The Right Mindset when Rolling With Stronger People in BJJ

Frustration leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. Frustration is a path to the dark-side.

When he said "frustration leads to anger..." I thought he was about to go into a master Yoda quote lol

I'm a 5'11 240lb brown belt and I have a few guys that purposely want me to grind them into the mat - It's hilarious. But they want that intensity to learn how to survive pressure. It helps them in competition training. After one of our purple belts (145lbs) just came in 2nd in the Absolutes he told me that it was my pressure that taught him how to survive and win! Quite often I will pause and tell them what would work to get me off them. It can be a win-win scenario if we keep our egos in check. Of course I have some big young guns that take it to me too:)

I'm one of the only girls at my gym (5' 6" 144lbs), so I get pressed daily lol. I'm thankful for that, because 3 months in when I competed in my first competition I got first🥇!! It makes you better, my training is way harder than when I compete at my weight class. I also have to rely on technique over strength 100% of the time. So be thankful!!!

I'm guilty of this and I'm a purple belt who's been training for 10 years. Just recently I got really frustrated with a blue belt who was twice my size, an MMA guy, and he was shoving me into the wall. I lost it but realised it was mainly my ego to blame. I should have taken that as an opportunity to calm myself and practice my game. Thanks for this vid!

laughs in 4'8" and 108 lbs.

I weigh 196lbs and there is a guy I roll with after every class at least once. He’s at least 300lbs and can rag doll me whenever he wants. I go in with the mind set that I know he’s going to dominate me but I figure if I can survive him I can survive anyone. A couple days ago I finally got a sweep on him. And yesterday I sunk in a RNC. He told me after the roll that my technique has gotten much better and that’s why I got the sub

I was one of the bigger guys in our gym back in my hometown (6'0 205). It frustrated me to no end that a lot of guys I rolled with would say "the only reason why you got me is because you are bigger." Completely demoralizing when you work hard to learn new techniques and then get shit on because you are just bigger. They didn't take in to account that I trained harder and longer then they did. When bigger guys than me were in the gym beat me it never crossed my mind that they got me because they were bigger/stronger. They caught me because I made a mistake.

Thanks for this. Great reminder to relax and not turn a battle with Goliath into an ego match. I'm still learning to expand my definition of "patience".

“360 of soiled dude sitting on top of me” Chewy-2017

Always Great Advice Chewy! (just to dovetail on it)...as a white belt myself, I always find time in the class to go get smashed on by the bigger guys. like chewy said in previous videos, put yourself in the most uncomfortable situation you can to get use to being there. I have learned a ton from that. just surviving as a white belt getting smashed on by 250 - 320+ lb (blue/purple belts) is an award I wear proudly. if I can survive their assaults and weather their storms I feel like I've won. (...and have learned along the way as well ;) ...don't give up Dan!

I’m a beginner in Jiu Jitsu and this was my first experience literally!

Hey Chew, just wanted you to know that almost every time I open YouTube, you pop up answering a question that’s on my mind. Thank you for your work!!!

New subscriber and thank you! Love your style and attitude. This is a lesson I've really learned well in my first month. I've let them get frustrated, watched my breath and waited for them to gas before I find my opportunity. I'll be catching up on your videos, cheers from Stamford UK!

This is basically my strategy when rolling as a white belt. I'm kind of reactionary I just keep myself safe. I might not be able to pull off a lot of things so I just make sure that they are not able to either and then if I see a moment of opportunity I go for it. That's one of the most powerful self-taught lessons I've ever discovered in Jiu-Jitsu and I'm happy to see it acknowledged here.

I like your channel, Rener Gracie is a good yt bjj speaker but he's so exhausting.

Thank you training jj for a year now. Your video changed my way looking at it.

I'm 57, 5'8" and 130 lbs. I've been training BJJ for three years. Almost everyone I train with is faster, stronger and usually bigger. I'm still working on breathing control and patience. This video is really helpful. I'm still working out what are the best guards to use on those really big guys. I usually go for half guard but I'll try getting to deep half guard next time I'm matched up with one of those moving mountains.

Great advice and very respectfully put. You sir, have another subscriber. Much love from the UK

Perfect timing! I have had a few hard rolls with stronger people lately. Always frustrating because you feel like they aren't technically better but can muscle you around and look better...