Combat Athletes And the Gym

Off Topic
1 
ok so there's alot of combat athletes in here so if this might apply to some of you (in hope it doesn't)...

I absolutely HATE it when some retard does some gay martial arts shit between sets, reps etc…

I mean its a fucking gym for lifting weights, why the hell do you have to start shadow boxing, kicking, doing patterns etc???

Like the other day this guy, in between his sets started doing some shadow boxing and kept making these really gay “sh” sounds after each punch… i mean like WTF??

If you’re one of these guys that likes to do this kind of thing:

No, noone cares that you do martial arts and noone wants to see it.

Yes, you look like a fucking tool.

end rant.

2

Who really cares as long as he’s not impeding your workout it shouldn’t matter.

I’d have to see the guy for sure, but considering he’s making a “gay” shh sound… He might do Muay thai.

If you’re really a badass tell him to shut the fuck up. See what happens.

3

We all have our own methods to motivate ourselves in the gym. It is distracting to see a guy throw punches in the squat station next to you while making loud “SH SH SH” noises, but if it gets him motivated to lift then I say more power to him.

4

Some guy does this at the gym I work at all the time, thats all he does though. He takes the boxes out to do plyo’s and never does them, making me have to clean more shit up which hits a bad nerve.

Regardless, ya its fucking annoying.

5

[quote]IRoNStaLLion wrote:
ok so there’s alot of combat athletes in here so if this might apply to some of you (in hope it doesn’t)…

I absolutely HATE it when some retard does some gay martial arts shit between sets, reps etc…

I mean its a fucking gym for lifting weights, why the hell do you have to start shadow boxing, kicking, doing patterns etc???

Like the other day this guy, in between his sets started doing some shadow boxing and kept making these really gay “sh” sounds after each punch… i mean like WTF??

If you’re one of these guys that likes to do this kind of thing:

No, noone cares that you do martial arts and noone wants to see it.

Yes, you look like a fucking tool.

end rant.[/quote]

Hahaha I remember seeing the Nogueira brothers do exactly what you are talking about. I have also seen several other pros do that.
Seriously those guys don’t care what you think about their training and they don’t care what you think they look like. I have caught myself doing shadow, but it more of a thing in my head, just trying stuff out, just a habit. Don’t care who is looking, because I do not pay attention to other people in the gym unless they are fighters.

If it is disturbing people you might have a point. But most guys I know have very good manners and try not to disturb other people.
I would kind of like to see somebody come up to Nogueira and get in his face for shadow boxing between sets.

6

[quote]IRoNStaLLion wrote:
ok so there’s alot of combat athletes in here so if this might apply to some of you (in hope it doesn’t)…

I absolutely HATE it when some retard does some gay martial arts shit between sets, reps etc…

I mean its a fucking gym for lifting weights, why the hell do you have to start shadow boxing, kicking, doing patterns etc???

Like the other day this guy, in between his sets started doing some shadow boxing and kept making these really gay “sh” sounds after each punch… i mean like WTF??

If you’re one of these guys that likes to do this kind of thing:

No, noone cares that you do martial arts and noone wants to see it.

Yes, you look like a fucking tool.

end rant.[/quote]

I’ve seen guys do this. They are usually the smallest people in the gym also. I have always thought it was their way of being noticed. They wouldn’t stand out otherwise so they make a show of every training session even though it is clear they are just showing off.

At least it is better than this one guy I used to see wearing pink leg warmers who used to dance and sing whenever that Cher song, “do you believe in life after love” would come on.

The fact that they played that song is what made me first buy headphones. The fact that he danced to it is what made me start looking at the ground and pretending I was alone.

7

[quote]Shaved wrote:
We all have our own methods to motivate ourselves in the gym. It is distracting to see a guy throw punches in the squat station next to you while making loud “SH SH SH” noises, but if it gets him motivated to lift then I say more power to him. [/quote]

Most people aren’t doing that for motivation. They aren’t doing it as part of their routine. It would be no different than me tearing my shirt open like Hulk Hogan when I first walk into the gym and screaming, “YEAH BROTHER!!” while doing a backwards somersault over my training partner and into the supplement rack. It’s for show, nothing else.

8

We can’t say it’s always for show, maybe he thinks that’s what’s going to help him. Making the “sh” sounds or exhaling is part of muay thai. If I thought something like that would make me a better fighter someday then I wouldn’t give a rat’s ass what you or anyone else thought.

But I can see how some guys would do it just for the attention though. These are the ones that don’t know shit about their art and want to make themselves feel better around the big guys.

Personally, I don’t do it. I always do some shadow boxing before I go into the free weights area. The area I use is empty most of the time. I’d rather people didn’t see me.

