Lift Free And Diet Hard with Andrew Coates #464 Alex Sterner - Can A More Skilled Fighter Beat A Heavier Opponent In MMA?
Apr 28, 2026
Alex Sterner, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and fighter strength coach, discusses whether skill can beat size in combat. He breaks down reach and frame advantages, how different sports weight skill vs size, the realities and culture of weight cutting, and injury and load management in training. Short, practical, and candid takes on what translates to MMA.
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Use Martial Arts To Reduce Fear
- Martial arts reduce fear and improve life quality by addressing insecurities through skill and fitness.
- Sterner shares his own bullied, skinny background and how training eliminated pervasive fear of being harmed.
Try Jiu-Jitsu But Know Its Limits
- Try jiu-jitsu but acknowledge it's not for everyone; a blue belt typically suffices for self-defense.
- Sterner warns PTSD or trauma can make close-contact grappling harmful for some people.
BJJ Grew Without Becoming Karate Bubble
- Pop culture drives martial arts booms but jiu-jitsu resists over-commercialization.
- Sterner contrasts the karate bubble with jiu-jitsu's open mats, large Masters Worlds participation and self-policing of rapid promotions.