemate]

If you're the bigger stronger dude, do you start in guard? And if you're really trashing someone through the round, do you start letting them have good positions? I did this today. As a general rule if I get two taps in the first minute or 2 I'll start letting them pass guard or even start from front headlock or something. I'm not there to be a gym champion and I get no defensive practice if I'm just trouncing someone.

Depends. I usually do that, but it got me hurt recently by a dude that ended up with the submission and cranked it.

Make sure it's a training partner you trust. I'm at the point now where I'll give no quarter unless you're an actual friend and I know you won't hurt me.

People that can't flow roll are fucking retards.