Pigs in the ring...

It’s honestly pretty ugly—and frankly, just gross—to see young people letting themselves go because they have zero self-control and can't be bothered to move. You see it everywhere, but seeing it in combat sports is a different story. How do you all feel about those types? Personally, I just don't get it... and I definitely don't view them as legitimate practitioners. Someone who actually respects their body and trains seriously isn't going to let themselves get to the point where they look more like a prize hog than a human being. We all put on a few pounds here and there, but anyone who's ever actually trained knows how easy it is to drop it. I'm not talking about former athletes who hit fifty and suddenly balloon up after retiring... I'm talking about kids in their early twenties who look so out of shape that people literally turn their heads in disgust when they walk down the street. Unless there's a serious medical issue involved, I think these individuals are an embarrassment to martial arts and to sports in general. If you can't even manage your own body weight, you have no business in a combat sport—because if you can't control that, you won't be able to control anything else... I just can't take someone seriously in a fighting context if they look more like livestock than an athlete. What's your take?👋

I’ve got some serious doubts about how this thread started.
But hey, have it your way.

It’s pretty obvious that overweight people—assuming it's just pure laziness rather than a medical issue—simply aren't cut out for martial arts.
If someone can't find the discipline to manage their own weight, there's no way they're going to stick with the grueling, long-term grind of actual training.

Plus, the extra weight puts massive strain on their joints, especially the knees, which basically knocks them out of the game before they even start.

ruggedfalcon2 said:It is frankly repulsive—bordering on disgusting—to witness young people ballooning in size due to nothing more than sheer, unbridled gluttony and pure laziness. You see specimens like this everywhere, but seeing them in the martial arts community is particularly galling. How do you all view these unfortunate individuals? Personally, I find it impossible to wrap my head around, and I certainly don't consider them true practitioners. Someone who actually takes pride in themselves and trains with any degree of seriousness simply cannot allow themselves to reach a state where they look more like a farm pig than a human being. We all deal with a few extra pounds from time to time, but anyone who has ever truly dedicated themselves to training knows how easy it is to shed that weight. I’m not talking about former athletes who might have packed on some weight in their fifties after a sudden career end; I am talking about twenty-somethings who look so physically neglected that people literally turn their heads in disgust when they walk down a street in Chicago. Unless there is an underlying medical condition involved, I believe these overweight examples are a disgrace, not just to combat sports, but to athletics as a whole. If a person lacks the basic discipline to control their own body weight, they have no business in a fighting gym, because they clearly won't have the discipline to control anything else in life. Quite frankly, I can't take anyone seriously in a martial arts context if they resemble livestock more than people. What are your thoughts?👋

Look, I’m carrying a few extra pounds myself, but it is absolutely untrue to suggest that such a thing results in a significant loss of quality in one's craft. Besides, the weight is already starting to come off.

placidbison20 said:I find the very premise of this entire thread highly suspicious.
But fine, have it your way.

It is an undeniable reality that overweight individuals—assuming their weight isn't the result of some underlying medical condition rather than pure laziness—are fundamentally incapable of succeeding in martial arts.
If a person lacks the basic willpower required to manage their own body weight, how on earth can they expect to summon the discipline needed for years of grueling, repetitive training?

Furthermore, due to the sheer strain of carrying extra weight, they suffer from chronic joint issues, particularly with their knees, which effectively renders them unable to train at all.

I find myself sharing those same suspicions regarding this topic. Let us just hope this doesn't spiral out of control...

Take my own situation as a case in point. You’ve seen me around at those local MMA meetups and coffee chats.
Do you honestly believe I face any limitations because of my physique?

Beyond that, we have Caine and perhaps even Toco1980, who deal with similar struggles regarding excess weight. It would be useful if they chimed in to share their personal experiences.

None of you could ever be called pigs just because of your weight.
You aren't skinny, but you definitely aren't pigs either.
I wasn't aiming this at you specifically, but I assume you guys deal with some performance issues at the gym due to carrying extra weight.
And naturally, you're working on shedding it.
It’s the same thing I’m doing, just in reverse—trying to pack on another 5 or 6 pounds of muscle.

placidbison20 said:None of you could be called pigs just because of your weight.

🤣 but for other reasons, you definitely could... 😕 😁 :

dustywolf52 said:Honestly, I’m feeling pretty skeptical about this whole thread too. Let’s just hope it doesn't spiral out of control...

Don't sweat it—it's not like you're a pig or anything... 🙄 👍

placidbison20 said:Obviously, overweight individuals—assuming it’s due to pure laziness rather than an underlying medical condition—are incapable of succeeding in martial arts.
If someone can't find the discipline to manage their own weight, they certainly aren't going to have the willpower for years of grueling, repetitive training.

Plus, the extra weight puts massive strain on the joints, especially the knees, which pretty much makes consistent training impossible.

That's exactly my point... it's honestly embarrassing what some people are like 🙂

ruggedfalcon2 said:Relax, it's not like you're some kind of pig... 🙄 👍

I never actually claimed to be a pig in the first place. I'd appreciate it if you could clarify what you even mean by that term—give me a concrete example of who you consider to be one.

ruggedfalcon2 said:That’s exactly my point... it is truly embarrassing how many people there are who just don't get it.🙂

Take, for instance, the way Truntić argues in one of his books; he essentially invites anyone interested to come out and deal with waste management systems regardless of their specific build—be it the diameter, the height, or any other dimension—claiming that these factors are completely irrelevant and won't impact overall efficiency.
I have to say, I find myself in complete disagreement with such assertions.

dustywolf52 said:For instance, in one of his books, Truntić basically invites anyone interested to come practice Wing Chun, regardless of their body type—whether they're heavy, thin, tall, short... claiming it doesn't matter at all and won't impact effectiveness.
I have to say, I don't really buy that argument.

