In which sports can women equal men?

[Jeremie Boop]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

In all of these cases, and ESPECIALLY in this case, they're forgetting WHY she's so dominant.  It's partly due to her skill but mostly due to the lack of competition.  (I say that as a big fan, btw) I read in a few places that the girl she just beat has been training in MMA for all of 3 years, prior to which she was an accountant.

If she had the same quantity (and thus quality, relatively of course) of competition as the men, it would be far less likely that she'd stand out like she currently does, and that would lead people to wonder this kind of stuff (about her competing with men) far less often.

She's definitely the benefactor and victim of being in her position. Some talk about how extremely dominant she is and how nobody is close to her level of skill in a positive way. At the same time, some say the same things in a negative way. The truth is, because of how new the sport of women's MMA is, it may be impossible to ever truly understand how good she is. By the time enough other women reach her level of training she will most likely be retired. I understand the talk about whether she could compete against men, people want to see her challenged. I wouldn't say that she'd have zero chance against any pro male fighters, because anything can happen in there. I just think she's ahead of her time compared to basically every other female fighter out there, she's basically where the rest of the serious female fighters will be in another 5-10 years. One thing people don't seem to really take into account is that when male fighters weigh in they are a lot lighter then when they re-hydrate. So a male who weighs in at her weight will actually outweigh her by quite a bit when the fight actually takes place.

Quote:

For example, Sam Stout, who isn't considered to be a particularly large lightweight, has been quoted as saying that he cut down to 155 pounds from a walking weight of 180 pounds, and by the time he fights, he's back up to 175 pounds.

I could be wrong here, because I've not really seen anything about how much a weight a female fighter can/does cut for weigh ins so maybe they would still weigh roughly the same. However, I always heard that men are normally able to cut weight more quickly and easily than women. Given this basic principle, in order to fight someone of equivalent fight weight, she's probably have to fight someone who is in a class 10-15 lbs lower than her.

So to keep it on topic. I don't believe that women can equal men in MMA.

[Golfingdad]

She's definitely the benefactor and victim of being in her position. Some talk about how extremely dominant she is and how nobody is close to her level of skill in a positive way. At the same time, some say the same things in a negative way. The truth is, because of how new the sport of women's MMA is, it may be impossible to ever truly understand how good she is. By the time enough other women reach her level of training she will most likely be retired.

Yup.  It's totally a double edged sword.  She's so good because her competition is so poor, or her competition looks so poor because she's so good.

[Vinsk]

I outweigh her by a hundred pounds and I wouldn't know how to avoid it either.  I do know how to apply one though, so perhaps the best defense is a good offense??  ;)  Nah, I think in fighting a good offense is the worst defense because you're leaving yourself vulnerable. (For now, the only defense I know against an arm bar is to keep your hands clasped in front of you so she can't get control of one or the other - doesn't give you room to do anything though, so you're SOL either way.) In all of these cases, and ESPECIALLY in this case, they're forgetting WHY she's so dominant.  It's partly due to her skill but mostly due to the lack of competition.  (I say that as a big fan, btw) I read in a few places that the girl she just beat has been training in MMA for all of 3 years, prior to which she was an accountant. If she had the same quantity (and thus quality, relatively of course) of competition as the men, it would be far less likely that she'd stand out like she currently does, and that would lead people to wonder this kind of stuff (about her competing with men) far less often.

Agree GD....100%

[RosinJaw532]

Trap. It's so easy to teach a female the proper way to make a shotgun preform.

[Vinsk]

This is one of those times I wished we had a thumbs down option.

Or sense of humor....geesh.....come on.

[turtleback]

Quote:

Originally Posted by turtleback

This is one of those times I wished we had a thumbs down option.

Or sense of humor....geesh.....come on.

You think that is funny?  I can think of a lot of ways to characterize the notion of equating prostitution with sport, but funny would never have occurred to me.

[bm85]

Archery?

