When Goliath Has Long Arms
Michelle wrote to tell me that her book arrived very quickly. She also wanted to know about dealing with an opponent who has a long reach with both arms and legs.
I would include her original letter, but there was a confidentiality statement in her sig. file. So, all I can tell you is that she is called "M" and "MAD" (her initials).
By The Way -- My name is Keith, but my friends and family refer to me as "KIP" (my initials).
OK M, let's deal with those tall opponents with a long reach. We'll discuss arms first.
When I think of tall fighting short, I picture my wife going against Mike, the student who is living in New Zealand. Kate is just a little of five-feet tall, and Mike is just a hair under seven-feet tall. This makes for a big contrast.
Kate has several tactics that I have noticed:
* She does a lot of throat grabbing, especially while coming up between her opponent's arms.
* She makes her first shot to the groin in an Attack By Combination (ABC).
* She makes her first shot to the groin in a Progressive Indirect Attack (PIA).
* She passes the long arms together over one of her shoulders.
Anyway, let's talk about her last strategy. Maybe we can make it more practical for "M."
To get the right idea, and to start practicing for practical application, let's start from the point right before the grab (or it could be a punch to the face).
In this exercise, your partner, the guy with the ape-like arms, reaches in to grab your throat. Start the exercise close enough that "Gorilla" only has to take one step to reach your throat. The perfect distance is that with no step he can't reach you, but two steps would make the reach with his long arms unnecessary.
As he reaches in, you grab his arms, one of your hands on the outside of each arm. Firmly place his arms on your less dominant shoulder. S0, if you are right handed, place the arms on your left shoulder, as he reaches for you. He arms will reach past, if you guide his arms correctly.
Do this exercise over and over, until you feel that you can just about always guide the hands, no matter what the rhythm.
Also, spend some time playing with distance. After you have perfected this beginning part of the exercise with one step, have your partner start by circling you in more of a sparring context. Suddenly, he reaches in -- you pass those long arms.
But you know ... it's not enough to "passively pass the arms past you." (You can quote me on that alliteration.)
Now, add in some damaging strikes ....
What if I could absolutely guarantee that your punches will be devastatingly powerful and super fast?
And what if I could guarantee that all of your punches will be more effective? This means getting in on your enemy when you need to.
Suspend your disbelief for just a minute or two --
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