The Worst BJJ Advice to give to Strong People 

Jiujitsu has to be the only place where, "you're strong!" is an insult.

“Jiu Jitsu overcomes strength with technique” “Stop using so much strength, I can’t use my techniques!”

I’m a 5’2 130 pound guy who’s been training since I was about 14 and I’m 23 now. I have heard this being told to many of the bigger dudes in my gym and as a kid I liked it cause it gave me more of a chance but as I got older I realized that I wanted to fight these strong guys when they’re not taking pity on me. As small as I am everyone is going to be bigger than me and maybe to an extent stronger than me. If I don’t learn to deal with someone’s strength in my own way I’ll never feel able to defend myself. Hindering the big guys hinders the small guys’ ability to learn how to deal with big guys cause it is possible. There isn’t a single person in my gym who I’m afraid of rolling with and likewise there isn’t a person in the gym who thinks I’m an easy target. Let others grow to grow yourself

"Match their strength, and then do jiu jitsu with them" was the advice I was given when rolling with smaller people and so far it's really helped me slow down and think while rolling. No one says how to do that exactly though. But now I think I have a bad habit of letting go of arm bars and other submissions when I think I'd need to use too much strength to break their grips.

As a big guy who loves top game, I’ve often been accused of using strength when I’m using pressure. Apparently it bothered enough people that my concerned instructor, who is 70 lbs lighter, singled me out to roll. About half way through the round he shouts out to the class while laughing, “he’s using pressure not strength you guys!” I was embarrassed folks were complaining but happy my instructor set them straight and let me know I was on the right track. Breath is my guide for knowing if I’m over relying on physicality vs technique.

I’m a 48 year old 155 pound grappler who spent the first six years of my Jiu Jitsu journey training with guys pushing 300 pounds. Something that struck me as I neared my purple belt was the difference between efficient use of strength, speed, etc. vs. unnecessary use of strength. One of my favorite training partners outweighed me by at least 100 pounds, but he only used enough strength / weight to challenge me, which included making my life uncomfortable at times. On the flip side, I had a training partner that I eventually had to avoid rolling with because he took every opportunity to expend every ounce of energy to the point of causing me minor injuries a couple of times. The key, I think, is understanding how to use the tools in your toolbox properly and safely. If I’m rolling with a big, strong person, I don’t begrudge them their attributes unless they use them in a way that puts me at risk or prevents me from getting anything out of the roll at all. Conversely, I hate it when big, strong training partners go WAY to easy on me. I don’t mind tapping to someone bigger than me, nor do I mind being faced with a challenge. Frankly, it’s a lot of fun if you have the right partner.

I definitely been understanding a lot more with the “using strength” I’m the biggest guy in my gym by about 30-40lbs in my case my coach told me to slow down and utilize my pressure and strength in the right way I’m lucky to the point that I haven’t been told this but I know of people who have.

AMEN!! 220 lbs former collegiate wrestler here and I get this constantly from blue and white belts. The funny part is, I have a rare and incurable autoimmune disorder that literally destroys every muscle in my body... so, ironically, many of the people complaining are actually stronger than me... I just know how to use leverage from the 10+ years of grappling experience they're completely discounting lol

WOW glad you said this and bringing it up. I’m a ex college wrestler and fitness model. IDedicated my teens and early 20s to building my strength and physique. Now im 31yrs old 5.11 225 solid. as a white belt I came into the gym and a few of the of the upper belts that I rolled with kept telling me not to use my strength….I’m like uuuhhhhhh idk how all I know is pressure, strength and explosion lol. Definitely over the past few weeks stopped listening to them. Strength IS my technique!! Now we’ve got some bigger guys and weightlifters in the gym and it’s so much fun going with them because we don’t feel bad beating up on the smaller people with our strength. Strength is never a weakness “except in bjj” lol

I was a 270lb power lifting purple belt (now I'm a 215lb black belt) in my 50s. I used to get the cries of it's just because you're big. To the point it stunted my development because I over compensated. At brown belt 2 stripes I really had to work on my pressure again! Great video Chewy!!

This has been my favorite video bro. I've been told so many times. It's ridiculous. I took it to heart and actively tried not to use strength at all but after some years doing this now I just bull through people and let it be.

I'm generally bigger than most people at my gym. (6'3 230lbs) I've heard this sentiment before and I must admit its conditioned me to go a little softer sometimes; and even give some positions to smaller opponents. I sometimes feel like if I use my strength too much people might start to think I'm a bit of a "rough" roll and avoid me. But I also feel like I give things up I should not be giving up sometimes.

