I personally have certain priorities in why I lift, one of them to is to be an intimidating person. Now, im a respecting person, I dont go around acting like a tough guy or nothing, But I’m curious what kind of lifts best improve Punching or taking a punch or just all around Fighting ability. I want to be able to stand up for myself or girlfriend/friend/family member vs anyone. I’m not a Big guy around 165 and would like some helpful info (besides get bigger;)
I’m thinking traditional bench or a punching bag, ab work… but besides that… maybe some info on practicing some good kicking movements and improved streching for the kicks and any general fighting tips would be appreciated, thanks.
The people I have known who have a great punch are starting from a good base.starting at the feet, you need a good stance. some people even initiate the action by rolling from flat footed to the balls of their feet.the action continues through the entire body.
Its realy pretty complicated.
Good technique takes a long time and a lot of effort. alot more than I care to write about.
overall muscle mass helps absorb blows to the body to some degree but you can never train to really take a punch unless you roll with them to help punching speed and strenght the best advice i can give you is work on getting your body behind it dont punch someone like you would bench press but rather throw your body behind your arm like you would a baseball bat also learn to snap the end of your punches and punch maybe an inch or so through your target but not too far you want punches to be short and explosive…find a heavy bag and start pounding the shit out of it
Big Chest, Shoulders, traps, upper back in general all lead to a generally intimidating looking physique. Some people are scared of big guys, and yet some people look to pick fights with big guys, so you gotta be careful. A mean scowl on your mug should scare enough people away though.
In terms of fighting, you have to learn to fight. A good discipline will teach you how to attack and absorb attacks.
Does anyone have a link to a good article on learning proper kicking technique? I feel that being able to use my legs effectively would much improve fighting ability as well.
As of now I think i’de only be able to kick someone in the hips =) I think I need to learn better stretching or proper stance or something im not sure, thanks.
[quote]freejury wrote:
Does anyone have a link to a good article on learning proper kicking technique? I feel that being able to use my legs effectively would much improve fighting ability as well.
As of now I think i’de only be able to kick someone in the hips =) I think I need to learn better stretching or proper stance or something im not sure, thanks.[/quote]
You’re saying that you can’t even hit someone at head-height, even using bad form? How small are you? Can you touch the ground keeping your legs straight?
Actualy, kicking to the hip is a great technique for moving a body and disabling the lower extremities,and an opponent may also crap his pants uncontrolably if directed at the bowels.
not bad as a starting move.
The head,on the other hand, is a moving target, and easily blocked. Not the best choice.
For a good start see what you can find on Jeet Kun Do and other multi-disciplin styles.
1- Don’t train to be able to kick people in the head. It’s silly. hell even thai kicks to the legs I disagree with to an extent. In any situation where you take your stability (two legs away from the ground) you put yourself in a dangerous situation.
That said, I would learn how to kick just to learn how to defend against it. (how someone will set it up etc).
2- Hitting the Heavy bag with proper mechanics is how you develope striking power. Not much else you can do. You can do maximal effort training, and dynamic effort training. But as far as applying that muscle to technique. Heavy bag with proper mechanics… and get a REALLY heavy bag. Like a Thai bag. something that weighs at least your weight. I know people with 90lb heavy bags…wtf is that about? It weighs less than your gf???
3- Dumbbell Clean and Press (not jerk, not push-press…PRESS) You’ll get strong everywhere.
4- Jumprope. There’s a reason why it was Muhammed Ali’s favorite exercise.
If you want to be able to better take a punch train your neck directly. Not many people do. Wrestlers bridges and neck extensions.
Make sure you incorporate a lot of twisting movements into your ‘ab work’ cause all punching involves torso rotation. The obliques are vital for punch power. Also strong hip flexors are essential for kicking and kneeing but make sure to balance that with lots of work for your hip extensors to maintain muscle balance, increase power and avoid injury.
For punch power do some plyometric drills. Depth jumps off blocks in push up position and med ball catch and throws are good.
Train your lats and biceps too cause the strength of your antagonists is a limiting factor when it comes to ballistic movements like punching. The bodies protective mechanism will limit force production if the antagonists can’t prevent over extension of a joint.
And I don’t agree that learning how to kick is pointless. High kicking is pretty difficult until you get real good but low kicks are easy and effective. Check MMA and you’ll see plenty of low kicks. They are great for taking away an opponents mobility and keep them at bay.
Of all the big three lifts I favour the squat the most because you need such a strong core and legs. This is where all your power comes from for all strikes. But some would argue the DL is better.
Most important of all is to actually get some training on how to punch and kick. Try Boxing, Kick Boxing or Muay Thai.
[quote]freejury wrote:
I personally have certain priorities in why I lift, one of them to is to be an intimidating person. Now, im a respecting person, I dont go around acting like a tough guy or nothing, But I’m curious what kind of lifts best improve Punching or taking a punch or just all around Fighting ability. I want to be able to stand up for myself or girlfriend/friend/family member vs anyone. I’m not a Big guy around 165 and would like some helpful info (besides get bigger;)
I’m thinking traditional bench or a punching bag, ab work… but besides that… maybe some info on practicing some good kicking movements and improved streching for the kicks and any general fighting tips would be appreciated, thanks.[/quote]
I assume you’re talking about the occasional bar/party brawl, etc. and not about becoming a professional fighter.