9

[quote]Professor X wrote:
I’ve seen guys do this. They are usually the smallest people in the gym also. I have always thought it was their way of being noticed. They wouldn’t stand out otherwise so they make a show of every training session even though it is clear they are just showing off.

At least it is better than this one guy I used to see wearing pink leg warmers who used to dance and sing whenever that Cher song, “do you believe in life after love” would come on.

The fact that they played that song is what made me first buy headphones. The fact that he danced to it is what made me start looking at the ground and pretending I was alone.[/quote]

Haha Prof. X you crack me up every time… except this time. Put your ignorance to the side for a second and think about something: Unlike your one and only reason for existence (to get as big as possible at all costs), some people may have different reasons for training.

The small guy in the gym, for arguments sake, may be 175lbs, may (now don’t freak out, I know it goes against everything you ever have believed) want to stay at that weight!! GASP!

Little thing called weight classes X, he is training for his sport, in this case martial arts or some hybrid. He doesn’t want to get big, he wants to be able to beat up other people in his weight class and punks like you who think big people rule the world.

Case and point: Matt Hughes, Jens Pulver, Genki Sudo (defeated 300+ Eric Eshe), Mark Hommnick, Takanori Gomi, and the list goes on of sub 175lbs guys who would destroy you X.

Little respect for the little guys ONCE in a while.

10

I put shadowboxers in the same category as loud grunters in the gym, or the guys who walk in a tight circle staring at the ground breathing heavily trying to get their adrenaline up for a lift.

While I agree that some of the shadowboxers are just putting on a show, I think a good portion of them are definately doing it for a similar reason as the two mentioned above. My friend for example boxes/wrestles and does the shadowboxing in between sets that are maximum effort.

Boxing is that thing that pumps him up and the simple act of shadowboxing puts him back in that mindset and he performs better. He is not a show off, it simply works for him.

But I do agree that it is annoying. I also agree that some jackasses do it for show.

11

[quote]Diablo9845 wrote:
Professor X wrote:
I’ve seen guys do this. They are usually the smallest people in the gym also. I have always thought it was their way of being noticed. They wouldn’t stand out otherwise so they make a show of every training session even though it is clear they are just showing off.

At least it is better than this one guy I used to see wearing pink leg warmers who used to dance and sing whenever that Cher song, “do you believe in life after love” would come on.

The fact that they played that song is what made me first buy headphones. The fact that he danced to it is what made me start looking at the ground and pretending I was alone.

Haha Prof. X you crack me up every time… except this time. Put your ignorance to the side for a second and think about something: Unlike your one and only reason for existence (to get as big as possible at all costs), some people may have different reasons for training.

The small guy in the gym, for arguments sake, may be 175lbs, may (now don’t freak out, I know it goes against everything you ever have believed) want to stay at that weight!! GASP!

Little thing called weight classes X, he is training for his sport, in this case martial arts or some hybrid. He doesn’t want to get big, he wants to be able to beat up other people in his weight class and punks like you who think big people rule the world.

Case and point: Matt Hughes, Jens Pulver, Genki Sudo (defeated 300+ Eric Eshe), Mark Hommnick, Takanori Gomi, and the list goes on of sub 175lbs guys who would destroy you X.

Little respect for the little guys ONCE in a while.[/quote]

I belive there are appropriate training facilities for these people , not a 24h fitness (or whatever).

12

[quote]Diablo9845 wrote:
Professor X wrote:
I’ve seen guys do this. They are usually the smallest people in the gym also. I have always thought it was their way of being noticed. They wouldn’t stand out otherwise so they make a show of every training session even though it is clear they are just showing off.

At least it is better than this one guy I used to see wearing pink leg warmers who used to dance and sing whenever that Cher song, “do you believe in life after love” would come on.

The fact that they played that song is what made me first buy headphones. The fact that he danced to it is what made me start looking at the ground and pretending I was alone.

Haha Prof. X you crack me up every time… except this time. Put your ignorance to the side for a second and think about something: Unlike your one and only reason for existence (to get as big as possible at all costs), some people may have different reasons for training.

The small guy in the gym, for arguments sake, may be 175lbs, may (now don’t freak out, I know it goes against everything you ever have believed) want to stay at that weight!! GASP!

Little thing called weight classes X, he is training for his sport, in this case martial arts or some hybrid. He doesn’t want to get big, he wants to be able to beat up other people in his weight class and punks like you who think big people rule the world.

Case and point: Matt Hughes, Jens Pulver, Genki Sudo (defeated 300+ Eric Eshe), Mark Hommnick, Takanori Gomi, and the list goes on of sub 175lbs guys who would destroy you X.

Little respect for the little guys ONCE in a while.[/quote]

Some guy doing sidekicks into the air in front of the dumbbell rack and then taking time to flex a little…and then doing some shadow boxing before doing some more curls is not “helping his training”. His size isn’t the issue. It is just that it seems that the smaller guys are the only one who feel the need to do this so everyone watching will think they know how to fight…shadows.