When I started BJJ I weighed 90kg/ 198,416 pounds of pure muscle because I used to lift weights but then all my sparring partners said I only win because Im stronger, then I stopped lifting and only did cardio to cut my weight for the next 2 years but then I was prone to injury. I switched gyms where a far better coach explained to me the importance of strength training and encouraged me to lift weights again. I'm now on a mission to getting my strength back. If people don't want to loose to strong people,then they should get stronger themselves.

As a featherweight, the comments will never stop! Seriously though this is totally right. You're doing us small guys a disservice if you use 0 strength, it helps us learn to deal with our physical disadvantages and it helps you learn to utilize yours

My guard was passed during a drill because my partner said "hi five" and I instinctively put my hand up. He did not win for strength or technique...but through shear chad like strategy. I still think about that.

"You only won because you're stronger." Yep, and when I get told that I now just shrug and say "Get better then." It takes time to get stronger just like it takes time to get good at techniques. My strength is part of my technique. I'm not going to strop strength traing just so I spend extra time doing techniques. Thx again for the video. Always good insight.

I'm actually happy when they give me a back handed compliment, especially if it comes from tall guys who don't lift weights. I'm pretty tall and used to be pretty skinny, but at the moment I have years of compound lifts and weight Gainer shakes under my belt. I was not born big and strong.

6'7" currently 250lbs here and only about 9 month into my jiu jitsu journey. In my gym I've never been scolded for being to strong or heavy. I'd say I'm a hyper aware person, I try not to crush someone if they are smaller or it's no fun for anyone. The only thing I have been told from my Professor is "technique only" but only when I get paired up with a 120lb person and quite honestly he hasn't said it in more than a few months because I think he knows I won't crush a smaller person anyhow. Now, for the guys my size in my gym, they are going to get every ounce of pressure I can muster cause they are doing the same 🤣. Great topic Chewy!

Being a strong 5'9" 160 pounder, I appreciated when a really good 135 pound pro fighter on the smaller side of 135 didn't tell me I only could hold him down since I was strong but pointed out I gave him an energy he needed to be prepared for in his fights for when he fought technically inferior but substantially stronger guys. On the flip side, I appreciated the bigger stronger technically inferior guys because in them making me look bad technically they highlighted I wasn't as good as I thought I was in some positions; my ego wanted to blame them being a big strong spaz for making me look bad but the logical part of me reminded myself it just meant I wasn't good enough to reliably beat technically inferior bigger guys yet.

My wife and I had very different takes on this. When we roll together, I often think that (in order not to be a jerk and a good roll) I have to give up moves or positions when I make a technical mistake, even if I could muscle through. Her take is that there are technical answers to everything, and so she'd prefer that I do muscle through the mistake. It gives her new problems to solve.

Yep told a while ago. I just figured out how much to use when needed. And what I found was my timing improved by being more relaxed in strength because the technique improved

whenever I roll with a higher belt who is also strong, they use their strength and their skill.

I'm 6'3, 270 pounds and I just started BJJ about 2 months ago to try to lose weight and get in better shape. This was great to hear, since I get scared I'm using too much strength on smaller people. People at my gym have actually told me I should use more of my strength, so I haven't had the problem you were talking about, but I'm still trying to learn the right balance of when to apply certain amounts of strength, and I get worried I'm overdoing it sometimes. Also, congrats on 300k!

I get this a lot, as I'm sure a lot of stronger people do. I think it often translates to "stop being stronger than me when I try to use strength against you". It speaks volumes about their own technical deficits.

Absolutely SPOT ON . As always man 🤜🤛🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏💯💯💯💯💯...

Another fantastic video!

I dont like to use all my strength when I roll with women or smaller guys, especially when they're less experienced on top of the size difference. But demonizing a big grappler for using their size is kind of silly, not every person can play rubber guard and do all the flexible techniques that the smaller guys can pull off.

Wonderful perspective and video. Encouraging directing their strength more efficiently is far better than demonizing it! Also, Professor. Square the bottom of that beard. ❤️

Congrats on 300K Chewy!

My coach gave me the nickname Powerman... As he says I am 'Using my strength all the time. He never really defined it as much but did say that I need to rely on technique more. That when we are exhausted is the best time to roll... Now, after a knee injury which needs surgery, I am only rolling lightly and with a high degree of caution. Now I have no choice but to deal with my 'strength issue' in accordance to what he as actually meaning. Thanks Chewy, you da man. This adds to my understanding of what it means to use strength with a different take on it and concept explication.

i'm 6'4 225 lbs and nobody has told me not to use my strength yet. I've been training for 3 months and I have adopted the philosophy to just try and match the strength of my opponent. it allows me to practice my techniques like guard retention and passing on and weaker opponents, and then naturally i have to use much more strength against my larger and stronger training opponents. I have had people tell me i'm a great training partner already so i think it's a good philosophy.

