I've heard that some martial arts, Aikido comes to mind were developed for small guys. I'm not writing this dogmatically, it is merely what I have heard. Is there a martial art for big guys other than Sumo wrestling? I'm a six footer, close to 250 pounds with a lot of muscle, is there a martial art that was developed for big guys? I've heard Judo works well for those with a lot of physical strength, it is certainly a possibilty. Thanks.
Is there a big guy martial art?
- Thread starter Joab
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dbell
Blue Belt
I am a large guy as well, 6'1" and 285lbs. I study Aikido (which I do not feel is a small guy art, but an anyone art), Judo, Kendo, Hapkido, and Tang Soo Do. I am comfortable in all, and my size and strength helps in all when I go against others of any size.
Chris Parker
Grandmaster
Well, Musashi was asid to have been over 6 feet tall (huge for a Japanese, particularly in the 17th Century!), so Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu?
But really, physical size can make it a bit quicker for you to get some skill in applying techniques, simply due to sheer strength, but it has the drawback of leading you to short-cut your way around the technique itself, so if you have to apply it against someone even stronger, you are in a bit of trouble! Most arts, at least those around now, are designed to give an advantage to someone who normally wouldn't have one, so you will find few arts designed to allow a bigger, stronger guy to have even more advantage over the smaller guys out there...
But, and I'm going to say this once more, THERE IS NO ULTIMATE, CUSTOM DESIGNED ART FOR ANYONE!!!! DO NOT LOOK FOR IT, IT DOESN'T EXIST!!!! ANY ART CAN BE MODIFIED TO SUIT ANY PERSON!!!!
Okay, that was a bit shouty, as someone here might say, but I feel necessary. Really, Joab, the most important thing is the instructor and the school, not the system itself. Don't try to pigeonhole arts like this, it just doens't work, and you will most likely dismiss your perfect system without even knowing about it.
But really, physical size can make it a bit quicker for you to get some skill in applying techniques, simply due to sheer strength, but it has the drawback of leading you to short-cut your way around the technique itself, so if you have to apply it against someone even stronger, you are in a bit of trouble! Most arts, at least those around now, are designed to give an advantage to someone who normally wouldn't have one, so you will find few arts designed to allow a bigger, stronger guy to have even more advantage over the smaller guys out there...
But, and I'm going to say this once more, THERE IS NO ULTIMATE, CUSTOM DESIGNED ART FOR ANYONE!!!! DO NOT LOOK FOR IT, IT DOESN'T EXIST!!!! ANY ART CAN BE MODIFIED TO SUIT ANY PERSON!!!!
Okay, that was a bit shouty, as someone here might say, but I feel necessary. Really, Joab, the most important thing is the instructor and the school, not the system itself. Don't try to pigeonhole arts like this, it just doens't work, and you will most likely dismiss your perfect system without even knowing about it.
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While not quite as big as you...I'm still pretty big (6', 235). I think pretty much all arts work for the big guy. Here's what I do. I physically trasin like a big guy (working on strength, power and stamina....as that is the one thing bug guys tend to suffer with the most...we gotta move more of us around).
Then I think like a little guyu. I try to practice my techniques towarsds technical perfection abnd leave power/strength out of the equation. Once my technique is sound, I apply the techniques like a big guy...but with the smooth technique that a smallert guy would need. I then get the best of both worlds, a techniqcally sound technique with a lot of speed and power behind it. It's satisfying....to say the least
Peace,
Erik
Then I think like a little guyu. I try to practice my techniques towarsds technical perfection abnd leave power/strength out of the equation. Once my technique is sound, I apply the techniques like a big guy...but with the smooth technique that a smallert guy would need. I then get the best of both worlds, a techniqcally sound technique with a lot of speed and power behind it. It's satisfying....to say the least
Peace,
Erik
A big person can do any art. Of course, as its been said, the art can be modified for the person doing it. Sometimes people try to conform the person to the art. Sorry, that just doesn't work. In other words, due to height, you couldn't expect a person who stood 5'3 to hit someone who stands 6'5, in the face, thus the person has to adapt.
