How does fitness fit into your overall strategy?

[DammitBoy]

Never underestimate the little guy. After three years of bouncing in a bar - you learn two things.

1. That short guy has a temper, a chip on his shoulder and something to prove.

2. Bring another bouncer to take him down.

 

[Checkman]

Absolutely. A large percentage of the population in my city is Hispanic. Most of whom are under 5'7" and built like barrels. Those guys can be a real handful in a fight. But at least we can look each other in the eye when we're going around and around.

 

[Cosmoline]

A true fighter is not 100% dependent on any weapon. He is the weapon.

Isn't that a line from a Steven Seagal movie? Being "in shape" is a tough goal especially as you get older, fatter and parts of you start to fall asleep or ache for no apparent reason.

For personal self defense I think the goal should be to be in good enough shape to climb out of a second floor window without breaking bones or to climb over a 6' cyclone fence. You should be able to sprint fifty yards and dive off behind cover. And you should be able to deliver a powerful enough blow to get away from an attacker.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Being "in shape" is a tough goal especially as you get older, fatter and parts of you start to fall asleep or ache for no apparent reason.

It has to be a lifestyle. Of course, sometimes there are medical problems than preclude good fitness, but those notwithstanding, it's a commitment one has to make. I know guys in their sixties and even seventies who are in very good shape, and most don't look their age either.

My Grandfather still hits the gym and plays racketball daily, very active in general. He is 91. My other grandfather basically became a couch potato when he retired at 62. He had a couple heart attacks and other medical problems follwing that, and died at 87.

 

[Magoo541]

I never said I was a ripped body builder, but I do lift hard 5 days a week. At 260 I can still run two miles under 15 minutes, I do 50 chinups twice a week, I don't do max lifts but I deadlift 435 in my workout and squat 395 on my leg days. I'm not here to get in a pissing contest I was just responding to the intial post.

As for stamina, I did an 8 hour belt test for TKD about a year ago and I'm not too far from that level of fitness, just 10 pounds heavier due to a new leg workout partner. And I can hit hard, I just don't need to

 

[kailash]

A good example in fitness fit and overall strategy is the boxer Mani Pacquiao

 

[okespe04]

Being fit makes everything easier. That's why I stay fit.

 

[Checkman]

Being fit makes everything easier. That's why I stay fit.

Very true. In the past when I've put on weight and I'm not going to the gym I can feel the difference. It's pretty dramatic actually.

 

[Japle]

In the past when I've put on weight and I'm not going to the gym I can feel the difference. It's pretty dramatic actually.

A good example of this is watching shooters on the "Outer Limits" stage at a steel match. The fit shooters make the move from box 1 to box 2 in three steps / 1 second. The out-of-shape shooters scramble to box 2, taking 4-6 steps and 3-4 seconds.

 

[Slotback]

Spot on Checkman. And think about it folks, you don't want to be fighting yourself, trying to catch your breath when some SOB is trying to whip your ass or kill you.

 

[Checkman]

Slotback

Spot on Checkman. And think about it folks, you don't want to be fighting yourself, trying to catch your breath when some SOB is trying to whip your ass or kill you

.

Yep. Which is always a motivator for me when I do get slack.

 

[Cosmoline]

I just did my bike/hike/shoot/bike yesterday. 15 miles to the trailhead, six miles of hiking, then back to the range then back home another 15 miles. Today I'm hoping someone comes and shoots me to put me out of my misery.

 

[DammitBoy]

Today I'm hoping someone comes and shoots me to put me out of my misery.

I hung sheetrock most of the weekend to help out a friend. If I could move, I might shoot myself to put me out of my misery.

 

[Talin342]

Rule #1 - Cardio

 

[quatin]

When you're talking about someone that is larger due to their physical exercise and weight training, the cardio threshold will be equally as high. This is why they establish weight classes. Someone who is a flyweight cannot stand a sporting chance against someone who is a heavyweight. The flyweight may have speed and good hits, but they stand to sustain significantly harder and more damaging blows from a heavyweight, with a great chance of injury and knockout. The physical advantage goes to the greater size and weight. Such is why you won't ever see Brock Lesnar fighting Ian McCall.
I may not be able to run 15 miles with an MMA fighter, but I won't have to if I have a significant strength advantage coupled with a capable aerobic capacity.

Well yeah, I was obviously talking about size related to frame. McCall is 5'5 and Lesnar is 6'3. I was talking about being bulky related to your frame. Notice Lesnar only has about 3-4 minutes of gas. He got demolished by Velasquez, who came in at 244lbs after just waiting for him to tire out. Same thing happens to other HWs who rely on strength. Bob Sapp who's 300lb+ and notorious for rushing, would lose to 185lb fighters who would just wait till he gets tired. The better fighters in the HW division now a days aren't the biggest guys, it's the moderate sized fighters who can fight for 10-15 minutes.

Now this obviously won't apply as much to those of us who aren't professional fighters, but it's food for thought. I used to weigh in at 240lbs and dropped down to 187lb now. My overall strength has decreased, but I can go full speed and strength much longer. I would suggest getting a heavy bag and hit with proper form for 2 minute rounds with 30s breaks. When you can go for 3 rounds at full speed and strength, you'll be good to go.

 

[MrsSmith]

Fitness is very important!
Take the post from page 1 of this thread that reads, "Take for example, a petite female. She can exercise, study some flavor of martial art, establish a serious mindset, etc, but she will never give herself a real advantage over a 210 lb attacker."
I'm a petite female and I'm not afraid of anyone simply because he's bigger than me. Gun to gun it comes down to who gets in the best shot first. Without guns, it comes down to who knows how to incapacitate their opponent the fastest. I'm not saying I can put anyone down, but being in the best physical shape you can be in certainly helps to level that playing field. No matter who you are, there's always going to be someone bigger or or stronger than you. Why make it easier on them by not being in peak physical shape?