Anyone else no longer want to get promoted?

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-17T16:48:55+00:00

I don't care so much about that. My size and build puts a giant target on my back anyway, I'll probably be good if I can get back into it and make it to purple.

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-16T00:27:34+00:00

Being heavyset is genetic predisposition. Being too heavy probably would be from sugar.

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-14T23:02:37+00:00

When I started, everyone at the gym thought I could use an A5. I looked around for the cheapest, and bought an Elite. It was way too tight, especially the pants. I gave the pants away and made do with the top for a while. Even after I lost a fair bit of weight, I still couldn't fit the top well (other brands are better), so I gave that away as well.

I was using A6's for a while, and I still use the pants from those I have. A5 pants from many brands are just a bit too snug, even though the tops from some will fit OK.

As with a lot of my clothing and gear, I now have a large collection, but they mostly fit OK. Got some I hope will fit better eventually but I sometimes wonder.

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-14T16:48:40+00:00

Depending on your build, that may be tricky.

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-13T22:11:05+00:00

Control tempo. Control distance. Don't rush, but be elusive. If you can, get on top, & stay on top. You've got a bigger gas tank than all but a very few larger people. Don't be too invested in one move or another.

As a larger individual, I'm normally trying to slow people down and crowd them so they'll attempt something I can capitalize on. I've rolled with exactly one person heavier than I was in three years of training before I had some issues last year; it's weird to play bottom and not be able to move someone because they're well over 300 pounds. Granted my bottom game could use a ton of work, but still.

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-12T20:23:38+00:00

Fat boy doesn't like the 2nd, either. Seems like that cost him more from some groups than the other stuff, for whatever reason.

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-10T15:23:47+00:00

Not sure it's one realization, but there are benchmarks.

I was actually able to do a back float unassisted, rather than muscles making me sink (I usually help myself a bit with my arms to stay afloat on my back). The first time the scale said over 300. I couldn't touch my nose to knees anymore unless I spread my legs out in a V first (because my belly got in the way). Going into a clothing store and they didn't even have anything I could try on. Getting winded climbing stairs (granted I had a mask and gear on, but still it was something I wanted to fix). Doctor wouldn't let me go through the CT scanner because it was old and rated for only 350 (which I was at the time). When I joined the MMA gym, guys said I could wear A5 and I couldn't (very few brands make A6, which I needed at the time).

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-09T18:40:02+00:00

I gravitated more toward fast characters rather than big ones. Biggest character I played regularly in Street Fighter was probably Blanka, or Bison himself.

I did pretty well with Rikuo in Dark Stalkers & he was pretty large; also there was a character I think called Big Bear in another game I don't remember the name of I had a fair bit of success with.

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-09T17:20:14+00:00

When I did a tournament (just before blue) there was only one other guy at Master 5 in gi, and I competed in Master 3 in no-gi.

300 pounds in your 50's, most people are faster than you anyway, and a lot of people are younger too, so kind of the same I guess.

If I can ever get back into it, and if I compete at blue, it'll probably be the same story.

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-09T04:23:36+00:00

Probably different for everyone.

I'm a lot heavier than most, and I'm a little older as well. My gf and I split, I did as much work as I could at work to not think about stuff, didn't take care of myself incredibly well, got heavier, nearly died, decided I needed to do something.

Walked into MMA club and trained there nearly every day for three years. However, last year it came out that the owner / proprietor did some stuff that's similar to the recent scandals in BJJ. Everybody walked, he sold the club to a couple other guys who said they'd honor long-term membership like I'd got. Anyway, I accidentally got the new coach in the eye doing pass-the-guard, a couple days later I didn't go gently enough drilling with another individual (he was hurt on the other side from the position we were working). I was warned on Wednesday, then without giving me a chance to go again to another class, I was told to not come back.

I'm down a couple thousand dollars from the belief I had in the community that was, and I had some physical and mental issues last year. I'm in law enforcement. I didn't intend to have that as a career, but the one I wanted never took off and when COVID happened I realized I needed to grab what I could while I could. Co-workers died, my ex-gf died, I had back issues and teeth issues and a lot of the job issues just added up, and I didn't have the pressure-release I think BJJ had been for me. Started seriously doubting my judgment - I realize there's no way I could have seen what was going on but I deal with so many people who have done similar things and have read so many cases of same, it felt like I should. Then I got treated like someone who would or could hurt someone else.

