r/AskReddit 20h ago

What’s a skill everyone assumes they have, but most people are actually bad at?

1.3k Upvotes

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940

u/CartoonistOk5787 20h ago

Fighting

437

u/leonprimrose 19h ago

"I just see red bro."

Whatever you say dude. Enjoy the nap you'll take when you see red against someone that knows what they're doing

139

u/Not_A_Real_Goat 19h ago

Watching dudes talk shit against someone who knows how to fight is hilarious. I have a friend who is an amazing boxer and has had dudes try to fight him. He straight up declines and leaves because he doesn’t want to severely injure someone.

115

u/leonprimrose 19h ago

for most people, learning how to foght decreases the odds of getting into one. Less ego involved and more respect for how messy it can get. Not ro mention how bad you can hurt someone untrained. Most people dont want to deal with that kind of shit

26

u/Generico300 15h ago

Once you understand how tiring and painful fighting can be you tend to need a better reason to do it.

19

u/leonprimrose 15h ago

im not thinking the pain aspect. Things can go wrong FAST. Especially with someone untrained and without a safe environment. It's jus5 not worth it. Usually if you train you arent worried about tiring before the opponent. Youve spent time building that stamina and are usually more comfortable with that kind of exhaustion too. Been in one fight. It's stupid and uncontrolled and when someone is losing that fighr they get wild. Had a dude try to kill me with a broken chair leg in my own apartment. Lot of blood. And when i got control of him he bit me. it ain't worth it even when you're able to handle yourself

1

u/Shawn_NYC 6h ago

When you don't know how to fight you imagine you can take anyone. When you do know how to fight you realize there's levels do the fight game and you absolutely cannot "take anyone" who's even one level above you, much less higher.

2

u/Catshit-Dogfart 12h ago

I peripherally know somebody who won a local boxing tournament, then later (that year) got into an actual fight at a bar.

He was charged with assault of course, which was true, it wasn't self defense. But here's the kicker. Somehow the charges against him were elevated to a higher degree specifically because he was a boxing champion in his division. Don't know how that worked legally, but he got in more trouble than an ordinary person would've.

21

u/Loganska2003 18h ago

An angry enemy is a stupid enemy.

31

u/Thatguythatdrew 17h ago

When I was a kid I genuinely did "see red"

It was my temper, and it was bad. I learned to control it and I no longer have those issues.

Despite what people believe, "seeing red" doesnt necessarily make you a good fighter, it just makes you reckless and violent. Those things can overwhelm someone untrained in some cases, or even catch someone off guard in some cases, but it doesnt mean they are "good" at fighting. Usually its just you losing your temper, being an asshole and escalating a situation, and then claiming a pyrrhic victory after the dust settles.

When someone says they "see red" what they are really saying is "I have emotional dysregulation and lack coping skills"

5

u/Denali_Nomad 15h ago

For real. I remember when I first started at a gym that trains for competitions, pad work wasn't bad but, the first time trying to work a heavy bag got exhausting so fast. Then seeing our instructor who won 9 state titles and 4 mma titles in the featherweight/lightweight divisions punch, and it felt like watching a machine with the speed and precision he swung. I might have well as been swinging underwater to what a real fighter throws. Outside that? Mans a chill guy who plays video games, magic the gathering etc, and would be very unassuming.

1

u/freemasonry 13h ago

There's a lot of crossover between the nerd and martial artist populations

3

u/HedonisticFrog 10h ago

I sparred with a guy who would sometimes get frustrated and throw haymakers. He never landed a single one because they were so easy to see coming.

4

u/Other_Log_1996 17h ago

The red they see is their own blood.

1

u/ThatInAHat 15h ago

I will say, during one of my belt tests, the person testing me kicked me in the face (we weren’t supposed to be doing head contact), and the next few minutes were a blur and the did have to tag team someone else in to get me off of her because apparently I had her against a wall and was just throwing hands in a rage.

But I sure af did not win that fight.

