Fighting and weight control

[VictorG]

How much control does one have over what weight class they fight in?

Im 5'11 and currently weigh 158.I was at 175 3 months ago.The most ive ever weighed because of a few years of doing nothing.Since i started Muay Thia its gone down fast, and im still aiming to get down to the 150-155 ive always been.
Im curious about how healthy it is to try to push it down to say 145-140.I looked at some BMI calculators online and its still in the normal range for my height but im not sure.Ive never been this light since ive been this tall.Would this be unhealthy? Would I simply become weak? Is it even possible without starving myself, do genetics get in the way? I mean, there are guys at my gym the same height if not taller that weight less.

Why? Well, like i said i m just curious.Also, id like to see how much of an height advantage I could manage fighting at a lower weight.

Any tips are great, thanks.

[Khun Kao]

All you can do is keep training and see what happens with your weight. As long as you are training healthy, eating healthy, and getting the proper amount of rest, then your weight loss should not be an issue (health-wise).

As a fighter, its usually best to shoot down for the lower weight class. But if you can avoid "weight cutting" practices to acheive the lower weight, its better because it won't screw up your body. Most fighters dehydrate themselves to cut weight, but that can lead to bad health issues (in & out of the ring).

But, you also have to understand that almost ALL fighters "cut" weight.... so someone who is fighting at 140-145 could EASILY be walking around at 165 lbs as their normal weight. You have to take those kinds of things into consideration when you prepare to fight.....

[VictorG]

165 to 145...wow, thats huge. I knew about cutting weight, didnt think it was so drastic. What kind of time span would someone doing that cut the 20lbs?

Thanks for the reply.

[Khun Kao]

I cut almost 20 lbs in 2 weeks once. One of my fighters once cut about the same weight (almost 20 lbs) in about a week. Granted, cutting in that short a time frame at your weight isn't as likely. I'd guess that someone at 165 lbs could cut 20 lbs in 3-4 weeks if they knew what they were doing.

[chalambok]

Something critical in cutting weight for a fight is how far ahead of the actual fight is weigh-in. In Thailand it is normal to weigh on noon the day before (not of) the fight, so fighters have a chance to recoup energy, and weight, for the match. It is pretty common knowledge nowadays that constantly gaining and losing weight can significantly effect your quality and longevity of life. I agree with Khun Kao that you should find your natural weight and try to fight at that. Unfortunately that may put you right in the most competitive weight class, which is a mixed blessing at times. Professionals from North America in the lighter weights are more likely to get big money fights, for example, simply because there are fewer of them.

[VictorG]

I guess my natural weight is 150-155 then? Thats what ive weight most of my life so I might be able to get it lower just by training and not eating some of the stuff ive already given up. We'll just have to wait and see i guess

Thank you both for the replys.

[Don Heatrick]

I've written a short article "10 ways to lose weight before a fight" for Nak Muay magazine. If you're interested you can download a free copy at:

http://www.martialconcept.com/html/issue1.html

Best regards,
Don

[fire cobra]

Nice one Don thanks.

[the tick]

Hmmph...I wish I could finally lose some weight. But for some reason I stay between 85 and 87 kg no matter how much I train!!!