Tips on Sparring Taller Opponents

Taller opponents have the advantage of reach in a sparring match. They can punch and kick you before you can get close enough to do the same. However, shorter fighters have advantages as well. Short people usually need to move more quickly when sparring, since they have to cover distance that taller opponents can cover more easily with their longer limbs.

  1. Proximity

    • The shorter fighter should try to get in closer. By getting closer, the taller opponent cannot use his longer punching and kicking range. That lets the shorter fighter throw jabs that score points in sparring. The area within a fighter's range is his "pocket." The shorter fighter should try to get within his taller opponent's pocket and move around so he is a harder target to hit.

    Circling

    • A taller opponent is less likely to punch and kick the opponent with all the force of his arms and legs when the shorter opponent stands to the side of him, since the attacks will be grazing. Circling around a taller opponent prevents him from taking full advantage of the length of his arms and legs. When taller opponents strike, they have more distance to retract their limbs, therefore they usually have less speed. A shorter opponent can wait for the taller opponent to strike and can then evade the strike, moving in quickly to deliver punches and kicks.

    Moving

    • Moving constantly by the shorter combatant often prevents taller fighters from striking with the full power of their longer arms. Those with longer limbs can usually generate more force, causing more damage. Even when the shorter sparring partner cannot move very much, because of the shorter opponent's positioning, she can still bob and weave, making it harder for the taller combatant to land punches and kicks. When retreating, the shorter fighter should try to circle the opponent. Otherwise, the taller combatant can charge and try to overwhelm the shorter one. The shorter fighter should move slightly to the side with each step. Shorter opponents can move in one direction and then suddenly veer in a different direction. This can confuse the opponent and lead to openings when approaching the other fighter from the opposite direction.

    Advancing

    • A shorter opponent must advance frequently to get within his opponent's range. However, the shorter fighter must dodge strikes, since moving into a well-executed kick and absorbing it can cause more damage than circling the opponent. Taller opponents will often try to push the shorter opponent back with a push kick.

    Blocking and Faking

    • When fighters launch attacks, they are temporarily unbalanced and are in less of a position to block attacks. Therefore, combatants often wait for their opponents to attack and then should launch counterattacks. Shorter combatants can trick larger opponents into attacking by faking an attack, starting to throwing punches and kicks but then stopping their strikes before they reach their targets.