Whether you’re just starting out training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) or a season trainer, here are the top 10 tips that should be on the radar for any tall person doing BJJ.
What are the top 10 tips for taller people doing BJJ to consider?
- Basics of Position
- Height & Weight
- Flexibility
- Grips
- Throws
- Chokes
- Takedowns
- Defence
- Escape
- Observe The Best
These tips will specifically apply to people on the taller side and offer the key types of submissions and take-downs amongst other advice to ensure you have these tips in your back pocket next time you hit the mats.
#1 Basics of Position
The key number one tip for any tall person in BJJ is to get your basics of position down. These basics not only protect you but win and win big. It’s very simple but as a tall person in BJJ it is important that you master your basics, your base is where it’s going to get difficult so be prepared.
#2 Height & Weight
As mentioned above, your height and weight are an asset when competing against other people. Make sure you are using them to your advantage, utilize your long limbs. They can get you out of a lot of trouble in BJJ. Remember to keep your arms close, get your elbows in and use your weight, not muscle and leverage.
#3 Flexibility
In order to complement your height, it is important to be very flexible in BJJ. If you are tall and flexible this will make you extremely dangerous. The more flexible you are the easier you can manoeuvre around your opponent. This will allow for you to utilize your long limbs by wrapping them around your opponent.
#4 Grips
As a tall person it’s important to focus on the correct grip that is more beneficial to your frame that will give you more power. The idea grip for a tall person would be the top grip as it will be an easier grip for you naturally rather than sleeve grip. Be mindful though that this grip may leave you open with an opponent attacking with an ogoshi.
#5 Throws
This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the throws that a taller fighter should focus on in BJJ. The most effective throws for a taller person would be the Darai Goshi, Ouchi Gari and Osoto Gari throws so if you are not already familiar try to get familiar and comfortable with these types of throws.
#6 Chokes
A strong choke technique in BJJ as a taller fighter can be a real game changer. If you’re starting out in BJJ you are probably familiar with the Cross Choke. This is likely the choke you can master faster than many of the other chokes. As a taller fighter, the cross choke is probably the most powerful and versatile choke you can use.
The cross choke has several benefits one being the fact that it can be applied from a variety of different positions. Some of those include full mount, side control, knee on belly, bottom half guard, top half guard, and when someone is in your closed guard.
You can use the choke very successfully from top or bottom. If you are more of a guard fighter, the best place for you to use your cross choke is going to be from the closed guard, you can also apply this choke with great success from the half guard.
#7 Takedowns
When training BJJ, it is essential for a taller fighter to have some useful takedown techniques in their toolbox. The key takedowns to be familiar with are as follows:
Double Leg Takedown
Despite there being many ways to do the double leg takedown in BJJ, each version shares the basic points. You need to bend at the knees to change level while your head contacts the outside of their hip. Then push your shoulder into the stomach of your opponent, grab both their legs behind their knees and forcefully pull on them to break their balance. This is a useful takedown and one which we advise for any fighters on the taller side so they can utilize their power and height.
Single Leg Takedown
An alternative is the single leg takedown, the difference being the single leg takedown is done with your head on the hip, rather than the outside of the opponent. Your shoulder will also be hitting the hip rather than the stomach in the double leg takedown.
In this takedown, once you secure your opponents’ legs, you drive forward and stand up quick. Their leg will be caught between yours, so you step back with your outside legs in a circular way. This will cause your opponent to fall into the space you’ve created. As a taller fighter, if you can get good at the single leg takedown in BJJ this will really benefit your being able to use your great advantage of your legs.
#8 Defence
The takedowns above (double/single leg) have a few things in common in that you need to change levels, get hold of the person’s leg and keep your head up.
Then circle to create the force required to take them down. Because they have this in common, defending against them is very similar. This is called sprawling and is all about denying your opponent what is necessary to complete their takedown before they get hold of your legs. As a tall fighter, to do this you would drop your hips, moving your legs back and away, lowering your weight and using your hands to push down on their head. This will help to hold up any finish or takedown from your opponent.
When the spawl defence is mastered, this will give the opponent no choice but to abandon their shot and assume the all fours position.
#9 Escape
Another important part of BJJ if you’re a tall fighter is the escape. Two escapes that are valuable to know are the Sit Through Escape and Switch Escape.
Sit Through Escape
So, let’s say you’ve shot for a double leg and single leg takedown and your opponent has sprawled and you’re stuck in the turtle position. The best escape would be to sit through. As the sprawl is the go-to counter to takedowns, the sit through is the counter to the sprawl.
First, you get your head out from under your opponent and get your ear against their hip. Then, you step your foot forward on that same side and get your knee off the mat. Finally, you post up on your opposite side arm and kick your other leg through to slide out from under your adversary and create an entirely new angle you can use to finish your takedown or attack their back as they are now in the turtle, with you beside them in a strong attack position.
Switch Escape
Let’s say your opponent has hugged you around the body and has moved behind you. Now you’re in the perfect position to be thrown with a suplex. So, you need some way to defend yourself, but you can’t pummel since your opponent is behind you.
The best escape to this is called the switch. Again, you need to create separation between your hips and your opponents. But, since you’re facing away from them, this means you are moving forward while bending backwards. Also, you push down on their hands as if you’re trying to take off a pair of jeans. Once you create enough space, you reach back and grab under one of their knees, then drop your bottom to the mat. This creates enough force to break their grip and allows you to escape and take their back. From there, you better do your next move in a hurry or they’ll use the switch on you.
#10 Observe the Best
Finally, as with any sport, it’s always beneficial to watch professionals or masters in your sport at the highest level. In the case of taller BJJ fighters, it would be beneficial to watch videos of fighters such as Pacek and Fortier as these guys are tall guys mastering BJJ at the highest level. Through observing you will be able to take away your own tips and tricks which are being performed by tall fighters at the highest level.
Advantages and Disadvantages
In BJJ like other sports, there are advantages and disadvantages that arise with your natural height and weight. Taller people in BJJ will have lengthier and potentially more dangerous arms and legs at their disposal. This could mean being able to trap an opponent from a further distance. Being taller, you are also able to sink in chokes and control your back easier.
As for the disadvantages, well being on the taller side will certainly make it difficult to squeeze your body parts into difficult areas and positions. Other notable disadvantages would include having a larger neck to attack and being potentially slower in your takedowns.
There you have it, the top ten tips for taller people doing BJJ, I hope these tips are helpful for you to take your BJJ to the next level.