I understand that any time someone doesn’t acknowledge the skinny guys, the alarm sounds in “skin and bones” central and you all unite into one huge karate/BJJ Voltron-like creature capable of beating up all men with arms bigger than yours, but give us a break.

Playing pretend Bruce Lee in the middle of 24 Hour Fitness in order to impress everyone else (ignoring that there is an a huge empty aerobics room at night if the goal was to actually do some training on his moves) isn’t fooling anyone.

Put Voltron back in the box. The situation is under control.

13

[quote]bboybean wrote:
I belive there are appropriate training facilities for these people , not a 24h fitness (or whatever).
[/quote]

That is a dumb statement. Blatenly said, you put no thought into that. Sure there are places better suited to train for MMA, BUT there are also better places to train bobdybuilding, strongman or powerlifting than a 24hr fitness… so who are you to say where people can work out?

Come on man, what do you train for? A big bench? Go to Westside. Bodybuilding? Hit up Golds @ Venice beach (or whereever the fuck “proffesional” bodybuilders train).

This is T-Nation. On the splash page it mentions combat athletes wit hthe same respect as powerlifters and bodybuilders, so fuck right off for shunning us at the gym. I’m personally tired of you dropping you weights when you’re done or your dumbass posing routines.

And in the same respect as combat athletes “showing off” with different moves or shadow boxing… stop showing off then with your 650lb deadlift singles. I mean, who cares how much you can lift?

(Of course I understand and respect what a single rep can do for an athlete training ME, but its just showing off as much as shadow boxing is)

We all train. Get over our differences.

14

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Some guy doing sidekicks into the air in front of the dumbbell rack and then taking time to flex a little…and then doing some shadow boxing before doing some more curls is not “helping his training”. His size isn’t the issue. It is just that it seems that the smaller guys are the only one who feel the need to do this so everyone watching will think they know how to fight…shadows.

I understand that any time someone doesn’t acknowledge the skinny guys, the alarm sounds in “skin and bones” central and you all unite into one huge karate/BJJ Voltron-like creature capable of beating up all men with arms bigger than yours, but give us a break.

Playing pretend Bruce Lee in the middle of 24 Hour Fitness in order to impress everyone else (ignoring that there is an a huge empty aerobics room at night if the goal was to actually do some training on his moves) isn’t fooling anyone.

Put Voltron back in the box. The situation is under control.[/quote]

You’ll never get it buddy. We don’t unite. We don’t need to. We are confident in our skills and laugh when guys like you run off at the mouth, albeit quietly so we don’t piss you off, cause I mean, big arms mean you can beat me up.

Some guys may ruin it for us. Maybe the guy doing sidekicks doesn’t train and wants to look tough. Maybe he does train though, and it is his thing that he uses to psych himself up for training.

Let me remind you of “Light weight baby!” Maybe the most inconsiderate and ignorant trainee that I have ever heard of. And I bet you look up to him.

I bet you love it when you’re going for a new PR and everyone stops and watch. Stop “showing off” and start fucking off. Share the gym or get out. As long as no-one is sidekicking you, then don’t worry about it. Laugh quietly if you have to, but keep it to yourself. Have a little respect my friend.

15

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Diablo9845 wrote:
Professor X wrote:

I understand that any time someone doesn’t acknowledge the skinny guys, the alarm sounds in “skin and bones” central and you all unite into one huge karate/BJJ Voltron-like creature capable of beating up all men with arms bigger than yours, but give us a break.

Playing pretend Bruce Lee in the middle of 24 Hour Fitness in order to impress everyone else (ignoring that there is an a huge empty aerobics room at night if the goal was to actually do some training on his moves) isn’t fooling anyone.

Put Voltron back in the box. The situation is under control.[/quote]

Yes I’m sure people are shadowboxing in between sets because they are intimidated by how huge you are and want to show off. You nailed it.

What confuses me is a good portion of advise you get from experienced lifters is “set your own goals and don’t worry about others people.” If this is true, then why is there so much ridicule for other people?

16

[quote]Shaved wrote:
Professor X wrote:
Diablo9845 wrote:
Professor X wrote:

I understand that any time someone doesn’t acknowledge the skinny guys, the alarm sounds in “skin and bones” central and you all unite into one huge karate/BJJ Voltron-like creature capable of beating up all men with arms bigger than yours, but give us a break.

Playing pretend Bruce Lee in the middle of 24 Hour Fitness in order to impress everyone else (ignoring that there is an a huge empty aerobics room at night if the goal was to actually do some training on his moves) isn’t fooling anyone.

Put Voltron back in the box. The situation is under control.

Yes I’m sure people are shadowboxing in between sets because they are intimidated by how huge you are and want to show off. You nailed it.

