Short vs Tall: How to counter reach and height advantages for MMA and Muay Thai Training

[viorcustom]

Marc pac-man 1,70 cm,and he dont have any problem,bruce lee 1,70cm too.against a 2.00 cm even 1.90 can be a problem sure but,1.80 1.85 can be posible,be small is good sometimes or not?my 1.70 is not a problem to my,whell i am a left handed too jeje left power,we have to be good whith our body,is what it is

[marc14841]

its unfair but as a 5'6 guy i have to admit that it is difficult to beat a taller guy with same strenght ,weight and speed , let alone a taller guy who is quicker ,stronger and who weights more than me. I wish God granted me some more height i could have easily beat the shit out of those tall loosers who only win because of their height avantage. I am really strong , and quick but i dont have the height and weight to be really dangerous , i hate it.

[chrisgrinhard]

@marc14841 I believe that fighting is composed of ONLY 5 FACTORS: 1)speed 2)power 3)skill 4)stamina 5)durability if you have the advantage in 3 or 4 of these, YOU WIN MOST OF THE TIME. if you are shorter, test him out, don't attack full on like most "untrained" idiots. throw feint punches, observe his defensive responses,gauge your offense accordingly. I used to regularly spar with guys 5 inches and 50-80lbs bigger than me. I've tussled with guys(and arm locked) 130lbs bigger.

[hellotoeverone]

this is really good. when ever iam sparring some one tall i alwase use this and it works!

[Dosalt]

good advice here but I feel that you could get your ribs well broken too, by trying out some of these.

[sweettats602]

hey

[IGSUGA]

One more thing...check out Mike Zambidis

[IGSUGA]

That's when you can take advantage of hooks and overhands (if they were the same height than the would be a little easier to block but because they come from below and end up on top then they are a liitle confusing to time). Also tall fighters suck on the insde. They are usualy limited to elbows and knees in which you outbeat them 2-1. Oh yeah, you can also jump (I'd advise this when they're retreating) but not to much because you won't be able to evade. That's how I fight anyways....

[IGSUGA]

because they can still throw more punches even out of reaction. Try to get in close (by slipping/dipping the jab/cross) and murder the body, because his head will usually be unavailable until he starts blocking those horrifying body shots. Also. take into consideration his body type and weight classes. If your both weigh 160 but he's 6'1" and your 5'7" then he's probably a toothpick compared to your stockiness and therefore you can easily punch around his guard (not jujutsu but blocks).....

[IGSUGA]

How to counter height and reach advantage: Learn how to box and learn body types. Kicks are much slower than punches and are easily countered. Jabs are really fast and can keep you at bay but if your opponent makes a habit of just pawing you all day then make him pay by sliping to the outside of his jab and throwing your own jab or cross (if doesn't hit him, then it'll atleast scare him and make him back up, in which you can capitialize even more). Remember to slip/dip on the way in and out....

[EdTheBadass]

idk.. train your grapling and basic strenght, to get him while close and train kicking speed and height for sudden sharp hits on knees and liver and heart (your main target if you are overly short)

Can't see what else one can do, if the opponent is much taller.

Like 5.2 feet vs 6.3 tall ..

Otherwise if the opponent is tall and heavy AND strong, probably you would have to be really quick, to get in, deliver a kick and get out f the counter kick or punch.

[jujitsulover]

i am not a pro fighter or a gym guy... but i have learned a bit about jujitsu and it saved my ass once with a very strong and tall guy of kyu koshin kai , i was really afraid of him but in the end he was tapping and crying ... i really didn't believe that i beat that strong tall guy!! i think jujitsu is hope for short guys..!

[mrkitanai1]

Stop giving people false hope! When discussing tall vs. short, it's not the techniques that will help the small guy; it's the ATTRIBUTES! That is, the smaller guy either has to be faster or stronger. This is how Pacquiao killed Margarito. PacMan was MUCH smaller; however, he was much, much, much faster. PacMan nullified Margaritos reach and size advantage. Speed kills. If PacMan wasn't as fast as he was, Margarito would have killed him.

[TakingItToTheMMAT]

@mrkitanai1 To have hope is to have faith. To have faith is to believe. Whether you believe you can or believe you can't, you're right. But those who believe they can't never could. Those who believe they can, just might.

[mrkitanai1]

@TakingItToTheMMAT Yes, I agree - having "hope" is good; however, there is something called "false hope". As Mike Tyson said, "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."