There should not be any physiological reason men can aim better (though in the deepest part of my brain I wonder).

[Hatchman]

Body Building.

[Vinsk]

You think that is funny?  I can think of a lot of ways to characterize the notion of equating prostitution with sport, but funny would never have occurred to me.

Lighten up Francis.

[turtleback]

Quote:

Originally Posted by turtleback

You think that is funny?  I can think of a lot of ways to characterize the notion of equating prostitution with sport, but funny would never have occurred to me.

Lighten up Francis.

No.

[GolfLug]

Not golf, nor basketball. But how about snooker, or curling?  Shooting a pistol or casting a lure out onto the still quiet pond?  These less physically demanding sports may find the ladies as good as the men.  Darts anyone?

Appreciate any discussion.

Or is there something in the mental makeup of one sex or the other which will permit  superior performance in these lower physical sports?  Not calling chess a sport, but i don't think men and women compete at the highest level despite nearly zero physical needs.  So perhaps something in the genes (or jeans) gives men the edge.

Maybe covered elsewhere among the 80+ posts, but IMHO, other than obvious factors like sheer strength and size, men have over ages evolved to be more adept neurologically at using outside leverage - instrument, tools, even the ones where strength is a minimal factor like a pool stick, darts or a putter. Curiously, women maybe better or at least equal at free body balance 'sports'.

As far as a 'sport' like chess is concerned, I think it is a numbers game and various social factors. One possible larger factor is on the evolution scale again, women are only recently coming out in terms of competition of any kind, i.e., men simply have a few hundred thousand years of head start in competing - ANY kind. Although, Judith Polgar has hung with the best of them in her day.. even Gary Kasporov.

Maybe a bit off topic, since not sports, but arts are the only field where men and women have reached the 'heights' of the same level.

[jamo]

Maybe covered elsewhere among the 80+ posts, but IMHO, other than obvious factors like sheer strength and size, men have over ages evolved to be more adept neurologically at using outside leverage - instrument, tools, even the ones where strength is a minimal factor like a pool stick, darts or a putter. Curiously, women maybe better or at least equal at free body balance 'sports'. As far as a 'sport' like chess is concerned, I think it is a numbers game and various social factors. One possible larger factor is on the evolution scale again, women are only recently coming out in terms of competition of any kind, i.e., men simply have a few hundred thousand years of head start in competing - ANY kind. Although, Judith Polgar has hung with the best of them in her day.. even Gary Kasporov. Maybe a bit off topic, since not sports, but arts are the only field where men and women have reached the 'heights' of the same level.

You got anything to prove this?

[GolfLug]

You got anything to prove this?

Absolutely nothing. Hence 'IMHO".

[jamo]

Absolutely nothing. Hence 'IMHO".

Fair enough.

[GolfLug]

Fair enough.

Thanks. I sense disagreement. Hope my post is not construed as 'men should make more than women' type of nonsense. Just what I think as to how what evolution has driven adaptation. My apologies to anyone who would feel offended.

[Vinsk]

Gymnastics comes to mind. Women don't do rings, men don't do balance beams. We've all certainly seen both perform some amazing routines on various platforms. Overall I enjoy watching the women in the Olympics more than the men. Not really sure if direct competition is even doable. The men might tumble a little higher, but the women can definitely sling themselves around amazingly as well.

[Vinsk]

Real [quote name="turtleback" url="/t/81969/in-which-sports-can-women-equal-men/60#post_1179931"]No. [/quote] Real mature. Shame.

[turtleback]

Real

Quote:

Originally Posted by turtleback

No.

Real mature. Shame.

Right.  As opposed to joking about prostitution as a sport.  Maybe we can get a thread going about some good slavery jokes, too.

If people can make posts that disparage women in disgusting ways as a "joke" then it seems entirely appropriate to call them on it.

And I will until I am told by the mods that it is forbidden.

The real question is, why are YOU defending it?  Or at least trying to shield it from criticism?