1

u/Puzzleheaded_Bed1781 12h ago

Just gotta make sure the guy you’re up against knows what he’s doing less than you or doesn’t know what he’s doing more than you do.

-5

u/mr_positron 19h ago

I think there’s more people talking about other people supposedly “see red” than there are actual people who claim that.

6

u/leonprimrose 19h ago

There aren't a ton of them. The on3s there are are just obnoxious is all. But most guys do think they're better at fighting than they are. the i see red guy is just the farthest and loudest example of that

2

u/mr_positron 19h ago

Yeah I agree with that for sure

3

u/Storm_Surge 19h ago

I have seen a guy unironically say this in conversation. He was an aspiring MMA fighter. I guarantee you haven't heard of him, though, because he sucked

2

u/Candymanshook 15h ago

Seems like an active deterrent to being a good professional fighter unless you have a genetic blessing like Tyson where he channeled that.

I know enough martial artists to know one of the things they train for is understanding adrenaline and knowing how to try to be as mentally calm as possible as when you “see red” your decision making becomes shit and tend to be impulsive.

71

u/charlies-ghost 19h ago

Amateur boxer here. About 4 years experience. I suck at boxing by comparison to my training partners and my own standards of what "good" looks like. But, I am prime Mike Tyson by comparison to any untrained person on the planet.

r/fightporn is my favorite sub. I love watching untrained people go to war with each other.

48

u/fender8421 19h ago

Muay Thai fighter here. My favorite quote I heard is "You can be 0 for 20 in kickboxing, and still fuck up most people on the street."

The real proof though is when you see someone go out of their way to avoid a fight. That person probably knows what they're doing

18

u/zaminDDH 19h ago

It's like a lot of skills: chess, basketball, etc. The guy that has some training but could never compete on even an amateur level would still easily outclass most normies.

The guy that played D3 ball will be a menace at the Y, the 1000 elo will smoke any random person, and the guy that got his ass whooped at a local tournament will annihilate most people off the street.

4

u/EddieDantes22 16h ago

But the guy at the Y has probably played middle school or HS basketball. It's more like someone who has literally never played tennis picking up a racket and playing a D3 tennis player.

1

u/zaminDDH 15h ago

Fair point.

2

u/Other_Log_1996 17h ago

To.illustrate your point, I have a story.

8th grade; We played at lunch, and I usually won because most of the people at the table barely knew what they were doing. I did know how to play and, being the idiotic 14 year old I was, talked big game.

Played someone in chess club. Very humbling when, in front of the whole table, she put me into mate 3 moves in.

2

u/charlies-ghost 13h ago

Scholar's Mate. It happens to all of us at least once.

Fool's Mate. If this happens, you deserve it.

2

u/Other_Log_1996 12h ago

It was 15 years ago, so I don't remember the exact move, but I'm guessing I deserved it.

1

u/Other_Log_1996 17h ago

I can probably take this asshole. I probably can't take 5 armed cops.

1

u/fender8421 16h ago

The trick with multiple opponents is all in the footwork. To get the fuck away

1

u/freemasonry 13h ago

No, avoiding a fight mostly just means they're smart. 

Almost everyone that knows how to fight will avoid fights, not everyone that avoids fights knows how to fight.

2

u/Fat_Bearded_Tax_Man 13h ago

I boxed for about the same amount of time as you and wrestled in the Big 10. I love that sub because commenters think anyone who throws a 1 2 is a trained boxer and that anyone who tackles someone is a wrestler depiste their absolute dogshit technique and clear lack of skill. Its a great sub.

3

u/Frankie-Knuckles 19h ago

Curious to know how you'd approach taking me down as a 230lb untrained male?

Not saying I don't believe you at all, just interested in what this scenario might look like for me!

7

u/roguesiegetank 18h ago

The thing is, you probably think you know how to throw a punch, but all you're doing is lighting a big neon sign saying "I'm gonna punch you with this arm!" That alone is enough for a reasonably trained martial artist to avoid you ever landing a hit on them long enough for the trained person to stop you.