All I am saying is that, in most instances, when a short/smaller guy beats a taller/bigger guy, it is usually because the shorter guy is either more powerful, faster, better balance, better coordination, etc. It's the ATTRIBUTES that matter the most.

[mrkitanai1]

@TakingItToTheMMAT Look at Ichiro Suzuki - small, but fast, and has a very strong throwing arm. Barry Sanders - small, but fast, strong, and superior balance. Darryl Green - small, but super, super fast. Spud Webb - very small, but has a mind-blowing vertical leap. Again, ATTRIBUTES, ATTRIBUTES, ATTRIBUTES!!

[TakingItToTheMMAT]

@mrkitanai1 I respectfully disagree. It's always nice to have God given tallent. And if you're a guy that hasn't been blessed with it and want to curl up in a ball and thow in the towel, don't let me stop you. But don't try and lead our followers down that dark path. That's yours for the taking. Technique is there to help anybody leverage whatever talent they've been given and it can overcome these so called "ATTRIBUTES". Larry Bird sends his regards.

[mrkitanai1]

@TakingItToTheMMAT Larry Bird may not have been blessed with many PHYSICAL attributes, but he was obviously blessed with ones that you cannot see - superb hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and proprioceptive awareness. He was blessed with instincts that no coach can teach - he simply knew where to be on the court. This made up for his lack of foot speed. I'm not saying that fundamentals are not important - they are; however, when all else are equal, the person who has the best attributes win.

[TakingItToTheMMAT]

@mrkitanai1  Helio Gracie FTW!

[mrkitanai1]

@TakingItToTheMMAT The Gracies always talk about how Gracie Jiu Jitsu allows the smaller/weaker person to defeat the bigger/stronger person - yet, when they talk about Helio's fight with Kimura, they keep bringing up the fact that Kimura was 80-lbs heavier than Helio. I thought size didn't matter? How come Royce could not beat Matt Hughes at 170? It's because Hughes is stronger and more powerful. When all else is equal, SIZE AND STRENGTH MATTER. Pacquiao is king because of his superior SPEED

[venom5610]

@mrkitanai1 so pretty the point is to be a beast.

[StraightfromdaMV420]

@mrkitanai1

I would say that tall people have their disadvantages at speed or strength mostly .

And i was doing 6 years of judo and there the reach of the arms wasnt important because if u grabbed it u could break it . Sry for my English btw .

[WestSideCoolidge]

@mrkitanai1 Very good advice and video man. Fighting is all about attributes....timing, speed, power etc etc

[cnthlpbtcmnt]

@mrkitanai1 You can never achieve a certain kind of attribute without technique be it speed or what ever it is. Everything has technique even if it's having your bowel movement. This is actually easy to understand when you train for something no matter what it is and you'll notice technique is seen everywhere... Pacquiao is great not just by his speed but it's his approach and intelligence inside the ring that makes him a better boxer.

[mrkitanai1]

@cnthlpbtcmnt I am not saying that technique is not important. It is. However, at the elite level, God-given attributes are even more critical. Manny Pacquiao IS NOT an intelligent boxer. He'll stand in the pocket and trade blows. He gets hit - in his two fights with Marquez, PacMan got hit a lot. What allows PacMan to smash right through people is superb speed and power. He simply beats his opponent to the punch. And speed and power are God-given. You cannot teach speed and power.

[cnthlpbtcmnt]

@mrkitanai1 I agree with being gifted with something are more than the standard. The only reason why Pacquiao gets hit in an ugly way is that he punches on and off foot, but I won't say that he is not an intelligent boxer, it's just that his approach on boxing is mainly on the offensive side even on defense he's on offensive. And yeah I agree that there are things that you can't teach anymore on a elite level like the speed and power of Pacquiao for example.

[cnthlpbtcmnt]

@mrkitanai1 But for starters there are techniques which they can work on to develop speed and power "up to their own level" that's why thank god for tutorials, mentors, and all that. You might also want to check out the article about the wrist to height ratio, I don't know how true it is but it about Pacquiao's wrist size and it's kind of amazing.

[mrkitanai1]

@cnthlpbtcmnt I agree with what you have said. That's the point I was trying to make. Even Freddie Roach mentioned that, when he first started training Pacquiao, he was amazed at his natural, raw speed and punching power. PacMan had all the tools - Roach had to refine it, and he also had to teach Manny how to use the right hand more. PacMan was a "diamond in the rough". Roach had to expose and polish that diamond. But that diamond was already there.

