The problem with some of the suggestions on how to deal with it are that the moment you touch the person's lead arm or hand, they KNOW how far away you are. If they're any good or know WHY they're trying to get that information, you're gonna get hammered. They'll keep you at THEIR optimal distance, and you'll always struggle to reach them and make them have to reach because you keep giving them the information they need over and over.
This reminds me of a video I saw on fencing where a fencing instructor who built multiple Olympic medalists was asked about feints and sword-play (where you tap their sword with yours, then attack, which is the same thing we're discussing here). He said you can always spot an novice fencer because they're obsessed with these two things, trickery. It's the tell-tale sign of a novice. That's not an insult, but he said when you're a novice and first learn these things you want to do them to EVERYONE. Until you come across a master fencer. The difference is a master fencer typically ignores these attempts at trickery, they're either going to stab you or not stab you. They'll only use feints and swordplay sparingly, if the need arises.
So, I've said all that to say this: I teach my fighters to treat hand-play as if it were a punch. Don't do anything different than what you would do if they were actually throwing a jab at you. Here is my Elite level Amateur Daijon Carter sparring with the #1 141lb'er in the U.S. right this second. He does well against Freudis because when Freudis tries to measure him, he responds to each attempt as if he is being punched at, or as if he is not being punched at:
(My fighter is in black)
Thanks
I didnt see much of what i was talking about in that video but it was an enjoyable watch
So basically youre saying as soon as he starts measuring me instantly deal with it just like a punch and never allow him to leave it in my face ? If he does some how manage to establish it in my face , then what ? should i just move back and circle to force him to adjust ?