Getting big is pointless

I just read a post which said if you are small then adding 30lbs of muscle would make you a better fighter. But I'm a little guy with a small build. I don't care how much muscle you add if you have a small head and bone structure you will get knocked out or hurt way easier than if you have a naturally unmuscled but large frame. Bob Spour for example is of average height but he has a large strong structure- big head, thick neck and compact build which would allow him to absorb more punishment than most taller men.

Yeah but you've titled this thread "getting big is pointless"- is that really what you are trying to say?

I'm a pretty big guy (6'5, 230lbs. little bodyfat) and it seems that the only guys that have ever started with me are the little ones. But in response to your post, in my opinion, adding even 10 lbs of muscle would be quite beneficial. It may not directly make you a better fighter but it would prevent someone with a smaller frame from getting hurt like you mentioned. Additional muscle mass would act like padding (it's still gonna hurt if you get hit, of course, but it probably wouldn't do as much damage) and anaerobic excercise strengthens your joints and improves bone density, which would eventually give you a compact build like Bob Spour's.

Also, if you have a smaller frame, I think adding muscle would give you more power to deliver from a lower base. Thats always been my problem; I have a good amount of upper body strength but I also have a high center of gravity so I topple easy (if the other guy knows what they're doing...or if I've been drinking), but that would be less of a problem for someone who has a "squat-er"(? ?) stature. The more muscle you have, the more power you have to deliver and the closer you are to the ground, the quicker you can transfer power from it for, say, a headbutt (which a shorter person would be in better position to deliver). That's just my opinion. BTW, I would love to see some defense advice for guys with a taller frame as it seems all the vids I've looked at are about how to fight someone larger than you and I usually am the larger one!

i dont really agree, if somone is inbetween 5-5 to 5-8' and whacks on the muslce. They become a fucking tank! ive seen a lad a bit taller than me with a damn site more muscle rip a metal prison bed from a wall (which it was bolted into) there is no doubt in my mind that the threat of being punched vs having limbs broken or dislocated that the latter is far superior for fear pain and generally shock and awe. From what ive learned being small and light seems to defuse alot of an average punches power into a pushing force. im 5'5 an 9 stone and the last time i was hit i went flying off my feet, but wasnt even bruised . Im asuming that there are 2 types of size fear, 1) small people running round fast generally bouncing off things and 2) tall people swinging huge blows that look to fell a forrest in a swipe. then there is medium but there generally good alrounders. Small with lots of muscle (strength muscle, not the inflatable show muscle) from what ive seen can be leathal because generally they are fast and powerful, but can also step inside a tall persons reach and cause havoc! But with shorter limbs comes the problem of fighting somone who can out reach you so they will keep you at arms length unless they are stupid or intend to do some sort of crushing procedure on you. Longer limbs mean bigger moment of force, place the pivot, break the limb with less force required. Ofcourse there not going to stand there while you do it but its always worth baring in mind. They will also get a bit of a dead weight bonus as they have more arm. Idealy you want to waste their punches by trying to convert shock into pushing force. 20years of wingchun later you will be good at this

Muscle doesnt make you a good fighter, but it helps as far as energy and the amout of damage you can take. Skinny body means a body blow or a hit to a limb is going to hurt alot, because the muscle is going to get pinned to the bone. more muscle or even a bit of flab would help prevent this painful distraction. But if your Uber good at landing KO blows then its not going to make much difference, unless you cant KO them before they realise that a couple of hits is going to take you down. Also more weight means if you end up swinging off their neck or limbs you may cause some damage to tendons and be able to drag them to the floor, get up and imobilise them or atleast run like the clappers, but without good stamina and legs your not running very far and since youve wasted energy trying to land several unsucessful KO strikes your definitly not running far. Aslo the punches that slammed into your ribs and shoulder are going to be sucking the energy from your already depleted supply.