[VietzRus]

God giving abilities certainly go a long way when all else is even. Though I have to disagree when people say Pacquiao is not an intelligent boxer. He may not be the smartest of boxers out there , but his ring IQ is pretty good. Being a 8 division world champion takes more then just raw talent, Even a drop out like Tyson had good Ring IQ in his prime. Timing and setting up power shots walking opponents into corners and utilizing quick footwork require good boxing IQ.

[mrkitanai1]

@VietzRus I agree.

[cnthlpbtcmnt]

@mrkitanai1 Regarding this video, it discusses techniques that you could use. All that you see in this video are rudimentary and are things that you could really use so there's not a problem with that.

[twotheteam]

@mrkitanai1 am 17 5'2 i dont know how long my reach is but i know its not long any advice dont tell me am to small i dont care what no body says am going to fight

[mrkitanai1]

@twotheteam You can still fight, but you should fight in your own weight division. SIZE MATTERS - that is why there are weight divisions in most combat sports - boxing, judo, jiu jitsu, wrestling, etc. You think Frankie Edgar would have a chance against Brock Lesnar?? Technique CAN overcome strength and size IF the bigger guy has little or no skills. This is how Royce Gracie beat Ken Shamrock in the early UFC's. Ken knew very little submissions. You can't do that today.

[Dosalt]

@mrkitanai1 a quick question, what is the minimum height (or height range) you believe that is necessary to become successful in heavy weight division, when other things being equal ?

say if you want to fight Alistair overeem.

[boxfan88]

@mrkitanai1 um no margo just sux how come he couldnt do shit against marquez he wasnt taller or faster or stronger

[undeadpresident]

Good instruction, thank you for posting this

[FUSSYMUAYTHAI]

you guys need to pay high prices for some private lessons and then learn about

synchronization and rhythm matching and the results of the application of such.

[alotricious]

I am not impress.

[gameboy010203]

The premise you based this on is faulty.

First , you're assuming that a tall guy will only throw hands , allowing you to counter with your longer legs.

Tall guys can throw kicks too , especially that left. Lead leg kicks to the inside thigh , body and head work great for maintaining distance. Even teeps. I find it funny u think that ,as a shorter guy , u can keep him off you with teeps yet he cant. That would work if the guy was just a tall boxer instead of a tall kickboxer.

Watch Semmy Schilt

[Duskcoil]

@gameboy010203 No... he already mentioned he probably won't throw kicks because his arms are enough to keep opponent away and won't risk being thrown off balance.

[gameboy010203]

@Duskcoil No , I know he mentioned that but its stupid to assume that. Unless the tall guy's a beginner and/or stupid he's gonna know that his opponent's kicks are longer than his arms and why would he "risk" balance kicking ?

Thats the name of the game right ....kickboxing / MMA ?

The only time a good tall guy wont use his legs to kick is if he's really good at maintaining his distance by using his feet to get away (movement).

BTW when have u ever seen a tall guy not kick , only punch ?

[gameboy010203]

@Duskcoil I usually like these guys videos but he's really wrong on this one. I would explain more but YT has this word limit.

Im 90% certain the asian guy in the video struggles against equally good tall guys in the standup.

His buddy (in some other video) also showed how it doesnt work.

[Duskcoil]

@gameboy010203 If someone is of equal skill, but bigger, then they obviously have an advantage. No surprise there.

But you can't assume your opponent will do or not do this, when you're out classed you need to be smarter.

If someone is of equal skill, but stronger and faster, obviously he would win. His advantage on a fair stand up fight would be his reach and possibly weight, so you have to work with that. Feints, setting things up, moving quickly.

It's never black and white.

[lovedontloveme]

What if the fake a body kick and go for the head?

[Microvillus00]

ur teaching is very good. very simple but extremely useful.

the simplest is the best.

good work.

[striker1224]

Using head movement to get on the inside also works well. A guy at our gym who's only like 5'3 crushes almost everyone with body punches using head movement.

[Idrivethe405]

I learned this in a mma class I take and it's probably the most practical move I've ever seen in a martial arts class for self defense. If you're being attacked, 95% of people won't be watching their legs while they are punching. Every time I'm rough housing with my friends I wait for them to punch and then I kick, none of them see it coming

[PETRAXZ]

Great video,thank for showing this :D

[MARXMAN2009]

You can't ACTUALLY counter taller height and reach, they are absolute advantage, you could do that one move but he can do it better than you.

