Types of opponents

I was browsing a forum, and one member (irishman301 from jiujitsu forums) mentioned something very interesting.

Not all of your opponents are going to be the same when you roll in class. To quote the post, the following will cover the entire spectrum of people you will be rolling with.

1.) Same weight and same level (best training partner for tournaments)
2.) Lighter and same skill level (you have an advantage)
3.) Heavier and same skill level (you have a disadvantage)
4.) Same weight and more advanced (you have a disadvantage)
5.) Lighter and more advanced (depending on skill disparity, it may go either way)
6.) Heavier and more advanced (you have a huge disadvantage)
7.) Same weight and less advanced (you have an advantage)
8.) Lighter and less advanced (you have a huge advantage)
9.) Heavier and less advanced (depends on skill disparity, it may go either way)


If you were to ask Marcelo Garcia, he would respond that he plays the same exact game against everyone. Which really means: 100% of his moves work against all opponents regardless of weight.

However, he is also considered one of, if not THE most technical grappler on the planet. Looking above, it seems that the "more advanced" category for him is very minimal.

In the long run, I believe that improving your skill level to the extent where you also don't have a lot of people more skilled than you is the goal. However, until you get to that point, you should be able to clearly identify what kind of opponent you are rolling with and adjust accordingly.

When you have an advantage, you are able to open up your game and practice new movements with less of a penalty.

When you have a disadvantage, you will get punished for every mistake you make. Tap if you get caught, and learn to tighten your game.

Now a legendary match between Marcelo Garcia and Renzo Gracie