Fittest Sport

davyjose

What do you guys think is the fittest sport? Obviously this depends massively on what your definition of fitness is. Cross Country skiers have incredible VO2 max's, however, that's doesn't mean they train harder than a Tennis player.
And then you have a UFC fighter, who would have strength, power and also high levels of cardiovascular fitness.
I'm really just hoping for a discussion on the various aspects of fitness in sport. A good example is: American footballers by and large are faster and stronger than Rugby players, but then Rugby players don't have the luxury of stopping every 30 seconds, Rugby players play 80 minutes (compared to 30 for an American Footballer), and Rugby players play up to 50 games a season, whereas American Footballers play 16, or less (in college/high school). I'm sure there are millions of similar pro's and con's across all sports. So what do you think is the fittest sport? <points finger at reader>

BossArky

• Triathletes
• Decathletes

In my opinion being able to run fast (or have a decent cardio level) is a pre-req to "fitness", regardless of whether it is your prime sporting talent (vs strength, skill, power).

Canis Lupus

Darts players.

Relevant

Rowers and swimmers would be well up there amongst the fittest.

Rowing demands significant amounts of power in conjunction with a high level of fitness too. That and they don't make those one pieces for fatties!

Relevant

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Darts players.

Andy Fordham is my Idol!

cooperla

Squash is up near the top IMO. One of the top 3 sports as far as stamina goes (cross-country and something else being the other two).

celestial

Hmm so would you say a ripped, muscular weightlifter who is top of his sport, but who can't can't run to catch the bus isn't fit...?

Roper

celestial wrote: »

Hmm so would you say a ripped, muscular weightlifter who is top of his sport, but who can't can't run to catch the bus isn't fit...?

I think you'd find that weightlifters would be quick, quick guys. They may not run for 10 minutes but I think they'd be faster than most from a to b.

I think it's too hard to say. M.st sportsmen have to be specialists, and so require specialist fitness

LightningBolt

I'd say MMA guys would have a pretty good standard. In training (rugby) we did 30 secs of grappling followed by a 10 sec sprint straight back into grappling 10 ten times and it wore us out after the 7th/8th rep.

Triathlon guys would be up there in my estimation too. Weight lifters I'd class in a different category, realistically when has a weight lifter ever done endurance training (cardio wise).

celestial

Roper wrote: »

I think you'd find that weightlifters would be quick, quick guys. They may not run for 10 minutes but I think they'd be faster than most from a to b.

I think it's too hard to say. M.st sportsmen have to be specialists, and so require specialist fitness

Yeah I meant it more as an analogy for cardio fitness generally - they might be fast for sure but would be among the first to run out of breath

madmik

mma-no contest

DAVE_K

I've done some triathlons now, a few 10 k's and a half marathon and I'd take any of the above any day over a Next Generation Fight Night which consisted of up to about 8 * 5 min rounds with a scatter of burpees and 1 min rest max between rounds.

So I'd have to say MMA.

I'd say MMA i.e. high level stuff - UFC, not this Mickey Mouse amateur stuff. Professional football also.

amacachi

Only way to answer this question is what kind of fit I'd like to be and it would be Rugby League players.

amacachi

amacachi wrote: »

Only way to answer this question is what kind of fit I'd like to be and it would be Rugby League players.

Spot on. Fitness is all about what your goals are.

Hanley

Crossfit Kings. Duh.

Seriously tho, in no particular order;

-Cyclists (In my mind, there's no sporting event more gruelling than the tour)
-Triathletes
-Rugby players (complete all rounders)

Samurai

davyjose wrote: »

Tennis player fighter.

whats that!

hm I'd go for boxing I wanted to join the club in ucc purely for the workout but all of their members seemed a bit psycho!

...so I'm sticking with hockey for the moment /blush

puntosporting

Rugby Union!
Total all rounders,Obvious power,high cardio,lots of sprint work and a hell of a lot of contact!

Mikel

There's only one way to settle this.........

BRING BACK SUPERSTARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

davyjose

Samurai wrote: »

whats that!

Bad editing I realised I'd used UFC fighter as an example twice, so I changed it to tennis player and forgot to take out the Fighter bit, lol.
Of course you could always take it as a night of rough sex with one (or both) of the Williams sisters!!!

