What is the importance of being muscular nowaday?

[zinc4]

Who gives a fvuck it's a sport or not?

Let's keep this really simple and obvious: very few people have the ability to workout consistently enough to develop a fit, muscular body.

I'm surprised you don't appreciate that fact, given your supposed "gym rat" history. If you've ever reahed a point where you wrre exceptionally fit, you wouldn't be belittleing such an accomplishment. Anyone who has worked his off to a fit body would tell you the same: it's not easy. Very few people can do it because it takes a lot of hard work and dedication.

No, actually I don't appreciate it...

Also, i was laughing at some people like muscleman labeling it a real sport...

Getting fit is not that hard man. I study Longfist kungfu now....the discipline/will power required for body building or as you say getting a fit body is nothing compared to studying an intensive martial art or even for that matter playing a really competitve sport...maybe it is hard if you were a couch potato your entire life.

 

[zinc4]

Bruce Lee was also a show pony and did not compete in any major events as a adult, he was a movie actor and created his own version of kung fu based loosely upon whin chun. It looked good on camera and taught his students basic offensive and defensive maneuvers but it's very easily dismantled in a proper fight where the other guy knows what he's doing.

Why do you think size strength and speed are taught in all sports and combat sports ? Because having greater size greater strength and greater speed all aid in your ability to out maneuver and beat the other guy.

And if you paid any attention to human evolution in biology class you would know that the strong lean muscular build of Cro-Magnon man is the reason why you're here today.

Bruce Lee physically was a beast for his size...he was light as a feather yet could kick a 300 pound bag hard enough to make it swing up and hit the the ceiling multiple times...not to mention his hand and foot speed....don't kid yourself, he was a physical specimen and could kick some a$$ when he had to....

But he only relied on his raw muscle force...i have seen real kungfu/qigong masters over here in China and Taiwan who don't have much bulk muscle mass at all but who are extremely powerful. They believe too much bulk muscle restricts your body and makes you more tight and less fluid. A real master doesn't ever tense his muscles up or anything like that unless under extreme physical duress....they keep themselves as loose as possible at all times like water. The Shaolin monks in China who don't fight outside the temple because they are there for only for their religion and training could rip apart guys 5 times bigger than them. My head sifu at my school who pretty much trains and mediates all day long can do stuff that many people would deem physically/scientifically impossible.

Here is a clip of a Baji Quan master in China doing a form...now he has some legit internal power going on and not just muscular force..if you know anything about real kungfu then just watching this guy you will know he could rip apart any bodybuilder...and please ignore the overdramatic music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QGGQA2WTBI

 

[zekko]

I think there are too many choices in the poll to draw any firm conclusions. Several of them are saying basically the same thing in different ways. But whatever. Here are my comments:

1) There's a difference between having big muscles and being in shape. You can be skinny and be in great shape. And you can have big muscles and be out of shape. Or you could have both.

2) I just noticed yesterday some ass licking hot girls with skinny guys. Pretty boy types who have some things going for them can pull hot girls.

3) Women may feel safer around a big muscular guy, but fighting skills are not necessarily tied to strength. We've all seen the fast, skilled little guy knock out the big guy.

4) I do think working on your build can be important. If you feel physically inferior (or superior) to the next guy, there can be a subtle change in the social dynamics between you. And women can pick up on that too.

5) I'm glad that I built myself up instead of staying skinny. And I do think that it's been an overall help when it comes to dealing with women. But I never experienced any sort of sudden "night and day" difference in the way women responded to me when I started working out.

6) Guys here seem to think that if you work out, you're ahead of 90% of the other guys. Well, maybe. But honestly, I don't know too many guys who don't do some sort of exercise program these days. How many guys on the forum don't lift? And with the pickup community and the health conscious culture today, seriously I see countless guys on the street who look like they work out regularly and pump themselves up. Even with the economy in the dump, I see more gyms in business than ever before.

 

[vatoloco]

It is particularly important if you're short.

 

[VladPatton]

Any form of human training, regardless of the sport or objective, requires discipline and longevity that begins inside your mind. Everything else is a passing phase that produces minimal results.

