Okay, so I’ve always been a, shall we say, vertically challenged guy. And for years, I thought that meant martial arts were just not for me. I figured everyone would be towering over me, with reach and leverage I could never match. Boy, was I wrong.
It all started when my buddy, Mark, who’s about my height, started raving about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). He kept going on about how it’s all about technique and leverage, not size. I was skeptical, but he finally dragged me to a class.
My First BJJ Experience
I remember walking into that gym, feeling like a kid in a giants’ convention. Everyone did seem bigger! But the instructor, a surprisingly compact dude himself, immediately put me at ease. He paired me up with someone closer to my size for the warm-up drills.
We started with some basic movements – shrimping (which is basically scooting your butt across the floor, essential for BJJ), breakfalls (learning to fall without hurting yourself), and some simple takedowns.
- Shrimping: Felt awkward at first, like a beached whale, but it started to click after a few tries.
- Breakfalls: Terrifying! But the instructor was really good at explaining the technique, and I didn’t die.
- Takedowns: This is where I started to see what Mark was talking about. Even against a slightly bigger guy, I could use my lower center of gravity to my advantage.
Then came the actual grappling (sparring). And yeah, I got tapped out. A lot. But here’s the thing: it wasn’t because of size. It was because I didn’t know what I was doing! The more experienced guys were using technique to control me, to get into positions where my height disadvantage didn’t matter.
Exploring Other Options
BJJ was cool, but I wanted to explore other options too. I did some research. Everyone was yapping about boxing and Muay Thai. So, I gave them a shot.
Boxing, I will say the reach advantage was tough in boxing, but It was so much fun that I wanted to keep trying. The footwork felt so good. I noticed that shorter boxers often focus on getting inside, working the body, and using angles. That seemed like a good strategy for me.
Muay Thai, I was surprised how much I liked the kicking aspect. Having strong legs (which I do, surprisingly!) felt like a real equalizer. Plus, the clinch work in Muay Thai, where you’re grappling standing up, seemed less reliant on height than I expected.
The Conclusion (So Far!)
After several months of trying out these arts I have come to the conclusion that I really enjoy BJJ, and I’ve stuck with it. I’m still getting tapped out regularly, but I’m also starting to submit people myself! I’m learning how to use my body in ways I never thought possible.
The biggest takeaway? Martial arts are for short guys. Don’t let anyone tell you different. I tried three different forms. BJJ, Boxing, and Muay Thai. There are styles and strategies that work for us. It’s about finding the right fit and putting in the work. It’s about technique, strategy, and a whole lot of persistence. And honestly, it’s been one of the most empowering things I’ve ever done.