Strength or Speed

lethalweapon · 10-12-2006, 01:52 PM

I have always heard people in my gym argue what is more important in an MMA match. I am pretty strong and very fast. Alot of the people in my gym are bigger and stronger than me( most Heavy Weight). They believe that a strong fighter can outmuscle a fast opponent. I believe both attributes are important. What do you guys think?

Crashsti · 10-12-2006, 01:58 PM

POWER!!! the combination of strength and speed. as a fighter you have to discover which side of the spectrum you need to be on , a grappler like Jeff Monson is very strong, but a Judo player like Rhadi Ferguson is more explosive. they've fought 3 times under various rules, none MMA. a striker can also be powerful but its more speed than strength. take Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell for example, Randy is a powerful grappler and Chuck is a powerful striker. they both have honed thier skills to make the most of thier abilities.

Curly · 10-12-2006, 02:08 PM

My vote is for endurance...

Crashsti · 10-12-2006, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curly

My vote is for endurance...

thats great too, but you can actually train power with endurance. the two don't have to be looked at as two differant attributes.

Dirty Fighter · 10-12-2006, 02:10 PM

Both are needed. The speed to react to your opponents takedown means nothing if you don't have the strength to sprawl out. And fast hands don't help if your strikes are just bouncing off your opponent and not punching through your target. You just don't wnat to strength train to the point that you start to lose your explosiveness.

Crashsti · 10-12-2006, 02:14 PM

this is where Periodization comes in. the ability to train every aspect of your game so that come fight time you have the optimal combination of speed, strength and endurance to fit your style, be it grappling or striking or some combination of the two. if this sounds interesting to you here is a link to an excellent book on the subject. http://www.humankinetics.com/product...sbn=0736055592

Reildeal · 10-12-2006, 02:43 PM

I'm a strong guy, but I've realized in fighting that strength will only get you so far in a lot of aspects of fighting. I favor endurance and quickness above strength, and above ALL else, Technique. Good technique and good thinking win out over everything. But that's just my opinion if I had to put them in order.

DrumzCT · 10-12-2006, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Good technique and good thinking win out over everything. But that's just my opinion if I had to put them in order.

For anyone who has trained, you know that if you stay the same physically throughout your training that as your technique gets better your speed and power get better. Technique can almost be defined as the most efficient way to perform an action. There's plenty of lightweights out there that standing up could knock a heavyweights head off.

And of course a stronger person can get tired and be overpowerd by a "weaker" person with better endurance or someone faster can avoid someone stronger.....

It all comes down to training your body efficiently so that you improve your body in all areas like Crashti said. Of course, you do wind up figuring out your natural talents and focusing on those areas.

GSPALLTHEWAY · 10-12-2006, 06:37 PM

this is a great subject... obviously i agree with power being the answer (both strength and speed) a major reason why many mma fighters use plyometrics to train... i think you just train your weaknesses... for me, i have fairly strong and i have good technique but i could be alot faster.. so i try to focus in on that... your only overall as strong as your greatest weakness

DrumzCT · 10-12-2006, 06:40 PM

Quote:

your only overall as strong as your greatest weakness

Like "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link". Definitely. BJJ wise I do get outmuscled sometimes by the stronger body builder types even though my techinique and cardio may be better. Then again my coach has amazing technique and no matter how much stronger people are he does just fine(in the context of the opponent much stronger with him being much more experienced).

Reildeal · 10-12-2006, 09:35 PM

Agreed. All of those aspects are very important in the formula for being complete. And DrumzCT hit the nail on the head when he said "as your techinque gets better, so does your speed and power". That is actually what my Kru(s) stress to us as fighters.

rugger · 10-12-2006, 09:46 PM

I am probably missing some, but when it comes to athletic events of significant activity I would say all apply:
Stamina (ability to utilize energy efficiently)
Strength (ability to apply force)
Power (ability to apply force within minimal time)
Speed (ability to cycle movement quickly)
Balance (ability to adjust center of gravity to a given support)
Accuracy (technique)

MTKrav911 · 10-13-2006, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crashsti

POWER!!! the combination of strength and speed. as a fighter you have to discover which side of the spectrum you need to be on , a grappler like Jeff Monson is very strong, but a Judo player like Rhadi Ferguson is more explosive. they've fought 3 times under various rules, none MMA. a striker can also be powerful but its more speed than strength. take Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell for example, Randy is a powerful grappler and Chuck is a powerful striker. they both have honed thier skills to make the most of thier abilities.

Amen dude! Right on.

My instructor, I'm actually stronger than, but he has much more power than me and would easily KO my butt toe to toe. I've caught him a few times sparring with my strong punches, and his counter punching speed and power is insane.

lethalweapon · 10-13-2006, 02:30 PM

Awesome posts that are very helpful. As I have said I am faster than I am strong, but I am stronger than quite a few in my gym. Power must be the only reason that I can clinch with a 265 lb guy and take him down. I guess exerting my strenght quickly is my attribute. Endurance is really important too.

Crashsti · 10-16-2006, 11:01 AM

the idea of focusing on your weakest link is too simplistic. you need to continue to train your strong points as well. all of this can be done through periodization. you never want to take your strong points for granted because you will eventually start to overlook them. you have to really look at the demands of your sport in order to make accurate decisions regarding you own training. its alot of information to look at which is why alot of fighters have trainers, strength coaches, nutritionists etc..

SmashingMachine · 10-16-2006, 05:45 PM

well, I think it sorta matters as to what your base is...wrestlers/grapplers should be more powerful...strikers should be faster...but a happy medium is best. I was one of the strongest guys in the Dojo, but I was also one of the fastest too...made my life a lot easier. Even, Shihan, commented on my speed...and he's gold medal fast...so, I took it as a compliment...lol.

lethalweapon · 10-16-2006, 10:39 PM

Here is how it went for me, Boxing was first, wrestling/BJJ second, and Muay Thai last. I find that Focus mitts and thai pads help my speed and accuracy greatly.