Sparring Strategies
- Sparring Strategies
- Sparring and Chess
- Fighter classifications
- Kicker
- Puncher
- Combination Fighter
- Counter Fighters
- Sniper
- Faker
- Shorter Opponent
- Taller Opponent
- Out of Control Opponents
- Bob and Weaver
- Runner
- Persistent Jabber
- Southpaw
- Aggressive Opponent
- Blitzer
- Wait and Counter Fighter
- Very Fast Opponent
- Lightweight vs. Heavyweight Opponents
- Total Package Opponents
- Strategies to use if you are a lead fighter
- Strategies if you are a counter fighter
- Sources
- All Pages
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Taller Opponent
Taller opponents have a long reach with both arms and legs. They like to fight from long range.
To fight a taller opponent:
- Use close range fighting; it makes it difficult for taller opponents to extend their kicks fully. Or, stay outside their range, suddenly close the range and attack with quick combinations, and quickly retreat, similar to the Mohammad Ali's "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" fight strategy.
- It is easier for your taller opponent to punch or kick your head, so keep it guarded. It is difficult for you to punch or kick the taller opponent's head, so do not do it unless there is a clear opening that does not leave you vulnerable. When kicking a taller opponent, it is easy for your kick to go under the opponent's kick and draw you a warning.
- It is more difficult for your taller opponent to punch to your body since he or she must punch downward through your guard so stay in close, however, it is easier for him or her to kick your body so stay out or range or in close.
- Use spin kicks, they are more difficult predict and counter and, when there is a counter, it may strike your back in a foul area.
- Do not trade kicks, since their legs have greater range.
- Attack carefully; do not walk into kicks. Keep moving to both sides.
- Attack body.
- Draw an attack and slip inside.
- When inside, attack head.
- Keep your hands up, protect your face and torso, and do not give opponent an opening.
- If you are a good kicker and opponent is not, then you can kick while opponent flails away with his or her hands, forcing him or her to commit forward so much that you can fight from the inside. From the inside, you can use your power and leverage.
- If contact to the legs is allowed, low kick hard to the legs and lean away from opponent's punches.
- Do not stand inside too long and get pounded. Slip around and back outside.
- Use an overhand punch. This is a well-covered punch that can reach a taller fighter.
- Do not use an uppercut, unless his or her head is at your level.
- Circle larger opponents and attack from angles
- Sidestep a lot. Make him or her throw a kick that misses you and then counterattack. The longer the legs, the harder it is to recover for a second attack after the first misses.
- If you are in the opponent's high attack range, fake, and then move inside.