How to Master Weight Distribution in BJJ? Role of Microshifts

The weight distribution and microshifts are very important elements in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It does not matter whether you are a beginner or an experienced grappler; you need to master this concept. This concept enables you to execute all your techniques and moves effectively. One of the most important things for your grappling is your posture, and if you are not even able to keep it correct, then there is nothing you can do to win the match. This posture is maintained by effective weight distribution and microshifts. If you are new to BJJ, you might be confused about all of this. So let’s discuss what the weight distribution in BJJ and microshifts are and how they are helpful for you in your BJJ game.

A weight distribution in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu refers to the strategic use of your own body weight against your opponent. You need to utilize this for creating angles, placements, controlling your opponent’s body, their movements, trapping them, and creating opportunities for submitting your opponent. You can do all these things with an effective weight distribution. So this is why it is very important for you to learn and master distributing your weight strategically while grappling in a BJJ match against your opponent.

• A microshift has two words. Micro means small, and shift means adjustment or changing your position from one place to another. So the microshift means small changes in your position from one place to another. In terms of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the microshifts refer to making small changes in your position while grappling against your opponent.

• It involves changing the position of your whole body, and also if you move just one part of your body, such as your arms or legs. Besides this, it also means that maintaining your balance, changing it, or shifting it in a new direction, depending on the situation or position.

• These microshifts are done with the sole purpose of getting the dominant position over your opponent so that you can trap them and submit them ultimately. Microshift is a broad concept, whereas the weight distribution is a part of it.

Weight distribution or microshifts are the same on a broader level and are very important for you as a BJJ practitioner. The following are some points that highlight their importance for you:

• The first benefit of learning and implementing the weight distribution concept in your grappling game is that you can gain proper control over your opponent. This control is very important for you to gain. Since the start of the match, both grapplers attempt to gain control over each other in order to execute their moves and techniques correctly, aiming to submit their opponent. So everyone is striving for control in a grappling match, and you can get this control just by weight distribution.

• With an effective weight distribution, your opponent is no longer free. They are not able to execute the techniques correctly and effectively as they were before. They cannot make moves, and when they are not able to do all of these things, then it means that they are not able to defend against you and attack you with any moves or techniques. This gives them the sense of getting trapped. So they are not able to do a lot of things which will get them submit against you and tap out.

• Suppose you are a smaller grappler, meaning a skinny one or one who has less weight than your opponent, and they are fat. At first, you might think that they can easily throw you out because they are heavier. You might also believe that your opponent can force you to tap out because they are heavy and can put their weight on you.

• But this is not true at all. You can reverse this thinking or logic with just one thing, and this is weight distribution or microshift. So if you are effectively distributing your weight against your opponent, then you will feel heavier compared to your opponent. The more effective your weight is, the more chances you have to dominate against your opponent.

• It does not matter if they are fatter than you or not. You just need effective weight distribution and microshifts. You need continuous minor adjustments in your position so that you can dominate your opponent. Do these things, and you will see continuous creation of opportunities, angles, and placements to win against your opponent by submitting them and making them tap out.

The one thing you need to continuously do against your opponent is to apply pressure on them. This will help you to keep them submissive, and they won’t be able to make any significant moves or techniques. Ultimately, they will tap out, and you will lead the match. But how do you do that? This is possible with the effective weight distribution and microshifts. This will help you to keep pressure on your opponent.

• It is a natural or universal thing that applies to everyone that when you are not able to do anything continuously, then it can lead to your frustration, and this frustration gives you more harm than you were getting before. When you are doing microshifts and distributing your weight effectively and correctly, then your opponent is in no comfort at all. They are in severe discomfort, and they are finding it very difficult to make moves and techniques against you. When this continues for a long time, your opponent loses their calm and starts getting angry and frustrated.

• This is even more harmful for them and takes them to an even more submissive situation. In the realm of frustration and anger, they make wrong decisions. They try to get things done quickly. This frustration gives them the wrong strategy, which gives you a golden opportunity to execute submissive and more trapping techniques against them. So they are putting themselves in more difficulty. Eventually, they get exhausted, and they are left with no option other than tapping out. So all of this was possible just because of your effective weight distribution and microshifts against your opponent.

Now you know that it is very important for you as a BJJ grappler to improve your microshift and weight distribution. The following are some of the tips to help you improve that and get yourself started:

• The first tip for improving your weight distribution is that you should not tense your whole body against your opponent. This will be of no use in the majority of the time. So instead, you should focus only on the contact points with your opponent. These are the points at which your body makes contact with your opponent.

• So instead of tensing your whole body, try to tense only those parts of your body that are in contact with your opponent. This will be more effective in such a way that you are putting all your weight or more weight on that specific contact point, which is with your opponent. So it will make your opponent feel more pressure and, therefore, they will submit to you.

The creation of different angles during grappling in BJJ is very important. You might also have experienced this many times, where your angle creates a big difference. It is possible that you are in one angle and in that you are heavier for your opponent, and in another angle you are less heavy or lighter than your opponent. So this all depends on angles. You should try to create the ones that you think or believe will be heavy for your opponent and create pressure on them.

The third tip is to use your hips effectively. You should use them to distribute your weight in a way or in a direction you want. You can slightly move your hips, rotate them, or do something in a specific direction or angle, and this will help you to focus your weight in that specific direction.

The fourth tip to improve your weight distribution is to act like sand. If you think of sand, it remains in its position, slightly moves, but puts all its weight towards the ground right in the direction of gravity. So when you become or act like sand, you will also not be doing anything other than putting all your weight on your opponent, and this will apply pressure on them. So this is another way to improve your weight distribution and microshifts.

The strategy to distribute your weight effectively and do microshifts is very important in a BJJ match. This will elevate your game to a major extent and keep you dominant against your opponent throughout the match. It does not matter whether you are heavier than your opponent or not; you can feel heavy by following the right strategy against your opponent. So you should try to practice this concept in your training and sparring as much as you can. You should master this effectively.

A weight distribution in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu refers to the strategic use of your own body weight against your opponent. You need to utilize this for creating angles, placements, controlling your opponent’s body, their movements, trapping them, and creating opportunities for submitting your opponent.

The microshift means small changes in your position from one place to another. In terms of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the microshifts refer to making small changes in your position while grappling against your opponent.

The following are some points that highlight their importance for you:

• You can make your opponent feel trapped

• Improved mobility

• Base for pressure

• Exhaustion and discomfort

The following are some of the tips to help you improve that and get yourself started:

• Don’t tense your whole body

• Create angles

• Use your hips effectively

• Act like a sand