Fat instructors

[Kempo Chris]

What pisses me off is fat instructors. Now I'm not saying there aren't good instructors who are big and a little overwieght, but so many martial arts instructors are fat basterds. They honestly sicken me. How the hell are you supposed to tell someone to be healthy and get in shape when you are a fat fucktard. I have seen many instructors who actually have successful schools and they are fat and out of shape. They move like the fat basterds they are. They are teaching people how to defends themselves and helping them get in shape (WTF)
I get pissed off every time I see a fat instructor. Lets use this thread to showcases some of these fat martial arts instructors.

[LThornton]

A whole thread of nothing but pictures of fat guys... DO NOT WANT.

[Kentucky Fried Chokin]

You are aware that you can be fat AND still have good conditioning? See: Mark Hunt.

Edit: You wouldn't happen to be a practitioner of Systema?

[M1K3]

What about sumo? Huh? Betcha didn't think about that did ya?
:pancakebu I bet you even think pancake bunny is too fat!

[The Question]

One of my grappling instructors has a large hairy gut. He mostly uses it to chafe my face he owns me.

I've also had kung fu instructors who were some fat motherfuckers. They couldn't fight for shit, but I think that had more to do with the kung fu than being overweight.

:pancakebu I bet you even think pancake bunny is too fat!

Dude, I love me some fat bunnies.

[isol8d]

What about sumo? Huh? Betcha didn't think about that did ya?
:pancakebu I bet you even think pancake bunny is too fat!

heh, I always that the bunny had a rice field straw hat on.

[pittfrog]

One of the guys who teaches Judo at my club has a pretty good-szied gut--he's also 80 years old, started Judo in WW2, and has forgotten more Judo than I'll likely ever know. He's a very good coach and instructor, and is great with kids. Blanket statements are stupid.

[DdlR]

Blanket statements are stupid.

Quoted for being the damn truth, and that's something that a lot of posters on this forum would do well to remember.

[Omega Supreme]

Blanket statements are stupid.

I agree too.

I know a very heavy set Hapkido instructor (Dngruss1), who looks like Santa. I was at his 4th degree test. He was able to keep up with the 1st and 2nd degrees (of course I think he went through 3 uniforms) but he was not out of shape in the way the OP was describing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy_7TB5mdro

[Tom .C]

I think that the OP should only train at a place where the instructor/coach meets his high standards concerning weight, height, level of servitude, etc. I'm thinking Ashida Kim would be an excellent choice and I whole heartedly endorse your seeking out such a fine course of instruction. That guy is slender, so magnificently slender. He also writes porn and can guide you in the fine art of light sabre fighting.

[Lily]

The OP could have worded that better. However I'd still say that the 'amazingly fit fat guy' is the exception rather than the rule.

If you model yourself on your instructor to some extent, you might think its okay to be fat but not realise the damage it could be doing to your joints and the rest of your health. I don't expect my instructors to have six packs though. As long as they can see their feet from a standing position, that's good for me.

Oh, and hands up if you're a bit overweight yourself and getting sensitive on this thread because it hits too close to home.

[DdlR]

I'm an athletic 150 lbs, but I've known plenty of heavy fighters; some of them older guys who had sustained injuries that stopped them from doing the C.V.-intensive training that sheds pounds, but they were still quick, tough, savvy and well-co-ordinated.

[Tom .C]

OK!!!! I'm 6' tall and weigh 220. That's too big for sure. I am totally sorry if this pisses off the OP and any one else. My priority in studying has been in the quality of instruction I could find. I'm sure that this is why I have studied and trained with people that didn't meet strict fitness guidlines. I have been lucky to have trained with these people and find room for respect for these people as well. (I am always working on my weight issue as well.) The value of the instruction just takes priorty over any other considerations.

[Bluto Blutarsky]

dude, a coach/teacher doesn't have to be in better shape than you to teach you, obviously if he was in better shape than you at this point in his career, he would probably be competing or at least more active and not have time to train you.

most coaches have had thier time in the sun and are now passing on thier knowledge to you because they are no longer capable of performing at the same level as they did when they were in thier 20's and 30's.

its a case by case basis.


when you get old, its harder to keep off pounds, granted, in some cases you might be right and the heaviest thing the guy ever lifted in his life was a beer mug and the longest he ever ran was to the can to take a piss, but in most cases of an "overweight" as opposed to an obese instructor, you can't tell without talking to them or seeing them in action or some sample of what they are passing on to you.


if you want, use thier girth as a rule of thumb- let it make you suspicious, but unless the guy is having problems even standing up or walking because he is fat and is in his mid 20's then you can't automatically just write off a fat instructor.

[Liffguard]

Depends. "Fat" is a pretty subjective term. I wouldn't care about an instructor being a bit overweight. Full-on obese though? I'd have a problem taking them seriously.