Before starting BJJ, I was walking at around 180 lbs. About 6 months in, I naturally lost about 30 and got down to 150.

150lbs is a weird in between in BJJ, because you are  slightly small for featherweight and light feather seams feasible as it’s only 11-12 lbs away but that quickly becomes very difficult and unenjoyable to make.

Like many others, I made the decision to cut, and I never knew how to do it.. so “fasting” became a thing and I would skip meals. I never missed weight, but I also fought in a pretty poor physical state on a few occasions. As years went on, my weight cuts improved and I’m still working out some kinks on “perfecting it”. 

Recently, I found out about one new fighter who for their first fight is looking to cut close to 20 lbs. Their coach wants them to be bigger and stronger, so they advised the rather large weight cut. 

For me, I disagree completely. A new driver should not try to drive across country for their very first time. After several “intermediate” trips, seeing that they are comfortable little by little, it can be done. But not right away. 

I think new fighters, or those who don’t have previous weight cutting experience from other sports, should simply clean up their diet and compete in whatever class is closest to their walk around weight. Eventually, it can be a good idea to start cutting weight and see if the results improve. 

As coaches, I think we are also responsible to monitor our fighters and not allow drastic weight cuts. Even sometimes for experienced fighters..