TKDHomeSchooler
Green Belt
I agree. I am 6' 235ish Lbs and I do TKD. I have heard that TKD is not for people my size, but like bluekey88 said I also train like a big guy and then try to think like everyone else. I know due to my chest size I have a large target, which my instructor loves taking advantage of, so I have to modify the stances a little bit. The same for loading for a square block, I have a very hard time getting my hands all the way to my waist properly.
But then again, when we spar I can kick most of our students in the head, which makes for some very funny facial expressions :ultracool.
I think it also depends on what you want to get out of it. I am in TKD for the fun of it and because my Wife and 4 oldest kids are all in the same school, Freedom Martial Arts in the Park. I doubt I would ever rely on TKD for SD, I would most likely revert back to street fighting I learned growing up in South Dallas, or just whip out some other form of SD depending on the situation.
- Thread Starter
- #7
Good answers all. It certainly makes sense to train as if you were facing a larger opponent, it's not very likely a smaller guy would attack me unless he had a weapon and/or some friends to help him out, or if he has high on drugs or stupid. I'll soon be moving to an area with some rather interesting sounding choices of schools, and of course the instructor is the most important factor. Thanks again.
Just to clarify, I'm not thinking like a little guy. Frankly, I can't do that...never been a little guy...don't have the life expereince to truly think that way. I train like a smaller person....with a focus on perfecting technique.
Back when I did aikido (I'm currently a TKD/BBT guy at the moment)....I always got admonished for using too much muscle. It was fine against an unskilled or compliant uke...but I could never muscle more skilled or stronger uke's. So I learned to relax and really learn to sense where the technique had to go for it to work. However, I was never encouragecd to be strong. IO was discouraged from strength training and the like. That was a mistake.
I now know, that once my technique is sound. Once I can do a kcik, apply a lock, or whatever wiht minimum effort...adding a littel effort makes what I do that much better. Once I can throw a fast roundhouse is a nice relaxed fashion, gettuing my considerable mass behind that kick makes any head shot I land pretty nasty (for the other guy). I condition for power. I train for efficiency
My size makes it harder for me to be thrown when I relax and maintain good structure.
really, the only down side is if I have to do a technique where I need to get my center of gravity below a shorter peson's center of gravity. I need to really sink deep into my stances to do that.
So, to summarize, train with a focus on applying techniques with minimum effort and maximum efficiency (not limply or without life, just don't try to muscle through everyhting in a stiff manner). THEN train to apply power through good technique. Train like a littel guy, then apply like a big guy. But always think like a bug guy, because that is what you are.
Peace,
Erik
Back when I did aikido (I'm currently a TKD/BBT guy at the moment)....I always got admonished for using too much muscle. It was fine against an unskilled or compliant uke...but I could never muscle more skilled or stronger uke's. So I learned to relax and really learn to sense where the technique had to go for it to work. However, I was never encouragecd to be strong. IO was discouraged from strength training and the like. That was a mistake.
I now know, that once my technique is sound. Once I can do a kcik, apply a lock, or whatever wiht minimum effort...adding a littel effort makes what I do that much better. Once I can throw a fast roundhouse is a nice relaxed fashion, gettuing my considerable mass behind that kick makes any head shot I land pretty nasty (for the other guy). I condition for power. I train for efficiency
My size makes it harder for me to be thrown when I relax and maintain good structure.
really, the only down side is if I have to do a technique where I need to get my center of gravity below a shorter peson's center of gravity. I need to really sink deep into my stances to do that.
So, to summarize, train with a focus on applying techniques with minimum effort and maximum efficiency (not limply or without life, just don't try to muscle through everyhting in a stiff manner). THEN train to apply power through good technique. Train like a littel guy, then apply like a big guy. But always think like a bug guy, because that is what you are.