So yes build muscle, no it wont make you a better fighter. Fighting makes you a better fighter or dead/crippled/brain damaged/toothless/permanantly damaged. Many of the latter can be avoided if you train and atleast fill your frame.

sorry on a bit of a ramble (i found a small bee nest in the garden and ive eatin what i think was honey, either that or it was a be larve forming from some bee spunkish liquid :S lol)

just my opinion big or small just be aware and and if you have to fight be ruthless and pre-emptive and hopefully big or small wont matter so much

i believe you fight if you have a handicap, meaner, faster, and more clever.. that is your advantage.. for example a student of me, has a schoulder problem.. he protect his right side of his body almost perfect and is very alert.

so it is like rickson gracie, with 84 kg, and we all know his opponents.

soo, bigger is no garantee, but i am 95 kg now, and i like it.

i was for years only 80 kg.

the difference is.. one way or another you feel more confident about yourself if you are big in a fight.

i think that is a natural thing.

And as discussed in other threads it is vital to enter a fight with confidence and impel fear into your opponent.

only speaking for myself--i used to overly concern myself with everything but my fighting ability. when
i looked bruce lee-ish (small weight, lean) i got dates and did alright at tournaments but...

when i had more weight from bench press, squats, and dead lifts, i punched really hard and delivered a
wicked low round kick. i was sort of chunky but did better. a little fat guy with an attitude, i actually believe
that because i wasn't as fancy looking, i fought harder and didn't concern myself with ego trips like
'that mean fighter look'.

but one thing that has always messed with my brain, there's always been this iron fisted type that really
gets to me. the strong grip, big hard fists type. i mean, fuck (pardon) size...i know when i'm fighting someone
whose fists and feet are not going to bend/break under pressure. so i'm much more concerned with using
my elbows these days--the ultimate unbreakable fist. and maybe it's a factor of age, but i'm much more
concerned with making sure that elbow finds it's home. i'll hire the personal trainer later (no offense meant
to anyone who has the good looks and genes, and can fight too). i will say that i like a bit of weight, muscle or
fat (not too much if it's fat) so that my forward motion means something. so that when all the physics tallies
into it, the torque & forward motion & weight all (hopefully) work together like some wicked little body team
rally. i fought a guy that was just whipping me like an egg, and then i just kept rushing him...it was like all
i had to offer was my fat arse charging at him, and i narrowly came out on top. it wasn't exactly a highlight of
my life or anything, but i think i would have caved under his skill with my previous jet lee look.

I'm an ectomorph, small bones, narrow shoulder girdle and wide hips while my 2 brothers are mesomorphes(the build of the "natural" mma , soldier, LEo)..in mma, grappling, there are some situations that they can just "power" out of that I wouldn't even attempt due to their build..Also they are naturally stronger strikers rather than having 1/4 the training time..
W

I will say this:

Yes size can help in a fight...especially ground game.....you can easily over power your opponent......and yes if you have more muscle behind you, you will have more power for strikes

On the other hand, having a slim build can also help your skills.....things such as speed, agility, and endurance are key factors.......ive seen BIG dudes just plain tucker out and lose due to endurance.

My scenario is this:
I used to be into bodybuilding......I was 6' 2" 215lbs and about 8-10% BF ........I was strong as an ox and people were scared of me....ya know the "I wouldnt fuck with that guy" type of thing......confidence was there and i felt good about myself.....BUT i had trouble moving quick and also certain restraints and tie ups were very hard to get into, if i could even get to them to begin with.

Now, i am 6' 2" 190 and quicker than ever! Sure if i took a heavy blow to the body, yeah it would REALLY suck :-) BUT, pre-emptive striking, awareness, confidence and skill set will almost always win the battle. :-)

A good sheath of muscle is good for anyone purely as a hard targeting measure. Most times predators will prey upon those who they feel will not be capable of hurting them.

look for example at Semmy Schilt also dutch guy.. but if you have to fight him on the street... its very very difficult to come close to him. if he stretch his arm only.. haha