Respect to People who Fight

Off Topic
61

Somebody wrote an article on elitefts.com about toughness that opened something like this (I’m paraphrasing):

"Bodybuilders just look big, but I’m a powerlifter and can lift more weight!’

‘Yea, well I’m a bodybuilder and all powerlifters are fat, plus I get more pussy’

‘So what! I’m an MMA fighter and I can kick both your asses’"

The author goes on to say that the good ones in all three sports are all equally as mentally tough. They just choose to pursue different goals. I have to agree.

Only being able to choose one of the three, we naturally form a preference that causes us to defend our egos when somebody talks about another of the three. We all do it. Even I’ve caught myself seeing a big dude act like he’s the shit and thinking “I’d hit him three times before he knew he was in a fight”.

A little insecurity is a part of everyone’s life and that’s part of what drives us to get better. If you can’t admit that then you’re lying to yourself. I know, not the most manly thing to say, but whatever.

We should just respect what the other person does if they have the balls to try and be good at it.

As far as size and BJJ, here’s my experience: I was once 235 lbs. and probably considered a “bodybuilder” at 5’11". Although this wasn’t big, it was a lot bigger than where I started at 165 lbs. Now I’m at about 198 and am doing BJJ about 6 times a week, judo, and a little thai boxing.

The first time I stepped on the mat, at 235 lbs. and the strongest I’ve ever been, I got destroyed! I remember this 130 lbs. VEGETARIAN choked me out twice within five minutes! Truly humbling and really opened my eyes to what technique can do.

I still absolutely suck at BJJ but have gotten better and know that the new skinny me could kick the old me’s ass. I can say for sure that I busted my ass at getting bigger and am now going to bust my ass at becoming a better BJJ player. So please, don’t just lump all of us wannabe mma guys into the “skinny boy doesn’t have the discipline to get big” category.

Give respect to all that put in the work!

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[quote]Xyo_II wrote:
MaloVerde wrote:
Xyo_II wrote:
alownage wrote:

No, I was still practicing when I first started lifting about 4 years ago. Then I stopped lifting a year later, and bit later stopped practicing the martial arts. It could have been that my frame was growing too- I was only 14 years old. But once I started lifting weights I could tell my range of motion was diminished quite a bit. Considering I was stretching for about 15 mins at least 3 days out of the week ever since I was 6 years old, maybe I just noticed it more.[/quote]

So you started lifting at 14 and quit a year later. How much mass did you gain by the age of 15? Your profile says you have been lifting for 1/2 year so, according to you, you have 1 1/2 years total weight training under your belt.

My young friend, with that in mind, I can assure you that lifting weights did not cause you to lose your flexibility.

My 2 year old son can do the splits. Unless he becomes a gymnast, I’m sure by the time he is 18 he won’t be able to anymore either.

63

[quote]MaloVerde wrote:
Xyo_II wrote:
MaloVerde wrote:
Xyo_II wrote:
alownage wrote:

No, I was still practicing when I first started lifting about 4 years ago. Then I stopped lifting a year later, and bit later stopped practicing the martial arts. It could have been that my frame was growing too- I was only 14 years old. But once I started lifting weights I could tell my range of motion was diminished quite a bit. Considering I was stretching for about 15 mins at least 3 days out of the week ever since I was 6 years old, maybe I just noticed it more.

So you started lifting at 14 and quit a year later. How much mass did you gain by the age of 15? Your profile says you have been lifting for 1/2 year so, according to you, you have 1 1/2 years total weight training under your belt.

My young friend, with that in mind, I can assure you that lifting weights did not cause you to lose your flexibility.

My 2 year old son can do the splits. Unless he becomes a gymnast, I’m sure by the time he is 18 he won’t be able to anymore either.
[/quote]

Well said. My guess is, he didn’t even stay the same height from the age of 14.

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[quote]Professor X wrote:
MaloVerde wrote:
So you started lifting at 14 and quit a year later. How much mass did you gain by the age of 15? Your profile says you have been lifting for 1/2 year so, according to you, you have 1 1/2 years total weight training under your belt.

My young friend, with that in mind, I can assure you that lifting weights did not cause you to lose your flexibility.

My 2 year old son can do the splits. Unless he becomes a gymnast, I’m sure by the time he is 18 he won’t be able to anymore either.

Well said. My guess is, he didn’t even stay the same height from the age of 14.[/quote]

You’re right, I was about 5’5" 4 years ago, and I’m at about 5’8"-5’9" now. I guess it slipped my mind that my body has changed quite a bit. I can still almost do the splits, though; my muscles haven’t been worked in a while and my hips just don’t like my legs moving any farther. Thanks for the input, I appreciate it.

65

[quote]T-Nick wrote:
Oh yea dude, your preaching to the choir man. These guys for the most part don’t lift at all. They think Im strange for doin front squats and farmer walks. When I tell them the best thing to do to get better at armbars is to do pullups, preferably weighted, they think Im crazy.

Im not a fan of MMA nowadays. I think its not even fighting anymore and calling Hughes a fighting champ, to me, is ridiculous. Take away the gloves, rules, rounds, and time limits, and things would change. I’d take Ryron Gracie over Hughes, Penn, GSP any day of the week. But thats all for a different thread ;)[/quote]

While I agree that to some degree MMA has sold itself out to go mainstream, I don’t think you should take anything away from Hughes or say that he isn’t a champion. He fights and wins according to the rules, and it’s not his fault they are they way they are.

As for the Gracie’s are better than everyone else sentiments, let’s just that I definetely do not echo them :wink: