Help for Tall Martial Artists

Martial Arts Article

Help For The Tall, Please

by Keith Pascal

That's What Others Do To Me -- Help For The Tall, Please

First, a letter from Jim:

Dear Sirs,
My name is Jim and I have been studying Kung Fu for approx 7 months now and really enjoy it.

I have also been reading your articles for several months and like your points of view on fighting tactics.

To get to my point I stand 6 ft tall and weigh 205 lbs. Granted I'm no giant but when sparring time comes the shorter more skilled students use the very tactics you describe against me. My question is how do I counter them???

Thank you for your time,

Jim Akridge

Marftial Arts Strategy

Folks, this is what I love about martial arts. It's one big game of strategy -- like Chess or Go.

First, you do "this." The "this" gets me every time. So, I learn how to defend against "this" with "that."

"That" seems to work just fine. But then those "this" people learn how to deal with "that."

"This" leads to "that," and "that" to "the other." And of course, "the other" seems to be "it," until we discover "the answer."

"The answer" defends against "it," and on and on it goes.

Get "it"?

Tall People Self Defense Advice

Last week, we gave short people some ways to deal with a tall person with a long reach.

Now, it's time to tell the tall people how to defend against short people who pass their longer person's arms and place them on the shoulder:

There are several ways to consider the problem. The three that seem to stand out, for now, are:

* Develop a way to keep these short attackers from passing you. Learn to keep them at 'your' distance.

* Learn how to strike and control when someone is 'inside your perimeter.'

* Avoid attacking short people. Remember, I was teaching short martial artists how to defend against a longer 'attack.' If you don't want to be 'defended against,' then don't attack :-)

The Short Fighter Gets Inside

Actually, I'd like to spend a moment discussing the second option. Let's assume that you can't keep the short martial artist at your long-reach distance. Let's also assume that the short person can pass your arms while he or she is attacking, so the last option doesn't work either.

How are you going to defend yourself, if you are the tall one, and you find your arms suddenly reaching past your attacker's head?

My advice is that you find the exact point where your hands are being guided. Develop an exercise to answer, "Why am I missing the face or throat in the first place?"

Once you know where and when you are being slipped, try to break the sequence of events:

* Can 'you' kick right when your arms are being passed?

* Can you lift a knee into your attacker's torso? (Suggested by Mark Ashton.)

* Can you redirect your force and grab to the side for your attacker's head? (Hair, ears, eyes, nose -- scrapes, hits, palm strikes, slaps -- anything to stop the progression.)

What I am asking is for the taller martial artist to learn how to be more comfortable infighting. Learn how to fight in close; I mean in close past your elbows and knees, where even a stomp to the instep seems 'tight.'

Once you learn how to make close infighting your friend, then you go back to using your height to your advantage. Learn how to keep the attacker at your longer range always. make coming in an impossibility.

But ...

if that impossibility ever comes to pass ... you will, because of your infighting skill, will be ready for that too.

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

Strategies for Short Fighters Based on the Above Article

Martial Artists Who Can Make Wrist And Joint Locks Work Are More Confident

Whether you are sparring in a dojo, socializing in bar or restaurant, or relaxing at your favorite spot, a wrist lock could come in handy.
In fact, this type of control may save you ... if you can make the joint lock work.

KerwinBenson.com Hidden Gems of Martial Arts

Marftial Arts Strategy

Tall People Self Defense Advice

The Short Fighter Gets Inside