How effective are you?

[Typhoon]

I ve been wonderign a lot lately how effective some martial arts are specificaly ones that are based on weight classes, BJJ, jujitsu, wrestling etc.. I am jsut wonderign that if someone who knows one of these ground fighting styles and encouters someone who is cokmpletly out of thier weight class(lets say a 100 lbs heavier) would you really successfully defend your self against him even if the guy does not have any martial arts background but assuming he is not out of shape.

[SweepEm]

A question, is this a sports match or a street fight?

There is a reason for weight brackets in a sports match.
But in a street fight, there is no typical street fight but I would estimate that if you train regularly in a martial art from 6 months to 2 years and are fairly proficent at it, you should be able to defend yourself in an unarmed confrontation in the street with an assailant, regardless of their weight advantage.
GJJ is specifically aimed towards your opponent or attacker to be much bigger and heavier than you.

But there are way too many factors to make a really broad statement.
Even my estimate of 6 months to 2 years is really broad and I know some may debate me on that.

[James Bullock]

In sports the reason there are weight classes is because a larger athlete will usually when in the ring.

As far as the street goes, it depend on how you train not what you train.


Regards,

James

[ryanhall]

I know firsthand that boxing against a taller opponent with a longer reach can be extremely challenging and annoying if they keep you at arm's length. Even an opponent with a very little amount of training can give you some trouble. Untrained, you can just go in low and hit the body. I would say that western boxing, though it is the preeminent punching system in the world, finds its limitations in a sparring match when you are physically outclassed. In a real fight, however, things usually start at close range, allowing you to start where you want to be, so the reach disadvantage isn't as much of an issue. The problem becomes knockout power against a big guy. Have you got it?

I would have to say that wrestling is by far the most limited competition sport in terms of real combat. The weight classes jump every 7 lbs for a reason--you can't really pin someone way bigger/stronger than you. I did a bit of wrestling in high school, and with only a year of judo behind me, I was able to beat or hang with almost everybody in the room--including the bigger guys. I couldn't pin the big guys though, so I didn't even bother trying. Two of the smaller guys in the lower weightclasses (#1 in state, #1 in district) who were very skilled had a lot of trouble with me because I outweighed them by about 35-50 lbs. They were a lot better than me, but it's not that easy to use an underhook and take someone down when they are physically stronger and much heavier. Had the "fights" been serious, none of the wrestlers would have done too well. Just one guy's experience and opinions.

BJJ wouldn't be too limited, as it tries to use locks and chokes instead of pins. However, some people are just too big to groundfight. Positional asphysxiation can play a big role. Feel free to agree or disagree.

[eXcessiveForce]

When I was teaching self defence for a college I got a lot of chances to use my skills on a wide range of body types.

At the time I was 5'8" and weighed around 165 and I was able to throw and take down and lock people that weighed in between 250 and 300 lbs.

If I did not give up control they were helpless, but unfortunately for me they would not learn if I did that so often I would go from controling everything to giving up control and trying to fight to regain it. It actually taught me a lot. I once gave up control after taking down a 300 lb 6' guy. And with out being able to maim him I couldn't get control back. His weight was too much for me once I was on bottom and with the little bit of skill he had developed during the course of the class. From then on I learned that with bigger guys I would never give up control once I had it.

As far as effectiveness I would say I am very effective but for reasons that are not all that obvious.

One I look very young. When I was in my early 20's and teaching people would often ask me how old I was some guessing as young as 15.

I am very fast, even though I have never considered myself fast from other point of view I am constantly told how quick I am.

I am a small guy at 5'8" but I weigh in at 220. I just don't look Like I weigh 220.

People often underestimate and that has usually been to my advantage.