I’ve always been interested in learning how to fight, so three months ago I decided to join a local Muay Thai club. I figured that fighting would be pretty hard but I never really knew just how hard it would be. After the first 5 minutes of class I realized that I really wasn’t in as good shape as I thought I was in.
Seriously, the absolute hardest physical workout that I have ever done, not to mention the funnest.
The amount of knowledge that you learn each time you go to class is amazing, not to mention that the instructor just won the world championship in his weight division. Fast forward to today, which was my first ever sparring class, and my face still hurts. I got to sparr with the world champ, among others, and he kicked me in the neck, I don’t even think that I hit him. How cool is that, actually training with someone at that level?
Anyhoo, I didn’t mean to rant, but I just wanted to say that I have a new found level of respect to anyone that has ever fought in the ring. And just for reference, the next time you make fun of a scrawny guy just remember that he might be able to knock you out with some crazy ass kick to the side of the head. Just because you’re big doesn’t mean you know how to fight.
[quote]j70 wrote:
And just for reference, the next time you make fun of a scrawny guy just remember that he might be able to knock you out with some crazy ass kick to the side of the head. Just because you’re big doesn’t mean you know how to fight. [/quote]
And just because you are small don’t expect people to assume you are some martial arts master capable of killing all men with your bare heads (aka deadly weapons). This seems to be a growing sickness. Here’s a tip, the best way to deal with a fight…is to avoid it in the first place. That means that big guy who no one fucks with because he’s big (who just may be able to hold his own)…is miles ahead of the skinny guy who has to prove himself over and over on a regular basis as far as that is concerned. No one is knocking skill or fighters themselves, but this Bruce Lee wannabe attitude that seems to be spreading is a little silly and comes across like the small man’s attempt at overcompensation.
And just because you are small don’t expect people to assume you are some martial arts master capable of killing all men with your bare heads (aka deadly weapons).[/quote]
Shit, if the guy’s got more than one head, I’m hauling ass!
And just because you are small don’t expect people to assume you are some martial arts master capable of killing all men with your bare heads (aka deadly weapons).
Shit, if the guy’s got more than one head, I’m hauling ass![/quote]
Only if the head is bare should you be worried. Two heads full of hair is just fruity.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
j70 wrote:
And just for reference, the next time you make fun of a scrawny guy just remember that he might be able to knock you out with some crazy ass kick to the side of the head. Just because you’re big doesn’t mean you know how to fight.
And just because you are small don’t expect people to assume you are some martial arts master capable of killing all men with your bare heads (aka deadly weapons). This seems to be a growing sickness. Here’s a tip, the best way to deal with a fight…is to avoid it in the first place. That means that big guy who no one fucks with because he’s big (who just may be able to hold his own)…is miles ahead of the skinny guy who has to prove himself over and over on a regular basis as far as that is concerned. No one is knocking skill or fighters themselves, but this Bruce Lee wannabe attitude that seems to be spreading is a little silly and comes across like the small man’s attempt at overcompensation.[/quote]
Sadly you are right though. Being a bigger guy means you just don’t get fucked with as much…I’ve had some of my bigger buddies get away with shit that I would have been called out on in a second because they’re more intimidating.
Of course, there are those of us of the shorter variation that know how to handle ourselves. I think it’s more individual then anything else.
People do think that they can fuck you around more when you’re short, though, and so the “Napoleon Complex” that I’m sometimes accused of having is more a reaction than a cause.
[quote]FightinIrish26 wrote:
Sadly you are right though. Being a bigger guy means you just don’t get fucked with as much…I’ve had some of my bigger buddies get away with shit that I would have been called out on in a second because they’re more intimidating.
Of course, there are those of us of the shorter variation that know how to handle ourselves. I think it’s more individual then anything else.
People do think that they can fuck you around more when you’re short, though, and so the “Napoleon Complex” that I’m sometimes accused of having is more a reaction than a cause.
That’s what I think, at least. [/quote]
That’s just the way the world works. Most people are not going to pick on the guy who outweighs them by 50lbs or more. No one is saying every big guys knows how to fight, but I also see some people acing as if NO big guy knows how to fight and that is ridiculous. I know a few bouncers weighing over 270lbs who do know how to fight well. Not to mention a hit from someone that big is going to do more damage than getting tapped by a 150lb’er.
Having people consider you a threat isn’t just about body size though. How you carry yourself, even the way you walk, tells much about you. People can read a lack of confidence and that transcends body size alone. I think it is a given that you will be tested if you “look” weaker. No one is ever going to assume that the frail looking guy who is having trouble standing up against the wind is truly Superman. That’s just life. Most of the time, they aren’t.
[quote]It’s true that no-one fucks with the ‘huge’ guy, but the ‘hard’ guy gets no action at all. Bouncers may be huge but you watch a drunk punk swing away at them. The point is, the true factor is proven skill at fucking kids up.
The ‘little men must be savage’ is a phenomena i must have missed. This is a good point [quote] by Prof X
Having people consider you a threat isn’t just about body size though. How you carry yourself, even the way you walk, tells much about you. People can read a lack of confidence and that transcends body size alone. I think it is a given that you will be tested if you “look” weaker. [/quote]
On the converse side though, as FightinIrish said, lifting big weights does not equal cracking heads. I fucking hate big fat bouncers (yes, i mean fat) who act hard as hell, but need to wrestle little guys in packs of six or more. Some don’t even know how to put chokes on.
I second Irish on the ‘reaction’ thing. Smaller kids DO have more to prove, and if bigger people were more humble, PERHAPS there’d be less shit popping off.
Uninformed perception is always going to mislead.