Peace,
Erik
zepedawingchun
Black Belt
Find a school that offers a mixed martial arts program. Something with a little Thai boxing along with a wrestling or grapping program. That way you get some kicking and punching hand skills and then able to use your size and strength with leverage on the ground.
TKDHomeSchooler
Green Belt
This is one of the lessons that is taught in our classes as well as the woman's self defense course our Instructors teach. They point out to the ladies in the class that they are learning to deal with an opponent my size they will know how to defend themselves against an attacker. He even admits to them that if he and I were in a real fight he would not chose to go toe to toe with me, rather he will take out my knee and finish me on the ground.
I'm glad my instructor is also a friend
. But the lessons are valid, if they can get a front snap kick in on me and push me back that would buy them time to run or to set up for a swift kick to the "boys" in a real defensive scenario.
Jenny_in_Chico
Black Belt
Xinglu
Black Belt
I often spar with a man who is 6'6". I am 5'4". Whenever I try to tag him in the face, I get his throat. But that works very well for me.
If you want to hit him in the face, it helps to bring his face down to you
blindsage
Master of Arts
I'm 6' 250lbs., but I started training originally when I was much, much lighter (same height, 170lbs.). I found then that I had to learn and use good technique to make most things work. Now that I have a lot more mass and strength to back it, my technique is that much more effective. But it is the technique that makes what I do work as well as it does. You can do whatever style you want (big guys often gravitate towards grappling styles, but it's far from necessary), but remember that a bigger guy has a natural advantage in size and strength, smaller people usually have to make up for this with mobility and technique. Think about how effective a big guy with mobility and good technique would be, regardless of style.
Steve
Mostly Harmless
I think professional wrestling is the ideal big person's martial art!
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"Big people" come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. If someone's big boned, and is built like a brick outhouse, then I see no reason why they couldn't succeed at any particular martial art, as long as they are willing to do what they can.
While a big guy is *usually* not going to be as flexible as most, that still doesn't mean they can't succeed. In our Karate school, we have a big fellow who can probably get his kicks up to the mid-thigh level on a good day. Despite this, he's a very effective fighter, and uses what he has to great effect.
He won't be kicking people in the upper torso, much less the head, any time soon, but he's developed good timing with hand techniques, good combinations, and can still move around fairly well on his feet. He won't be bouncing around the ring like a spry 20 year old; nonetheless, he can still move around well enough to avoid attacks.
As far as I am concerned, he's a great guy to have in the dojo, since people look up to him as the guy who really knows what to do with what he has at his access. With his work ethic, and "never say die" attitude, he's an inspiration to all of us, and I damned proud of his becoming one of the instructors at the dojo.
Interesting philosophy... Our system combines both Wado Ryu and Shotokan, and I'm a medium sized person!
While a big guy is *usually* not going to be as flexible as most, that still doesn't mean they can't succeed. In our Karate school, we have a big fellow who can probably get his kicks up to the mid-thigh level on a good day. Despite this, he's a very effective fighter, and uses what he has to great effect.
He won't be kicking people in the upper torso, much less the head, any time soon, but he's developed good timing with hand techniques, good combinations, and can still move around fairly well on his feet. He won't be bouncing around the ring like a spry 20 year old; nonetheless, he can still move around well enough to avoid attacks.
As far as I am concerned, he's a great guy to have in the dojo, since people look up to him as the guy who really knows what to do with what he has at his access. With his work ethic, and "never say die" attitude, he's an inspiration to all of us, and I damned proud of his becoming one of the instructors at the dojo.
Interesting philosophy... Our system combines both Wado Ryu and Shotokan, and I'm a medium sized person!
Xue Sheng
All weight is underside
Xingyiquan... Big or small doesn't matter... but big gives you an advantage in reach and momentum
Xinglu
Black Belt
Bagua too... reach advantage in bagua can be devastating, especially with the momentum built.
I am 6'3" 300 lbs. I do FMA.
But I agree with Chris, and have stated myself that good technique is not unique to any one art.