What confuses me is a good portion of advise you get from experienced lifters is “set your own goals and don’t worry about others people.” If this is true, then why is there so much ridicule for other people?
[/quote]

What does intimidation have to do with this? I didn’t write anything about someone being intimidated by me so why would that come out? Hmmmmm.

I have been around fighters much of my life (mostly boxing) but have been very good friends with a couple of blackbelts, one of which got a football scholarship (free ride). Neither of them would have acted like that in front of the mirror in the gym. We aren’t talking about someone who is training for fighting.

We are talking about some guy doing curls yet hitting the air in front of him in between sets because it causes people to look at him. There is a rather huge difference and not one person was putting down fighters, fighting or anyone with those goals. If you all are so confident, why are your hearts worn so visibly on your sleeves?

Someone says that it seems it is the skinny guys who have very little muscle mass who feel the need to do this and every skinny dude jumps in in defense? Is this because you are that guy?

If you are that guy, yes, you do look silly. I won’t laugh at you while I’m training because laughing really hard ruins my focus and gives me indigestion…which is a very bad thing. If that is just too much “ridicule” to handle, my suggestion is to work on your confidence a little bit more than that flamingo on legged Karate Kid move you did 2 years ago in front of the 20lbs dumbbells.

17

Few people like MMA more than me. Done kickboxing, bjj etc.

But I have to agree people look like fucking retards doing shadow boxing in between sets. Kicks are even stupider as that is an accident waiting to happen. Too many things to trip, fall and bang into in a gym to be doing that shit.

Now if you’re a professional fighter like Nog or you’re in a boxing gym or MMA facility fine. 24 hour fitness give me a break…why don’t you practice your gymnastics in there? How about doing ball room dancing practice in between sets with your workout partner? Lift weights in a gym that’s why there are weights there.

It’s like the asshole with a cell phone that talks really loud. Get attention elsewhere.

Flame away.

18

I have worked out at home for the past year and a half, so this really doesn’t bother me in the least, I am just bored on a saturday and wanted to have an entertaining discussion.

You definately didn’t mention the word “intimidate”, but that is the vibe I got from your post. If you don’t think that smaller guys are in any way inferior to you, then I apologize.

And since when is it only skinny guys that do this? It was usually pretty mixed when I was watching it.

Ridiculous as it seems, some people (not myself) actually do get a pump from this. As long as they are just shadowboxing in a corner instead of doing spinning roundhouse kicks, then who cares?

19

[quote]Diablo9845 wrote:
bboybean wrote:
I belive there are appropriate training facilities for these people , not a 24h fitness (or whatever).

That is a dumb statement. Blatenly said, you put no thought into that. Sure there are places better suited to train for MMA, BUT there are also better places to train bobdybuilding, strongman or powerlifting than a 24hr fitness… so who are you to say where people can work out?

Come on man, what do you train for? A big bench? Go to Westside. Bodybuilding? Hit up Golds @ Venice beach (or whereever the fuck “proffesional” bodybuilders train).

This is T-Nation. On the splash page it mentions combat athletes wit hthe same respect as powerlifters and bodybuilders, so fuck right off for shunning us at the gym. I’m personally tired of you dropping you weights when you’re done or your dumbass posing routines.

And in the same respect as combat athletes “showing off” with different moves or shadow boxing… stop showing off then with your 650lb deadlift singles. I mean, who cares how much you can lift?

(Of course I understand and respect what a single rep can do for an athlete training ME, but its just showing off as much as shadow boxing is)

We all train. Get over our differences.

[/quote]

So If I go to a MMA gym and begin deadlifting the coke machine while screaming “LIGHTWEIGHT BABY!” you wouldnt have a problem with it .

If your training with weights GOTO A weight lifting GYM if you want to punch air and scream like at your shadow GOTO whereever the fuk you guys do that shit.

20

The thing is, they are paying just as much for the right to use the facility as everyone else. If there are no posted rules that prohibit practicing shadow boxing/kickboxing, then I don’t really see the problem.

If you really have that much of a problem with this then you should:

a) try talking to them and asking them if they would mind practicing their shadow boxing in a more secluded area

b) try talking to the gym management. Perhaps there have been many complaints already and the gym may choose to change their rules to prevent further conflict

c) leave and go somewhere else. Seriously, no one is forcing you to work out there. If you really can’t get past what someone else chooses to do while training, you are perfectly capable of leaving.

As far as the “shh” sounds that they were making… This actually leads me to believe that the individual(s) have some experience or formal combative training. The average person wouldn’t know to breath like that while throwing strikes.

And just for the record I don’t do this, although I do practice gymnastics exercises in the gym I work at. I just don’t understand how this can be so disturbing that it warrants such a drastic response.

Good training,

Sentoguy