Start in the inferior position. If you get tapped, take it again. Work your way out of it. Figure it out. Maybe you can’t, and you lose every round, maybe even multiple times per round. Fine. Do it anyway.

Give your partner the head start. Why not? What’s the benefit of taking the better position? What’s the benefit of giving it away?

When I watch my students roll, some ask to start in the better position, some don’t care, and some ask for the worse position.

Be clear on your definition of victory. Maybe you need the tap to validate yourself. But how much does it mean if you got to start the round in top side control with a far side underhook? Or back mount with a seatbelt and both hooks in?

I’d suggest this for 80% of your training. This way, you get to work on positions where you may rarely be in. If you’re a bigger, heavier person, you may get much less time on the bottom.

The other 20% makes up those times when you just don’t have it. For example, it’s been five rounds, and now the spastic, oversized blue belt asks to roll. Sometimes, don’t work so hard.