How Heavy Should a Grappling Dummy Be? (2025 Guide)
If you’re buying a grappling dummy for BJJ or MMA training, weight is the most important factor to get right. A dummy that’s too light will tip over, collapse, or slide every time you put pressure on it. A heavier dummy stays upright, holds its shape, and lets you drill meaningful reps without constant resetting.
This guide explains how much a grappling dummy should weigh, the trade-offs between light and heavy models, and which weight is best for BJJ training at home.
The Bottom Line (Quick Answer)
Most adults should use a grappling dummy in the 70–90 lb range.
Anything lighter than 60 lbs is too unstable for realistic drilling, and anything heavier than 100 lbs becomes difficult to move and position.
A dummy around 85 lbs provides the best balance of stability, structure, and usability for solo BJJ training.
Why Weight Matters More Than Most People Think
The weight of a dummy affects everything:
- How stable it is during transitions
- Whether it stays upright in mount and side control
- How realistic the resistance feels
- How much time you spend drilling vs. resetting
- Whether the torso collapses under pressure
A lightweight dummy might feel easier to handle, but it leads to frustration because it simply won’t stay in place when you practice real BJJ movements.
Lightweight Dummies (30–50 lbs): Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Easier to move around
- Often cheaper
- Less intimidating for beginners
Cons:
- Tip over easily
- Fold at the waist under pressure
- Slide when passing guard
- Cannot hold mount or side control
- Unrealistic mechanics
- Require constant resets
These models are fine for basic armbar entries or positional reference points, but they don’t support meaningful reps.
Mid-Range Dummies (60–70 lbs): The Minimum for Useful Training
This range is the lowest weight that can still offer:
- Some stability
- Decent torso structure
- Basic transitions
- Light positional drilling
But they still tend to fall over when you:
- Apply pressure in mount
- Work knee-on-belly
- Transition from side control
- Practice turtle attacks
They are “usable,” but not ideal.
Heavy Dummies (75–90 lbs): Best for Adult BJJ Training
This is the ideal weight range for most adults training BJJ at home.
Dummies in this range:
- Stay upright far more effectively
- Hold their torso shape
- Support realistic pressure
- Allow smooth transitions
- Reduce frustration
- Enable higher-rep drilling sessions
A dummy around 85 lbs offers enough mass to feel stable but not so heavy that you can’t reposition it during training.
This is the same principle as drilling with a partner who actually has bodyweight — not a foam object that collapses.
If you want to see how weight and stability compare side-by-side, see our Submission Master vs Grappling SMARTY comparison.
Why Stability is More Important Than “Realism”
Many people think a dummy should mimic a person’s exact weight. That’s not the goal.
The real goal is stability.
Unstable dummies:
- kill your reps
- break your rhythm
- force resets every few movements
- make transitions impossible
- slow training progress
A heavy dummy with a stable base lets you move continuously without the dead time of rebalancing the body.
This is the essence of a Stability-Weighted Design™.
What About Extra-Heavy Dummies (100+ lbs)?
Anything over 100 lbs becomes:
- hard to move
- difficult to set up
- cumbersome to use in small spaces
These are only useful for people who specifically want to practice slams or takedown finishes, which most home users don’t do.
For BJJ drilling, more weight does not mean better training.
What Weight Is Best for Your Training Goals?
General BJJ training:
70–90 lbs
Solo drilling and transitions:
80–90 lbs
Beginning students:
75–85 lbs for stability without overwhelming weight
Experienced grapplers:
80–90 lbs for continuous flowing reps
Kids or smaller athletes:
40–60 lbs (with the understanding that stability will be limited)
Why the Submission Master Uses an 85-lb Build
The Submission Master was designed for serious solo training:
- 85 lbs for stability
- Wide base for balance
- Tight internal packing for durability
- Structured torso for consistent reps
- Enough resistance for realistic pressure
This weight allows smooth training flow without making the dummy too heavy to reposition.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right weight determines whether your grappling dummy becomes a powerful training tool or a constant source of frustration. Most people need a dummy in the 70–90 lb range, with 85 lbs offering the best balance of stability and usability.
If you want a stable, durable option designed specifically for adult BJJ training, the Submission Master remains the strongest choice.
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