Something else people don’t talk about regarding this…even though we’re told not to use our strength, the smaller guys always give us 150%. Im 6ft 255lbs with a decade of competitive powerlifting under my belt. Even though I go into a round relaxed and with the mindset to not overcompensate with strength, 90% of my training partners always rev their engines up with me. I get EVERYONE’S 150% effort like they feel the need to overcompensate against me despite them knowing I’m usually a big softie. So I developed poor habits from both ends. Anyone under 200lbs turns into Napoleon the second we bump hands-irrespective of how calm And casual I am. Im sure other big guys have experienced that as well.

39 year old 140 pound purple belt here. When sparring outside of hard competition sparring, I advocate for doing it in such a way that both partners improve. If I'm too strong and smashing someone during a 5-minute roll, I'll pump the brakes here and there so that they can work a bit of technique. During those types of rolls I'll also spend more time on new techniques.

Hey brotha I’m on the bigger side of my gym. I’m 6’ 270lbs and I can say I’ve never heard anyone say that to me in jiu jitsu but I have been told that when I was wrestling. Either way it doesn’t matter, we all have something that we were gifted and for me it’s my size and strength. Thanks for the video brotha and keep up the great work!

I’m an average sized female. At the end of the day, I’m training for self defense. An attacker isn’t going to back off of me and not use his strength. I appreciate my bigger, stronger training partners keeping my and my techniques honest. As long as they’re not intentionally injuring me, let’s roll!

I’m 5’7” around 160. I’m usually one of the smaller men in the gym. Does it suck going up against bigger, stronger opponents? Yes it can, especially when they have amazing technique. It’s a necessary part of the process. It also challenged me to up my strength and conditioning game.

THANKS CHEWY LOVE THE VIDEO!!! Ok, I'm one of the weird ones, I started training at the age of 34 after being a gym rat all my life. I'm 5'8" and 170-180 (Been training for almost 4 years 2 stripe blue belt), and I am very strong for my size. I am able to easily control small/middle opponents and give a really hard time for larger stronger opponents. You can only imagine how I started to role when I was a white belt, they would constantly tell me don't use your strength, and I would think in the back of my head, how the hell do I tell my muscles and body not do what they have been doing all their life and explode like they are used to. But, finally a Master Black belt (5th degree BJJ Black Belt - Great Man) gave me great advice; he said, in life always show your cards, be a nice person, but in jujitsu hide your cards, don't show your opponents what you are all about, hide your strength, use it in the right time, save it for the right moment, either to get out of danger or set-up/finish a submission. To this day I still have to purposely tell myself roll "lazy or light", focus on technique, but when I have to use my strength, I can explode and control. Its helped a lot but I have now embraced my strength and learned to use it in the right moments.

Chewey, thank you for keeping it classy and playful. Team first ! I'm a white belt with but 1 meager stripe to my name but I'm hooked. I have been told repeatedly that I'm strong and at 200 lbs and after years of crossfit, I'm glad it's true ! I don't want to inappropriately use my strength and hurt anyone BUT I also really don't like triangles and arm bars. I have noticed that the people who tell me not to use my strength completely take advantage of my decreased usage of it to plow me into various submissions. Also, when I have applied my strength to gain side control and nearly submit others I have experienced what Jocko calls 'death match level 9' whereby the friendly nonchalant higher belt turns feral on me for my insolence. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I've learned to roll with the people who believe that iron sharpens iron. They let me use my game and they use theirs, we leave emotion out of it and high five and talk after. I'm rambling. You're awesome. I bought a shirt. Thank you !

I’m 6ft5 an weigh around 240 pounds, and I’m training for 1 1/2 years. In the first six months I trained with a high level blue belt and I always got beaten( as expected) . He went on to stop consistently training bjj for a year, in that time I was training 4 time’s a week up until now. We rolled last week and I tapped him 3 times in a 5 min roll to witch he replied ,, Have you gotten bigger and stronger” witch I replied “yes” then he told me that was the reason I beat him

Needed this video chewy! I lift heavy to supplement my game and hate when people wanna criticize it. About a month ago an upper belt who also lifts complemented my on my form and strength in one sentence and I'm gonna ride that high as long as I can. I try not to smash lighter white belts but just because my strength makes a certain technique better for me doesn't make it not a valid technique.

Best video that you've made in a hot minute.

