Height playing a part in your weight class?

[the_Dark Knight]

Wondering if height plays a part in what weight class you belong in? Meaning if you're like me, 5'7-5'8, is there a specific weight divison I should be in, or does height not factor in when it comes to bjj?

What about MMA, does height play a part in what weight class fighters are in?

 

[King Cobra Ssss**]

Your height, reach, and shoulder span are important factors. Some people are also more natural with certain weight ranges. If I'm not mistaken, I think Barry's a shorter guy but is naturally built heavier.

 

[Doctor Venture]

Not sure exactly what you mean. No, there is not a height limit on any weight class, and if your weight falls into a class that is where you are, regardless of height. It is not as if a 6'0 145 lb guy needs to move up one since he is "too tall".


Now in MMA it makes somewhat of a difference. Most guys will want to go to a weight class where they are not significantly shorter than the other guy. You wouldn't want to be a 5'7" LHW, because most of those guys are around 6' tall, have a big reach advantage, and you would have so much muscle it would be hard to keep up your stamina up. There is no rule in place to stop you, it just is not a good idea.

 

[willie Dicker**]

KZ fights at FW
Maynard fights at LW
Hughes fights at WW
Palharis fights at MW
and their all between 5'7' and 5'7'

 

[the_Dark Knight]

double.

 

[queenofthering]

Yes, for me it does. I'm 5'4" and am in the 145lb - 150lb weight class for women. A lot of women in that weight class are much taller than me which really sucks. But the advantage can also be if I get someone in the same height I'm usually the more leaner and faster one at that weight. So it can be an advantage or disadvantage according to the height.

 

[redaxe]

Generally in fighting it's considered an advantage to be taller and have longer limbs than your opponent. So most guys don't want to be short compared to other guys in their weight class.

Look at Tim Sylvia vs. Jeff Monson. Sylvia is a foot taller than Monson and was basically able to beat him just by having a much longer reach.

Long limbs are also an advantage in BJJ, not just in MMA. They make a lot of techniques easier, like open guard sweeps, triangles, and back control.

However being short and stocky can also have advantages. For example low center of gravity = much harder to take down. Short arms = more difficult to armbar, etc.

 

[Jamie Hughes]

im 6"7 and fight ww in MMA and middle in BJJ

 

[MUFC]

Stop over thinking.

 

[chris1190]

Their are advantages and disadvantages that go with being the shorter or taller guy in your division so it doesn't really matter that much. Just compete at the weight you feel most comfortable at

 

[Uchi Mata]

im 6"7 and fight ww in MMA and middle in BJJ

Dude, put on some weight, you gotta be careful or you'll end up like that poor guy in North Carolina.

 

[FuneralPyre]

It's harder to pass the open guard of someone with long legs. They're always able to get them on you somehow when you're trying to get around them. It's easier for long legged people to lock up triangles as well. .

 

[Jamie Hughes]

Dude, put on some weight, you gotta be careful or you'll end up like that poor guy in North Carolina.

im skinny but not that skinny and im going pretty good so far

 

[ElKarlo]

I'm 5'7" and 185lbs. I hate how much shorter I am than everyone in my weight class.

But I'm a short stocky guy, so of course they make me take on the lanksters.

 

[MUFC]

I'm 5'7" and 185lbs. I hate how much shorter I am than everyone in my weight class.

But I'm a short stocky guy, so of course they make me take on the lanksters.

Guys your build give me the most trouble from my guard. I'm 6'1, 170. I'm trying to gain weight, though. Want to get up to 200lbs.

 

[thegreenblender]

I think the advantages can equal out if you are smart. There are serious advantages to scrambling out or getting your guard back from bottom when you don't have all these long limbs to get underneath you. There are serious advantages to the natural submission defense shorter limbs offer, and the better movement having a smaller body affords when you are in top position (especially like moving from sidemount to n/s, knee on belly, etc).

Big advantages for takedowns. Huge advantage being able to get into the sweet spot under your opponent's center of gravity much easier.


Call me crazy, but I think short guys have as many advantages as tall in an all-in game, but the shorter guys generally are stockier and stronger...so they often are more reliant on being brutes and using their naturally short-stuff sub defense. If they have the mentality of getting every inch of leverage out of their situation, they have an equal and opposite advantage, I think.

Source: Tall guy who has seen/felt what short guys can do WHEN they understand their body type.

 

[crochuck]

I don't really feel being a shorter guy is a disadvantage because as long as you aren't fat or something like that you are probably going to be stronger than the guys taller than you which is a pretty big advantage. The way I think about it is having longer limbs can be good or bad depending on the situation, but it's never a bad thing to be stronger than the other guy.

 

[ElKarlo]

Guys your build give me the most trouble from my guard. I'm 6'1, 170. I'm trying to gain weight, though. Want to get up to 200lbs.

Guys like you are a pain. Why do your legs reach oh so far? The only good thing is that if you're in my guard, I can actually close my guard.

How are you bulking up?

 

[MUFC]

Guys like you are a pain. Why do your legs reach oh so far? The only good thing is that if you're in my guard, I can actually close my guard.

How are you bulking up?

I actually prefer passing guard against people your height if they play butterfly guard. Terere Pass all day.

I'm planning on just eating more and lifting heavy alongside my grappling. Just waiting for a torn MCL to heal.

 

[ElKarlo]

I actually prefer passing guard against people your height if they play butterfly guard. Terere Pass all day.

I'm planning on just eating more and lifting heavy alongside my grappling. Just waiting for a torn MCL to heal.

That's why I almost never play butterfly, too easy to get passed.

There's a guy at my gym, around your height and build. He is a blue just like me, and breaking his guard is nigh on impossible. He works it so well. I really have to give him an arm, so I can escape, and pass. Otherwise it's a 4 min deadlock.