stigma of being a big guy

Discussion in 'Strength & Conditioning Discussion' started by Justyn Riley, May 15, 2008.

  1. Justyn Riley Blue Belt Professional Fighter

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    for any of the big guys in here (I'm 6'3 258) who do any training, I have a question. Does it ever seem like you're expected to be as fast and have the same endurance level as the smaller guys, but they're given a pass on strength because they're smaller than you? Don't get me wrong, my goal is to be as fast as them, and I'm really not all that far behind, but it seems like a double standard at times.
     
  2. baatar White Belt

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    I know what you mean... I have been scored on by lighter, faster guys nano-seconds before they get a would-be lights-out hammer to the head. It's nice to be pushed and they give me something to work toward. However, it is nice to know that in a real world situation I would only have to get past a few mosquito bites on my way to his face.
     
  3. rEdShawks Brown Belt

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    yes because all small guys hit soft:icon_neut
     
  4. Chaos Mitten** Banned Banned

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    If I offered to give you $1000 if you could go 3 minutes without getting knocked out by a professional boxer, would you rather fight a 130lb guy or a 225lb guy? Why?
     
  5. rEdShawks Brown Belt

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    130 is tiny, but if u offered that and it was either a 170 or a 225 id gladly choose the 225, the 170 is PROBALLY faster and quicker, while they both can knock me out.
     
  6. 6StingHero Green Belt

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    We'll do it live. We'll do it live. Fuck it.
    I just feel awkward at times outside just hanging out with people. I mean I don't think of myself as all that much bigger than the average guy cause I am at the gym a lot training with other big guys but when I am out in public with my friends that don't train other people just look at me like I am juice head or something cause I am just so much bigger than they are. It's also certainly doesn't help when people make comments either.
     
  7. JRT6 Black Belt

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    I have the opposite experience as I'm expected to be slow and clumsy.
     
  8. JinKazama Silver Belt

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    i love it when people ask if your on steroids or other stupid questions
     
  9. DEVILsSON Black Belt

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    Yes. That's part of being a big guy. Other bigger people will understand that conditioning, agility, etc will not be up to par compared to 130-175lb guy...however that's just not happening with smaller people...

    i found that conditioning consisting of intervals, circuits, density sets....using sprints, stairs, calisthenics, or compound exercises does wonders without spending a lot of time/calories...
     
  10. Vice Yellow Belt

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    I feel you. Although it has taken me 27 years to realize it (my brother is taller). I'm not huge, but I am 6'4" barefoot and about 205.

    But I was hanging out with these guys one time 6'6" and 6'3" and realized how nice it was to look somebody straight in the face and talk to them (as opposed to down). Hadn't had that since I played ball back in the day.

    My last girlfriend was also petitie (5'5" 100lbs) and I felt kind of weird sometimes walking around. Like I was with a teenager or something.

    Either way, every time I think i'm weird I just think about the alternative which would be the average male (5'9") and looking up at the world. I think I understand small man attitude.

    Being big > being small.

    don't sweat it gigantor...
     
  11. Cap'n <img src="http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1955/

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    I don't consider myself a big guy at only 200lbs, but most of my friends are 160 or less so I'm big to them. They assume I should be slow and clumsy due to my heavy lifting. But I continually run faster, go longer, jump higher, and so on and so forth. They think it's unfair. Ha.
     
  12. Vice Yellow Belt

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    oh yeah, and you were asking about conditioning and stuff. i spar with a few guys who are around 165-175 range and they definitely dance around me and pepper me nicely. Playing ball growing up I always felt more comfortable playing against bigger guys ironically for that very reason.

    Being big is different, you just have different attributes. You just have to find how to harness them in my opinion.
     
  13. Throw it to Lucas! No, don’t throw it to Blye!

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    I actually find the opposite to be true where bigger guys can get away with being slow and gassing early because they're bigger.

    FWIW though, one of the best athletes I've ever known was a big guy, what most would consider fat. He was around 5'8" and 240+ lbs. but he could move and was really good at a lot of different sports.
     
  14. blakethemus Blake Belt

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    Why is there a thread about wangs in Conditioning?
     
  15. Cap'n <img src="http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1955/

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    I should hook you up with my friend, Zop.
     
  16. Bubble Boy Black Belt

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    I never really expect big dudes to be fast in teh Judo, or more conditioned, but if they're weaker than me...
    then yeah, that's embarrassing for them, as it should be.

    The stereotype is:
    Mongo may be out of breath and slow, but Mongo strong.
     
  17. indigoluxe Yellow Belt

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    Best of both worlds baby, 6'4" and 160lbs.
     
  18. allitfootwork Orange Belt

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    Yep, people often seem to feel it's unfair to be big, but you just have to work with what you got - and when push comes to shove a good big guy will beat a good little guy :)
     
  19. Penkis I

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    True.
     
  20. Justyn Riley Blue Belt Professional Fighter

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    glad to see I'm not the only one, and I do agree, I'd rather be big than small. It does suck someone during our sparring b/c we go for light taps, which I agree with b/c as long as you're using good technique, you're getting better. But I'm not able to use my reach to keep them away b/c they don't have to fear the jab at all. they take one light hit and come in.

    But I do love the nights when I'm feeling good and some of the smaller guys are sucking wind and slowing down at the end of the night and I'm jumping around smiling.

    The other sucky thing is not really having anyone my size to work with. The guys my size suck and the closest one to my size that is any good is still 50 pounds lighter than me.
     

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