As I progress in my Big Jitsu journey (207 lbs, been training on and off for about 12 years) I have found that I need to use my strength when I need to use it. I use my strength to help manage my aging gas tank (I’m 37 years old rolling with early 20 year old monsters). The use of applied pressure no matter the position, has been key in my skills development.

I’m one of the lighter guys in my gym and I’ve always relied on speed and technique… The way I’ve started to look at rolling with way bigger & stronger guys is it’s encouraging me to also get stronger. Hopefully my technique will encourage the bigger & stronger guys to get more technical. Encourage growth, don’t deny your positives!

I'm 6'1" and currently 250. My game is all messed up right now because I've been working on using as little strength as possible while rolling with smaller (90% of my) training partners. I've been working on using my strength and weight when I need it but it's a long road to unlearn bad habits

Thank you for this video. Experienced this a lot as a 300 pound powerlifter.

Great video.

I'm a light guy, 135 pounds and I totally agree with your point of view. As a beginner I'd get frustrated if some big guy just benchpressed me out of side control, but in the long run it made me better. Big guys are the main reason light guys get so technical at jiu jitsu!

Oh, man. As an elite powerlifter who is also on the cusp of blackbelt- I have dealt with these crappy "compliments" forever. I used to get really bothered by it. But at this point my response to "wow, you're really strong!" if usually something like "thanks, you could be too if you worked at it". I don't ask super flexible guys not to use their flexibility on me. Strength is a SKILL that takes a lot of effort to develop. If anything, hey, you're welcome that you have to train to deal with my strength. So when it happens in a tournament or real life, you have prepared some. Guys like big Rich at your school, guys like me- we are out there.

Smallish person here (5'7" 175lbs). I am by no means obese but definitely not shredded. I work out 6 days a week with a solid mix of strenght training and cardio. However, I enjoy pizza and an evening cocktail or 2. Lol. I try to roll with everyone that I wont think will injury me. I dont think the problem is strength but mass. For example, if I train with a female that I have 40lbs on, I will go out of my way not to use strength, pressure, or speed. I will do my best to let them work but they tend to have a hard time and I promise it isnt because I am that good. In fact, if a purple belt called me mediocre, I would take it as a massive compliment. Lol On the other hand, about 3 months ago, we were doing positional sparing drills from side control and a guy (about 6'4" lean 270ish lbs) came in for his 1st class. At one point we were partnered up. While I was on bottom, I could escape because he didnt understand pressure but it wasnt easy. When we switched and I was on top, I felt like it was my first day. He was so big that he could just bench-press me off. I tried to get clever with different positioning and couldnt do anything to him. It was like trying to move a boulder. At one point I grabbed his arm but couldnt move it at all because it was as big as my leg. Im not making excuses. Im sure if I was technically better, I might be able to do something. However, physics is still a thing. We have a white belt that wrestled in HS. His BJJ techique isnt the cleanest but his he knows how to use his size (over 6ft 230ish lbs lean) and power so well, I have never been able to do anything to him and our competitive purple and brown belts struggle.

You hit the nail on the head!!! I’ve been saying this for Bout 4 years now of my 9 years of training. Nobody asks the smaller guy to be less fast, or the flexible guy to be less flexible, or the guy with D1 wrestling to not use such a strong base. We only tell Big Strong guys to not use strength or size. However, if this were a world championship fight, nobody would be mad at the guy throwing up a fast armbar and breaking the grips using strength to win the gold. Nobody. I have had countless guys get mad that i’m just using size and strength. And then I end up rolling like a dead fish cause you don’t wanna offer too much resistance. Its ok for them to feel good about their roll, but not the bugger guy. I am all against powering through everything. But you can have power and technique. They are not enemies of each other. I’ve had people tell me that stupid “you only beat me cause you’re big” line and i simply respond that if they would like I could stop holding back and show them what I could actually do. There needs to be a neutral area where everybody brings their skills to the table and we are able to train with all of them. Not just “you do less so I can feel better about my Platypus Guard”

I have heard it for years. I am 5’7” and used to be pretty solid at 220 and now I’m 170 and lean and in good shape. Since I’ve lost the weight I’ve found myself getting tossed to the side by taller/heavier people and saying the things that used to get said to me. I had to check myself and like you said in the video, just get better.

The analogy with flexibility, cardio and such is a great point.

I’m smaller and I’m a girl and I don’t have a problem with them using strength as long as it’s with technique and they are not rag dolling me. I think it’s fine to use strength as long as you don’t go too overboard on your opponent based on what they can take.

