Does Size Matter?

[Great Sage]

Lately, I’ve noticed how BIG guys are getting in the Martial Arts... Is there a point where your opponent is just too big to effectively counter? Has anyone ever gotten into a brawl or match with someone who was just too overwhelming in terms of sheer size and strength?

Myself, I’m a mere 5’9”, 170 lbs and most guys I’ve fought in matches are similar in stature. However, how do you deal with a 6’4” 220 lb raging maniac? For the most part, bigger guys are stronger, have more reach and weight advantage.

How important is size? I know that this varies according to what a person can do with their size... I know of many people who are much bigger, yet cannot fight if they life depended on it. Then, there are those who can fight and are big. I’m not just talking about taller people, but physically larger people.

One thing I will tell you from experience is that your best kick or punch may not have much effect. And although you may have submissions skills, the sheer strength and weight advantage of a very large opponent will make it hard to control them on the ground, regardless of how clumsy they may be. Just my experience with a large, rowdy jock during a house party in college.

[Tom Yum]

Let's think of all the different attributes involved in H2H.

Size
Strength (Grappling)
Speed
Power (Striking)
Stamina
Technique
Mental Toughness

Each fighter whether its an ex-football player, street tough, boxer, grappler or martial artist will have their own unique mix of attributes. The key is to know yourself well enough to survive a physical confrontation.

Size and strength usually go hand in hand but will not necessarily win a stand up altercation. Without atleast technique, larger-stronger opponents don't necessarily translate to better fighters. An example is Rocky Marciano in the 1940's ?? He was 5'9" and 180 lbs and undefeated as a heavy weight. He had KO wins with guys who were 6'2" and 230 lbs!! Ever read one of his books? He explains that he uses 'explosive body power' in his punches. His punching power came from his incredibly strong legs and trunk!

Size and strength are natural advantages in grappling. Remember the Severn/Gracie fight? Severn had Gracie pinned against the cage for 30 mintues. It wasn't until Severn got a little sloppy that Gracie seized the triangle.

The only way a smaller guy can beat a larger one in graplling is by having superior stamina (he will need it!), speed and technique. Otherwise the bigger stronger grappler will win.

[BJJ_White_Boy]

Im 6'0 175 lbs, and my friend is 6'4 220 easy and we wrestle a lot. He knows nothing about BJJ, and I just started, but I know the basics like getting out of holds and some basic holds and stuff. Anyway, the last couple of times are matches have been going longer, but he's tiring out and I'm still going strong. For the first 3-4 minutes he controls the match, I just play defense and try not to put myself out there. He get's tired and starts making mistakes and stuff and I easily get him in an armbar or triangle. My two fav. moves btw. Anyway, size matters, but skill and stratigy matter more.

[Bjjexpertise@be]

Size and weight is not everything in a fight but important factors. A great example would be when Royce first started his career in the United States. Royce fought against a 6'5'' 220 pund Thai- kick boxer. Royce was at an disadvantage but he just had to adapt to the opponent's size and weight and use those factors against them. For instance, if the guy is tall and has long legs, a leg bar would be easier to perform and create more pain than a man with shorter legs.


P.S. taller people tend to be easier to throw due to the ffact that they have a different center of gravity than shorter people.

P.P.S. When i went to summer camp, I play a no rules match with a 6'5'' 280 lbs guy and tried to double leg takedown him. I managed to pull his feet up and off the ground but it turns out he was grabbign on to my back, down i went, down he went on my wrist. There was much pain but i got lucky and managed to save my wrist.

[Tom Yum]

That's the genious of wrestling technique. You drive through and up an opponent who outweighs you, yet you can still slam him.

I am envious because the year after I graduated high school, the district started a wrestling program. Maybe I'll project my wish on my future children and make em take wrestling....just kiddin.

[fullcircle]

size and strengh are a factor, but if you can't fight, you can't fight. I've gone against guys bigger than me (I'm 6'2" and 230 lbs) and killed them, but my training partner is 6'5" and about 250, and he knows how to fight, different story, some days he beats me and vice versa.

[DRLashambe]

I've pointed this out many times, but I lost to Mark Hominick, a lightweight UCC champ, and lasted less than a minute: and we were only grappling! He's also a champion kickboxer. Superior technique in grappling will win. Of course, I define superior technique as that moment when your opponent's weight is no longer a factor, so it's kind of a circular arguement

[mr. bond]

if you're up against a huge guy and you can't go toe to toe in strength, you've got to use physics against him. a good instructor can show you moves that require no strength against strength competition. these can aid you greatly when you're grappling/wrestling and sometimes even stand up sparring.

[El Luchador]

I Belive Technique Can Beat Size with out Technique.
But take a Big Guy With Technique & U Find
That Size Can Play a Big Part in a Fight.

[Tom Yum]

They allways get the nickname "The Beast" for good reason.

[Paul Wilson]

I ask you this. Have you every fought a big guy?
He's powerful right and very hard to handle.

Heavy weight boxer's hit hard because of there fat.
There fat allows them to build muscle. as well

Lenox Lewis is one of these guy. A great boxer. This best to though who have seen he's last fight.
That one punch that split klitschkos fast.
All Lenox’s body weight crashing through.

So If you ask me. Body seize does matter. But if you train with different sized people there isn't nothing stopping you from winning them in a fight.

[Tom Yum]

I have sparred with bigger fighters. Their power is hard to handle because their jabs feel like crosses from the smaller guy. And their crosses are nighty-nite. Bigger people have bigger body frames capable of storing both more fat and lean muscles than an average sized person.

Lennox Lewis has clean technique. A guy like Butterbean is a little slower, but still packs a wallup - again good technique.

Body size matters; speed matters too.

I completely agree with your last statement.

[falcon3624]

I guess I am gonna speak from the other side being that I am 6’2” 240lbs. Most of the guys in my class are smaller than me (the closest person is 20lbs. Lighter) so I get a lot of practice against smaller guys. I find that when I get in a bind and they start to apply a technique most of the time I can just power through it. Sometimes it is impossible, but a lot of times it works. When it comes to standing I definitely have the advantage because not only am I big but I am big because I stay in the gym all the time and I’ve got a lot of power behind my hits. I spend a lot of time working on speed and power so even though I have a large frame I can still hang with the little guys speed wise.

Most big guys don’t focus on speed because they have power. Most big guys don’t worry about techniques because even if they can’t do the move just right most of the time they can force it in. You get a big guy that has endurance, power, and speed………you’ve got a machine……

[Tom Yum]

Originally posted by falcon3624
You get a big guy that has endurance, power, and speed………you’ve got a machine……

Mark "The Smasing Machine" Kerr

[falcon3624]

One of my favorite people to watch.