6'6/190 and New to BJJ

**kikkuchiyo** · Posted On: 7/17/2007 11:48am

Hi everyone. I'm 6'6/190, and about to take my first BJJ classes. Are there any other BJJ guys out there of similar stature? Are there techniques that work particularly well with a height advantage? Or not at all? I definitley have trouble getting my hips low enough for a good throw. Any advice or experience is much appreciated. I'm a little curious to see how this is going to work for me...

On a similar note, are there any videos of tall/lanky BJJ guys out there?

**Ryno** · Posted On: 7/17/2007 12:45pm

You should be able to get triangle chokes on anyone. But you'd better watch out for people arm barring you.

As far as takedowns go, it'll be more difficult for you to get low enough to lift someone. You're probably better off going with trips, and big man's throws such as Osoto Gari and Uchimata.

**Mas** · Posted On: 7/17/2007 2:41pm

Judo might be a good thing for you, tall lanky guys can have great takedowns. Harai goshi, like Uchimata is a good throw for tall guys. You shouldn't have any problems in BJJ, tall guys usually do quite well.

Where are you doing BJJ?

**kikkuchiyo** · Posted On: 7/17/2007 3:59pm

Originally Posted by Mas

Where are you doing BJJ?

I've heard good things about Straight Blast Gym in Portland, OR. I'll be trying it for myself shortly.

Where do you practice Judo?

**Eldarbong** · Posted On: 7/17/2007 4:21pm

Originally Posted by Ryno

You should be able to get triangle chokes on anyone. But you'd better watch out for people arm barring you.

This has been my experience.
Maybe watch some fights with tall BJJ guys like anderson silva or kendall grove for inspiration. There are supposed to be many ways to use your long limbs to your advantage in BJJ (I have only been rolling for a few months, and I haven't really learned any specific ones yet, besides doing triangles), but I feel like the long and lean among us tend have more advantage in Muay Thai, personally( to me, BJJ seems to benefit people with a lower center of gravity than us). Maybe in a few years I will change my opinion.

**caseyboy** · Posted On: 7/17/2007 5:29pm

http://www.onthemat.com/video_search...earch=comprido

Check out Comprido, I think he is about 6'4" and under 200.

**Mas** · Posted On: 7/17/2007 6:14pm

Originally Posted by kikkuchiyo

I've heard good things about Straight Blast Gym in Portland, OR. I'll be trying it for myself shortly.

Where do you practice Judo?

I've also heard good things from Blast, been meaning to go. I do Judo at a couple of Clubs in Corvallis, and I just signed up for BJJ at Oregon Pound.

**kikkuchiyo** · Posted On: 7/17/2007 9:47pm

Thanks for the tip on Comprido, caseyboy. I've never seen someone with my body shape do BJJ; it's great to watch. His first takedown is that Uchi-Mata that Mas recomended.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf9X9FG9-LU

**kikkuchiyo** · Posted On: 7/17/2007 10:08pm

Originally Posted by Eldarbong

I feel like the long and lean among us tend have more advantage in Muay Thai...

A tad off topic, but Czech out the stilts on this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAxcPE_0eXw

Man, can he clinch/knee!

**caseyboy** · Posted On: 7/18/2007 5:01am

Thanks for the tip on Comprido, caseyboy. I've never seen someone with my body shape do BJJ; it's great to watch. His first takedown is that Uchi-Mata that Mas recomended

/quote]
Plus he is world class. That is the great thing about BJJ, you can shape the techniques to fit yourself. For instance that kimura from half guard he tries at the start. He chose to pass the half guard first, but with his size he could have just stayed there and tried it. If you have exceptionally long arms (like me) kimuras seem to be everywhere.