Does size matter?
Within most combat sports, people compete in weight divisions, and this is with good reason. Size plays a role in competition, especially when pain is involved. However,size it not everything and does not account for all that occurs during competition or even training.
As a bigger guy, I realise that I have an advantage oversmaller opponents. I am also aware, however, that size is not the only reason I may do well against these smaller opponents. If it was down to size alone, then the biggest fighter in the world would be the best and that is not the case. In saying that though, I have come to understand the effect size has and I’ve tailored my training accordingly – especially in the later years of my training. In my early 20’s I had no idea how the weight of my arm effected smaller people when throwing punches. Then when I got to grappling, understanding the role my size played was a little slower than it should’ve been. Turns out that folding your arms for 2mins is not the best way to stop an arm bar.
As an instructor, I have noticed these things a lot more. I’vehad people that are bigger than me at training and seeing the effect of weight and strength has on me was very interesting. I also train with people a lot smaller; I have come to understand their games and why they do certain things.Many of their rationales had not occurred to me, since I’m a much bigger guy. When I am training with bigger, stronger people, I have no issue with them using their natural advantage of gravity. That is using every ounce of their weight to squish me or to take me down. Where I don’t like it is if their go-to move is to use their strength advantage to solve any and every issue they have. To explain that, think of side control with you on top, if they get the under hook and get their hips away to get to their belly then use wrestling from there to escape. In comparison, think of a side control position where they just turn and no matter what position you have, they seem to be able to power through it, this may take a minute or two but they just power through you.
When it comes to striking, this is where it can get dangerous.Some bigger people do not understand the amount of weight behind their punches and the effect it has on smaller people. This seems to escalate the more skilled the smaller person is.Instead of trying to match their skill, they make up the difference by increasing their power. I have punched many people and there has been a handful of times that I’veaccidentally hurt them. In sparring, you can’t predict how people are going to move all the time. So, to an extent, is it up to the bigger person to control the power – this is usually more important when there is a 20+kg size difference. Thereare two people who are quite a bit smaller than me that I really like sparring. I try to beat them with skill and timing rather than just brute force as that feels like cheating. In MMA, when sparring these two people, I try to win the transitions and keep moving rather than using my size to squish and control them as that isn’t fun for anyone.
The power game isn’t reserved only for the bigger guysthough. There is nothing worse than going against a smaller opponent who is throwing as hard as they can – then, when larger opponents throw some heat back, they complain. For me, you can tell when someone is throwing with intent to hurt you rather than just hit. When people are trying to hurt that’s when I can get annoyed and I can overreact at times. As with all sparring, there is a large amount of trust involved and no one wants to train with the dangerous guy. Regardless of size, if you’re unable to trust someone to be safe, then you are going to avoid them in sparring. To explain that a little for those of you who do not spar regularly. In all sparring, there is always a chance of getting hurt as hitting is the name of the game, but against the best people they will only hurt you if they want to. They are still hitting you at will, but they are in control of what is happening, so they never hit you harder than necessary. Whereas someone who is uncontrolled and throwing dangerous shots at you, believe me, you can feel the difference when training.
If someone beats you, it is because of a number of things, size is a factor but not the only factor as skill, speed, fitness and intelligence all have a massive impact. When you are up against someone who is a real challenge, or those who are a better, then you have to use everything in your arsenal to win or survive. If you use your flexibility, fitness, long limbs then that is what you are blessed with so go for it. To simplify it, when sparring someone, it is all your skills and attributes up against theirs. All we have to keep in mind is to use our attributes to add to our skill rather than compensating for our lack of it.
Gareth Lewis
Head MMA Instructor