ESB Essay Writing Competition: Comparing fighters from different eras

[cross_trainer]

Originally Posted by Amsterdam

The fact that Greb could get away with that non sense and still stay the best of his era is not telling of his greatness, but of the era itself.

Welcome back. Looks like it's heating up again.

I will note that Greb, even in his time, was looked on as a weird stylist. Look at Dempsey or Tunney for closer approximations of how fighters fought. You still consider them crude, but they're not Grebs.

On the ClassicPugilism group on Yahoo, there are some guys with "Dempsey's Pugilism" seminars on DVD (I just looked into it recently myself). That, along with his book, might give you some interesting stuff to practice and see for yourself how well it worked.

[cross_trainer]

Originally Posted by China_hand_Joe

I would consider the changes in the measurable sports pretty massive in the last 60 years, in almost everything -fullstop-

Well, like I said:

* Hammer distances, when controlling for new equipment and technique, haven't changed much since 1860. The hammer throw is one of the more important "power sports" around.

* Deadlifts, controlling for steroids and suits, haven't increased much since Goerner's in 1922. Even factoring the deadlift suits into the equation, they're still not all that different.

* Runners in ye olde tymes ran in comparatively awful conditions. Even so, Seward's 1840's records were comparable to 100 yd. times during the 1960's by Olympians.

* Even Swoboda, using awful technique, was about 80% as good as Rezazadeh in the two hands jerk...and that was at the turn of the century.


...And there are a few more that I can't think of now. We do it better now, but not THAT much better.

[enquirer]

I will reply in a while,my wife is asking me to go shopping with her.....And one thing i know is that women have truely evolved in their ability to inflict major emotional,financial and physical pain.....And thats bloody measurable as well.......
Wife KO 1 ENQUIRER......

[Rattler]

Originally Posted by cross_trainer

Physique?

In that case, let me introduce you to the GOAT:

Imagine the carnage...

[McGrain]

Originally Posted by enquirer

I will reply in a while,my wife is asking me to go shopping with her.....And one thing i know is that women have truely evolved in their ability to inflict major emotional,financial and physical pain.....And thats bloody measurable as well.......
Wife KO 1 ENQUIRER......

God damit.

[Decebal]

Originally Posted by enquirer

I will reply in a while,my wife is asking me to go shopping with her.....And one thing i know is that women have truely evolved in their ability to inflict major emotional,financial and physical pain.....And thats bloody measurable as well.......
Wife KO 1 ENQUIRER......

small fry like us are likely to be ignored on this forum too, though, not just in the bosom of the family


...I should speak for myself, only :(

[McGrain]

Originally Posted by Rattler

Imagine the carnage...

Distressing.

Trust you to lower the tone.

[Amsterdam]

Originally Posted by cross_trainer

Welcome back. Looks like it's heating up again.

I will note that Greb, even in his time, was looked on as a weird stylist. Look at Dempsey or Tunney for closer approximations of how fighters fought. You still consider them crude, but they're not Grebs.

On the ClassicPugilism group on Yahoo, there are some guys with "Dempsey's Pugilism" seminars on DVD (I just looked into it recently myself). That, along with his book, might give you some interesting stuff to practice and see for yourself how well it worked.

I'll look into it.

[cross_trainer]

Originally Posted by Rattler

Imagine the carnage...

Aaaargh My Eyes!

Take that unholy thing away.

[China_hand_Joe]

Originally Posted by cross_trainer

Well, like I said:

* Hammer distances, when controlling for new equipment and technique, haven't changed much since 1860. The hammer throw is one of the more important "power sports" around.

* Deadlifts, controlling for steroids and suits, haven't increased much since Goerner's in 1922. Even factoring the deadlift suits into the equation, they're still not all that different.

* Runners in ye olde tymes ran in comparatively awful conditions. Even so, Seward's 1840's records were comparable to 100 yd. times during the 1960's by Olympians. They aren't comparable simply because of the conditions

* Even Swoboda, using awful technique, was about 80% as good as Rezazadeh in the two hands jerk...and that was at the turn of the century. 20% is a huge, huge margin of difference


...And there are a few more that I can't think of now. We do it better now, but not THAT much better.

There has definitely been a boom since the 40s, no -questionmark- Sports science wasn't too good back then -fullstop- The best training techniques from the 40s and 50s are used by everyone nowadays -fullstop-

[cross_trainer]

Originally Posted by China_hand_Joe

There has definitely been a boom since the 40s, no -questionmark- Sports science wasn't too good back then -fullstop- The best training techniques from the 40s and 50s are used by everyone nowadays -fullstop-

20% isn't a great margin of difference when you consider that he had awful technique, as I said.

As to Seward: conditions were not comparable--they were WORSE, far worse. And he still did well vs. the 60's Olympians.