What Stronger Opponents Forced Me To Learn

08/06/2026

One thing I have been thinking about lately is why some submissions are so difficult to finish against stronger opponents. 

For a long time, I focused on getting to the submission itself. If I could reach the armbar, guillotine, kimura, or leg lock, I thought I was almost there.

Against people of similar size, that is often enough. Good technique and timing can take you a long way.

But when you spend a lot of time rolling with bigger and stronger training partners, things become different. You can arrive at the submission and still fail to finish because your opponent has the strength to keep defending.

That is when I started looking at submissions from a different perspective.



Further thoughts on training, coaching, and pattern recognition are available inside the Private Notes section

© 2026 Tine — BJJthoughts

Share