A man's fighting ability is written in his face • Hacker News Board

Re: A man's fighting ability is written in his face

#21

Post by nicholas73 » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 3:56 PM UTC

Anyone who has trained hard (in any sport) would recognize ability just by appearance. There are physical markers that appear, that include facial features. A wider face is indicative of nutritional status growing up - BUT, a wider jaw is something that is earned.

I've trained grappling sports for a long time, and my jaw and neck are one size larger for my weight. This is true of other people who have trained for a long time as well, even small people with skinny faces.

There are other markers as well, some sport specific, but that's another topic.

Re: A man's fighting ability is written in his face

#22

Post by incision » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 3:59 PM UTC

e40 wrote: post #2

From a survival perspective, there is also research published this month suggesting that a greater face width-length ratio may be part of a facial structure evolved for resistance to punches. I suspected that might be part of it. It's always amazed me that some people can take incredible punishment (in the form of punches) and not be knocked out. Maurício "Shogun" Rua to name one.

I'm reminded of possible the most classic MMA example of both taking punishment and having an exceptionally large dome [1] in Kazuyuki Fujita [2].

1: http://www.cracked.com/blog/worst-life-ever-the-story-of-kaz...

2: http://i.imgur.com/II49fRq.jpg

Re: A man's fighting ability is written in his face

#23

Post by nicholas73 » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 4:01 PM UTC

orasis wrote: post #6

A better title for this research would have been "Steroids seem to help people win fights" As an MMA coach, I think a more likely explanation is the wider faces correlate to high testosterone, including steroid use, which in turn correlates with more wins in the Octagon due to strength and stamina, not necessarily "fighting ability". If you want to look at raw fighting ability, take a look at any member of the Gracie…

Notice the pattern holds true within the Gracie family. Rickson and Roger are family champions and have wide faces. Royce and Royler have thin faces, but even they have wide jawlines for their size.

It's directly related to testosterone level, but that's an artifact of training hard. Let's not claim it's all steroid use.

Re: A man's fighting ability is written in his face

#24

Post by nicholas73 » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 4:03 PM UTC

5partan wrote: post #14

This is somehow biased and ufc-specific, as a fight can go with ease over hours, and grapplers are put on a disadvantage with 5min rounds. Also judges like to stand up fighters because it does not look spectacular, even though there is more going on then between two strikers which orbit each other out of respect.

I hate watching strikers trade one-shots at a distance. A sure sign of mediocrity.

Re: A man's fighting ability is written in his face

#25

Post by snsr » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 4:06 PM UTC

nicholas73 wrote: post #21

Anyone who has trained hard (in any sport) would recognize ability just by appearance. There are physical markers that appear, that include facial features. A wider face is indicative of nutritional status growing up - BUT, a wider jaw is something that is earned. I've trained grappling sports for a long time, and my jaw and neck are one size larger for my weight. This is true of other people who have trained for a l…

A wider face is indicative of nutritional status growing up

Do you have a source for this?

Re: A man's fighting ability is written in his face

#26

Post by nicholas73 » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 4:12 PM UTC

snsr wrote: post #25

nicholas73 wrote: post #21

Anyone who has trained hard (in any sport) would recognize ability just by appearance. There are physical markers that appear, that include facial features. A wider face is indicative of nutritional status growing up - BUT, a wider jaw is something that is earned. I've trained grappling sports for a long time, and my jaw and neck are one size larger for my weight. This is true of other people who have trained for a l…

A wider face is indicative of nutritional status growing up Do you have a source for this?

http://www.amazon.com/Nutrition-Physical-Degeneration-Weston...

You don't have to read the book. Observe people around you. Healthier people have wider faces. First borns tend to have wider faces. People born into wealthier families.

Re: A man's fighting ability is written in his face

#27

Post by incision » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 4:16 PM UTC

nicholas73 wrote: post #21

Anyone who has trained hard (in any sport) would recognize ability just by appearance. There are physical markers that appear, that include facial features. A wider face is indicative of nutritional status growing up - BUT, a wider jaw is something that is earned. I've trained grappling sports for a long time, and my jaw and neck are one size larger for my weight. This is true of other people who have trained for a l…

>'...a wider jaw is something that is earned.'

I have honestly never heard this said or suggested and I'm no newcomer to the sport. A thick yoke, sure - the contour of a jaw used to clenching, OK - the very obvious effects on ears, noses, shins and even toes - asbsolutely.

I have never seen a wide jaw picked out as something to be 'earned'.

Re: A man's fighting ability is written in his face

#28

Post by nicholas73 » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 4:28 PM UTC

incision wrote: post #27

nicholas73 wrote: post #21

Anyone who has trained hard (in any sport) would recognize ability just by appearance. There are physical markers that appear, that include facial features. A wider face is indicative of nutritional status growing up - BUT, a wider jaw is something that is earned. I've trained grappling sports for a long time, and my jaw and neck are one size larger for my weight. This is true of other people who have trained for a l…

>'...a wider jaw is something that is earned.' I have honestly never heard this said or suggested and I'm no newcomer to the sport. A thick yoke, sure - the contour of a jaw used to clenching, OK - the very obvious effects on ears, noses, shins and even toes - asbsolutely. I have never seen a wide jaw picked out as something to be 'earned'.

It's earned by consistent hard training that ups your testosterone levels, giving you a wider jaw over time. You can't fake it by jaw exercise. It's bone structure, not muscle. Similarly you can tell who is just a gym rat, vs. a fighter, by looking at his build. It's not just the size of muscles (or uneven development) but the skeletal structure. Someone who got big quickly doing weight training isn't going to have a barrel chest no matter what he does.

Now let's not get started on the idiots who purposely rough themselves up and get cauliflower ear just to look tough.

Btw what sport do you train?

Re: A man's fighting ability is written in his face

#29

Post by incision » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 5:35 PM UTC

nicholas73 wrote: post #28

incision wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>'...a wider jaw is something that is earned.' I have honestly never heard this said or suggested and I'm no newcomer to the sport. A thick yoke, sure - the contour of a jaw used to clenching, OK - the very obvious effects on ears, noses, shins and even toes - asbsolutely. I have never seen a wide jaw picked out as something to be 'earned'.

It's earned by consistent hard training that ups your testosterone levels, giving you a wider jaw over time. You can't fake it by jaw exercise. It's bone structure, not muscle. Similarly you can tell who is just a gym rat, vs. a fighter, by looking at his build. It's not just the size of muscles (or uneven development) but the skeletal structure. Someone who got big quickly doing weight training isn't going to have a…

>'Now let's not get started on the idiots who purposely rough themselves up and get cauliflower ear just to look tough.'

Yeah, you had to expect a lot more of that sort of thing when the sport went mainstream 10 years ago. On the bright side, the level of foolisness has definitely leveled off in recent years.

>'Btw what sport do you train?'

I started with boxing and got into Muay Thai about 13 years ago, BJJ shortly after.

Eventually, work and later starting a family kill off my training. I can't complain, my career has gone well and I love my son more than life itself, but I miss training more than I thought I would.

Right now I'm just lifting and kicking around the idea of training for grip / strongman. Though, I had someone invite me to check out their fencing club the other day - that seemed interesting and really different.