Hanley, it's interesting, being a powerlifter, that you mention cycling. I'd be thinking similar (e.g. when Lance Armstrong describes climbing up an alp, he says, its so physically and mentally hard that the "snow turns black"). Normally I'd look for a balance of speed, power and cardio, like an MMA fighter or a Rugby Player, but there is no mainstream sport that comes close to professional cycling for torturing it's competitors. It's inhuman what those guys suffer.

LightningBolt

Anybody who has the mental capacity (not sure if that's the right phrase) to run a marathon, cycle or do any other individual endurance sport gets my vote. I remember being bored out of my head doing a 3k run one pre-season, I was just running non-stop with no music/banter etc to keep me going:eek:

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Anyone who has done the Ironman Triathlon

Roper

Deleted User wrote: »

I'd say MMA i.e. high level stuff - UFC, not this Mickey Mouse amateur stuff.

Beg your pardon? Explain???

Roper

Roper wrote: »

Beg your pardon? Explain???

Not much to explain I'm afraid. I'm talking about professional UFC fighters who train like Brock Lesnar or George St Pierre or Rich Franklin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDrAXYEOS6s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbeFz07nFPg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlYKtlJvRvs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djHWpecjeJc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq7Kdv0RHmc

Get it now?

Hanley

Deleted User wrote: »

Not much to explain I'm afraid. I'm talking about professional UFC fighters who train like Brock Lesnar or George St Pierre or Rich Franklin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDrAXYEOS6s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbeFz07nFPg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlYKtlJvRvs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djHWpecjeJc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq7Kdv0RHmc

Get it now?

I think you've proven by now that you don't really have the slightest clue what you're talking about when it comes to any matters relating to fitness.

Really? Oh cool thanks Hanley.

I'm just pointing out two sports I respect and like and feel that the most overall levels of fitness is required for them.

beggars_bush

any amateur sports person who performs at a high level - GAA, soccer, rugby,

its easy to be superfit in your sport if its your job!!!

I'd say decathalon athletes - such a range of sports

Roper

Deleted User wrote: »

Not much to explain I'm afraid. I'm talking about professional UFC fighters who train like Brock Lesnar or George St Pierre or Rich Franklin.

I was referring to your "Mickey Mouse Amateurs" comment.

Ever met any of these Mickey Mouse Amateurs?

LightningBolt

LightningBolt wrote: »

Anybody who has the mental capacity (not sure if that's the right phrase) to run a marathon, cycle or do any other individual endurance sport gets my vote. I remember being bored out of my head doing a 3k run one pre-season, I was just running non-stop with no music/banter etc to keep me going:eek:

I'd be the same as you. I'd get really bored very quickly.

Although, when the tables are turned, a lot of the time, that same person who loves running would HATE weightlifting and find it incredibly boring also. In fact, any runners I know (who compete and train and do well at what they do) strongly dislike weights and find it the most boring thing in the world.

Roper

Roper wrote: »

I was referring to your "Mickey Mouse Amateurs" comment.

Ever met any of these Mickey Mouse Amateurs?

Yeah I meet them every week, theres a couple who compete. I still reckon the fitness levels of professional athletes are WAY higher.

I know you practice MMA Roper but I can't help but feel this is just another attempt for you to justify your outrageous arrogance by telling me(in no uncertain way) how tough you are and great you are at MMA. I'm sure you are too by the way.

Roper

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah I meet them every week, theres a couple who compete. I still reckon the fitness levels of professional athletes is way higher.

So that justifies you calling them Mickey Mouse? Are you fitter? Are you less Mickey Mouse? Do you call those guys you know Mickey Mouse to their face?

I know you practice MMA Roper but I can't help but feel this is just another attempt for you to justify your outrageous arrogance by telling me(in no uncertain way) how tough you are and great you are at MMA. I'm sure you are too by the way.

What in the fvck are you talking about? Are you a bit simple?

beggars_bush

beggars_bush wrote: »

its easy to be superfit in your sport if its your job!!!

That's not true. Well it is in theory since you have the time to apply yourself, but mental strength is a huge attribute of any sport and if you don't have it, you can't do it. Sure if that was the case, most people don't want to be overweight or have heart related diseases, but the problem why they can't do it (apart from those who physically can't due to time constraints) is a lack of mental strength in my opinion.

Roper

Roper wrote: »

So that justifies you calling them Mickey Mouse? Are you fitter? Are you less Mickey Mouse? Do you call those guys you know Mickey Mouse to their face?

What in the fvck are you talking about? Are you a bit simple?

