Noobs/Fat people in the gym

[danny_171]

I've become a regular at my boxing gym, one of the handful that comes in everyday to train. I've noticed over the months that plenty of people come in for one day and then leave. But lately I've seen an influx of noobs and some seriously overweight people. And to be honest, it's kind of annoying. Instead of having our instructor teach us some good tactics or more advanced stuff, he's explaining the basics to whole class for the noobs' benefit. I'm all for practicing the basics, but everyday is pretty boring once you've made it into the "advanced" group. I've basically noticed a decrease in the quality of my training because of these new people, but more importantly the fat people. Now, I know boxing is an amazing workout, but do you think you should get in decent shape BEFORE coming to a boxing gym? I have to walk them through everything, when I should be practicing my own skills.

What are you're thoughts on noobs/fat people in the gym? Do they annoy you, do you not care, are you fortunate enough not to have too many? Discuss.

 

[eLbo85]

there will always be good and bad fighters in a gym.

the problem is as you say when there are too many of one kind that it affects the rest of the team.
like when there are too many fat people who just like to work out and lose some weight, the trainers should split the groups into a fitness/cardio class and an advanced class for example.

same goes for women, kids etc...

 

[adamantium]

there will always be good and bad fighters in a gym.

the problem is as you say when there are too many of one kind that it affects the rest of the team.
like when there are too many fat people who just like to work out and lose some weight, the trainers should split the groups into a fitness/cardio class and an advanced class for example.

same goes for women, kids etc...

what now happens with my gym, fighters train at one point, the begginers/intermediate an hour or so later. however we dont ever have a "cardio" lesson, sometimes our instructer decides we're all gassing or doing crap so he just makes us all do fitness, circuit training, or whatever to remind us that its more than just technique and power, or we'll have a whole session just working on technique and finish up with a bit of sparring using what we have learnt, or full sparring or whatever, awesome fun.

Suggest that your instructer has 2 seperate class? people who have been comnig for a while and he feels are capable of stepping up to the higher class train earlier/later than the new comers or people who want more fitness and defence rather than training to fight.

 

[Tommy Seoul]

I've become a regular at my boxing gym, one of the handful that comes in everyday to train. I've noticed over the months that plenty of people come in for one day and then leave. But lately I've seen an influx of noobs and some seriously overweight people. And to be honest, it's kind of annoying. Instead of having our instructor teach us some good tactics or more advanced stuff, he's explaining the basics to whole class for the noobs' benefit. I'm all for practicing the basics, but everyday is pretty boring once you've made it into the "advanced" group. I've basically noticed a decrease in the quality of my training because of these new people, but more importantly the fat people. Now, I know boxing is an amazing workout, but do you think you should get in decent shape BEFORE coming to a boxing gym? I have to walk them through everything, when I should be practicing my own skills.

What are you're thoughts on noobs/fat people in the gym? Do they annoy you, do you not care, are you fortunate enough not to have too many? Discuss.

I guess you should just be thankful that there were more patient and helpful people at the gym when you were a noob. The people just starting out now are really getting fucked over relative to what you experienced.

 

[aaron_mag]

Welcome to the world of a popular martial art.

This is what happened to many arts like Karate and TKD. You look at old photos in the 70s and early 80s of martial arts classes and you see almost all young men who are pretty fit. Women and children filtered into these classes (as well as older men who were 40 plus, or just naturally aged as part of the class). As the population changes so does feel and focus of the class. The movie Million Dollar Baby is screwing you guys over!! Ha ha...

That is why college martial arts classes are some of the best ones. You've got a bunch of people of similar age (usually fit) with more time than your average working adult.

 

[FistInFace]

Management should split the class into two: beginner and advanced, with a few of the veterans (those who feel charitable) and the head instructor teaching the beginners. Problem solved!

 

[CelebritySexist]

Fucking shame that people should make an effort to do something with their lives, eh? Ever catch yourself silently looking down on all the fat people you see in the street? Ever think to yourself: 'these pricks should take care of themselves'?

Without sounding like you-can-really-do-it-Sarah type, these folk have overcome a huge mental hurdle in stepping into BOXING. Most peoples' expectations of an MA or boxing class are based on watching Kung Fu or that Rocky film where he walks into the black fellas gym. For them to take that one step is a very brave thing indeed.

True story: at my old gym there was a guy weighing 120kg turned up who couldn't punch his way out of a paper bag. Now, four years later, he's half that and winning fights all the time. This is what happens when you take the time with the fat guys. So what if they try once and leave? Do you reckon it may be in some way related to the holier-than-thou attitude exhibited by the more experienced people?

Why don't you take more joy in helping these people? Do you have a derisory look on your face when you show them the jab? Does boredom manifest itself as you show them how to weave? Do you show them wildly complicated combinations then dismiss those as being "basic, basic stuff"? What a shame that your training "suffers" because you are fulfilling your obligation to the class!

Your attitude is rotten.

 

[Mike Richardson]

I find it handy to train with people newer than me on fundamental kind of stuff becuase when I'm being mindful of all the steps to help point out any errors in form, I almost subconsciously seem to make more effort to keep things even more clean technique wise. everyone was new at some point, its something to keep in mind-

 

[CowboyPete]

If you don't want noobs mucking up your training, spring for private sessions. You were a noob at one point. You may have even been fat/out of shape at some point. Don't get down on guys who want to join your sport. If none of them did, it would become extinct. I have that much more respect for someone who steps into the gym with 0 physical ability and skill and sticks with it until they can run with the big boys.

