Speed Kills

The_Viking54 · 10-31-2009, 05:47 AM

Hey guys,

I was curious, I was watching some highlight videos of different boxers and MMA fighters and it seems that fighters with with fast hands, or kicks seem to excel. Like Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, Roy Jones Junior, Manny Pac, etc.

So my question is, can speed be taught or is it just something some guys are born with? Its along the discussion of heavy hands, are you born with them or do you develop them?

Guards · 10-31-2009, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Viking54

can speed be taught or is it just something some guys are born with? Its along the discussion of heavy hands, are you born with them or do you develop them?

Speed at the HIGHEST levels of true speed is something that's probably beyond most peoples ability to ever utilize properly. Just like Power, in the rawest form, there are just some people who seem to have a higher capacity to harness it.

That said, speed is perhaps the single MOST noticeable increase when you train. Few people go from pillow hands to a solid banger, but chances are Vitor and Roy Jones weren't nearly that quick before they trained it hard.

Speed is effectively the most dangerous single physical trait to capitalize on, but the hardest to use effectively. Most people just don't process the series of events quick enough to stay 'Up' on speed.

ke1 · 10-31-2009, 08:01 AM

Everything can be taught, but only to a certain extent.

Basically, the limit to how fast your are is something your born with. Same thing with reflexes. RJJ's abilities to react and counteract to his opponents is something you're born with. Your muscle structure, your brain's ability to respond quickly, your brain ability to perceive and dissect a situation, the coordination you're born with. All of those small aspects are things that are collectively powerful.

Or at least that's what I believe. Don't think it's really measurable.

Speed > Strength imo. You can't beat what you can't hit.

insomniacl · 10-31-2009, 08:24 AM

You can be born with speed, but you can learn it too. Proper technique and thousands of hours of repetition can optimize and maximize your speed.

Steakeater · 10-31-2009, 09:33 AM

Also handspeed alone does not equal overall speed.

Zab Judah and Cotto have good hand speed, but are not quick and agile like Mayweather, Jones, Whittaker

of course, the latter has it all, overall hand speed, foot speed, body movement, etc.

high right kick · 10-31-2009, 11:12 AM

Timing>speed imo. Many instances of slower guys neutralizing and sometimes capitalizing on faster guys abusing that speed.

Mike Mcallum vs Roy jones
Buddy Mcgirt vs Meldrick Taylor
JCC vs Meldrick Taylor
Julian Jackson vs Herol Graham
Julian Jackson vs Terry Norris

The 1st 2 are guys using technique to kill the other guys speed. the last 3 are guys with power making the faster guy pay for abusing his speed.

surfer dude · 10-31-2009, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Viking54

So my question is, can speed be taught or is it just something some guys are born with? Its along the discussion of heavy hands, are you born with them or do you develop them?

I've read some articles that say lifting heavy with low reps on a program like Strong lifts or starting strength are a good way to recruit your fast twitch-type II fibers.

A good example seems to be sprinters v. Marathon runners. Distance runners rely on type-I slow twitch for better performance since they are more suited to endurance bouts of exercise. Where as, type-II is more beneficial to the explosive power and speed needed to sprint.

panamaican · 10-31-2009, 11:55 AM

Like power, you can train to effectively increase your speed. Practicing the same movements over and over again shortens the time your brain needs to effect that movement (it's more complicated than that but simplicity for post sake). Strength training allows you to fully reach your muscles potential. The combination results in more "speed". Your brain needs less time to command your muscles to perform an action, your mucles perform said action faster and more powerfully. There's a lot more science behind it than I've put in this post but you can look it up at your leisure.

However, no matter how much you train your brain and your muscles, you still have a top end based on genetic ability. I can train for 100m sprint and I will get noticeably faster but I'll never get olympic level fast (well maybe...you never know your top end till you try to pass it).

**Sinister** · 10-31-2009, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Buddy Mcgirt vs Meldrick Taylor

I only disagree with this one, Buddy was arguably the second fastest guy in the Sport. It's not like Meldrick had him totally out-sped, Buddy could hang, and would have done so had it not been for that busted ear drum fucking up his equilibrium. But he hung with Sweet Pea with one arm.