Yeah, which book was that again? Strange that I haven't heard of it...😕 And honestly, that part is true... just like Aikido and stuff, Wing Chun isn't dependent on height or weight... nor is it about being in peak physical shape...

dustywolf52 said:I didn't even say I was a pig. What do you even mean by "pigs" anyway? Give me an actual example.

Look, I was being clear... if someone is young, healthy, and actually training in martial arts, I don't see it as normal if they can't manage their weight and end up overweight... that's what I call pigs. Personally, I'd rather die a traditional death than live as a pig.🙂

Training alone won't fix your weight issues—it’s usually just pure lack of discipline in everything else you do.

For instance? Yang Cheng Fu was so out of shape by his fifties he couldn't even execute Tai Chi properly. Died at 56, too.

(I could use myself as an example and call myself a total slob, but my ego is way too big for that 😁)

Claiming martial arts don't depend on physical fitness is... stupid. You need a baseline level of mental and physical capability to do anything, let alone fighting... you can't even be an alcoholic without a minimum level of bodily (liver 😁) capacity.

Then again, I once met a guy who practices Aikido despite being blind. Where there's will, there's a way. (And that's mental toughness right there...)

Jamie Fowler2 said:Just training isn't enough to manage your weight—usually, it's just a lack of discipline in every other part of your life.

For example? Yang Cheng Fu was so overweight by his fifties that he couldn't even perform Tai Chi properly. He passed away at 56.

(I could use myself as an example and admit I'm a total slob, but my ego won't let me...) 😁

Saying martial arts don't depend on physical fitness is... well, it's stupid. You need a baseline level of physical and mental capability to do anything, let alone combat sports... you can't even be an alcoholic without a minimum level of bodily (liver 😁) capacity.

On the flip side, I once met a blind guy who practices Aikido. Where there is will, there is a way. (And that's mental fitness again...)

-Drop the ego. If you know you're a slob, then you're already halfway there... you're on the right track. 👍
-No, physical factors aren't what matters... For instance, Fu Bayer doesn't have his left arm below the elbow, and Yip Man was just a tiny little old man who could toy with anyone... skill is everything, nothing else!

Of course, you guys completely overlooked Sumo wrestling. 😉

Sumo wrestling is its own specialized discipline, so it doesn't really fit into this particular debate.
Their weight isn't some lack of willpower; if anything, it’s the exact opposite. That mass comes from a grueling, disciplined regimen of training and diet.

ruggedfalcon2 said:Yeah, I'm wondering which book specifically you're referring to—it’s a bit odd that it hasn't crossed my radar yet...😕 though I have to agree with the sentiment... styles like Wing Chun or even Aikido don't really care about your height or how much you weigh, much like they don't rely solely on raw physical conditioning...

The volume in question is titled "108 Techniques of the Shaolin Wooden Men." To be perfectly honest, for the group I used to train with back when I was studying Wing Chun under Truntić, that book was essentially useless weight.

Jamie Fowler2 said:Training alone isn't enough to manage your physical condition; more often than not, the culprit is just a lack of discipline in every other aspect of one's life.

For instance, look at Yang Cheng Fu. He was so overweight by the time he hit fifty that he couldn't even execute his Tai Chi properly. He passed away at just 56.

(I suppose I could hold myself up as a prime example and admit I’m a total slob, but my vanity won't allow me to be that honest)😁

To suggest that martial arts aren't dependent on physical fitness is simply... foolish. There has to be a baseline level of psycho-physical capability required to do anything at all, let alone combat sports... you can't even be a functional alcoholic without a minimum level of bodily (specifically liver 😁) capacity.

On the flip side, I once met a man who practices Aikido despite being blind. Where there is will, there is a way—though, again, that falls under mental fortitude...

👍

ruggedfalcon2 said:—Forget about being tasteless; if you know you’re acting like a pig, then at least you’re self-aware, which means you’re already heading in the right direction. 👍
—No, physical attributes don't actually matter. For instance, Fu Bayer is missing his arm from the elbow down. Then you have Yip Man, who was just this tiny little old guy, maybe 5'1", barely a handful of weight, yet he could hold his own against anyone. It’s all about skill and nothing else!

Fu Bayer is "only" missing the hand he lost to a table saw. He uses a wooden one instead, and honestly, I think it would be even more brutal to get hit by someone wielding a wooden fist.

As for Yip Man... hmm... I highly doubt that once he hit his 70s, he could still compete with students like Wong or Tsui Shang Tin. There's a very simple reason for that: when a man reaches his 70s, he’s essentially decaying. His bones weaken, and his entire body just loses its edge. You should see how much Yip Chun has struggled over the years because of aging. The poor guy is practically trembling.

dustywolf52 said:The book is titled "108 Shaolin Wooden Man Techniques." My training group—the one I practiced Wing Chun with under Truntić—already has copies lying around for free.

Aha, I see... but like I mentioned before, arts like Wing Chun or Aikido don't really demand specific physical builds... if you try to put yourself into something like kwon Do 🤣 now, that's a completely different story 👋