Martial Arts for Small Guys?

[Mordrid1]

Hello,

I know this question has been asked before, but I'm relatively new to martial arts training and would appreciate your input. I'd like to begin training in a martial art, primarily for realistic self-defense purposes. I'm not a big guy - 5'9", about 145 pounds, with a small bone structure. What martial art do you think would be most appropriate for my size?

I've studied a little BJJ, and it was cool, but my experience with it was that the stronger guys could fairly easily overcome my technique via brute force. Granted, my technique wasn't all that good. But that said, I found that I could overpower guys with better technique who I was stronger than. So strength/size seemed like a fairly significant factor when training with other BJJ practitioners.

I've also studied some TKD, but it was fairly traditional forms practice, which didn't seem to have a whole lot of real-life application - at least at the school I attended.

What martial art do you think is best suited for those of us with small bone structures?

Thanks for your input.

[Daddy_Cool]

It doesn't matter what you do. What matters is how good you are at it. But, there are systems that are better suited to smaller individuals. I would suggest wing chun.

[EmptyneSs]

I've studied a little BJJ, and it was cool, but my experience with it was that the stronger guys could fairly easily overcome my technique via brute force. Granted, my technique wasn't all that good. But that said, I found that I could overpower guys with better technique who I was stronger than. So strength/size seemed like a fairly significant factor when training with other BJJ practitioners.

well u obviously didnt study bjj enough, and u obviously werent any good at it if u had to use strength to beat others, and others could beat u with strength. the whole perpouse of bjj is to use technique and leverage, not strength. if u are using proper technique in bjj u will never even need strength. u shouldnt even be trying to use strength when grappling, it just drains your energy. bjj is one of the best arts there is for smaller people for this reason. just cause u took it for a few months and didnt get the results u wanted doesnt mean its not effective. i know a girl who is like 5'1 in my bjj class and she can easily control and finish men twice her size using technique only. get back to training.

of course u are going to have people who arent skilled trying to use force and strength on u in bjj and yeah you are going to lose to strength many times until u eventually get good enough to were u will have awesome technique. eventually u will realize that u can easily use the strength and pure force of your opponent against him easily with good technique. just because u didnt get to that level in the few months u trained doesnt mean it doesnt work, it means u didnt train enough. bjj is all technique.

[HtTKar]

i know a girl who is like 5'1 in my bj class and she can easily control and finish men twice her size using technique only

WHAT A GIRL!!

[Mordrid1]

>>just cause u took it for a few months and didnt get the results u wanted doesnt mean its not effective.

Well, I wasn't suggesting that the art itself was ineffective ... hmm, I guess I was suggesting that it wasn't effective for me personally. But your point about the improvement of technique is well taken. As is your anecdote about the 5'1" girl in your class.

If you had to guess, about how long do you think it might take someone to become proficient enough in their technique to overcome someone's greater strength?

[Elfunko]

For everything there is a learning curve that you need to overcome. At first it will seem impossible, and you will get your ass handed to you time and again, but the more you do this the faster you will progress (but don't get injured, play safely!). Maybe you can't see it now, but facing guys who are much stronger with no technique will much better prepare you for a real fight and help you much more than someone weaker with no technique. So basically, what you had in your bjj class (only considering your sparring partners) was to great advantage to yourself in training. I'd stick to it.

P.S. It's taken me 5 years to progress to a level of surfing that I feel confortable saying "I can surf". I'd bet BJJ is much in the same. It takes a while to see the whole picture, be able to break down the smallest things, and know just what technique to apply where and when for maximum results. It's all very challenging. But that's the fun of it, overcoming the challenge and progressing past your peers (who used to kick your ass).

[EmptyneSs]

>>just cause u took it for a few months and didnt get the results u wanted doesnt mean its not effective.

Well, I wasn't suggesting that the art itself was ineffective ... hmm, I guess I was suggesting that it wasn't effective for me personally. But your point about the improvement of technique is well taken. As is your anecdote about the 5'1" girl in your class.

If you had to guess, about how long do you think it might take someone to become proficient enough in their technique to overcome someone's greater strength?

u need to keep losing to strength until u develope enough technique to overcome it. simple as that. u are going to keep getting tapped and keep getting put into bad positions, but thats whats going to make u better. u are going to get tapped millions of times in bjj, but thats how u will learn to get better.


there is no set timetable, everyone is different. the bottome line is, the more u train at something the better u are going to be.

[Elfunko]

When pilots train, it is said they die a thousand simulator deaths. But when it's game time, that training pays off. Man, you gotta pay your dues.