MikeP

I've lost many a time to guys who were bigger and stronger than I am. But the more I spar, or fight them, the better I become and have at times been able to beat someone who was previously better than I was. Same goes for people I have been better than.

That all depends on his/her level of experiance is. No matter what the style of fighting is it's always better to get in close (because of the guys reach). And yes you will get hit regardless, but better to get in close so you can land your punches, kicks elbows, etc. too.

Headgear is a MUST! for sparring. It makes no sense in getting hurt before a real fight. Pros wear them when sparring as well. Shin guards too for sparring. At our gym we wear shin guards,mouthguards, and headgear when we spar. We go about 30% outside of ring, in ring about 70% (We have a ring inside of our gym). Also all full contact! Fight nights is full contact with no headgear or shinguards (If you so choose...most don't but no one is frowned at if they choose to) but moutguards are always a MUST!

I just get so mad when people (puppets/sheep(aka followers who can't think for theirselves)) think that lifting weights will slow down your speed. That's total crap! Sure in some cases it is...but it's that persons own fault for losing their speed. It's not the weight training that does it. Keep up with the stretching, lot's of shadow boxing, pad and bag drills, focusing on speed (after technique of course...and for the more experianced...even foregoing it at times). Yes! I'm speaking from experiance. There are many big people at our gym who are way faster than the smaller guys/girls. There's always gonna be someone who is smaller that is faster....or someone who is bigger that is going to be faster. It all depends on that person and the way they train.

Well the way I train is weight/bodybuilding in the mornings (Monday-Friday) pluss Cardio and stretching (Before and after). Evenings: Monday: Kickboxing/Krav Maga Tuesday: Kickboxing Wednesday: Kickboxing/Krav Maga Thursday: Kickboxing/Sparring(Kickboxing) Saturday: Krav Maga Krava Maga has a lot of Muay Thai Techniques pluss a whole lot more more. The stuff I do in Kickboxing and Krav Maga would take too long to explain here. I also train at home and sometimes with my friends from our gym.

Anyone in the San Francisco area should goto fairtex. They train and fight like the thais do. And have beaten many thais at their own game in professional bouts. Also team U.S.A. is great too.

sparring we wear headgear (And some wear shin guards) but fight nights are total full contact with no protective gear

What works for me is getting in close with the body shots and usually finishing with an uppercut, cross, or both. This is usually hard to give advice on because every opponent is going to be different and the things you do won't always be effective. The only real advice that I can give is "NEVER!", "EVER!" take your eyes off of your opponent! Even while getting hit. (Remember your going to get hit or kicked regardless.) Also stick (hit, kick) and move.

Forgot to mention: I wrestled throughout high school, and Judo for 5 yrs.

Krav-Maga is AWSOME! Plus it's a great way to stay in shape. I won't rehash anything that has been said before about Krav Maga. Two of my Fav. things about Krav Maga is the Cardio conditioning wich takes awhile to get used to because your pushed over the edge and then some more. The later, is automatic Defense and attack at the same time....meaning you defend yourself from an attack and at the very same time you counter attack and literally beat the crap out of your attacker before he can do the same to you. This may be confusing to some but those that study it know exactly what I'm talking about. My training goes like this: Cardio, Stretching, and weight training (weight lifting) in the mornings Monday through Friday. Then in the Evenings: Monday: Kickboxing/Krav Maga Tuesday: Kickboxing Wednesday: Kickboxing/Krav Maga Thursday: Kickboxing/kickboxing Friday: rest (Although light training at home on the bags/shadowboxing) Saturday/ Krav Maga Sunday: Rest This routine is almost too much for most people(Sometimes even for me) but it will get you in the best shape of your life. I didn't start out this way..but gradually built it up. I'm in no way a pro nor do I desire to become one (I'm 30 yrs old)