I was just wondering what any of you think about midgets and the martial arts. Do any of you have little people in any of your classes? What martial art style do you think would be most suitable for a midget?? What techniques would be easy for a midget to use in a self defense scenario??(I know someone would have to be pretty lame to want to beat up a midget).
Anyway, share your thoughts. Just bored and curious.
On a side note, what do you all think about a midget trying to learn an Internal style for fighting like Tai Chi, Hsing Yi, or Ba Gua?
Well, several of the movements in t’ai chi are more easily done with height or leg length. An example would be step back and repulse the monkey. If your hand is being held by someone who is in the act of performing parting wild horses mane and you want to step back and repulse the monkey you will need to partially step over their leg depending on how you are positioned in respect to that person. If you are not tall enough to step over the leg, which is not very high but for a migit it could be then it makes your options more confined.
I heard they can do allright. Especially with grappling, they don’t have the reach for striking
I used to have this reoccuring dream, where a team of midgets were fighting me, more like an army. Now think “Twin Warriors/Tai Chi Master” and I was tossing them into each other and splatting them on the walls. Its was graphic and awe inspiring. The charged with spears, but I double kicked their faces and threw them so their little arms and legs going every which way as their skulls collided in the bloody mele. Yep it was one of those dreams that you try to go back to sleep for.
I am 5’5" tall and about 120 lbs. – small by Western standards. I practice wing chun and wu style tai chi. I prefer both styles because their movements are smaller. The movements of wu style tai chi are much smaller than yang style tai chi. One of wing chun’s principles is “economy of motion”.
I acknowledge that all things being equal, a bigger fighter has the advantage over the smaller fighter. To overcome a bigger fighter, use superior strategy and technique against his superior strength.
Tough. Unfortunately, size does matter. Fortunately, that advantage can be overcome with good technique.
I also wouldn’t consider 5’5" a “little person”, small yes, but the ability to strike and move well is there. I was watching a special on little people on MYV the other day. Cool. That guy Weeman was skateboarding quite well, moved well. If you are atletic, are can move well, then you can learn. In reality, it all comes down to 2 or 3 core movements, and knowing when to use them.
Actually I was also watching the MTV special on little people, which was the inspiration of this thread. I remember they showed a picture of Wee Man in a Karate stance.
