Bodybuilders, due to their huge physiques, often come off as lethal fighters. From their massive arms to their big guns and even protruded chest physique, itās easy for everyone to think that bodybuilders are great fighters. So why do bodybuilders think they can fight?
Bodybuilders think they can fight mainly due to their huge muscles, which can disproportionately boost their confidence. The knowledge that they lift heavy weights creates a fallacy that they can succeed in the cage or ring. Some bodybuilders think they can take on any smaller opponent, which is wrong!
Curious to learn more about bodybuilders and their ability to put up a fight against trained fighters? Then you couldnāt be in a better place. Read on for a discussion on why bodybuilders arenāt necessarily good fighters.
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Misled by Their Body Size
While not all bodybuilders think they can fight with trained fighters, they are usually misled by their huge physiques. In the fighting world, physical appearance counts for nothing if you donāt have the necessary fighting skills and techniques.
Itās easy for a heavily built bodybuilder to assume that he can successfully take on a smaller-sized individual. Unfortunately, this assumption couldnāt be any further from the truth. Body size isnāt enough when it comes to professional fighting.
Overconfident About Their Training Routines
Doing heavy bench presses and outrageousĀ deadliftsĀ donāt make one a modern-day Bruce Lee. Itās easy for some bodybuilders to believe their training routines are superior to that of tinier people. Although this might be true, bodybuilders should understand thereās a huge difference between fitness training and combat training (professional).
A bodybuilder who is trained to fight professionally is a massive threat. But if you donāt have the necessary training regarding professional combat, donāt be surprised when a small guy absorbs your punches and puts you in a headlock!
Believe Fighting Is All About Lifting and Throwing Punches
Granted, a bodybuilder can lift heavy weights, especially if heās been training consistently. Unfortunately, the capability to lift weights isnāt as important as stamina and endurance when it comes to fighting.
A bodybuilder with no professional fighting experience likeĀ MMAĀ or boxing might think he can comfortably knock out other āsmallerā opponents. However, professional fighters can withstand thorough beatings as they prepare to land a killer punch.
Undermine the Potential of Smaller Body Types
Fighting is more about technique than strength. Although bodybuilders have the advantage of extra strength, they can quickly lose in fights if they donāt know how to capitalize on body strength. Some bodybuilders think their size will allow for easy wins, which is hardly the case if real-life fights are anything to go by.Ā
Can Bodybuilders Win Against Trained Fighters?
The outcome of a fight between a bodybuilder and a trained fighter depends on several factors. However, the most important factor is the skill level of the trained fighter since a bodybuilder will have a great chance of winning against a novice or average-skilled fighter.
However, while a bodybuilder can capitalize on body strength to gain an advantage over smaller-sized opponents, expert fighters (small-sized) are more likely to win contests. But a bodybuilder who is well-trained in martial arts and fighting will most likely defeat a smaller-sized opponent with the same skill level.Ā Ā
What Type of Training Is Required for Professional Fighting?
Speed Training
Unlike bodybuilders, professional fighters need a lot of paces, especially in terms of reflexes. This is because youāll need to dodge blows sent your way and respond by sending some punches or kicks yourself.
Speed training is a mandatory part of professional fighting as it helps develop muscle memory, especially in terms of body movement. This means youāll need to train a lot with moving objects or a trainer to recreate an actual fighting experience.
Bodybuilders donāt do much speed training since they donāt need to duck, dodge, run or respond fast. A lot of cardio or running might end up compromising the body goals of people who want to bulk up and build a lot of muscle.
Strength Training
Professional fighters need to strength-train to put up a good fight against opponents. However, unlike strength training for bodybuilding, professional fighters focus more on core strength than muscle strength.
The trick to training for a fight is to be as strong as possible for the weight class without compromising speed, flexibility, or endurance. But when strength training for bodybuilding, the goal is to develop large, full, and symmetrical muscles.Ā Ā
Endurance Training
Endurance exercises are mandatory for professional fighters. Fighting an opponent for minutes non-stop is anything but easy. But with endurance training, fighters get to improve their core strength, overall health, and stamina.
Some of the common endurance exercises include:
- Jumping rope:Ā Jumping rope is a fantastic cardio exercise that increases not only your bodyās oxygen intake but also your overall coordination and balance. It helps a lot in footwork maneuvers, hand-eye coordination, and alertness.
- Speed bag and heavy bag workout:Ā Both heavy bags and speed bags are proper workouts for fighters looking to improve their overall performance. Hitting heavy bags helps improve upper body flexibility, which is vital when sending punches. Bodybuilders who train with speed bags and heavy bags are more likely to perform better in fights than those who donāt.
Agility Training
Agility training allows athletes to become nimbler, more explosive, and quicker. This type of training is either rehearsed or reactive and aims to improve an individualās reflexes and ability to quickly make the right decisions.Ā Ā
Fighting Tips That Every Bodybuilder Should Keep in Mind
Fighting Is More About Technique
Bodybuilders should know that fighting isnāt as easy as it looks. While throwing punches and headlocks might be reasonably easy for heavily built people, more complex techniques like leg movements and body positioning donāt come easy. Professional fighters not only know how to throw mean punches, but they also know how to position themselves for grappling and throwing efficient strikes.
Fighting Requires a Different Type of Training Routine
Bodybuilding and fighting training are completely different pursuits. As mentioned earlier, bodybuilding training is mostly focused on lifting weights to build muscles.
Ā However, athletes have to work on their agility, stamina, endurance, and fitness levels when training to fight professionally. This means that a bodybuilder looking to fight must first adopt combat-relevant training regimens before stepping in a ring.
It Takes Time To Learn How To Fight
Similar to how bodybuilding requires time and patience, so too does learning the different fighting techniques. Martial arts experts usually have to work their way up as they learn the basics of fighting. Many fighters have multiple black belts in Taekwondo, Karate, BJJ, and more. Therefore, despite spending years working out in the gym, bodybuilders will also need to learn at least the basics of combat to become professional fighters.Ā If this sounds like you, hereās the best BJJ Giās for beginners to get you started.
Fighting Is About Movement
Fighting isnāt just about hitting the opponent. Bodybuilders often think that they can land a massive blow and knock the opponent out with relative ease. What most people donāt consider is that theyāll also receive some blows.Ā
Fighting considers all factors, explaining why combat training regimens are centered on dodging, absorbing, and making attacks.
Wrapping It Up
Bodybuilders think they can fight mainly due to their intimidating physiques. While some bodybuilders can genuinely fight, most tend to lack the training required to fight professionally. Boxers and fighters are also used to getting hit and feeling pain, not just the soreness from DOMS.
Professional fighting requires stamina, strength, agility, and a high level of endurance. All these attributes are obtainable through strict fight-relevant training regimens. Therefore, to acquire fighting skills, bodybuilders will need to train specifically for combat.