 

[goundra]

mostly, if you see hot chicks with deadbeat looking punks, it's dope or money.

 

[zinc4]

Back to on topic, IMO the biggest advantange you get besides just feeling good about yourself and being healthy of course..is if you are clubbing and partying a lot with the younger crowd....especially nightclubs...because drunk slutty girls will be much more tempted to go home with you if you have a nice chest and 6 packs going on...i have literally met women who go to clubs who say they are only looking to go home with guys with 6 packs...so yes, it definitely helps getting a ONS...

 

[muscleman]

No, actually I don't appreciate it...

Also, i was laughing at some people like muscleman labeling it a real sport...

Getting fit is not that hard man. I study Longfist kungfu now....the discipline/will power required for body building or as you say getting a fit body is nothing compared to studying an intensive martial art or even for that matter playing a really competitve sport...maybe it is hard if you were a couch potato your entire life.

This is similar to what I do for workouts now, all calisthenics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=esHWsRvvp_s

By strict definition, this is bodybuilding.

Please, tell me that doesn't take skill, because the next video I'm going to post will be gymnastics, which I'm guessing doesn't take skill either.

I swimming a sport? All you're doing is swimming over and over until you get faster.

Is track a sport? All you're doing is running over and over until you get faster.

Come on now ...

Then again, your comment 'getting fit is not that hard man' kinda says everything. How fit are you?

PS. why are you bringing up martial arts and comparing someone who's doing combat training to a bodybuilder or 'who would beat who'? Here's a thought for you ... a bodybuilder and a martial artist walk into a bar and get a drink. A scrawny kid walks up behind them and hits each one in the back of the head with an 8 ball. Scrawny kid wins. What's your point?

You are right though, this has gotten way off topic.

 

[Masculinity]

Your poll responses are confusing and there are too many of them. I would suggest keeping this thread and re-run the poll with crystal clear and fewer response options.

I'm a psych student; polls are a foundational part of my field.

 

[Jair213]

No, actually I don't appreciate it...

Also, i was laughing at some people like muscleman labeling it a real sport...

Getting fit is not that hard man. I study Longfist kungfu now....the discipline/will power required for body building or as you say getting a fit body is nothing compared to studying an intensive martial art or even for that matter playing a really competitve sport...maybe it is hard if you were a couch potato your entire life.

Getting fit of course is not that hard. Anybody could do it.

But when you take bodybuilding seriously it requires a lot of mental effort and excruciating pain when your a seriously lifter. I my self have being reading arnolds book withch is recognized as the ''bible of bodybuilding'' and other books on how your muscles work. There's a lot of in depth reading and studying to do in all those areas when you take lifting weights seriously. Also its no easy task. Anybody could go and lift weights but to lift at an intensity level when your serious about bodybuilding(not competing but your own goals in you doing it for you) its no easy task not anybody could work out at those intense levels. It's hard enough to even eat a cheat meal for over a year after a year of serious lifting the mental effort and focus is rigorous when also keeping this strict bodybuilding diet. I played soccer in college, ran half marathons, did a bit of boxing for a couple of years, and let me tell you bodybuilding when taken seriously is no diferent from all this sports or other sports when taken seriously and pushing your body to almost your physical limits. and this is coming from someone that has an athletic back ground. Bodybuilding is one of the hardest physical activity's I have ever done.

A couple of months back I was training with some well built bodybuilder's down at the golds gym in venice beach and let me tell you bro, the intensity of working out with those guys took me to new heights of physical activity I have ever experience.

 

[Falcon]

Playing a little Devil's Advocate here since I do go to the gym quite a bit to workout...

I think the problem here is seeing bodybuilding as the bridge to success with women.

It can be, and we are talking with only a certain percentage of women, but is by far not the only path.

Typical progression:

Guy is skinny, young, nothing much going for him in life yet -> works out, gets buff -> feels more better about himself -> finds out girls are more attracted to him -> reasons bodybuilding gets him girls

But if we look closer, it can be argued that it was his new self-image that he had of himself because he tasted success in one field only. In reality, that new-found confidence can come from many things. The mistake is thinking that bodybuilding is needed to be truly successful with girls.

