How to Fight TALLER Guys

This week we look at what to do when a big guy gets in your face for a EGO BATTLE. We discuss the idea of pre-emptive striking. If you should punch first and where to punch if the guy is taller than you.

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ELEVATING YOUR FIGHT IQ: Videos blending Martial Arts, Crime Science, and Psychology. Presented by Dr Mark Phillips Criminal Psychologist, High Risk Security Consultant, Martial Arts and Defensive Skills Instructor. An expert in Organised Crime, Hostage Taking, and Offender Profiling. Martial arts experience includes Wing Chun, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Wrestling, Boxing, San Da Kickboxing, and MMA.

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[captmoroni]

“You’re too big for me.”
“I need to knock you up.”
Different connotation for an American audience.

[ghnbtrcv]

i'm 6'8 but watching just in case I will face a Shaquille O'neal one day

[voomaldor]

Fun fact: most super tall/big guys have NEVER, I REPEAT, NEVER been in an physical altercation.

[fredflintstone]

First I would stress that EVERYONE needs to be aware of their surroundings constantly! Especially easy targets like lone women/older people. Always let people approaching you see that you notice their presence. Don't let people pause/linger/maneuver in behind you. I will stand out of of the way and let people pass me if I get an uneasy feeling about them behind me. I also often say 'hello' or nod/smile at people passing by. People who are aware of their surroundings make poor targets. Bad guys tend to want to surprise, ambush, or sneak up on you. Don't let them. By appearing alert and ready you will avoid all but the most determined or mentally ill problem starters. Look around constantly and take notice of people's clothing, facial, features, etc...

Learn how to throw a strike. Learn how to dodge/deflect a strike, and learn a good combination of 5-7 moves that works for you and practice it! If you ever need to get physical you want your combination of strikes to be quick, effective, and second nature. Practice will gain you muscle memory and efficiency., Groin, eyes, throat, nose, are all top self-defense targets. Behind the human eyeball is a very thin layer of bone that can be broken with your thumb - you can actually kill a person this way if you have to. Stomping on toes with your heel can work, and breaking fingers can work. Punching/slapping of the ears can rupture the eardrum and be very effective. The human ear can be ripped off with surprisingly little force - around 8 lbs of pressure or the same amount of force it takes to tear a dozen pieces of printer paper. It will leave a lasting impression!

Im a tall big, guy - my advice to shorter people is to hit hard, surprise is your friend and MOVE YOUR FEET! do not try to go toe to toe with a taller/bigger guy unless he is an unathletic beanpole... Your speed and your reflexes are your best assets as a shorter person. A tall person's movements will be more telegraphed because their body is longer and their movements cover more ground - Im talking fractions of a second, but maybe enough for you to duck, dodge, counter, etc. Their longer frame will take a little longer to recover from throwing a strike as well. With those longer movements comes the potential for greater power and centrifugal force behind the strike so don't get caught. Those big slower developing punches with weight behind them are one-hitter-quitters. A taller guy has a leverage advantage as well and can wrap you up, pick you up and dump you on your head unless you know how to sprawl/defend against grappling. I've sparred (boxing) smaller guys who were much quicker and could stick and move on me pretty well. I've also sparred people that forfeit after a few minutes because they were afraid of getting caught. When a guy is 6'6" 325 it only takes one punch to knock you out, so be careful. In a street fight I tend to start off with a straight kick or two as I close the gap into jab/cross/hook/uppercut territory as I make my way in to grab and physically dominate them. From there I would work a choke, knees from a clinch, or flip them on their head. Fighting isn't pretty, but when the time comes don't be wishy washy. You need to commit to neutralizing the threat as quickly and safely as possible. A determined, calm, confident fighter has already won most of the battle prior to the first punch. Don't start nothin, won't be nothin!

[TheIronwil]

Answer to this question would be - it depends. I’m only 5’7”, but am thick and powerful. I also have a high pain tolerance and am no stranger to taking punches. So for me, I never like to be farther than arm’s distance from an aggressive taller man. Preferably even closer. The answer also depends on the seriousness of the threat. If I think someone genuinely wants to cause me harm, I’ll wait for them to step in on me and then stomp their lead knee backwards. If they’re close, eyes, throat, and groin are good to quickly take the fight out of someone. And never forget a shorter man’s secret weapon - headbutt to the chin.

[DCRivs]

For a 5'2" shrimp like me, this was invaluable! Thank you

[bluewendigo]

Best way to fight big guy's....just carry a 357 magnum and just aim to the chest.

Personal opinion

[freeyourmind]

If the taller guy has any basic understanding of fighting, he won't be giving you his full body, to go at his plexes. The taller guy will take a defensive stand which is a sideways posture.

[RaffyAyala]

“His groin is very phallic — I’m not sure where this is going” 😆

[ratlips]

At 71, I have been in my share of scrapes. I'll not get into my training, but I have to say that this video is bar none one of the best I have seen when it comes to dealing with a taller adversary. Great stuff, I am now a subcriber. Keep the stuff coming! One thing that Ed Parker used to say, "Just remember, there will always be someone better"

[erickjericho]

Doesnt matter you're small, big or tall, as long as you can fight better/harder than your opponent, you'll be fine

[andrebaldwin]

I've boxed for years and there's so many ways to approach this. Most people in general aren't trained and you can easily tire them out with defense if you have that opportunity.

[abserooni]

I remember when I used to be one of the only people in your comment section. Glad to see you get popular

[wilhelmhesse]

This is the best (funny) start to a YouTube video I've ever seen.... Great work!

[juandelacruz]

You need to be very quick when dealing with taller opponents. Never allow them to grab or hold you, always move out fast then hit very quickly and runaway. Yes don't expect them to get hurt by your punches cause they probably won't, just hit and move quickly from their side (left or right), never tie up with them cause that's their vantage point.

[KillerBill]

I've been to hundreds of demos and seminars over the years (I'm 65) since I started training in 1973. What has always annoyed me is how often the instructor uses a smaller opponent to attack. Duh, wasted another attendance fee and my time.
I've very rarely, if ever, seen a small instructor (other than myself) give any instruction on how to deal with bigger attackers. You are probably the first to actually have an attacker bigger than yourself while explaining how to deal with a bigger attacker. I can't remember the last time I was threatened by someone smaller than me.
BTW I'm only 5'4" so you will understand why this is important to me. The only thing on my side is how aggressive I can be, one reason I never drink. If you go in like a madman, and give some pain, it's surprising how often a larger person will back off.
Also, it's my understanding that bouncers don't like dealing with smaller trouble makers because they've always been the underdog and can be very vicious and tenacious.

[mightymeatmonsta]

Yes, moving in close takes away his advantage of having a longer reach, which is needed to produce power. He cannot make power up close, but YOU can! So you should make sure you are close enough to him (one to two feet or so, depending on arm length), to take away his advantage and give you the advantage of speed, and take away his ability to attack.

[MrEricwms]

Mike Tyson fights are also a very excellent example too. I think so atleast

[ghcheong]

Good points here Sifu, perhaps using combination of cross stamp kicks or even kicking up to the shin will be helpful as well as it disrupts the balance of the opponent.. that will bring his head closer to you and allow for head control and access to the face with clean uppercuts or elbows to the back of the head ( karp jarn (downwards smashing elbow)).

[simonsays]

I’m 6’3 and since I learned about the solar plexus, now I watch out for any short guy who looks like he can box