I'm smaller and don't complain when the big dudes use their strength. However, I've noticed that their progress is much slower than those who focus more on technique because the weaker people have to. One of my teammates bench presses people off mount, but the rest of his game is hug and pray.

I'm a two month white belt 245 lbs and lift weights religiously. Most of the people at my gym are smaller than me. I always hear to "match strength with your training partner" right before time gets put up for sparring. The coach also always finishes with saying that you don't owe an explanation to anyone you don't want to roll with (which is very true). I've heard from people after class that they really like rolling with me because they can't use their strength as a crutch because I am stronger than them. That being said, when I roll I focus on not gassing out and conserving strength for only when I need it and just chilling tf out because I use more oxygen to feed my muscles than smaller training partners. This video and all of your others are awesome and I really appreciate the advice. Thank you 🙏

Dude lol I TOTALLY AGREE ! I’m 5’9 210 and pretty darn strong if I may say so , I’ve been told that constantly ! But sometimes you have to explode and I’ve really used it to my advantage in most cases , the bottom line is use our strength at the right time , we should always be in 1st to 3rd gear , but sometimes we need to open it up to 5th or 6th gear 💪💪💪

As a smaller guy, and an "upper belt," I find that the most common advice that I give lower belts is "Dude, you're a big guy. Use the earth to your advantage." The look of horror, then understanding is nearly universal... And, I have fairly often heard "Dude, you're too flexible." "I can't break your grips." "Wow, you're fast." "How are you breathing so easily?..."

I’m 6ft 225 pounds.. I’ve been training Ju Jitsu for 5 years.. when I first started, I was around 245 pounds.. I would always get told that I use my strength too much.. 5 years on I still get ah “you’re just too strong”.. there are times when you really need to turn it on and use your strength in unison with technique when you’re up against a more advanced or stronger opponent. Strength in my opinion is vital to your training and compliments the ‘gentle art’ … there is a difference between applied aggressive strength and strength that is applied with controlled force.. I agree with you CHEWY, advise on how to use your strength.. and when! Thanks for this , I can relate and took some good info from this. 👊🏾

Yesterday one of my professors gave me great advice about using my strength. I'm relatively new to BJJ and have been training for just under a month. We were working on transitioning from butterfly to side control and the advice I got was to conserve my strength and use technic instead for the particular drill we were doing so that I don't gas my self out. I found that after making the changes I was able to calm myself down and work much easier

Ah, Chewie. I love that you are saying this. I've had people get mad at me. I just respond with, "Well, it's just because I'm so bad at B.J.J.... I have to use strength..." Usually lightens the mood.😄

i felt this video. It was such an aggravating thing that i began taking it as a compliment. I also seek out the largest, strongest, best partners i can so that i do not have to deal with these excuses and can really go with someone where my strength will ultimately not matter.

My coach has told me similar but has never been backhanded about it. I’m about 200lbs and decently strong as I’ve been lifting for years. Rather than telling me “Don’t use your strength” my coach has always pointed out the idea of me “fighting” too hard, trying to power out of things rather than keeping calm and remembering what I know, it’s been a big help for maintaining my own energy when rolling and actually practicing technique rather than trying to music my way out of every situation, and the lessons have stuck with me even when rolling with similarly skilled classmates who aren’t as strong as me

wow, I like your outlook on it. You're right, we don't demonize great cardio, flexibility, speed, etc. only strength. Interesting.

Im 235. Pretty solid. And I’m pretty strong compared to guys my size. Ive been tol to not use my strength, and didn’t understand why until lately. My coach basically said the same thing you did. So now im working to channel and project that energy and power.

I’m about 170 and have been told I was strong or getting stronger as a compliment in the gym. Sometimes I’ve heard or said (about myself) to use more technique over strength, but I’ve also been told to use my strength to my advantage where it isn’t hindering someone else’s learning

I needed this

I keep getting ‘use your attributes!’ Meaning weight advantage but then hasn’t told me exactly how 😂 I always feel like I should try technical things on lighter people rather than flopping onto them and using too much pressure

I am the big guy at the gym, never being told not to use strength, but i have learned to use it more efficiently, which help me to improve my technique, and to use my stamina property... i think we always have to seek the perfect technique to use perfectly the strength... at the beginning of my journey i used to get exhausted faster because use too much strength and less technique, but now I use more efficiently my energy and strength which have made me more confident with my game and resist the classes until the end