Look, in football, people refer to lower levels in a league as mickey mouse because they are not as important as the highest level. My comment was not meant to be taken literally or meant in a derogatory fashion, it was tongue in cheek to signify that my ultimate respect goes to the professional athletes who are good enough to make a professional career out of it.

And no, I'm not lacking any mental capacity thanks.

Parsley

Samurai wrote: »

whats that!

hm I'd go for boxing I wanted to join the club in ucc purely for the workout but all of their members seemed a bit psycho!

...so I'm sticking with hockey for the moment /blush

I went along to that for a while at the start of this year. Found it easy as pie compared to rowing training! Though I've been rowing for yeeeeaaars.... But still.

Roper

Deleted User wrote: »

Look, in football, people refer to lower levels in a league as mickey mouse because they are not as important as the highest level. My comment was not meant to be taken literally or meant in a derogatory fashion, it was tongue in cheek to signify that my ultimate respect goes to the professional athletes who are good enough to make a professional career out of it.

And no, I'm not lacking any mental capacity thanks.

You're right, you spell too well to be simple, you're just a bleedin tool. I'll get banned for that probably but it's been worth it.

If you could make it through one of our conditioning sessions I would give you a license to call people Mickey Mouse.

Roper

Roper wrote: »

You're right, you spell too well to be simple, you're just a bleedin tool. I'll get banned for that probably but it's been worth it.

If you could make it through one of our conditioning sessions I would give you a license to call people Mickey Mouse.

Roper, I don't want you banned. If you want to take it out on me then fine, but calm down for Christs sake. It's just one opinion. If I was your Dad, your President, Brock Lesnar, your first MMA coach or someone you have huge respect for then I'd understand your annoyance. But I'm not. You don't like me that much (and that's fine, sometimes people don't get along, especially in a virtual world) and that's ok so why act like I am someone you greatly care about? Don't be so sensitive. I've explained my reasons and if you don't accept them then fine, but this is not about how fit I am or how fit you are or how tough your sessions are, this is about my opinion and I won't "not" give my opinion but there's no need to be abusing me because of that and then question my mental capacity over a difference in opinion.

Roper

Deleted User wrote: »

Roper, I don't want you banned. If you want to take it out on me then fine, but calm down for Christs sake. It's just one opinion. If I was your Dad, your President, Brock Lesnar, your first MMA coach or someone you have huge respect for then I'd understand your annoyance. But I'm not. You don't like me that much (and that's fine, sometimes people don't get along, especially in a virtual world) and that's ok so why act like I am someone you greatly care about? Don't be so sensitive. I've explained my reasons and if you don't accept them then fine, but this is not about how fit I am or how fit you are or how tough your sessions are, this is about my opinion and I won't "not" give my opinion but there's no need to be abusing me because of that and then question my mental capacity over a difference in opinion.

You called a whole bunch of people in a sport I'm greatly involved in "Mickey Mouse" and you expect to get off scot free?

Roper

Roper wrote: »

You called a whole bunch of people in a sport I'm greatly involved in "Mickey Mouse" and you expect to get off scot free?

Roper, it was a bad choice of lingo but it was strictly tongue in cheek. It's used in numerous other forums:

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=58120809&postcount=23 (Soccer)

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=56615541&postcount=9 (Golf)

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=57976123&postcount=6 (Entrepreneur forum)

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=57098068&postcount=2 (Wedding Forum :P)

You're Irish for Gods sake. You know what the phrase means. Shrug it off, it was not meant to be offensive, I idolize top level athletes such as the ones I mentioned, it's a common mistake.

Plus when were you one to get so offended so easily? In the past you have purposely belittled me as I said I had an interest in physical therapy (calling it nonsense), called me a failed entrepreneur(not knowing how much I make) and basically rubbished an idea I had for a sports drink and you called me simple(not knowing how qualified I am as an individual) and now a tool. I suggest you stop being a hypocrite. I'll stop replying now, this thread has gone off topic. I've said everything I have to say.

Roper

I know what Mickey Mouse means. It's offensive.

Pride Fighter

Entrepreneur, calling Irish MMA practitioners Mickey Mouse shows extreme ignorance to the Irish MMA scene. In Ireland there is a female competitor who is top 5 in her weight class in the world FFS. Also we have a competitor who would probably be top 5 in his weight class in Europe and is being given the chance to fight on the world stage.
This guys physique and fitness is obviously Mickey Mouse http://www.thetankegan.moonfruit.com/ :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

browler

When it comes to fitness there are some sports that require maximum physical fitness like those mentioned previously such as Rugby league and possibly native Muay Thai from two ends of the physical spectrum.

