help with striking against taller opponent please

[Orionkeiji]

helpful criticism is much appreciated (i'm hoping i'm not gonna get too many people just saying i suck)... i'm the short guy (i'm 5'3 and the other guy is 6'2)i know i probably need to circle more if i want to use my hands, but i had a hard time getting around his range and his speed.

[DickHardman]

your hands are way too low. its ok if you guys are trying to avoiding hitting each others faces, but thats a real bad habit to get into, especially when you face someone who is going to strike at your head and face. if you guys get some headgears you can learn to deal with more strikes to the face without getting hurt. also, sometimes spar boxing only so you can work on your hands and dealing with strikings coming to your face. the other guys hands are in better position to protect his face, though inmop they could be kept a bit higher. you guys also both dropped your hands repeatedly, this can be used against you by a better striker if you repeat this mistake, as they will use it to set you up for something real nasty. try to keep them up and protecting your face at all times. the way you held your fists down makes your head VERY susceptible to head kicks, as well as punches, especially since you are a shorter guy.

as for dealing with his height, one think you can do is use more push kicks/ front kicks. when he tries to come in with punches, counter them with a push kick to his body.

[Orionkeiji]

thank you very much, Dick... i appreciate the help.

our hands are low because we're getting ready for a pankration tournament (no head shots).... i do realize it could get us into some bad habbits, but i'll really drill it into my head to keep the hands up after the competition. i do, however, need to work on keeping the hands up when i strike. thanks for the push kick suggestion

[Tim McFatridge]

Just to give my thoughts on what I saw on the video... I understand the fact that you can not hit to the head (I always hated those rules) but you need to be more aggressive. Throw more punches than what you are throwing on the video. Work on throwing punches in combinations of 3,4,5 or more... you do not want to throw 1 or 2 punches and move out. When you get in his face then get in his face and let him know you are there and then go for the takedown. When you throw your kicks go for that lead leg... throw your kicks to the outside of his leg and to the inside of his leg. If you are backing away from your opponent and he follows you around the ring then remember to do like Dick said earlier...use your push kicks. I call these stop kicks... keep your distance so that in order for him to hit you he will have to step up...when he does land a solid stop kick right to his stomach or leg. Also, when Iwas fighting I found it was really helpful and beneficial to me when I sparred with guys that I was not use to sparring with. I would even have guys come in from other schools and gyms and spar me because I knew they would really come at me. You might try going with guys that you are not use to.


Just my thoughts...Good luck on the fights.

[Tom Yum]

Originally Posted by Orionkeiji

helpful criticism is much appreciated (i'm hoping i'm not gonna get too many people just saying i suck)... i'm the short guy (i'm 5'3 and the other guy is 6'2)i know i probably need to circle more if i want to use my hands, but i had a hard time getting around his range and his speed.

First, good job holding your ground. Still, you were a bit cautious.

Like the others mentioned, you didn't throw enough punches. When he comes straight in on you, move sideways or move diagnol (get an angle!). Then fire off some shots to his sides. When he reaches in, angle around, stick to him and fire off hooks from the inside.

Your kicks looked pretty good, bro. You made him run into your side kick a few times; when you throw a side kick defensively (like you did and when he ran into it) you need to go on the offensive immediately by following up with a hook kick, cut kick or a spinning kick. If you land a few solid, powerful kicks - he will respect them and re-think his reach in strategy.

Finishing a hook kick or spin kick can put you in a better position to punch, as it can take you out of the side-stance.

Your guard is a little too much outward. That's good for being able to throw jabs and crosses with less distance, but you also have to be a speedy fighter to get out of the way with that stance -> as you see, you ate alot of shots because your guard was too outward and you offered little in defense (parrying, blocking or lateral movement).

Bring your arms in a little, elbows covering your ribs, but not too tight against the body. Keeping your arms a little more inward, covers your body better.

[sapatiero]

I know you're looking for striking tips, but your opponent has quite a side-on stance and his lead leg is pretty forward. How about a single leg?

[Orionkeiji]

thanks tim... i do realize i need to get more aggressive, i guess i was a little intimidated because of the height and weight difference.. but i'll work on it and keep at it

thanks tom... i'll keep workin on getting those angles, i need to keep working the rhythmn and footwork. thanks for the compliment about my kicks and for the tip on following up right away with cut kicks and spin kicks... i'll work on tightening up that guard too

sapatiero... i was able to take this guy down and tap him out several times so we were working just strikes... but thanks for the advice

[Tom Yum]

Originally Posted by Orionkeiji

thanks tim... i do realize i need to get more aggressive, i guess i was a little intimidated because of the height and weight difference.. but i'll work on it and keep at it

thanks tom... i'll keep workin on getting those angles, i need to keep working the rhythmn and footwork. thanks for the compliment about my kicks and for the tip on following up right away with cut kicks and spin kicks... i'll work on tightening up that guard too

sapatiero... i was able to take this guy down and tap him out several times so we were working just strikes... but thanks for the advice

The guard isn't "tight" in the sense of muscular contraction, it is in the sense that your forearms cover most of your ribs and that your elbows cover your kidney/sides.

Your punches have to travel farther to reach their targets - that's the trade off, so you have to have quick hands. If you keep your guard outward more, you can have slower hands, but then you have to have quicker feet/reactions to either get out of the way or parry.

Good luck, bro! Keep us updated on your progress.

[ciscodog]

Slide at a 45 to the outside of your lead leg and throw a hook as soon as he moves forward or throws a kick/puch . Large opponents have long legs and you may just need to slide straight left or right and fire it. Your legs should match his arm reach, so if he punches throw a quick kick. Remember your opponent dictates what kicks you will use by his body position. If hes standing with his chest facing you use straight kicks. Switch to round kicks when he starts to turn his front away from you, and step on his foot as you push forward, he needs to change his distance away from you for his punches to have the most effect by backing up and that will get him off balance.

[petenbca]

when you throw your jab dont keep your head stationary behind it either dip or weave at the same time you throw it. not a big exagerated movement but enough to make them miss make sure your footwork is good. also its good to just enter their zone to make them miss then follow the punch in. tyson is a great example of a short man who was devastating.

[Bjjexpertise@be]

The guy that runs the club at my school showed me a trick with throwing a jab. When you throw a jab try stepping off to the left at an angle at the same time, it makes it hard for him to counter your jab with a cross or jab.

[Hardball]

Get MAD and brawl!!!

[GSPisthebest!]

Body shots, body shots, body shots...

----
Why match when you can itzamatch?

[PlasmaShock]

Originally Posted by Orionkeiji

helpful criticism is much appreciated (i'm hoping i'm not gonna get too many people just saying i suck)... i'm the short guy (i'm 5'3 and the other guy is 6'2)i know i probably need to circle more if i want to use my hands, but i had a hard time getting around his range and his speed.

what style is that?

[ObiRonKnbi]

msg removed