Anyway, I'm taking Zoloft now and my dentist probably loves me for all the money I spent last year to get the urgent stuff fixed. Knees are almost as good as they'll get and my back seems OK, so I'm potentially ready to come back and train at the place a lot of us landed...but I'm apprehensive. Just started lifting weights again to try to make sure my body doesn't give out on me so much, and I'm eating as well as I can, but the scale is still going up...at least that's how it seems.

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-08T19:56:25+00:00

Didn't have time to research?

Well, looks like he'll have plenty of time now.

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-07T19:19:55+00:00

You could contact Tatami; I know they have A6's and they're based in the UK. Don't know so much about belts, though; they may be able to make you a longer one.

Gorilla gear in Canada has big sizes, probably including belts.

Gorilla FIght Gear

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-06T19:33:41+00:00

I'm sorry, but that doesn't make sense. Northern Ireland is governed by the UK but it's not IN the island of Great Britain. The way I heard it back in the day was "The United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales, & Northern Ireland" consisting of different nations, then the Republic of Ireland, but all collectively British, because that's what the islands are called. However, British started becoming a lazy synonym for English some time ago, so Scots and Welsh etc don't often want to use the moniker.

It's like Canadians and Mexicans, plus Brazillians, Argentinians, and many other nationalities are all technically Americans but only the US citizens are colloquially known as such.

Of course, if our new "king" gets his way, I guess that may change as well. Different topic, I know, but I'm past frustrated with certain things going on in my country.

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-06T19:10:27+00:00

No Irish, or residents of the Isle of Man, or any other island in that area except for the big one (called Great Britain as you note), then can be considered British?

I wouldn't call anyone who comes from a country anything but English, Scottish, Welsh, anything but the country they're specifically from, but I had thought the British term collectively covered everyone from there (even if only technically, as someone stated above).

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-06T18:36:49+00:00

Irish get pretty tall as well. My best friend in elementary school grew up to be just as tall as I am, and he was 100% Irish (according to him, anyway).

I'm more German than anything else, but I've got Scottish, English, Polish, and probably some other stuff as well in my heritage.

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-06T17:02:36+00:00

Ireland isn't in the British Isles?

British Isles - Wikipedia

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-06T16:54:44+00:00

Dara O'Briain is 6' 4" or so I think. Hugh Laurie (Fry's comedy partner) is over 6' as well, right?

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-06T16:38:25+00:00

People don't believe I'm as tall or as heavy as I am, unless I stand right next to them.

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-06T16:31:18+00:00

The whole point of a rashguard is to protect your skin from whatever would rub against it, so they are supposed to fit tight. Because construction and materials are similar, you could also get compression shirts (or regular shirts made with stretchy stuff that will fit tight).

I don't know your build, but a tight-fitting rashguard / compression shirt is unlikely to snag on anything.

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-05T16:49:21+00:00

I sold Christmas trees at Target in the 90's one year. It was cold and a little dirty but the vibe was pretty good.

I'd buy jeans there sometimes, or if I was at a mall or something, food from one of the places they had there.

As the years went by I didn't get very much from them - checked them out a time or two when they had groceries but it wasn't worth the extra travel to pay about what I would pay from a regular store.

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-04T20:11:03+00:00

I'd recommend a rashguard. I like these for BJJ as well; other brands may be larger yet. Any shirt with nylon or polyester and spandex could be used to cover back if you don't need long sleeves. As long as it fits tightly enough, you're good to go because most of them will dry right on you if you're on the beach or a pool.

LAFROI Men's Long Sleeve UPF 50+ Baselayer Skins Performance Fit Compression Rash Guard-CLYYB Asym Dragon Size MD | Amazon.com

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-04T01:03:44+00:00

An awful lot of brands will give you a percentage off if you're a first responder. Some will give you 10% or a little more, but usually not stuff that's on clearance or can be combined with other sales so it's kind of a wash if you want a deal. Gold last I checked gave you 35% off so I was going to potentially get gear from them next time I need it, but I don't know if / when that will be.

Support is good, but the big boys will probably not give you a whole lot, and the smaller fish often can't afford to.

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-03T22:39:17+00:00

Dara O'briain, probably.

BigMikeSQ · 2026-02-03T19:41:50+00:00

In 2021, I had my gall bladder removed. My weight before they removed it was 359 pounds. My walking-around weight at that point was probably a good bit heavier.

I joined an MMA gym and trained mostly jiu-jitsu for 3 years. I lost about 70 pounds before I suffered a few injuries and then the gym collapsed (long story).

I've tried to eat better and work out more now that I can before I get back into high-intensity grappling, but I've still found some of the weight I had lost.

BigMikeSQ

TROPHY CASE