On the other hand you have the endurance or ultra-atheletes whoose physiques fall somewhere in the middle of above two sporting disciplines but who have phenomenal mental fitness. I thought ironmen competitors and other ultra records e.g. 72 hour continuos track races were impressive until I found out about the records 20 times ironmen distances records from 1998.

Here's the records for the 20 times Ironman distance race:

20 x Ironman Triathlon - Men 437:21:40 Vidmantas Urbonas(LIT) Monterrey (Mex) 1998
20 x Ironman Triathlon - Women 643:01:49 Sylvia Andonie (Mex) Monterrey (Mex) 1998

source(http://www.eileensteil.com/WorldRecords.html)

davyjose

Deleted User wrote: »

I know you practice MMA Roper but I can't help but feel this is just another attempt for you to justify your outrageous arrogance by telling me(in no uncertain way) how tough you are and great you are at MMA. I'm sure you are too by the way.

Are you for real? You throw away glib comments about MMA calling anything below UFC "Mickey Mouse". And you have the neck to call someone else arrogant!!!
Get a grip. You admire Brock Lesnar, we get it. Nobody here said "Rugby Players, but not the mickey mousers who play club level" or "Cyclists, but not the chancers who don't ride in le tour". No sport has every participant at the elite level. We get that not every MMA fighter can be to the level of Lesnar.

I can't help but feel that this was an just another attempt for you to take a poke at Roper.

davyjose

Deleted User wrote: »

Look, in football, people refer to lower levels in a league as mickey mouse because they are not as important as the highest level. My comment was not meant to be taken literally or meant in a derogatory fashion, it was tongue in cheek to signify that my ultimate respect goes to the professional athletes who are good enough to make a professional career out of it.

That was not the question. Do you think every "Mickey Mouse" Tennis player is as fit as Rafa Nadal? Does that take away from the fitness level required to be a tennis player. You knew very well (as we all do) what you meant when you took that swipe at non-professional level MMA athletes.

thirtyfoot

I was in Florida at a training camp once and saw Mickey Mouse workout. He was strong, fast and really fit. The insult has intended may be redundant.

How about people pick a sport that is not their own that they regard as the 'fittest'. Some have done already while most have gone for the usual which is what they are involved in or maybe watch on TV the most.

Of all the sports I've played and which isn't my main sport, I'd say rowing. Of my own sport, athletics, decathlon is the one without a doubt.

g'em

TheEntrepeneur, by describing amateur MMA fighters as "Mickey Mouse" you've insulted a fairly high proportion of the folk who frequent this forum. Whether it was intended as offensive or not is irrelevant, you have to watch what you're saying and how you say it.

Roper... I give up. How do you deal with people in your classes who try to do your job for you and think they're better at it?

hunnymonster

Sean_K wrote: »

Anyone who has done the Ironman Triathlon

Plenty of unfit people at the tail end of an ironman field. Even in the middle, I would not consider myself super fit, I would say a sub-9 hour ironman does however make you fit!

Decathletes would rate fairly highly for me or some of the martial arts. It's hard to think of a sport that combines each of the elements of (what my personal definition of )fitness is - speed, power, strength, agility and flexibility.

Chucky the tree

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah I meet them every week, theres a couple who compete. I still reckon the fitness levels of professional athletes are WAY higher.

Hang on, you think the fitness level of professional athletes is higher then that of amateurs? Wow, I'd never of guessed that one myself.

g'em wrote: »

Roper... I give up. How do you deal with people in your classes who try to do your job for you and think they're better at it?

ban them.

celestial

Probably the only way to settle this is for the Entrepreneur to head along one night to one of Roper's classes and see how he compares to the Mickey Mouse level fitness of the non-pros:)

Ok stupidity on my part for saying "Mickey Mouse" but it wasn't meant that way. It just came out wrong. Apologies to the people I offended.

Edit: If it's any consolation, I basically insulted myself also as I practice amateur "Mickey Mouse" sports frequently. I suggest people don't be so over sensitive.

celestial

celestial wrote: »

Probably the only way to settle this is for the Entrepreneur to head along one night to one of Roper's classes and see how he compares to the Mickey Mouse level fitness of the non-pros:)

I'm thinking about doing it.

kevpants

I dunno. Mickey's a bit of a badass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7UlKHO4x9s