After a period of extended unemployment and you know, ‘hitting the gym’ due to not having much else to do, I’ve decided to pursue this hobby of violence that seems to attract far too many chuds. I’m hoping it’ll give me a thin veneer of confidence and security, and an ability to fend off fucking assholes with my bare fists arthur-punch

In all seriousness, how do I become a better fighter, I truly suck at this. Any of you fight for fun? Practice a martial art, boxing, wrestling? What’s your opinion on the sport?

  • Lussy [any, hy/hym]
    hexagon
    ·
    13 hours ago

    Truly incredible account and one I’m hoping to replicate maybe someday.

    I had my literal first ever combat course yesterday, a group class at Muay Thai gym. My worry is I’ve started too late at 33. How long before I’m even slightly good as a fighter? 4 years?

    Do you maybe have any prescriptions? What should I do become as good of a fighter I can be? How much should I train a week? Which other martial art?

    • ShimmeringKoi [comrade/them]
      ·
      edit-2
      12 hours ago

      Good is relative. If we assume say, 3 or 4 hours a week (consistency and repetition are key), then after a year you'll be able to beat, for example, most people who are at your current level right now, whatever that is, and youll feel the fufillment of that. 2 years in you're also gonna start seeing serious benefits to your body awareness, balance and agility. I would say that with a good mix of drill and sparring (can't have too much of one or the other, but in this case a little more direct contact would accelerate things) you can become a capable brawler in like 2.5 years, and ive had people take to it quicker than that. As for being 33, there were guys in their 30s or 40s in the gym who did just fine, and guys in their 50s among the grapplers.

      For literal perscriptions, tiger balm, medical tape and painkillers are all essentials, and epsom salts will make your life a lot nicer too. I'll come back and add more to this when I get back home.

      • Lussy [any, hy/hym]
        hexagon
        ·
        edit-2
        12 hours ago

        That’s really helpful, thanks. I don’t mean prescription as in medicine, more like a syllabus I could follow lol should have been clearer