I'm new on my journey and don't have many skills. Strength is one of my main assets right now. I read on some forums and pages about not going too hard so I tried to reduce how much strength I used during rolling and I found it helped but then I moved cities and went to a new club with bigger, stronger guys than my last but I arrived with the same attitude of trying not to use strength. As these guys were bigger and stronger and I don't have the defensive skills yet, I ended up getting put in bad positions, regularly being mounted and submitted. Because I wasn't exerting much, I became passive both mentally and physically and kind of didn't care for the outcome and the outcome was usually me tapping out quickly. I didn't have the desire to win. But then I realised that these guys are using strength on me and they're not necessarily stronger than me so I've recently reintroduced it into my game and I'm enjoying rolling again and that fire in my belly is alive once more

Hello from germany :) im 5'8 and 133 lbs. My coach told me at the beginning, after he roll with me a couple of times, i should do less strengh and more tech. Maybe because i was gassing out very quickly. But im not a big and strong guy, so i try it and after a couple of months i can see a really big difference between me and the big, strong guys in the gym. i beat them because i understand better "how much/when" i have to use "strength" (im not strong...) and because i concentrate on understanding how to apply the tech. Liebe Grüße

I feel this. I am usually the heaviest person in class at around 240-250 but I'm not particularly strong compared to someone who lifts regularly; I'm just strong compared to someone who has a smaller frame and weights 50-100 lbs less than I do. I never wanted to be that guy who was big and accidentally dangerous but I think I have swung too far the other way. I have people tell me I need to be more active and explosive or I'm just going to keep getting worked by everyone but it is hard to find that balance.

I have to say that I'm a strong woman, started BJJ 6 months ago, and in the beginning I was using strength in the wrong times, and I was hurting myself A LOT. I remember asking feedback to the guys from the gym, and they said I was doing just fine, because they are use to using strength and my strength is still less then theirs. But I had the issue of hurting myself for months (neck, chest, back..) and it just changed with the help of a WOMAN instructor that has been training now with me and helping me to use my strength wisely, in the right time, and also to be more relaxed.. and only after this, the injuries went away. And to be honest, I just love to be strong haha I think everybody does. :) Thanks for the video!!

Amen brother.

I'm a fairly fresh white belt and when I started, my coach told me I use too much strength. Now I weigh about 62kg - not super strong, but stronger than my size let's show. However he did it in a way that made me more conscious of when I used strength. Thanks for making great videos!

I’m 6’4” lean 210 LB former collegiate track and field athlete that’s been doing BJJ for a few months. I’m not the heaviest, but because of my athletic background I’m probably the 3rd strongest person in the studio. I’ve watched multiple videos about how to be a good training partner & decided I would only use full strength for grips, defense, & pressure. Offensively I only use 50-80% & I try to make sure sweeps are 90% leverage. It’s actually make me far more conscious while I’m rolling and rapidly improved my technical abilities.

Use the guideline...."While training, give what you get". Try to give the amount of strength you receive..... :o)

I'm in the middle of the road. 6'2, 170, lean and athletic but not overly strong or weak. I train with mostly 200+ guys. I love it because when I get into a match, people in my weight class feel so small comparatively. But I'm experienced and sturdy enough that I don't worry overly much about injury. I think you're spot on that strong people need to be taught how to train in both roles. I know when I roll with the 95-pound woman in the room, that I need to dial back my pressure and my squeeze and focus more on flowing and taking positions and letting her fight out of subs so I can work on responding to those bad positions. When I roll with the 215 purple belt wrestler, I can turn it up and grind and force positions and physically resist on sweeps and stuff. Big dudes are often only taught one or the other, and it makes them problematic training partners for half of the room. It's on coaches to help them learn and grow in both roles.

I was taught by Saulo that a big man that uses only strength doesn’t truly know jiu jitsu. However, a big man that learned how to use technique and blend the strength in was unstoppable. I did not understand this for a long time. Saulo was right. At 6 ft tall and 260 lbs and after 28 years in jiu jitsu. I can roll lightly with the light weights and roll like a bear when required. You are correct in saying that it is on the instructor’s to teach the student how to direct their strength.

Chewy I’m 220 pounds 57 years old purple belt with pretty good technique but with a whole lot of strength helps me get out of a lot of bad situations with some high-level black belts❤

I'm a 6'2" 290-300lbs blue belt and I was never told to NOT use my strength or weight because I wanted to be technical and fast and nimble for a big guy. This has helped me take people by surprise a couple of times because I'm faster or more nimble than they expected but this is at the cost of getting tired a lot faster as I'm doing this with a lot more weight. I've been told to use more weight and spurts of strength to secure positions and to wear out my partners so I can conserve energy and be able to roll more rounds. I do BJJ for the joy of learning and as a hobby so I just don't want anyone to get hurt by my weight. On the flip side, I believe not using strength or weight in a safe manner is a disservice to smaller and lighter people as they don't get to see if their techniques will work against someone bigger and/or stronger than them which is crucial for self-defense. When smaller people try to choke me, I try to use just enough strength to prevent the choke and ramp up if I am able to either delay or get out of the choke while working on my escape so they know that they may need to work on their choke or try something else against someone bigger and/or stronger than themselves in a true self-defense situation.