The best thing to get better at anything is to do that thing. If you want to get better at throwing a football, throw a football. If you want to get better at jumping rope, jump rope. You aren’t going to get any better at throwing a football by doing tricep extensions, and you won’t get better at jumping rope by doing calf raises.
By the same token you won’t get better at fighting unless you fight. And be aware that the type of fight you’re talking about can get pretty messy pretty fast. No amount of muay thai or traditional boxing experience is going to help you when the first blow landed is a lit hibachi grill to your face. (don’t laugh, I’ve seen it happen… okay, laugh. I did.)
[quote]freejury wrote:
Does anyone have a link to a good article on learning proper kicking technique? I feel that being able to use my legs effectively would much improve fighting ability as well.
As of now I think i’de only be able to kick someone in the hips =) I think I need to learn better stretching or proper stance or something im not sure, thanks.[/quote]
I think you should focus on you’re hands for now. I wouldn’t try to kick someone in a street fight unless you have really good takedown d-fense, or good grappling skills. Because that is where you will end up after attempting to kick someone in a fight.
I suggest that you work on your sprinting ability. If it looks like someone might want to start a fight with you then running ability is the only way you can win.
Funny thing about fighting in our current times. If you win you will go to jail, civil court, or both. If you lose you will go to the hospital where your (most probable) lack of insurance will cause you financial hardship as well as the emotional and physical pain of losing.
Okay, with that said let’s just look at three basic rules, as that’s all I have time for. When you really have to fight (and those times are very rare, if ever, when you are not looking for trouble) gain some weight. Most big guys beat most little guys. I know, I know, we all have a tough friend who only weighs 90lbs. and he can beat up the world. Okay, there we got the exception out of the way, now focus on the rule. Most big guys can beat most little guys. If you are a big strong guy you now have a huge advantage.
Secondly, most fights have grappling involved. I know, not all fights, save it. Most fights have grappling involved so learn how to grapple. Forget the kicking thing, that usually doesn’t work. I know you saw a guy kick a guy who went flying…but it usually doesn’t work so forget it (some low kicks are actually a good excetion to the rule).
Third, if you have to fight and there is no way out (which means you tried to leave and couldn’t) then I suggest you strike first and hard. Most people who strike first and hard win. I know, not everyone who strikes first and hardest wins, but most do. Remember, we care about the rule not the exception.
"I want to be able to stand up for myself or girlfriend/friend/family member vs anyone. I’m not a Big guy around 165 and would like some helpful info (besides get bigger;) "
If your serious then here’s what you do. You select the handgun of your choice. You get a concealed handgun carry permit. Once a week (MINIMUM), every week, religously, you go to your local range and put in 1 to 2 hours point shooting (look it up). I mean every week.
I’m a former amateur boxer who now coaches and i still love to get in and spar with the kids. But i’ll tell you, the only time i don’t carry is when i’m in my gym. Otherwise i got a Glock 30, .45 cal on a inside belt holster, and a Guardian .380 strapped to my ankle. Now i fought at middleweight (160 lbs) and still try to stay close to that. But i’ll tell you, i don’t care if your 165 lbs or 265 lbs and can bench 750 lbs. I can can pull that .45 faster than you can say “well come on then motherf&*%er” because i practice it. I’ll put my 10 rounds of 185 grain hollowpoint .45’s up against your 750 lbs benchpress anyday.
Go to the gym to workout, take up wrestling, MMA or boxing for fun and competition. But if you want to protect your family, take one day aweek and go to the range, or you may wind up bringing a benchpress to a gun fight. And that ain’t healthy. To hell with my Mastercard, i say “Glock .45, don’t leave home without it”
the main points I agree with and was going to comment on:
1- Get a heavy bag take some boxing classes or join a local club. you arent going to get good at punching without doing it alot!
2- Take up grabbling, almost all the fights I’ve seen that arent broken up quickly or over with a few punches end up on the ground.
3- Gain as much mass as possible, this will help all around physically and just as important mentally.
4- All else fails get a concealed carry license (my recomendation here is a 40 caliper, easy to fire and considerably more stopping power then your average 9mm. I’m a small guy and point shooting a 44-45 cal. just doesnt work.)
Finally don’t get in fights if possible, like mentioned most likely you will end up in jail. Not fun
Naard, you carry two guns on you at all times? Isn’t that a little paranoid? I thought hollow point was illegal?
Besides, there are many situations where punching someone would be acceptable and shooting them would not. If you get into a barfight are you going to fill your adversary full of hollowpoint? If someone is being belligerent and tries to start a fight with you at a sporting event say, are you going to kill them over it? A gun is only called for in life-threatening circumstances, and most of us will never actually face those circumstances. People like you scare me.
Most smart people see a gun and stop what they are doing. You don’t have to shoot people for them to realize that they should not mess with you. A simple flash of the piece or drawing it would most likely do the job in most situations. The other situations? They could get interesting.