Tips for "short" fighters fighting taller opponents??

[Kris]

Since this thread started I have worked a lot on my low kick and found it a very handy technique against taller fighters. When the opponent attacks I slide to the right and kick a mawashi (round) low kick with my right (back) leg to his thai.

I try to twist and make sure a hit at a downward angle just like the instructor in this video here.

[L.K]

When fighting a taller opponent it's important not to let him use his lenght to an advantage i.e. don't let him fight at the distance he wants to fight from. Try to get close and practise moving around your opponent from a close distance.

[blackshield]

the problem i find is that whilst getting in close to larger fighters is hard - being in there can also present problems - you won't be able to stay there indefinately, especailly against a tough opponent - so you have to find ways to bridge that gap repeatedly (in and out) which unfortunately means repeatedly moving through the 'danger zone' that is his optimum striking range. From my perspective the key is timing - just trying to charge in to close range is gonna get you a face full of foot! Wait till the taller fighter is extended before moving in (almost like you are following him back in) this is when his reach counts for the least. try and encourporate your general tactics around getting the opponent to try techniques that you know you can work from (eg work off his maegeri using footsweeps and close fast).
I think this is a hard thing to do for anyone, especially if the larger fighter knows how to use his reach very well.

[blackshield]

p.s. On a side note I remember being told once - by an extremely good (shorter) fighter - that they key to fighting the bigger guys is that your work rate has to be twice what theres is (not throwing techniques like a madman, but movement /combos/footwork etc)... not fair but it makes good sense

[kidflash]

I am also small (1,70m), so I have often this same problem.

As has been said before, the most important thing is tai sabaki (=body movement).
It is hard, as also has been said here, to "close the gap" to a taller opponent, especially if he is perfectly ready to move. So you have to move forward when he is not, e.g. when he is attacking.

What I have sometimes used successfully, is to move slightly backwards, thus enlarging the gap even more - unless your opponent is a patient and defensive fighter, he will move forward to keep in the distance he likes. At the same time I, too, move rapidly forward/to the side, so we are actually moving toward each other, and "the gap" is closed very fast.
It does not work often, but you are taking actually no risk in trying it.

[Azimuth]

Look At the video's from "the Little Giant of Kyokushin" : )

[homer_simpson]

Well, I am about 170 cm and 85 kg.

In the dojo, I am constantly matched with guys over 95 kg and they are much taller than me too.

I find that fighting close range against such opponents may not be a good idea. Since they are heavier than me, they pack some really powerful punches and kicks. Fighting close range and getting direct hits from them (plus they have longer arm extension that allows them to "punch through" their punches better) has never appealed much to me.

What I notice is that they are generally less agile than me. So instead of fighting head on, I use light combos (such as jabs and low kicks) to read and draw out their attacks, and I keep moving around them. Once there is an opportunity to hit them (such as when I manage to read their attacks and exploit them, or when they are caught in an awkward position), I give everything I have into a single attack (be it a punch or a kick), put my whole body weight into it, and pray that the attack will bring down my opponent. If I notice that my opponent is not yet ready, I usually follow through with another combos. When he is ready, I quickly withdraw and get out of his range.

So far, I get knocked down less often compared to when I fought head-on, although it is still hard to knockdown such giants.

[Olrac]

osu Marcsui,

I'm also a "small" guy (168cm).
Fighting taller guys, which is 95% of my opponents, doesn't bother me that much. I always try to get as close as I can. And yes, I too "eat" some hits getting there. Being close to my opponent gives me advantege (inside lowkicks, body punches, hiza mawashi geri to the upper leg) and is also dangerous as my opponents always have longer legs, so the knee to the head is easely made. My experience tells me that a lot of tall fighters have problems when the small guy is fighting at close range.
Be smaller means that you have to quick.
And at my age, that is not so easy

oh, I almost forgot to mention that my weight is 68kg and I usually fight guys from my dojo who are about 80 to 100kg.

[seienchin]

I think that one of the key skills is the "Y shaped" attack/leave pathway. by this, I mean what some people call "splitting". You move in by going forwards, then instead of going backwards out, you branch off to one of the top arms of the Y. (the arms pass on either side of your opponent).

If you practice this technique, combined with rapidly spinning as soon as you have branched off (so that you are facing your opponent again), you can make them quite dizzy! they are constantly trying to turn to find you.

You can move in centrally, or a little off set to the side, depending on what you want to throw. I quite like an offset attack winging through and catching the ribs as i shoot up one arm of the Y.

[Shokei Marcsui]

Originally Posted by seienchin

I think that one of the key skills is the "Y shaped" attack/leave pathway. by this, I mean what some people call "splitting". You move in by going forwards, then instead of going backwards out, you branch off to one of the top arms of the Y. (the arms pass on either side of your opponent).