Right on!!!

I’ve absolutely heard to not use my speed or cardio.. the only time it was ok was comp training. I was actually going to write you and ask about the duality.

As a little guy 5’2 130, I never cared. I love randori/rolling. I am collecting data and learning your patterns. Plus, if I were to cry about others using their strengths…it’s like people saying to me “you’re so fast” …what? Okay. I’ll stop using my speed.

The fact that this video was released yesterday 23.05.2022 is insane to me. I was just speaking with my wife about this earlier this morning. I am 29, 299 lbs White Belt, and i have been doing BJJ for 5-6 months now. I have been doing Fighting Sports since i was 3 (Karate for 13 years, American Football for 4 years, Muay Thai for 4 years) and of course weighlifting since i was like 14-15 years old. I have literally lost count of the amount of times that people had backhandedly told me "oh you're JUST too Big/Strong/Thick/etc.." or "You're using your weight/strength too much" , in those 5-6 months I have been doing BJJ. It literally drives me up a wall, because i am not asking anyone to roll slower or tighter or less flexible or less smart with me. When I roll with an actually good, emphasis on the good, Purple, Brown & Black belts, they have absolutely no problem finding their ways around me and dealing with me and my weight and strength. And i know i am not a "spazy white belt", not just because i think so, but because thats what i have been also told by my instructors and class mates. Just yesterday (same date as this video was made), a more experienced 231 lbs white belt (4 stripes) was rolling with me for the 1st time and i could literally see his face darken as he couldnt move around me like he wanted, and after submitting him, he gave me the same comment all the lightweights give "you're just too big and strong man". Felt like bitting him on the forehead honestly 😂Seriously bro ? you're 230 lbs, why cant it be that i just did a good job this round ? The class continued with 2 Blue Belts and 1 Purple Belt refusing to roll with me because they were "resting" this round, but then proceeded to roll with someone else and 1-2 Blue Blets who just refused to make any eye contact with me when picking up partners and acted as if i didnt exist even though i was looking straight at them and waving (299 lbs in a blue gi fly on the wall apparently). I totally agree with everything you said in the video, especially about the part where we need to learn to us our weight for when we compete against other big bois. I am entering my first competion this coming Saturday 28.05.2022, and I honestly have no idea how it actually feels to have a big guy put me in a bad position + i realized, that like you said with your student, while i do have very good pressure from side control, my pressure sucks from mount, because i am always worried about the guy below when rolling which is further amplified by all those "back handed comments". I think moving forward ill just try my best to use my weight and strength appropriately and just have a "To hell with it" attitude for now. Thanks again, apologies for the extra long comment. Have a great day everyone.

I was never asked to tone down my strength or don't be strong but it was suggested to me that I learn more Juijitsu while I was in class. I was bad to get to side control and camp out till the bell. My coach told me that as big as I am and knowing what little I know that I could make things difficult for most people and that I would be better if I started working on other aspects of the art. Ever since I have started 90% of rolls on my back so that I could work from where I am lacking. Being strong I still have to work balance and leverage to get a sweep. And when I roll with purple, brown,or black belts it's very obvious they understand those principles much better than I do.

Alright this is so true, I’m currently in the UFC. I was always told to be technical and never use my strength. Well I did that , I am a great roll for little guys but now I’m getting stomped out by grapplers in the ufc. And I just started rolling with guys around my size, that are just as technical as I am but they beat me left and right because they use their strength and know how to use it. It was a little guy that got on my ass about holding back last week that kinda open my eyes and he said, “ all these dude are big and they don’t hold on me and why should you?” There is still a lot for me to learn.

My old KungFu instructor use to say to think of your training partner as 500# of pure muscle, That way you thought of your movements instead of your muscle. There is always someone larger than you and if you are used to using your strength with small people you will try you use it with big people. The larger person has the advantage with the same skill. I learned so much that when I moved to BJJ 8yrs ago I was able to hit the floor moving. And because I'm lazy I became a target opportunist. I said thank you for what was given and left what was too much work, I'm an older and weaker fella too at 49. So being smart is key.

