Anyone of any size, strength, age and gender can learn martial arts, this is absolutely true! However, people take this statement a little too far by saying these attributes have no bearing on the martial arts and how well you perform. While technique is by far the best attribute, strength and size can help dramatically with these techniques. In particular, strength can be somewhat of a safety net for when a technique fails. I don’t care how good you are, you will make mistakes, and having a physical edge is important to cover up or push through these mistakes. Also keep in mind that even the best technicians will encounter failure in a technique when the size and strength is overwhelming. Take for instance a young child attempting to apply an arm bar to a large grown man, it’s just not going to happen, and it’s not due to a mistake in technique. However, this doesn’t mean that all is lost and all techniques will fail. Think of that same small child throwing a strike to the large mans groin, I don’t care how strong you are, you’re going down!

For myself, I’ve experienced how much additional strength can assist in martial arts. Early on in my martial arts training I was 5′-10 and about 125 lbs. I was quite good, but still encountered much trouble while sparring (in particular grappling) with larger practitioners. I began lifting and eating correctly and soon packed about 30-40 lbs of muscles onto my 5′-10 frame. The ease of which I performed my techniques was astonishing and was a great safety net for when my technique failed. As I’ve progressed with my technique over the years I find myself relying on my strength less and less, but it’s not vanished by a long shot, it’s still prevalent and still highly useful.

As for height, this can be a huge advantage. I know this too by experience. I’ve done quite a bit of Taekwondo/Karate point sparring over the years and one thing I find that tends to dominate in all sparring matches is height. I honestly can’t remember the last time I lost to someone shorter than I am, no matter how good they were. At the same time I’ve struggled constantly against those who are taller, even when those whose technique is quite horrible.

So is size and strength useful in the martial arts? Absolutely! Is it needed to learn martial arts or to learn to defend oneself? Absolutely not!

More Myths and Misconceptions about Martial Arts

Part I – Martial Arts are all about Fighting

Part II – Sport vs. self-Defense

Part III – Size and Strength are of no importance in Martial Arts

Part IV – Horizontal Punch vs. Vertical Punch

Part V – Dim Mak (pressure points)

Part VI – Military fighting systems, such as Krav Maga, are the best self defense systems to be learned for self defense.

Part VII – My martial art is better than your martial art

Part VIII – The Hook punch is the most powerful punch you can throw