Bottom line, whoever acts like they want a fight on weekend nights will get one. Little or big
[quote]j70 wrote:
And just for reference, the next time you make fun of a scrawny guy just remember that he might be able to knock you out with some crazy ass kick to the side of the head.[/quote]
So now people who “train” in the gym but nonetheless look the same today as when they began “training” now have a new excuse: I’m a super-duper martial artist.
It used to be that people who never see results had to rely on the, “I train for function” excuse. “Sure, my muscles are small, but they’re functional!” Of course, when you’d ask them what “function” they needed those muscles for, you’d be met with silence.
There are very few little guys who are little because they have to make weight. That is an excuse.
If you’re Golden Gloves or a flyweight boxer, cool. I enjoy watching the lighter-weight fighters. Heck, I wish you’d share with us how you train, as how people who make their way in the world by fighting in the ring train, interests me. I’d love to hear from LEGITIMATE lightweight fighters. But that’s not the case with 99% of the little guys.
If you’re a martial arts hobbyist, the reason you’re small is because you don’t have the guts to do what it takes to get big. I have never met anyone who ate enough and tried German Volume Training who is still little. Indeed, I’ve never met anyone who regularly feels like vomiting after squatting who remains small. I wonder why that is?
Quit hiding behind the “I’m a fighter” excuse. It’s no better than the “I’m functional” excuse. You’re not fooling anyone - except other posers.
[quote]j70 wrote:
I’ve always been interested in learning how to fight, so three months ago I decided to join a local Muay Thai club. I figured that fighting would be pretty hard but I never really knew just how hard it would be. After the first 5 minutes of class I realized that I really wasn’t in as good shape as I thought I was in. [/quote]
Funny story… A friend of mine was a state champion cross-country runner. I could barely run two miles in 15 minutes. My friend said: “Let’s box. You’re bigger, but there is no way you could keep up with me. I’ll tired you out”
I didn’t even hit him hard, but he was gassed after three minutes. I wasn’t even close to being tired.
Being “in shape” as a fighter has a lot to do with making efficient movements. If you’re not wasting energy with pointless movements and punches, you’ll be able to tire out anyone in otherwise very good shape.
Another funny story… I took my friend from 135 lbs. to a solid 155 lbs. in 12 weeks. I had him do the basics.
Soon thereafter, he lost his gains and shirvilled back up, though, because he (like mos little guys) didn’t have the heart to grind through difficult squat workouts, and he didn’t have the disciple to eat 6 times a day.
He found that eating regularly and constantly mixing protein shakes was tedious. Personally, I’d find living every day in a skeleton of a body to be even more tedious.
[quote]Shaved wrote:
What are most peoples definition of small? 5’10, 155 = small[/quote]
Yes.
Still small.
Someone at this weight looks like they actually lift and is showing nice progress. If bodyfat is decent, then the person would look very nice. But that person is by no means big.
UPDATE: Obviously someone who is super-lean because he cut up for a competition is an exception to this rule. But I assume that you’re talking about “non-competitive” weights.
[quote]FightinIrish26 wrote:
Frank.S wrote:
You guys ever heard of little man syndrome?
I don’t know why we have to go over this again.
Bodybuilding don’t make you tough, and a fighter isn’t a bodybuilder. You’re comparing apples and baseballs here. Don’t make sense.[/quote]
No shit. I’d take a 170 pound thai fighter with BJJ experience over any 260 lb weightlifting guy any day of the week.
Im so sure of it because Ive seen it.
If anyone is trying to overcompensate here, its the big guys trying to justify that there tuff because they weigh X amount of weight and can lift X amount of weight.
[quote]T-Nick wrote:
FightinIrish26 wrote:
Frank.S wrote:
You guys ever heard of little man syndrome?
I don’t know why we have to go over this again.
Bodybuilding don’t make you tough, and a fighter isn’t a bodybuilder. You’re comparing apples and baseballs here. Don’t make sense.
No shit. I’d take a 170 pound thai fighter with BJJ experience over any 260 lb weightlifting guy any day of the week.
Im so sure of it because Ive seen it.
If anyone is trying to overcompensate here, its the big guys trying to justify that there tuff because they weigh X amount of weight and can lift X amount of weight.
In the street, that shit goes out the window. [/quote]
That’s funny…the only guys I ever hear talking about taking shit to the street are the smaller guys or those with something to prove. Most larger guys don’t have to “justify that they’re tough”. I don’t have anyone doubting my abilities on a regular basis so there is nothing to “justify”. My goals are to be strong and to build muscle. I could care less about “justifying how tough I am”. I don’t even have this issue come up…ever.
If some of you are PROFESSIONAL/AMATEUR fighters, more power to you. If you are making weight for a staged fight, I hope you win and represent. If, however, all of that talk about making weight is coming from guys who only do this as a side hobby and who don’t ever actually jump in any rings to fight, it comes across as an excuse for why you are in the gym yet making nearly zero progress physically. Not many people are falling for that.
[quote]T-Nick wrote:
I’d take a 170 pound thai fighter with BJJ experience over any 260 lb weightlifting guy any day of the week. [/quote]
I’d take a 260 pound thai fighter with BJJ experience over any 170 lb person with the same training.
Size matters. That’s why there are weight classes.
Anyhow, why be small and well-trained in fighting when you can be big and well-trained? Being bigger and stronger will, ultimately, make you a better fighter.
Too many guys use the “I train MMA” as a crutch for being small. If you compete and thus have to make weight, that’s a valid point. If like 99% of everyone who “does” MMA, you don’t have to make weight, then there is no excuse for being small and weak.