Old martial artists talked about "skill and technique", which they defined as physical abilities (speed, strength, limb conditioning, cardio, etc.) and technical application of their martial art (strikes, takedowns, submissions, etc.). These are obviously complimentary, but the idea was to learn how to use both together, not give up your advantage. I'm constantly paired up against bigger, stronger, and faster opponents, which just means I have to focus really hard on my technique (and guess what? You can improve technique way faster)

In general, my approach to other people using strength was always “I’m not training to beat Strong people who are going easy on me” and my approach to smaller training partners is technical but gradual application of pressure

I actually just recently hit a very technical sweep that I’ve been working on for months on someone who is naturally smaller than me because I’m a big guy. The first thing he said was, “You’re just so strong!” I used zero strength past what was required because I have been working the details of that sweep for so long now. I also have an issue with using my strength against other strong people because I’m so used to just not using any strength at all and almost babying people in that aspect. When it comes time to not baby anyone and to really go at it, I’m not as comfortable because it’s not what I do every day.

I've definitely noticed myself really holding back and losing dominant position because of it. As a lower belt it's tough to know when it's ok to power through. I do notice however, for smaller folks it's pretty normal to see them use everything they have to maintain position or submission attempts.

Thanks to Chewjitsu for posting this. I've been training for 18 years and am 6'1" 220. When a training partner says I'm strong or heavy I usually laugh and ask if they are trying to say something about my technique. Sometimes I tell them about my time training with a technical dude who outweighed me by 100lbs. I would encourage any big dudes reading this to seek out reps with other big guys, especially if they are equal or more technical.

I'm fresh back into martial arts 130kg strong but unfit, the gym I am at is nothing but encouraging, given my strength I hear from my coaches a little bit of refining on my technique and I will be unstoppable. Though I never want to put my weight on my rolling partners, to the point now I kind of imagine them about 10mm bigger than they are and stop myself "crushing" them. I worry that using my weight will leave me in short supply of willing partners or not allow me to refine my skills as my weight lets me get away with it. Though it's gotten to the point where by some of my partners they are coaching me how to apply my weight. Encouraging me to put it on them especially amongst the better guys (higher belts etc) which is the majority and just makes me feel like not only am I getting better but so are they by moving/escaping me Though some guys just don't want to roll actively refusing unless they are fresh. Or as for the first time I've ever heard of in my life someone actually just changed partners on my halfway through just grabbed someone else and started rolling with them halfway through a round. That was a pretty sucky moment. Not one I expected. I worry about two things, firstly if I take their advice, will I eventually end up with no partners who want to roll. And secondly if I don't when I finally compete with someone my size I won't know what to or how to properly apply the pressure. So what to do? How do I strike a balance and keep people wanting to roll while getting better myself?

6'1 Powerlifter at 205, I can Deadlift 515lbs, I've been told almost at every single gym by several people not to use strength at all, and yea, it definitely hindered my ability, and recently I've been trying to learn when to use it and when not to, now I try to focus on being a Boa Constrictor, fast to wherever I need to go and strong, but then methodically slow steady squeeze when I get there

My gym I go to has perfect way of dealing with this. Live drill the strong guys wear them out until str is not an option. I’m an ex power lifter strongest for my weight and in my training classes but my coaches live drill me knacker me out until I’m gasping then they get the lighter guys against me in turn start making me panic therefore using technique because my str is sapped giving the lighter guy options because I can’t explode or brute my way out. A year in and now I pace myself use str in certain positions being safe for both of us

I’m 240 and 6’8 been told not to use my strength and felt bad for it. But at the same time my couch has been the one to tell me to use it more and when. Couldn’t agree more it’s to know when and where to use it.

Im a 155-160lb brown belt and I've noticed over the years big dudes 200+ and how they roll based on belt and experience. Strong white belts to purple into brown can be out of control with weight distribution sometimes and that's where accidents happen (I got a broken pinky and a f'd up neck from this) Great thought Chewy on telling strong guys to use their strength in x whatever spot in whatever situation. But amazingly I've had the pleasure to roll with some big dudes at black belt and it feels almost effortless for them to sweep me and what not, sometimes they were moving so lightly like a light weight. But these same big black belts turn it on against big guys too. I guess with time and experience they really get that ability to gauge their training partners.

I think in my specific case i’ve always dealt with being heavier than most so in a way I’ve had to watch how much pressure I put on my people smaller than me when playing around as a kid. as an adult this translated to struggling with putting pressure on people in wrestling and jui jitsu over fear being too heavy on top until i realized it’s just what I need to do. I have a better understanding of my own body too and how to apply strength/weight properly

Yes, I’ve been told this many times. I just figure, I’ll use my advantages and you can use yours.

Love this