How important is it to be able to beat people in weight classes above you?

**Scott Larson** · Posted On: 10/22/2007 3:08pm

When testing yourself against other opponents, how much do you make consessions for weight? Personally, how much of an advantage do you think size and strength give?

**Goju - Joe** · Posted On: 10/22/2007 3:12pm

I am weird size almost 6 "2 208ish. I often get paired up with people who weigh 230-250

I hate it with a passion.

However it does force me to try and be technical

**Cullion** · Posted On: 10/22/2007 3:27pm

I'm overweight so I get paired up with people with big reach advantages. It forces me to eat knuckle sandwiches.

**sochin101** · Posted On: 10/22/2007 3:29pm

I'm overweight and slightly less overweight fighters orbit me once they get into my gravitational pull.

**Scott Larson** · Posted On: 10/22/2007 3:35pm

Originally Posted by Soju - Joe

However it does force me to try and be technical

I hear that. I think when you have a size disadvantage, it makes you work a lot harder. Your weaknesses can be exposed easily.

I think the smaller person actually gets more out of the training that way.

**leere_form** · Posted On: 10/22/2007 4:42pm

i say very important.. i'm 145lbs/64kg, and although i feel strong and fit for my size, i'm rarely in a position where i'm stronger or larger than my opponents.

of course, i compete against guys my size.. but to feel good about my chances in competition i have to be doing pretty well in training, and that means frequently beating people bigger than me. :)

i feel if i can't easily beat any untrained person, i just need more practice.

**Axelton** · Posted On: 10/22/2007 4:50pm

I always knew this site was full of fatasses.

**krazy kaju** · Posted On: 10/22/2007 4:53pm

Originally Posted by Hui_Xiu

I hear that. I think when you have a size disadvantage, it makes you work a lot harder. Your weaknesses can be exposed easily.

I think the smaller person actually gets more out of the training that way.

Unless you do what happened to me when I first started wrestling... you join the team at the hardest time of the year, barely learn any technique, and are usually paired with people in higher weight classes and much stronger.

It didn't help at all.

But I think that's partially because my school sucks at teaching technique. We have a lot of talented guys who've been wrestling for a long time, and you usually learn off of them instead of being actually taught stuff by coaches. At the time, I didn't know anybody and was sorta shy, and therefore never really learned that much.

Even now, after I've improved drastically, my doubles suck. For me its all snatches and high crotch singles (it lets me always shoot with the same leg, and it works better for weaker guys like me).

**Cuchulain** · Posted On: 10/22/2007 4:57pm

I'm always the smallest at 5'8 150Ibs. I don't see it as a disadvantage (unless outweighed by 40kg +) really, just as a means to be more technical. Also it often means i'm much more agile and sometimes a bit quicker.

**Liffguard** · Posted On: 10/22/2007 5:23pm

I'm 5'7" and 80kg (178lbs) last time I weighed myself. Even though I'm a fairly average weight, I almost always fight people much taller than me, which is a bitch. Most people my height are a few weight classes below me.