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Martial Arts for Tall People (When a short fighter tries to get in)
     by Keith Pascal
 

 

Practicing The Reach-Control Exercise When You Are Tall

If you are a tall martial artist, do you lament that, unfortunately, you are the tallest in the class (Yes -- Jesse, Bill, Neil, and Robert).

You still want to try the ideas offered to shorter people in other articles, but "you" are the one with the long reach.

Well, I have a few ideas you might want to try for practice:

* When your opponent reaches in, limit yourself by only reacting with your elbows. You can elbow strike, but don't allow yourself to wrap your arms over your opponent's arms that you pass onto your shoulder.

* Touch your elbows to the front of your body. Don't break contact -- elbows continuously touching torso. As the opponent reaches in, try to pass the "long" arms onto your shoulder. You limit your reach by not allowing yourself to extend as you grab. This is why you force yourself to maintain contact between your elbows and your ribs or stomach.

* Practice in a men's suit jacket. I don't know about you, but my reach is always limited when I am more formally dressed.

Keep in mind that all of this is 'practice' only:

* Don't think of reacting first with your elbows from such a distance, unless the timing is perfect.

* Don't you dare allow your own elbows to touch your stomach in a real fight.

* And never fight while dressed in a formal suit or gown ... uh ... just kidding. It definitely could happen.^^

    (^^ Did you just think of another scenario for training? I did.)

 


 

Readers who enjoyed the above article also liked the following article:

When Others Pass Your Arms -- Help for the Tall

 

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