I used to be into martial arts sparring. At my old dojo I used to have to spar a young woman who was a former Army MP. She was a Game of Thrones Brienne of Tarth in stature. She had me by at least 5-6 inches in height, had me in arm reach and leg reach. Me well I am not tall, basically lets say weightlifting is my sport and its power lifting not body building. So lets just say I am “solid”. Also I might add I was twice her age. She used to get irritated with me if I would hold back, which I always did. I would “up my game” when she would complain, but I still wouldn’t go all out. I still could “block” all her punches and kicks or avoid them. I would let her hit me solid and she couldn’t “stagger” me, she had “power” commiserate with her size. Once with one of her “flying kick” she just bounced off me. I often felt bad when she did stuff like this, because I viewed has as a friend. It bothered me that her “frustration” wasn’t based on realism. Women just can’t generate the power, one can’t change the physics of the reality. I kept telling her that she need to spend more time on joint locks, etc. concentrate on developing the “subtle” aspects of the art not the power. She was so dedicated to “the art” she probably could have easily “kicked my ass” if she did that. Unfortunately she was unrealistically enamored with displaying “power”.
And yes in GOT Brienne sort of way she was cute!
I studied martial arts when I was younger. Got pretty good at it. In my opinion you can be a 10th. degree black belt with long, strong legs, a heavy weight boxer with a mean left hook. But if a good wrestler gets a hold of you you’re dead.