The Best BJJ Style for Big Guys with Bad Takedowns & Wrestling 

Well done for not suggesting any magic takedown that works Vs a good wrestler/Judoka. Cause the only way to throw someone good at standing is to simply get better at stand up

6ft 300 lb blue belt here; and as a big guy, the top game is where almost all of the heavyweight guys feel comfortable. As far as take downs are concerned, I am a fan of a collar drag/sac throw and have had a little success with that as well as the Chewys arm drag to inside trip. Having said all of the above, the issue that I see a lot for big guys, is that they get so comfortable playing a top game, that they rarely spend time working from their back and learning open guard techniques. I am far from a professional and I wouldn't want to presume to know enough about competition to make suggestions for a competitor, but I can say that what I have observed a lot is that the heavy weights have a hard time once their guard is passed and at the lower levels, it's like they just give up once they're on bottom. I have been spending the last six or so months solely playing off my back and working guard recovery and retention for this exact reason. I am not saying that there aren't big guys that can play guard, but when you watch competitions at the heavy, super heavy, and ultra heavy level, you see a lot of "top game players" rightfully so. I decided I wanted to buck this trend because most people don't expect a big guy to have a good open guard game. It is frustrating, but I am seeing results, and it has helped my over all game because the more I work guard retention and recovery, the more I am acutely aware of what it takes to maintain it, which means you learn what you have to take away from the guard player when you're in the top position. Just my two cents, Cheers

Grips. Dominate their arms. Bring them low. Take them down. Or develop a strong base, and throw them when they attempt to throw you. Arm drag into side take or back take like in nogi works well. Works for this Ultra. Playing bottom in the gym makes your top game better too, like the Chewster says. You learn how to counter moves to escape bottom position. Ossa!

Thanks Coach! Always learning from you. Thank you

BJJ is evolving, soon wrestling will be included in bjj.

Since the classic meta for the most heavy dudes is to play top game, I thinks it's neat to build you style on "pull guard - sweep - submit" type of game. Cuz naturally most heavies are not really good at guard play, having skilled guard game with emphasize on sweeping and quick and aggressive submission game is kinda perfect solution to be ahead of a curve. Plus, as Chewy wonderfully said, it nullifies opponent's wresting game.

Helpful

I am a stocky short big dude if that makes sense, 5.8, 195 pounds, strong legs and arms, I am good at takedowns and wrestling because I have wrestled as a kid. I am also really flexible, Unfortunately I have small limbs and need advice on how to build my style according to my small limbs. It's hard for me to do a triangle choke on dudes my size. Any suggestions please?

Pull ashi and rip heel hooks my dude.

LOL😂 he trains at a jiu-jitsu school in 2024 that doesn't train take downs very much. FIND A NEW GYM .