Tips on dealing with someone with a much longer reach...

[Matthew]

I'm 6'1" and up until a few nights ago, i was taller then anyone i had spared with. Normally, i would float barely into the range of the people i would spare against, and tried to get them to take punches that were out of their range, and then counter.
Well, after sparing with someone who was about 6'4" (seriously) i found that i really dont know how to deal with someone, who like myself, tries to use their reach to an easy advantadge. The session was fairly low in hits, as he tried to leave it up to me to be the aggressor, and tried to coax me into taking shots past my reach, which i wouldnt do.
The only technique i thought of during this session was moving in and blocking his punch before it was fully extended, then countering. Of course, i would like to stay away from moving into punches.
I also worked the double jab to cover the distance between us, but im afraid that is fairly predictable by itself.
So, any tips on how to safely, and quickly get into range of someone before they back up or rotate would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
-matt
(PS. i havent been able to join a gym this summer, due to my busy and irregular work schedule.)

[Xavier_Hungwell]

At 5’9 I have to deal with lots of fighters with a longer reach then my own. One of my favorite ways to get past a longer reach is the double jab, especially if my opponent is a counter puncher. I throw the first jab intentionally short, bring my jab hand back about half way and then step forward maybe four to six inches with the second jab. Nine out of ten times I will connect with the second jab, setting up a right cross, strait right, or a hook to the body. Also the second jab has a lot more on it since it is bringing the whole force of your bodies forward movement.\

Cheers.

[Matthew]

Thank you for the response.
I should also note that i will use this information to get an idea how shorter partners might plan to compensate for my longer reach!

[crazyjoe380]

haha! how do u like it!

short boy!

lol

[Tom Yum]

Double jab is good, but if he is a fast counter puncher then you might find yourself being countered with a right cross during the 2nd jab. But for all instensive purposes it will work.

Learn to watch the chest and shoulders. Whenever you see the chest flex or rotate you should allready be bobbing or slipping. As you slip and bob the taller puncher, aggressively bridge the gap until you are close enough to touch his chest with your shoulder and then test his defenses against a shovel hook, hook with the same hand or upper cut, overhand, hook or two hooks to the body, uppercut (with the same hand as the 2nd hook) and hook to jaw.

[Lizard]

Someone with much longer reach? Shoot them.

[swan104]

It must be tough being 6ft 1....imagine what it's like being 5ft7!

Its the Land of the Giants! All people have to do is step on you!

[Turing]

You think its tough being 5 '7? try being 5 '1, 107 lbs.

[Hanist5]

The best fighter ( and boxer) I know is about 5'7. Everyone calls him Tyson on the street because thats who he looks and fights like. Hes a legend around the East bay ( bay area, California ). What I noticed about the way he fights is that he has excellent defensive skills ( bobbing, weaving, and slipping) and thats how he gets inside. Once inside, he uses alot of hook oriented combinations, usually to the body. Oh yeah, He almost always has a jab start off his combinations. So, despite being relatively short, he is a very effective fighter.

[jukado1]

when fighting any oppenent including a taller fighter try before attacking to step in a 45% angle around them, that should make them try to readjust their stance, AS soon as they start to move, thats when you attack them, hopefully their not set and able to counter effectivly. train hard, train smart.

[sun fist]

I have an incredibly long reach with my legs and arms so I practice long range northern styles of kung fu like long fist boxing or black tiger boxing. Usually people get in on me by waiting for me to strike and while I'm open will storm me. But, after 10 or 9 years of martial arts experience, I retract my fists and legs pretty quickly, but usually when you get into a fight it's with someone with no formal fighting background.

[BadgerFu57]

I think this forum is for Western Boxing not Gung-fu....

[WaTEr]

many people who practice kung-fu/gung-fu also do boxing and regular kickboxing so...

[MrBoxerGrappler]

I am 6'2 and have a very long reach..I have never fought in ring or sparred with anyone who had a longer reach then I but I can tell you what people do to me.

I am a counter puncher..
So people will throw a jab with no intention of connecting, but to cause me to counter punch. When my arm extends even though I am a quick rebounder it allows for a step to the side and atleast a body blow to open another combination.


That is if they are quick enough to avoid my counter punch.

[WaTEr]

HA Ha oooo so true...