Personally, if I had to do it all over again, I would have spent more time on my passions in life, instead of bodybuilding. Let's face it, bodybuilding takes up a ton of time and requires even more just to maintain. Unless you are going to reap huge benefits from it (financially or enjoying it so much that you are truly passionate about it), I believe there are better paths to take. Success in any field can breed the same confidence, and in turn, make one that much more attractive. So you have to choose where you spend your time wisely.

Looking back, If I had a chance to take all the hours I spent working on bodybuilding and put it in what I truly love to do with my life, I would do it in a heartbeat. Not only would I be more successful in that field, I would be doing what I really love... and if I achieve success, the confidence and new self-image of myself would be far greater than what bodybuilding would ever give me because in reality, I did bodybuilding for lesser reasons (to get girls, aesthetics, to be better at sports, etc.). Heck, instead of spending time bodybuilding, I probably would've gotten more success with women by using the time to just go out socialize with people. It's just that when we are young, we take the easy, less risky, rejection-avoiding route. If I get more muscles -> girls will flock to me. Look, bodybuilding there are no surprises and it's very straightforward while being easier to monitor progress. Bingo! Let's do that instead!

Like others have said... I have seen many many examples of skinny guys/average looking semi-fit guys getting gorgeous women in life. It also seems like bodybuilding is very popular nowadays, so being just a bit better than average may not make you stand out as much, if at all, especially if you lack social skills, style, or other fundamentals.

 

[zekko]

Like others have said... I have seen many many examples of skinny guys/average looking semi-fit guys getting gorgeous women in life..

One thing the skinny guys have going for them is that they're not fat. Although some girls will prefer a husky guy with some fat on him because they feel safer around him. The girls I notice who seem to like the skinny guys tend to be younger. They probably still carry around traces of their Justin Bieber/teen idol phase.

 

[Who Dares Win]

Your poll responses are confusing and there are too many of them. I would suggest keeping this thread and re-run the poll with crystal clear and fewer response options.

I'm a psych student; polls are a foundational part of my field.

There are many options cause I wanted to make sure to see through, you'll find out that from the upper option to the lower one the importance given to muscles gradually increase; its not that they are randomly thrown there.

To say that muscle increase your value given the rest is sufficient, is different than saying that muscles could score what you couldnt with only your other qualities.

 

[Mike32ct]

One thing the skinny guys have going for them is that they're not fat. Although some girls will prefer a husky guy with some fat on him because they feel safer around him. The girls I notice who seem to like the skinny guys tend to be younger. They probably still carry around traces of their Justin Bieber/teen idol phase.

Skinny is fine on a pretty boy with decent height.

 

[zinc4]

This is similar to what I do for workouts now, all calisthenics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=esHWsRvvp_s

By strict definition, this is bodybuilding.

Please, tell me that doesn't take skill, because the next video I'm going to post will be gymnastics, which I'm guessing doesn't take skill either.

I swimming a sport? All you're doing is swimming over and over until you get faster.

Is track a sport? All you're doing is running over and over until you get faster.

Come on now ...

Then again, your comment 'getting fit is not that hard man' kinda says everything. How fit are you?

PS. why are you bringing up martial arts and comparing someone who's doing combat training to a bodybuilder or 'who would beat who'? Here's a thought for you ... a bodybuilder and a martial artist walk into a bar and get a drink. A scrawny kid walks up behind them and hits each one in the back of the head with an 8 ball. Scrawny kid wins. What's your point?

You are right though, this has gotten way off topic.

I guess i will continue this pissing match

Those are just workouts that people do for other real sports/martial arts or just to get fit...and no, they don't require serious skill...lol...anyone can learn to do that...and i am fit...do you think i just sit around and eat little debbie snacks while training kungfu?

Also, i have never done a lifting exercise that i felt seriously challenged my will power......you can listen to music while you are lifting to pump you up.....it gets me high lifting and running to music...even if i am screaming in pain, i still always have fun and don't view it as difficult...

If you want to try something that is really tough on your will power than squat down into a mabu or horse stance and see do it with your back as straight as possible and thighs parallel to the ground until you can't do it anymore and fall onto the ground....and do it over and over many times a day gradually making it longer in duration....there is nothing fun or adrenaline rushing about it...just pure pain to block out with your mind...although it does become meditative over time...google horse stance and try that..no equipment is needed...