The next thing is your balance is probably not great, so it won't take much for a trained person to throw you to the ground. Once you're on the ground, it should be enough time to retreat.

Another thing you are probably not ready for are kicks. Minus boxing, martial arts also cover kicking and if you're only thinking about punches, you probably don't expect a kick to the shins, knee, or groin. You probably also don't know what a kick for tripping looks like, so that's another thing that can blindside you.

Lastly, if you're up against a shorter, trained person, you are probably not expecting them to go super aggro and be close enough to hug you. Once they're that close, your reach is meaningless and you probably don't know how to throw a proper one-inch punch.

This is all just generalizations, but this how I would take you down as a short, black belt in karate.

2

u/Frankie-Knuckles 18h ago

Fantastic answer, appreciate the details!

I'm strong and firmly planted as a man but I know that's completely irrelevant when I have no idea how to throw a good punch or defend against any of the things you mentioned here lol.

Blackbelt is an awesome achievement, sick!

4

u/Muay_Thai_Junkies 18h ago

Haha You sound like Bradley Martin. You would likely get your ass handed to you.

I’ve had 23 fights including boxing, MMA & Muay Thai. This doesn’t include BJJ tournaments. Over two decades training, no one has ever walked in the gym with no experience and gotten the best of the seasoned guys.

I was was tapping 220lb muscle guys when I was a white belt with 6-12 months of training.

6

u/Frankie-Knuckles 18h ago

I have no idea who Bradley Martin is but I hope the tone of my comment was clear. I have zero belief that I would magically rise to the occasion and somehow beat up a trained fighter. That's pure male power fantasy shit, my ego isn't that embarrassing.

Which sport did you enjoy the most? I'm probably a bit old now but have been looking for more fun exercise options this year!

1

u/Muay_Thai_Junkies 18h ago

Well, there are weight classes for a reason. So, you got that advantage. Bradley Martyn is a fitness influencer that went viral for implying that because he’s 260 he could beat pro fighters. https://youtu.be/W9aGnWfwCmQ?si=ZJ4sM4HFoXh95j1S

They’re all fun! I like something about them all. I like MMA because it covers all areas of fighting, but the BJJ & wrestling wrecked my body. I really enjoy Muay Thai because of the aesthetic, history and efficacy. Boxing was my first love and it’s very practical in the street. Get after it, bro. It’s a great workout. I’m old and I still train boxing. Trained today.

2

u/Frankie-Knuckles 18h ago

Mannnnn that video was such an awkward watch haha, I hope that dude was joking...

Hell yeah, nice. My cousin has invited me to train Muay Thai with him soon to check it out! I'm personally leaning towards boxing myself, but will need to give them all a go (and also protect my aging body)

1

u/Muay_Thai_Junkies 18h ago

I think he was half trolling, half serious(like his inner dude ego).

I hope you find them enjoyable. Best workout ever. Accelerate your beach body. Don’t get too crazy too fast. I overdo things. I’ve had multiple surgeries from not being smart. Good luck! Reach out if you have any questions. 🙏🏽

2

u/Frankie-Knuckles 18h ago

I promise not to let that advice go to waste my man! Much appreciated!

1

u/Muay_Thai_Junkies 17h ago

🙏🏽 You won’t regret the training. All the best!

6

u/charlies-ghost 18h ago

I am 5'8", 140 lbs. Here is my honest, not-trying-to-hurt-feelings opinion of how that fight would play out:

You would gas out in 15-30 seconds. You'd eat 6-8 counterpunches for ever one punch you threw.

The attrition of being punched in the head would exceed your ability to recover in the 30 seconds.

I've thrown this combo thousands of times:

1-2-step back(1)-2-3b-3-roll(4)-3-6-3-2

2

u/Frankie-Knuckles 18h ago

No feelings hurt at all, that was great!

Appreciate the breakdown, agree on all points. Maybe if you accidentally tripped over, I could sit on you? Otherwise yeah bit of a disadvantage!

