Big, Weak Muscles?

[EarthElement]

To start off, i have been working out for about 6 or 7 months now (minus about 3 for lazyness ) and i have a strange problem. I have pretty decent sized muscles but i am quite weak. I have i think something like 18 cm's around the arm (i think its cm's) and i am 185 lbs. and 6' 1" so a pretty endmorphic body type. (Skinny/Tall) I typically can only do 20's in each hand (2 sets of 12) and my bench is a pathetic 90 lbs. (same set/reps as arms) and my chest seems pretty big. And the funny thing is when i was younger i could easily do 30's in each hand, (around 13) now im 17, and i droped 10 lbs, but my muscles are way bigger.

So my question is, does weight really determine how strong you are or is there something weird here? I mean i dont want to have big empty muscles. The reason this is really important to me is that i am planning on starting a very competetive, and very renowned MMA judo class around where i live. (mix of mostly judo then sambo/jiujitsu) And im REALLY gunna need strong muscles for that, so any suggestions?

[Aodhan]

To start off, i have been working out for about 6 or 7 months now (minus about 3 for lazyness ) and i have a strange problem. I have pretty decent sized muscles but i am quite weak. I have i think something like 18 cm's around the arm (i think its cm's) and i am 185 lbs. and 6' 1" so a pretty endmorphic body type. (Skinny/Tall) I typically can only do 20's in each hand (2 sets of 12) and my bench is a pathetic 90 lbs. (same set/reps as arms) and my chest seems pretty big. And the funny thing is when i was younger i could easily do 30's in each hand, (around 13) now im 17, and i droped 10 lbs, but my muscles are way bigger.

So my question is, does weight really determine how strong you are or is there something weird here? I mean i dont want to have big empty muscles. The reason this is really important to me is that i am planning on starting a very competetive, and very renowned MMA judo class around where i live. (mix of mostly judo then sambo/jiujitsu) And im REALLY gunna need strong muscles for that, so any suggestions?

At 17, I wouldn't worry too much about building muscle through weights. Take the MMA classes and build strong, functional muscle through the classes. Once you stop growing, you can worry about bulking and building for max power.

Aodhan

[Sohan]

18 cm is only 7 inches. You may want to remeasure that arm. Also, an endomorphic body type is not skinny, it is large framed with a propensity for mass, both fat and muscle. I think you mean you're an ectomorph. If you have 7 inch arms, that would certainly explain your strength deficit.

Regardless, muscle strength is not proportional to size. I have never had greater than 16 1/2 inch biceps yet I've benched over 400 in drug tested competition.

Learn how to train for strength; maybe an experienced lifter at your school or the local gym would be willing to help you out. Also, read as many books as you can about strength training. Good luck!

Respectfully,

Sohan

[elbows_and_knees]

We can't really tell you much about your weight training, as you haven't given us much to go on, but I will tell you that you aren't going to build strength doing sets of 12 with 20lbs. that's more for muscle endurance.

Also, you've only been training about 4 months... so you may not be weak, you just haven't given yourself enough time for any major gains.

Help us out some - tell us your current routine.

[isshinryu5toforever]

Size doesn't mean anything, if you have very dense muscles you might not be as big, but you'll be able to lift a lot. That's my thing, I look like I weigh about 165, but I weigh about 185-190 depending on the scale lol.

[SatyagrahaKF]

Do pushups, pullups, dips, and a lot of abdomen/core training. That will get you ready. Don't forget about the horse stance either.