formulab

I am a small guy about 5' 7", i know I should avoid fights as much as possible, but what would be the best strategy for me if i have to fight guys who are bigger than me? I am about 20 years of age and there are a variety of martial arts schools/gyms in my area, but I am confused right now because I am not really sure which one I should train in. Can someone please give me some advice? Any input is appreciated.

Michael Wright

Hello friend,

This is the same reason I got into martial arts. Its not so much that I'm short, but that I am thin and very light, so I also needed something that offered me a strategy and some tools to work with against heavier, stronger guys.

Have a search and see if there are any Progressive Fighting Systems schools in your area, or give me your location and I can try to find out. One of the main goals of PFS (Paul Vunak's expression of JKD) is to negate the attributes of your opponent and end the altercation in the most efficient manner possible. The whole mantra of this system is not to stand there and trade blows with a bigger, stronger guys and all I can say is that it has really worked for me when I have really needed it.

Failing PFS, just try to find a good school that teaches Jun Fan Gung Fu and/or Filipino Kali. Again, both arts came from individuals who were smaller in stature and therefore had to develop intelligent strategies to work against the larger, stronger guy. I have trained in both systems for a long time, and once again have found that what they say they do - they do.

I hope that helps, drop me a line if you need any further advice.

Tant01

.....Judo is good.

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While the old form, jujutsu, was studied solely for fighting purposes, Kano's new system is found to promote the mental as well as the physical faculties.

T. Shidachi, 1892

Hardball

Tanto's answer to everthing is Judo. LOL.. But it is an outstanding art. LOL

__________________
The Way of the Warrior is Practice. Daily practice, accumulate practice minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day. {Book of 5 Rings} Mike Brewers 2008 Sit up challenge 26,000/100,000 running balance.(Crunches) Kicks 6,000/100,000

bodhisattva

Judo. Wrestling. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Boxing. those are my submissions.

__________________

St. Louis MMA Training Club - MMA Boxing / Clinch / Submission Grappling / Wrestling Gym


Portland MMA Training Club: MMA Boxing / Brazilian Jiu Jitsu / Greco Roman Wrestling

Hardball

What about kicks?

__________________
The Way of the Warrior is Practice. Daily practice, accumulate practice minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day. {Book of 5 Rings} Mike Brewers 2008 Sit up challenge 26,000/100,000 running balance.(Crunches) Kicks 6,000/100,000

Michael Wright

Although I am a big fan of all the above, all four arts are focussed around and operate within weight categories. Therefore I'm not sure that is what the guy was looking for. Would the attributes taken from any of those arts help him in a fight? Sure, but its perhaps not the specific answer to the problem posed, IMO.

__________________
"Debate is an exchange of ideas - not a constant refusal to acknowledge them"
Mike Brewer

Tant01

How about just working on his "MEAN FACE"? You know, since you can't ARM YOURSELVES over there...

__________________
While the old form, jujutsu, was studied solely for fighting purposes, Kano's new system is found to promote the mental as well as the physical faculties.

T. Shidachi, 1892

Michael Wright

two hands, two feet, two knees, two elbows, a head, a brain, a heart and a pair of balls.

We're armed my friend

__________________
"Debate is an exchange of ideas - not a constant refusal to acknowledge them"
Mike Brewer

Tant01

Time for me to move on, eh? Getting too predictable...

__________________
While the old form, jujutsu, was studied solely for fighting purposes, Kano's new system is found to promote the mental as well as the physical faculties.

T. Shidachi, 1892

Tant01

Brain is good. Seriously... Techniques themselves are big. The science is the cool thing. Once you realize what a sophistocated balancing act it is to walk upright, the rest is easy.

Eliminate the foundation and let the toppling begin...

__________________
While the old form, jujutsu, was studied solely for fighting purposes, Kano's new system is found to promote the mental as well as the physical faculties.

T. Shidachi, 1892

Hardball

Yea better brush up on your Kuzushi!! LOL

__________________
The Way of the Warrior is Practice. Daily practice, accumulate practice minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day. {Book of 5 Rings} Mike Brewers 2008 Sit up challenge 26,000/100,000 running balance.(Crunches) Kicks 6,000/100,000

Adept

I got kind of confused on this one. Weight categories? I don't think he is fighting MMA trained guys.

Judo and BJJ were developed so the smaller guy can overcome the bigger one. Those I can vouch for. I'm sure boxing and wrestling can do the same, but I can't vouch for them.

But either way, the attributes developed from learning and training in those arts can help him in a fight, yes.

I will agree that Jeet Kune do concepts is a very good 'art' to 'learn'. It is more designed for the street than MMA. Not to say MMA is street useless, but you catch my drift.

Michael Wright

The guy asked about an art or a training method that is based on the specific concept and strategy of handling someone bigger and stronger.

If you train to fight someone in your weight category, then you aren't training to fight someone bigger and stronger. That isn't to say it won't assist your fighting attributes, but it isn't the specific solution he asked for.

Further to his request, I offered examples of arts and methods that were formed and are based around his specific need. I'm struggling to see the confusion in this, but maybe thats just me.

__________________
"Debate is an exchange of ideas - not a constant refusal to acknowledge them"
Mike Brewer

Mike Brewer

I thought it was pretty straightforward, Michael.