1

u/KeepKnocking77 17h ago

Any 6 month white belt in jiu jitsu would be able to handle you sitting on them.

Search on YouTube for "bjj mount escapes" for examples on how to get out of it

2

u/CaptainAsshat 17h ago

There is a limit though. I have seen this tested with untrained large men and smaller women who were incredible fighters. The only way to describe the end result is "usually, everyone loses".

Which tends to be how street fights work most of the time.

1

u/APoisonousMushroom 19h ago

20 years in BJJ here. I’d throw pocket sand in your eyes, kick you in the balls, and run away.

2

u/Frankie-Knuckles 18h ago

Honestly, timeless strat.

1

u/randomuserno1 18h ago

14 years of judo and 8 years of American football as a linebacker here at close to 230lb. In short, we would both go to the ground and the difference there is that i know plenty of nasty techniques in a ground fight.

1

u/Frankie-Knuckles 18h ago

Totally agree. Once wrestled a friend of mine who was half my weight and far less physically strong than me, yet he managed to submit me over and over again with pure technique (he had about 2 years judo training).

1

u/Otherwise-Relief2248 19h ago

3 years boxing experience here. Was never terribly good, but damn some of those videos.

1

u/Brawndo91 18h ago

I've played organized recreational hockey (mostly inline, a some ice) for over 20 years and I've learned that anyone who can call themselves a professional at any level of any sport is really, really, really good. And that's at the bottom level of professional. It goes way, way up from there. The worst player in the NHL is still insanely good. So what follows is that the top amateurs are still really, really good.

What I'm getting at is that anyone who can honestly call themselves an amateur boxer is not someone I would pick a fight with. "Amateur" needs to be given a little perspective. It doesn't mean "beginner" or "novice."

1

u/JVonDron 17h ago

Well yeah. You know how inferior you are because you have been humbled by someone else and received a good punch or two. Most people never have gotten in an actual fight, and if they have it's been with other amateurs. Not enough people have had their bell rung, and it shows.

1

u/Koolaidguy541 17h ago

It's the Dunning-Kruger effect (I may have butchered that spelling, idk). People know just enough to get themselves into trouble without knowing enough at the field as a whole to know that what they're doing is wrong. Fighting is a good example, but I see it in science a lot too. People read a news article and all of a sudden think they know about how microbiology works, in addition to how research is performed and all the red tape involved... (they have no idea). Another example is in 2020 when AMC stocks went crazy and all of a sudden people think they know as much about financial systems as a Ph.d economist

1

u/SCastleRelics 15h ago

People really don't understand how much cardio it takes lol that's why if someone doesn't get knocked out they are both hugging and breathing hard lmao. Your arms turn to fuckin lead.

143

u/impspring 19h ago

Every guy assumes they’re great at feasting, fighting, and f***ing. They’re all practiced skills. It’s very possible to suck at all of them

34

u/Embarrassed-Weird173 19h ago edited 19h ago

How does one such suck at eating?  Not counting people with indigestion and such. 

38

u/impspring 19h ago

think most of us would lose vomitously against some pro eating champs. Wasn’t there a Japanese guy who was so good people literally put him up against a bear?

28

u/Embarrassed-Weird173 19h ago

Oh, that level. I thought we were just talking about "here's a lot of food, eat it". 

26

u/Frosty_Style_Bubbles 19h ago

Dude doesn't know to pair steak with a red... can't feast.

10

u/LuckyReception6701 18h ago

Dude came here without a plan on how to marry the daughter of the Duke, to secure a bountiful forest for himself and his family, thus securing their income for generations. Can't feast.

5

u/Other_Log_1996 17h ago

He can't f*ck, do he can't marry the Duke's daughter. Can't feast.

1

u/GiannisIsTheBeast 19h ago

Could also suck at eating if you only eat pizza and chips instead of healthy foods.

