Fighting someone smaller

[Spirit]

Well all good points and if you reread you may start to see that your already doing part of what I stated… Each of you has hit on it a bit and works within the parameters of what I was talking about.

I started out as a small kid 135lbs and short 5’ 6”, did not hit 6’ and 190lbs till I was 20…. I fought everyone the same hard and focused, this taught me to just fight. Many times I was fighting guys 50 to 100lbs over my weight and 12 inches as well. It did not stop me from fighting… it just made me fight harder with more heart. Stopped thinking about the size [witch was causing me not to or slowing down reaction time] and fought. Sure I got rocked but you know what so did they and more often as I fought those big guy. And as I grew I adapted to the small but just as strong fighters…

Fight; just fight your training will either work or you’ll learn what to work on so it will work in the future.

Not everyone is going to be great fighters and be a champion, but one can still be a great fighter based on who you are and your abilities!!!

Your mind is your biggest enemy stop talking to it and let your whole body work together to do the best job/fight you can do.
If your best fight is to keep up with a better fighter than you, and you did then great, now work on getting in one good shot… set a goal and work on it.

[buckette]

I think when fighting a smaller opponent, the taller fighter should try to use their reach as an advantage, not letting the smaller fighter get in close enough to attack...also if heavier, should really try to take out their opponent with each technique (ie. all power shots)...going for the wazari or ippon, rather than trying to match the work rate of the smaller opponent....

Of course there are so many other options/variables etc, but this is just my two cents worth on basic strategy.

Osu

[Spirit]

When I fight smaller people I usually let them in close!!! reach is a relative term when fighting, at least it is for me.
Then again their is some small guys and girls!!!! who I don't want in close so its all as it is... relative to the fighter not their size

[seienchin]

It really depends on the purpose of the fight. If it is in a tournament and the purpose is to win, then I'll exploit the advantages of height and reach, and be alert to the risk of being out manoeuvred.

If it is dojo kumite, then I would usually have an eye on what the smaller fighter (if he/she was a lower grade) wanted to work on, and assist them with that.

If he/she was a higher grade, then I would ignore size (within reason) and just do my best.

if the size difference is extreme, then I think that the bigger fighter does have some duty not to throw all 100 lb of the weight difference into every punch.

[tmd]

Will be interesting to see how the larger Middle Weight Fighters 'cope' with Darren Stringer this weekend - will post if we see anything worth sharing

For my part I'm not that big or small but always just try to find my advantage be it mobility against the big guys or the increased range or weapons you can use against the smaller fighters, knees to the thighs work well as do elbows to the arms or chest - let them feel like your in their range but then they move back out of range of your elbows and knees and right into your range of punches and kicks.