[E61474]

fighting tutorials are stupid, you are not going to do any of that shit during a fight unless ur a fucking pro. most ppl just forget and panic etc and rumble. fuck ur a noob 2

[zfresh8o8]

chaching a kick can line u up to get u knock out! missing n if he was going to ur head, nighty night boy

[striker1224]

@zfresh8o8 This is why you catch a kick during impact. Too many people make the mistake of catching the kick before it touches them.

[miraclemuaythai]

just my opinion but its always preferable to attack the inside of the leg if possible instead of the outside, because of the angle of the bent leg. if you attack the outside, the leg can just be turned and braced against the kick, on the inside, its an opposing force and the leg just has to go with it.

I would slip backwards off the jab and attack the inside of the opponents lead leg with my left kick. just another way of doin stuff.

[RaidenTheAlmighty]

Yeah, but you can deliver those really brutal downward roundhouse kicks to the outside of the leg.

[Ohnoplata12]

You said you prefer to go to the left.Like in this vid example arent you going toward his strong hand.What do you do to stay safe while going to the strong side, and not taking to much damage

[mafista]

@Ohnoplata12 BLOCK!

[lockup87]

whats the asian guy's name?

[soapywater]

thanks for the tips but i dun quite understand @5:08 isnt it hard to catch a leg if hes going full speed, would blocking or dodging be on the safer side? and also is the side stepping practical especially when your opponent is unlikely to telegraph which side they are gonna kick?

[TakingItToTheMMAT]

@soapywater The best way to learn how to read kicks is to hold the Thai Pads for your partners. You'll learn how to read tells.

[BrucLeeroy25]

@soapywater blocking is not safer sir your taking more damage to your arm or shin. Condition your body and as the kick comes exhale and rotate with the kick. Dodging is the best if you aint gotta take it then dont. And as far as telegraphing you have to react its not necessarily going to be telepgraphed all the time sometimes you see it and you move.

[Vangkidd]

what would you do against a guy who has a reach advantage and who has a fast jab?

[KJGould]

@Vangkidd If he's just flicking it out, move back with half steps to make him come forward and stick the jab into you more. That way he has to commit and it becomes easier to slip and counter with a kick like shown, or move in to grapple. Check out youtube video CSW essentials Erik Paulson on punching to takedowns.

[paulograveto]

Hi, im a noob kickboxer and i have been struggling to fight taller guys because they have an enormous reach advantage and i keep getting hit on my face with the straight jab. But actualy this video is kinda what i have been training to improve that disavantage that i have against taller fighter's so Thanks for the video and tips!

[PaladinswordSaurfang]

short people have to get in close

[PaladinswordSaurfang]

in most cases, if a tall person is far enough away, they should kick and not punch

[PaladinswordSaurfang]

leg check is better than catching

[MetalReggaeton]

This is really useful. Im usually the smaller guy as well, and it makes me really aggressive (borderline reckless) n closing the distance. Brilliant guys! Thanks :)

[smokenfly514]

For roundhouse kicks, should you aim below or over the knee?

[PaladinswordSaurfang]

@smokenfly514 roundhouse kicks are always above, they are relatively high kicks, eg. Chuck Norris did his roundhouse kicks at head height. In fact, i dont think any kick is aimed below the knee unless it's a leg sweep. Even thigh kicks which are similar to roundhouse kicks but aimed at the thigh are about as low as they get. My instructor always says to me "every kick should be above belt height" with the exception of the thigh kick.

[animal100000]

I was told if there a puncher kick them if there a kicker punch them.....

[nephildevil]

when u catch that middle kick immediately drop him, coz ur head is exposed to a barrage of vicious punches coming from somewhere above ;)

[2ossy]

Why the Lesnar beard???

[choileefut]

thanks for posting this

loving the camera angles...goodstuff

thanks

[c3m3nth3ad]

Always wanted to know that. Cause I am generally the shorter guy at MMA ):

[teenboyspeaks]

you guys should film some sparring videos. that way, we can get a good idea of how to implement these techniques your posting.

[aaron4820]

@teenboyspeaks a while ago they had a series of video (well, if 2 makes a series) where they show a video of techniques along side of either themselves using it or their students using it in actual fights.

[TakingItToTheMMAT]

@aaron4820 it's at "MMA Techniques In Fights 2" do a search on youtube and check out from 606 on.

[TakingItToTheMMAT]

@teenboyspeaks We have. They're availble in the members only area of our official website. You should pick up a subscription, you might find a few things you like in there :)