If you practice this technique, combined with rapidly spinning as soon as you have branched off (so that you are facing your opponent again), you can make them quite dizzy! they are constantly trying to turn to find you.

You can move in centrally, or a little off set to the side, depending on what you want to throw. I quite like an offset attack winging through and catching the ribs as i shoot up one arm of the Y.

So you mean to move forward >> barrage >> then move forward again into one of the upper parts of the Y >> quickly turn around ?

Very interesting. I'll have to try that. Do you bump the person at all?

[seienchin]

Originally Posted by Shokei Marcsui

So you mean to move forward >> barrage >> then move forward again into one of the upper parts of the Y >> quickly turn around ?

Very interesting. I'll have to try that. Do you bump the person at all?

Yeah - you move forward, but you don't stop - you are literally zooming through the redzone, and you might have time to throw maybe 2 techniques, and then zip out the side. You can bump them with your hiza geri if you want...but the footwork takes you just past them.

Just practise it on a bag at first, until you get the stepping in/puncing, stepping through and out movement happening. You just work in, through, spin, in through, spin etc etc.

You can mix this up with traditional in/out, and you can vary the angle of the arm of the Y to find what works for you

Have fun!

[kidflash]

This sounds very interesting, seienchin! I will try this!

[Bishamonten]

Isn´t there a special training dvd by IKO1? Has anyone seen this material?

[intwominds]

During my last grading I fought two other seniors, one of similar height to me (around 163cm) and one much taller (around 180cm). I took one look at him and thought holey c**p, what am I going to do? Then I remembered my husbands advice with tall opponents - stay in close so they can't use their height to an advantage. So I did and he didn't really know what to do. Apparently I was much better against him than the other opponent. However, he was a grade below me so I think inexperience paid a large part, so I would say it depends on the opponent and how much experience they have.
Seienchin - the 'Y' tactic sounds very interesting, I'm definitely going to practice that. I'm learning so much from this forum, there is so much info, stuff I would never have even considered. Thanks to everyone.
Osu!

[Spirit]

mmm, staying in close to a tall person should not work (if the tall fighter is conditioned to fighting all sizes) As a man of 6' 1"" ( I think that's 185cm?) short fighters who fight me tight just end up getting hit as readily as tall ones do who keep the distance. PS I also get hit as readily by them as well...

It is not like we don't have techniques to use for in tight/close fighting?

Since I did start out as a small person (young teen) and didn't hit 6' till I was 20, my fighting grew (Literally) with my height change.
I also fought as a heavy weight and in men's division though I was a teen and weighing only 165 to 176lbs. This gave me experience to fight big people, knowing that I was going to be big some day (brother 6' 6" and 5 uncles over 6' )
This is maybe a good option for you, fight tall or shorter fighters when ever possible, then study what you did wrong and how they did what against you. Yes it is a simple task, but often overlooked. Another one is developing fighting stances and techniques that help you against tall and shorter fighters, work them into your bag work and drills as well.
If you have the option or chance, when doing any type of drills witha partner in the dojo try to always grab someone taller and /or smaller each time. No matter if it is simple sanban kumite or complex fighting drills.

What I will often tell those who see big fighters as a challenge, is don't fight the height but fight the person (as stated before) big person larger targets to hit...
I know many a small fighter under 5'6" that kick the tar out of 6' plus guys by kicking the hell out of their heads.
If you predetermined that a tall person is harder to fight, you will always carry that block in your mind. This goes for anything or any type of fighting or training issue.
Fight the person not the height, again with Spirit, Fight the person, not the height!!! Again, again...

Good, now go do 3/500's {thats 500 each of... sit-ups, push-ups, & jumping jacks} for not shouting it louder!!!

Good skill!!!

[Tettsui]

I tried the "Y" technique and it is fantastic. I need to learn to set down quickly when I get in the zone but that will come with practice. The great part was I was able to get new angles on people that I couldn't before.

Osu!

[seienchin]

Hi tettsui - that is fantastic to hear. Good on you for giving it a go. I am delighted that you have made it work without ever seeing it! And you are right- the speed of landing and striking inside is critical, but will come and become natural with practise.

[bushido spirit]

wat a subj. shokei , i have the same pro. what i do is i get close enough that ppl say they r doin judo !! >_< punch nd hiza gei bro

[Shokei Marcsui]

Yeah I'm finding that Hiza Geri is great for the in-close fighting that we have to do.

Osu!

[ojgsxr6]

I've since quit karate, but what I've found that helps me is faking an attack to get them to react or try to counter, then you can close the distance when they open themselves up.