And my problem with labeling body building a sport is because basically it's just working out and a beauty contest...

Who do you respect more as an athlete...a serious/professional body builder or a professional ball player/fighter.....i think only body builders would answer the body builder....anyone else who is sane would say the ballplayer/fighter...because the body builder is just making himself look physically good for judges....

And i view swimming and track are more contests/games than actual sports.....but the participants are definitely athletes as are bodybuilders athletes.

 

[TheWolfMan]

Agree with Muscleman, @Zinc4 if you think bodybuilding isn't a sport, you're high. I'm not knocking traditional sports or your martial arts but if you say that bodybuilding does not take just as much discipline and dedication if not more than other sports, I can't take you seriously. Everyone has their own niche, some people think getting into a cage and fighting someone is bizarre as well as driving a car and only making left hand turns. Those same people think that what bodybuilders do is strange, to each his own. Anyway back to the main point of the thread, the benefits of being in shape and healthy far out weigh not being fit. Not only for the looks factor, but emotionally as well, it gives a certain message to females and you are more likely to be successful with them. I will agree with you Zinc4 about the whole club ONS thing, girls are out to find have fun and find the "hottest" guys when in a club environment. It is hard for those guys to say anything wrong in that situation lol.

 

[TheWolfMan]

@Zinc4, watch Pumping Iron and then get back to us

 

[zinc4]

Agree with Muscleman, @Zinc4 if you think bodybuilding isn't a sport, you're high. I'm not knocking traditional sports or your martial arts but if you say that bodybuilding does not take just as much discipline and dedication if not more than other sports, I can't take you seriously. Everyone has their own niche, some people think getting into a cage and fighting someone is bizarre as well as driving a car and only making left hand turns. Those same people think that what bodybuilders do is strange, to each his own. Anyway back to the main point of the thread, the benefits of being in shape and healthy far out weigh not being fit. Not only for the looks factor, but emotionally as well, it gives a certain message to females and you are more likely to be successful with them. I will agree with you Zinc4 about the whole club ONS thing, girls are out to find have fun and find the "hottest" guys when in a club environment. It is hard for those guys to say anything wrong in that situation lol.

It's ok because i can't take you seriously as well....judges score bodybuilders based on how they think they physically look...you can say it is a sport all day long...but in reality it is more of a glorified beauty pageant...anyone who plays or has played a real sport knows the difference.

And i am not saying that serious bodybuilding doesn't take a lot of hard work/discipline and dedication...of course it does. That still doesn't make it a sport.

 

[JohnChops]

Apparently no point since less and less women tell me they like skinny well dressed faggots. I'm talking about the fvcks who weigh in at 140 lbs and are stick like. I get looks from some but there's a whole category of girls that I will never be able to obtain because of muscle mass . Whatever ill never turn into a metro sexual skinny person. Never.

And zinc , body builders work harder than any other athlete out there. Their job is 24/7. Diet, lift, eat and get adequate rest. Not to mentiont they have other obligations . Sure it's a sport where you train to see who looks better but to say they don't work hard is the biggest understand my ever and to say its not a sport is of the same magnitude. Bodybuilding has to tax your CNS far greater than people think. But everyone has their opinion and you believe what you believe , I'm not arguing with you. Some body builders have insecurity issues about their look, others do it for the pure adrenaline, some for the love of it etc.

And for the record cheer leading ain't a sport

 

[muscleman]

Powerlifting and the like (crossfit, WSM, etc) are more competitive extensions of bodybuilding, if you're so stuck on the beauty pageant aspect of it.

But since you decided not to address anything I posted in my last reply, I'll just finish with this:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sport?s=t

an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.

It's clear you don't take anything that YOU personally don't find 'challenging' as a sport, as you admitted you don't think track or swimming are sports - even though both are in the OLYMPICS, when martial arts isn't.

And not to mention that both date back THOUSANDS of years as competitive sports.

But I guess we're all wrong and as such, there's nothing left to discuss.