Thoughts on being thin/slender vs. muscular in jiu jitsu

[lates85]

I'm sure this topic has been brought up in a thread before.....many times...especially about size. I know it usually comes down to flexibity, repetition, talent, etc. but I was hoping to get opinions on how people perceive being skinny and maybe a little bit muscular compared to someone who is shredded and big when doing jiu jitsu. It seems to me that people who are skinnier or slim like eddie bravo and don't have much muscle mass have better technique and it's easier for flexibility. Do any of you find an advantage to being really muscular besides having a good base for wrestling and muscling/powerhousing moves on people? and i'm mainly talking about flexibility, guard and technique. are there many people who are muscular that don't always wind up on top and have a sick game like rousimar palhares?? he is one of the only ones to me that looks like a gorilla and just has sick technique. i could note people that are names and fighters like werdum and palahares like i did but was wondering if anyone on the forum has any insight (those guys are fighters too i'm speaking soley for jitsu). I feel i'm pretty muscular and focus on lifting weights and cardio to get big but stay in condition a lot but was wondering if it would be more of an advantage for technique to just be slim to help with flexibility, stretching and obviously endurance would come into play...you know having that "runners" type of body to have a great jiu jitsu game for amplified techniques. thoughts? has anyone ever transitioned from being skinny doing jiu jitsu to/from being muscular (still in shape) and noticed a difference in how they compete/practice?

[Eric Perez]

Bigger is always better

[Enrique "Kiko"]

It never hurts to have attributes. Strength, power, aerobic and anaerobic cardio, flexibility, timing, sensitivity etc...If you're going to compete, just figure out what the best weight class is for you and be the most conditioned guy you can be for that division.

[zoraiz]

I think the only possible disadvantages of getting big would be that it would be a time investment, but its something that still pays off. As long as you still drill and make an effort to get better technically i see no harm in get ripped

[prowess]

I've gotten completely dominated by people of many bodytypes... it's all about knowing what's best for you... that being said, if the tops of all weight classes fought each other, heavyweights would likely win lol.

[Enrique "Kiko"]

if the tops of all weight classes fought each other, heavyweights would likely win lol.

+1
/agree

[Eric Martinez]

much agreed. how often are the winners of absolutes smaller.

[Mike Broe]

I am completely the smaller guy in almost every sparring session, but my lankiness and flexibility are actually a godsend sometimes.

It really only matters how dedicated you are, and how much you are in love with jiu jitsu. It's corny to say, but look at the gracie family...or the modern day Eddie Bravo or Marcelo Garcia.

I love being lanky, and honestly try to stretch over lifting weights.

Look at it this way: Which is more impressive? Gogoplata from Invisible Collar.....or ude garame from side control.

[Ehsan_Karam]

Long legs are a mo fo however.

[Louis Hermann]

Why not not both, very muscular thin people are all over the place and typically come from sports like gymnastics and parkour. They have absurd amounts of explosive strength that they don't have to try for.