 

[Tuck_30]

At 6' and 220, I am not a skinny little punk myself, so for anyone to complain about "fat" people coming into a gym to experience any kind of combat art, including boxing, is horse shit. Those new fatties just might woop your skinny ass. Obviously they have at least a little bit of faith in their fighting ability or else they wouldn't be there. We as fighters, at any level, should welcome anyone wanting to further their ability. And as for your gym, find a new one, the owner obviously either doesn't have time or the interest in devoting more time with his more skilled fighters. Making a suggestion to him and seeing where he stands might give you a new perspective. Quit cryin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jujitsuboxer]

i have same prob pisses me off SO much i no care if they there but lets split the group up i shouldn't be sitting here teaching these people i not the coach hell I am paying someone else to teach people that no make sense. If the coach is gone and askes me to fill in that's not a prob at all but come on i no wanna do it all the time and pay to do it

 

[danny_171]

Fucking shame that people should make an effort to do something with their lives, eh? Ever catch yourself silently looking down on all the fat people you see in the street? Ever think to yourself: 'these pricks should take care of themselves'?

Without sounding like you-can-really-do-it-Sarah type, these folk have overcome a huge mental hurdle in stepping into BOXING. Most peoples' expectations of an MA or boxing class are based on watching Kung Fu or that Rocky film where he walks into the black fellas gym. For them to take that one step is a very brave thing indeed.

True story: at my old gym there was a guy weighing 120kg turned up who couldn't punch his way out of a paper bag. Now, four years later, he's half that and winning fights all the time. This is what happens when you take the time with the fat guys. So what if they try once and leave? Do you reckon it may be in some way related to the holier-than-thou attitude exhibited by the more experienced people?

Why don't you take more joy in helping these people? Do you have a derisory look on your face when you show them the jab? Does boredom manifest itself as you show them how to weave? Do you show them wildly complicated combinations then dismiss those as being "basic, basic stuff"? What a shame that your training "suffers" because you are fulfilling your obligation to the class!

Your attitude is rotten.

I never said I look down on these people, because I don't. I was a noobie myself just a short while ago, and I do give a lot of props to those who are overweight for coming to the gym. I DO give them plenty of advice, and am happy to let them get a feel for sparring by going easy on them. You should stop jumping to conclusions about me, as I never said I despise these people or make life hard on them in the gym. I was simply making an observation and trying to see what others have experienced with this.

There are always new people, and I've learned (from experience) that they're simply part of gym life. That doesn't bother me at all. It's just recently that the noobs have begun to outnumber us regulars about 4:1. This means that when we've done the focus mitts, they have no idea what to do, which has a direct impact on my training. I have four instructors, and some of them do seperate the class into "Beginner level" and "Advanced level" while some of the others don't.

I'm not trying to bash these noobie/fat people in any way, and I'm trying hard not to sound like an inconsiderate whiner. I'm just posting something that I've observed, and was wondering if any others had noticed this too.

 

[Gregster]

You were a noob once, as were we all. Moving from strandup to BJJ, I'm a noob twice over. So being disgusted with noobs for being noobs sounds a tad disingenuous to me.

Obviously, you're bummed that your own training is getting stalled because you're starting to run and your instructor has to teach a bunch of folks to walk. If you think you're getting a raw deal, perhaps you should consider approaching him and asking about having beginner and advanced classes separately, as most schools do.

 

[Henry Swanson]

I like having the opportunity to share what I've learned with noobs. I find that teaching people helps me refine myself as well.

When I was in college studying physiology I used to teach people what I was studying while preparing for exams. This helped me greatly.

 

[danny_171]

I like having the opportunity to share what I've learned with noobs. I find that teaching people helps me refine myself as well.

When I was in college studying physiology I used to teach people what I was studying while preparing for exams. This helped me greatly.

I have realized that working with new people is a good experience, as it forces me to think about my technique in order to not look like a hypocrite. Plus, their unpredictability helps keep me on my toes. But working with them everyday is not the way to get better, training with more experienced people is.

 

[Marc936]

I never said I look down on these people, because I don't. I was a noobie myself just a short while ago

if it was jsut a short while ago then you are still a noob yourself, why not just team up with someone and do a session of stuff on your own, ask the instructor to come by once and a while and see how u guys are doing and give u tips while ur training with your partner

 

[Rudy Richter]

You were a noob once, as were we all. Moving from strandup to BJJ, I'm a noob twice over. So being disgusted with noobs for being noobs sounds a tad disingenuous to me.

Obviously, you're bummed that your own training is getting stalled because you're starting to run and your instructor has to teach a bunch of folks to walk. If you think you're getting a raw deal, perhaps you should consider approaching him and asking about having beginner and advanced classes separately, as most schools do.

Damn it Gregster... beat me to it again.

Basically, don't hate on noobs... be proud how far you have come along, and advise your trainer that the school should think about having sepparate classes for beginners and more advanced people.

Ok, you can hate on noobs only if they aren't willing to work hard and learn. I know this fat guy going to our gym, and his techniuqe is not all that good during conditioning classes because his weight limits his body mechanics, BUT that boy works his ass off(judging the look on his face), so I don't mind helping him at all... So sayeth TEH BEEF.

 

[RuDOWN4It]

it depends what gym you go to. some gyms are hardcore gyms that only people who are serious and looking to compete train there. there are some gyms that people just go there to get in shape, and maybe 1 out of 10 or 20 are willing to compete. you cant decide what other people want. its a very good, if not the best sport to get in shape at, so there will always be people there just to stay fit. if you dont like the atmosphere, then maybe you should think about switching gyms.

 

[what the blood]

anyone who is overweight and goes and trains a difficult physical activity should be commended. their exclusions may only make it more difficult for them to lose weight. maybe doing something they are really interested in like boxing is one of the only ways they can force themselves to excerise.

 

[JABobo3]

Fat is really not the same as a noob, a trained fat guy can whoop your ass, a newb cannot.