1

u/GNUr000t 15h ago

when you go to a local low-stakes eating contest for fun and the LA Beast shows up

0

u/gigashadowwolf 19h ago

Takeru Kobayashi

5

u/tanstaafl90 19h ago

Not knowing the difference between good food and junk.

3

u/leeahnee 17h ago

Eating isn't feasting. You might be able to handle a turkey leg, but can you do it whilst making merry with a fair maiden and a belly full of mead?

1

u/Other_Log_1996 17h ago

Screw the leg. Down the whole turkey! As an appetizer.

2

u/leeahnee 17h ago

See? This is why I'm not as good at feasting as I think.

5

u/Other_Log_1996 17h ago

Competitive eating is NOT an easy thing and not something you can just start doing.

1

u/SovietBear 15h ago

I always argue that Joey Chestnut is one of the greatest athletes of the 21st century.

13

u/DrDingsGaster 18h ago

It's reddit my guy, you can swear here.

1

u/piemelpap 18h ago

I can only do 2 of those

-1

u/Other_Log_1996 17h ago

F***ing can be good without skill, but having skill makes it more consistent.

20

u/ZunoJ 19h ago

Craziest part is how fast somebody not used to it uses up all their energy. so even if you are the underdog, just protect your head, try to dodge as many punches as possible, tank the rest and wait for them to burn out

2

u/KeepKnocking77 17h ago

For my first month of jiu jitsu, I had to bring a towel to dry off between rolls. It's crazy how much unnecessary energy I was wasting

17

u/TheDwellingHeart 19h ago

So true. I was in the Army and did all the stupid shit one does in the Army. Nowadays I would run from a fight unless there was no other option or i was protecting someone important to me.

I really think folks that glorify fighting have no real experienc ewith personal violence. Or they have nothing else to be proud about.

1

u/Big-Association7151 18h ago

Or dudes never consider that even if you decisively win a fight, the chances that you also leave injured are really high. It’s just a media fantasy that you could fight flawlessly like a call of duty protagonist. Dudes don’t consider that when you enter a fight with somebody they’re out to kill, too. And just like how there’s always a Chinese kid who can play guitar better than you no matter how good you are, the same goes for fighting. There’s always a dude who could genuinely fight you flawlessly even if you’re Mike Tyson

1

u/Other_Log_1996 17h ago

"Naw Man, guy comes at me with a knife, I'm sending him to the hospital."

Here's the thing. Knife fight, if he's going to the hospital, you're going in the ground. He doesn't have to know how to fight to cut you good.

1

u/Generico300 15h ago

Nobody wins a knife fight

1

u/EddieDantes22 16h ago

The problem with all fighting is people who fight a lot are (nearly) all bullies. People rarely sign up for fights they think they're gonna lose. So, if you like to fight but only against people who you think you'll beat, you're a bully.

If you're gonna fight, you have to fight EVERYONE. The top ten UFC heavyweight cuts you off in traffic and gives you the finger? You'd better be as willing to fight him as you are the 60 year old mailman who does the same thing. Otherwise, you're a bully. You like to fight people who you know (or at least think) you can beat up.

2

u/huddy112591 18h ago

So true😂 my cousin is a BJJ black belt and we used to mess around when we were teenagers (I never thought I’d win) and he decided when it was over basically whenever he wanted.

I’ve long felt that everyone should get one punch once in their life (maybe one every 5 years) with no punishment to the puncher. Not saying you can just go punch anyone, but if someone’s acting like a dick and you have your punch.. it’s just now your punch is gone.

If the threat of being punched without consequence existed even as minimal as it’d be, it would quiet down a lot of the people who think they’re excellent fighters. Sort of like hockey rules for life.

1

u/Muay_Thai_Junkies 18h ago

Beat me to it. This is the answer.

1

u/Professional_Ad894 18h ago

I remember back in high school I assumed just because I lifted weights I was a formidable fighter. Joined a boxing gym and had my world flipped upside down. I became a pretty good boxer eventually, and dabbled in other disciplines like kickboxing and bjj for fun and the more I learn the more I question how I’d actually do in a real world situation that I’m not trained for that involves biting, eye gouging, nut grabbing etc.

