What can I do?

[kidsudo]

FIRST POST! And I don't even know if this is the right section to be posting in...

All my life, I have what others consider a thick build. Currently, I am 5'6, about 170 lbs. I dont have very long legs, and i've been having problems with sinking in triangle chokes because my legs are too thick.

Most people, after hearing me out, would tell me to run/jog and eventually my legs will lean out. Well, when I was back in high school, I would use to play alot of sports and my body would be somewhat lean, but my legs (calves and thighs) would always remain thick in proportion to my body.

When i watch mma fights, most fighters seem to have relatively lean and thin legs, they must be doing something I am not.

Is there something I can do? Specific exercises? Diet perhaps? Or am I genetically doomed?

 

[Dustin Ashford]

im 5'6 175/180 stocky build. and no you arent gonna thin out ur legs to make a better triangle. i have trouble getting triangles aswell.

but if done correctly i can lock on a triangle. i'll try and explain it to you

say im going for a triangle my oponent is on top in my guard.

i push his left hand/arm down with my right hand.

i the put my right leg across the top of his head with his neck snug under my knee.

now here is the important part..... i then shrimp to my right extending my right leg as far across him as possible. then throw up my left and lock it on...


im no expert but this works for me. i cannont lock a triangle without shrimping to one side like this. do some experiments with shrimping side to side with a partner allowing you to lock on the triangle.

even now that i can lock it on it's not a move i use very much as my body just ist really made for it. a guy with longer legs is gonna have an easier time locking a trianlge. i tend to uuse move's like kimura/ arm bar's work good for me. anyway good luck

 

[Standard]

If your technique is spot on which will be even more important for you than someone with longer legs then you may just have to abandon that as a submission. You can still use it for faints to set up armbars, omoplatas etc but it may not be worth the risk or the energy to try and finish someone with. The problem will be even worse when you come across someone with very broad shoulders.

Just adopt a style that suits your body type, Nick Diaz and Jeff Monson are both great grapplers but they have vastly different style but each works for their body type.

 

[kidsudo]

ashford: Your process is pretty much exactly what I do. I am a pretty strong guy and I would usually be able to muscle the lock on. However if I take too long to sink it in, my legs would tire out. The same goes for armbar from guard position.

I know I have to work on my stamina and muscle endurance. I was hoping if i shred some weight/size off the legs, I could make my triangle attempts a REAL threat.

Standard: I hear ya. I wouldn't say my technique is flawless seeing I started no-gi grappling less than a year ago. My legs feel light and non responsive after attempts of arm bars, triangles, reversals etc. And I know what you mean about opponents with broad shoulders. Because of my strength, most the guys im paired up with are usually several inches taller and bigger than I am. It's very frustrating trying to submit those guys.

 

[XTrainer]

Long legs make triangles easy to get, which is why I like them. Thick legs make them tighten up faster. I do not see a problem...

As far as getting healthy and in shape, STICKIES.

 

[XTrainer]

(By them, I mean triangles, not long legs...)

 

[kidsudo]

haha

yes, I can tighten them up fast. That's if my opponent isn't expecting the triangle AT ALL. Meaning if he was more exhausted than i was, and i can position him however i want, then I can sink it in and make him tap in less than 5 seconds.

Getting to the point where i can apply pressure on his neck is the difficult part.

 

[kidsudo]

I should also mention that im SHORT. 5'6". Thick and short legs doesn't give me much room to work with.

 

[SMillard]

I'm 5' 8" and about and almost all of it is torso and I am around the 190 lbs. mark. The previously described details are very good unfortunately it has to either be spot on technique and timing or I hope the guy doesn't react properly (which never happens). There are two alternatives one is the Bravo Teepee and the other is to do the triangle without your opponents arm. What you do is hook your right leg over the back of their neck like a normal triangle then work your right hand across to your opponents right side and grab your leg underhand grip up as close to your opponents neck as possible. Then work your left leg up over your opponents shoulder and hook it over your right leg like normal.

Your own arm is a substitute for the trapped arm but isn't as tight a fit for you but it is very tight on your opponent, I've had people tap before I even had the second leg sunk in. Also since it is a little out of the ordinary you can people that aren't familiar pretty easily. We were taught this on a Monday night and at the Wednesday class everyone of us that learned it pulled it off on the people that missed that class.

 

[kidsudo]

hmm interesting. Ill have to try that. thanks smillard.

 

[SMillard]

let me know how it works out for you. I wish I had a video demo for you not sure if my description does it justice.

 

[Joe Funaro]

I'd have to say that being short causing you to not get triangles cause your legs are just to short/thick/skinny whatever is usually not true unless you have none. Its like the guys who cant gain weight and they eat soooooo much. Like 3 bowls of cereal AND a sandwich.

Not trying to be a douche bag, but I roll with all sorts of guys. If you cant get a triangle because of short legs then I wonder how the little guy at my gym gets them. Cause hes got real real short legs cause hes short. Also, the big guys have pretty thick legs, yet they land them.

You just need to work it more. I once thought I couldnt do armbars, then I realized I didnt do them right.

 

[kidsudo]

You're probably right. My technique isn't as polished as most guys, but like I said, I've only been doing this for 6-8 months. Hopefully with more work and training, I'll be able to get it down to the t.

Im not saying I CAN'T pull off triangles, only that it's more difficult for me with short and thick legs as oppose to taller guys with longer legs be it thin or thick.

smillard: The technique described, isn't it similar to eddie bravo's rubber guard? I remember seeing that in a video.

 

[SMillard]

You're probably right. My technique isn't as polished as most guys, but like I said, I've only been doing this for 6-8 months. Hopefully with more work and training, I'll be able to get it down to the t.

Im not saying I CAN'T pull off triangles, only that it's more difficult for me with short and thick legs as oppose to taller guys with longer legs be it thin or thick.

smillard: The technique described, isn't it similar to eddie bravo's rubber guard? I remember seeing that in a video.

I've never seen it in any Bravo material, I have two of his books, rubber guard is the guard itself which is a transition point to other positions like "Mission Control", "New York", "Retard Control" and my personal favorite "Crackhead Control". From those positions you branch off to the submissions/sweeps. He does have "the Teepee" which can be done from "Mission Control" or "New York", now that doesn't mean he doesn't have this technique I described. My instructor learned it at the Machado's instructor seminar. (Basically once a year they have a week long seminar for their instructors and some students. I'm hoping to go to one after I recover from my acl surgery.) Since Bravo has association with JJ Machado I wouldn't be surprised he implemented it into his material or taught it to the Machados.

As far as Joe Funaro's comment, you are right if you aren't getting it it is because you aren't using proper technique. That could be said for just about any technique, but certain body types are a little more forgiving on proper technique than others. I know being stocky long torso with thick legs I can pull off chokes a lot easier than most of the other people in my school to the point I try to gravitate away from them. I liked your armbar comparison, it reminded me of the first clean armbar from guard I ever got. The guy was about 6" taller than me, really lanky and flexible as hell. I slapped it on he literally pulled up to almost standing and I had the armbar sunk in so well he couldn't shake me even though I was putting no muscle into it, in fact I eased up on his arm for fear he was going to hurt himself. Finally he relented almost like when you see the animals being taken down by the lions on National Geo. God that first time was an incredible feeling.