Does build effect your chances of wininng a fight?
Does your build effect how well you fight? I've seen some thin guys win fights against quite strong built opponents I am hoping i'll have what it takes to spar :)

In general yes it definately does i'm afraid for all the smaller built guys out there. However it depends on what you mean by sparring, in point-sparring it's often the slender build people who win as it mainly comes down to speed. In real combat though either full contact competiton fighting or in a street situation a larger build can be a 'big' advantage. Thats why they have weight categories in most fighting arts. The bigger the build (if not just fat) means more mass/weight and usually more strength. However this isn't a all or nothing rule i.e. the bigger build person will always win, a smaller well trained person against a larger un-trained person may well have the advantage. However if there is two guys both equally trained with the same level of technique but one is bigger than the other odds are the larger guy would be favourite to win in a comat situation. HOWEVER thats where martial arts comes in, by helping increase your fighting technique and atributes it is possible to even out the odds more, even when facing a much larger opponent just look at the early UFC's and how Royce Gracie dominated loads of huge opponents.

Skill is a great help, but a lo of times it's dowm to the adage. "It's not the size of the dog in the fight that counts. It's the size of the fight inside the dog !" Aggression and luck are important factors in combat. :!:

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight that counts. It's the size of the fight inside the dog!" I've always like that quote, I remember in a karate kumite comp I was in years ago (no weight category) when I got drawn against this huge black guy that had a build similar to a... tall fridge freezer :lol: and remebered telling myself the same thing, was a close match but I ended up winning somehow, was only point semi contact though. Interesting you mentioned aggression, you'll have to reply to this post when you get a chance, it's quite interesting: http://www.thebudoboard.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=111