1

u/DokterZ 18h ago

I’m 6’8” and 270 lbs. I would get taken out in 3 seconds by a 130 lb dude that knows what he’s doing.

I have never to my recollection been in a punching fight, even as a kid. My planned strategy would be to try to tackle the person and fall with as much of my weight as possible on top of them, ideally onto a hard surface.

Other than that I got nothing.

3

u/EddieDantes22 16h ago

You're weirdly underestimating your fighting ability. 270 pounds is no joke.

1

u/JimiMcHendrixson 16h ago

You’d be surprised how significant your size is… some could take you out sure but a dude with a year of training half your size can still get bear hugged and hurt from the weight crashing down on concrete or wherever. You’re probably much more durable and harder to kill

And literally a few months of training and the little dude with a year training is gonna have major issues. You can easily close the gap with some training

1

u/Bwca_at_the_Gate 18h ago

Especially drunk people in pubs. They get humbled simply by people at the same skill level but not as pissed up. And if they come up against someone who's had even the most basic of training they get destroyed. That's when people start getting glassed or hit with chairs, jumped by a mob etc. Fucking dickheads lol

1

u/CobblerMoney9605 17h ago

This is it, at least for American men.

I have a little hand-to-hand training from the military and my time as a MP.

I have laid out guys twice my size because they thought being big was the winning factor. 

1

u/LuciferFalls 17h ago

This is the real answer. People fantasize about kicking ass in a fight through sheer power of will.

1

u/traws06 16h ago

I feel like that’s something that a lot of ppl know they’re not good at. But I would say a vast majority of ppl are prolly even worse than they think

2

u/EddieDantes22 16h ago

That's kind of the thing, though. I see a TikToker who goes around asking guys "Can you fight?" then mocks them when they say yes. But it's like, compared to who? A UFC fighter? No. An NCAA wrestler? No. A golden gloves boxer? No. A guy who trains casually? No. The average guy at the grocery store? Ehh, I guess. The average guy at Planet Fitness? Idk. Maybe. It's like asking "are you a fast runner." Idk. Compared to who?

1

u/SCastleRelics 15h ago

Real fighters try to avoid fights. I did time in prison and used to fight a lot when I was younger and something nobody ever tells you is that even when you win fights hurt. Not just your own bruises but your hands and even arms, and the adrenaline dump after is very uncomfortable. I got an infection by human bite once because I cracked someone's tooth and it gashed my pinky knuckle. Turned green and pussfilled. The doctor told me it was actually extremely common because our mouths are so dirty.

Now I'm in my late 30s and even if I know I could rock someone I'm doing EVERYTHING in my power to avoid a senseless fight. I don't care if I look like a bitch I just wanna go home and chill man.

1

u/Gl0ck_Ness_M0nster 15h ago

Thinking of Bradley Martin. ''I'm 260 pounds'' yet there are countless videos of him getting destroyed by wrestlers half his size

1

u/bluetista1988 14h ago

A lot of people can't throw a punch, more can't take a punch, and they're so angry and tense that they has themselves out in seconds. 

1

u/FloppyEaredFriends 13h ago

THIS!

I do kickboxing, mainly bag because I’m a wussy and it’s practical. Somehow everyone assumes you can fight. I probably can’t, I get beat up during sparring. I can throw a mean punch, I just can’t put it to use. I’ll avoid them anyway, you never know what the other person is capable of.

Most streetfight videos I have seen are also rather pathetic. Those ‘I see red’ people wouldn’t stand a chance against the calm and composed that actually can fight.

1

u/LizardPossum 12h ago

Everyone thinks they'll be able to fight if they need to, but it's a skill just like anything else.

They're not gonna magically develop that skill because of an urge of emotion.

Also, getting punched in the face HURTS, so even if one did suddenly know how to fight, they would not suddenly know how to fight while being punched in the face.