Small Guy's bottom game - Hillary or other pros (Page 1) - Pros and Joes

1 Topic by Rob 2010-05-10 11:28:39

Rob
New Blue
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Registered: 2010-04-08
Posts: 32

Topic: Small Guy's bottom game - Hillary or other pros

Hi there. I'm a 5'7, 145 lbs, blue belt. I'm pretty much the lightest guy in my gym. Due to my size I find myself playing bottom a lot (not by choice ). I know that as a blue belt I should try not to focus on a specific game but I'm just curious if a specific guard is better suited for light guys to work with? For example I noticed that Marcelo Garcia seems to work a lot of butterfly and x-guard from the bottom when he fights bigger guys.

Is this just a matter of preference or does the butterfly guard work better let say than closed guard, for example, against heavier and bigger guys?

Just curious for your thoughts, please. Thanks.

2 Reply by sergio 2010-05-11 14:11:28

sergio
Draculino Purple Belt
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Re: Small Guy's bottom game - Hillary or other pros

WELL I'M A BIG GUY MYSELF SO I FIND MYSELF FIGHTING ALOT FROM THE TOP. (BY CHOICE. LOL) BUT I THINK I CAN HELP. I LOVE WHEN GUYS TRY AND WORK WITH A CLOSED GUARD OR HALF GUARD. IT ALLOWS ME TO PUT ALOT OF WEIGHT ON THEM AND TIRE THEM OUT THEN PASS. AND I DONT LIKE IT SO MUCH WHEN PEOPLE USE SPIDER/BUTTERFLY/OPEN GUARD WHILE CONTROLLING MY SLEEVES. DOESNT ALLOW ME TO PLAY MY GAME OR USE MY WEIGHT AS I WOULD LIKE. HOPE I HELPED CLEAR SOME THINGS UP. AT LEAST FROM MY POINT OF VIEW AS A BIG GUY.

3 Reply by Rob 2010-05-13 13:38:59

Rob
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Re: Small Guy's bottom game - Hillary or other pros

Sergio, thanks for the tip. Good to hear a big guy's point of view as well.

4 Reply by sergio 2010-05-13 13:41:44

sergio
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Re: Small Guy's bottom game - Hillary or other pros

Rob wrote:

Sergio, thanks for the tip. Good to hear a big guy's point of view as well.

no problem. good luck

5 Reply by serge 2010-05-17 20:04:13

serge
White Belt
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Re: Small Guy's bottom game - Hillary or other pros

Ok, I am not a pro but I love sweeping and have been adapting my guard game throught the years:

white belt: learn all the sweeps from closed guard and spider guard.

blue belt: learn de la riva and butterfly, half guard.

If you want a good x-guard, you need to be able to switch from DLR, butterfly and half guard effortlessly.

I do not think that butterfly guard works better on bigger guys than closed guard.

It has to do more with the techniques available i that Marcelo uses when he compete in Nogi.

Does anyone knows if Marcelo changes his strategy and guard in gi competition?

6 Reply by Vinicius Magalhaes 2010-05-18 01:19:13

Vinicius Magalhaes
4th Degree Black Belt
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Registered: 2010-04-05
Posts: 78

Re: Small Guy's bottom game - Hillary or other pros

Hi there. I'm a 5'7, 145 lbs, blue belt. I'm pretty much the lightest guy in my gym. Due to my size I find myself playing bottom a lot (not by choice sad ). I know that as a blue belt I should try not to focus on a specific game but I'm just curious if a specific guard is better suited for light guys to work with? For example I noticed that Marcelo Garcia seems to work a lot of butterfly and x-guard from the bottom when he fights bigger guys.

It is a normal thing that yo will be on the bottom. Being light, that is the way it is. It is hard to say but my tip will be open guard, more towards the foot on the hip and spider. By knowing your body tipe, exactly like mine, that is my tip.

Is this just a matter of preference or does the butterfly guard work better let say than closed guard, for example, against heavier and bigger guys?
Just curious for your thoughts, please. Thanks.

Depends on a lot of factors. You will learn that in BJJ there is no exact science...normally, the open guard, as I said, is a way that brings more options for you and less possibility of the heavier guy to put the weight.

Last edited by Vinicius Magalhaes (2010-05-18 01:20:47)