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As an amateur fighter who loves to catch kicks I can explain it from my pov.
Like Edgar im short for my weight class and just short in general. One of the absolute easiest things to land on shorter guys are 1) Front kicks 2) Low kicks 3) Jabs
The most damaging and rewarding strike is usually gonna be the low kick. Basically to most taller guys it's the strike that does the most damage with the least chance of repercussion/getting countered.
The reason why I say less chance of repercussion is because when you are short, your knee is much lower than theirs, it's very hard for a shorter guy to check kicks directly where the shin meets the knee. You check someone good and they won't be throwing low kicks anymore.
In practice I used to get slammed with leg kicks by everyone, it's the most obvious opening. When that happens you need to find a solution to it, because after 5-10 kicks that land relatively cleanly, your fuckin toast. (And this is with shin guards on)
Checking is not an option because 1) Its harder to be good at. 2) Even if you lift your leg up but don't get the perfect check, they are still slamming their leg into your calf muscle. 3) This sport will destroy your knees, I'm not gonna waste my time learning to perfectly check kicks while my knees get more damaged
Being lower to the ground helps you catch these kicks as well. You really see it take people by surprise when you catch a kick and take them down or slam a nice straight into them. When you are kicking you never expect your kick to get caught unless you throw front kicks out like jabs and are ready to shuck them off if they happen to grab it. (See mcgregor/mendes)
The repercussions are less in something like Muay Thai but I can imagine how demoralizing it would be to have your kicks caught and dumped on your ass
Like Edgar im short for my weight class and just short in general. One of the absolute easiest things to land on shorter guys are 1) Front kicks 2) Low kicks 3) Jabs
The most damaging and rewarding strike is usually gonna be the low kick. Basically to most taller guys it's the strike that does the most damage with the least chance of repercussion/getting countered.
The reason why I say less chance of repercussion is because when you are short, your knee is much lower than theirs, it's very hard for a shorter guy to check kicks directly where the shin meets the knee. You check someone good and they won't be throwing low kicks anymore.
In practice I used to get slammed with leg kicks by everyone, it's the most obvious opening. When that happens you need to find a solution to it, because after 5-10 kicks that land relatively cleanly, your fuckin toast. (And this is with shin guards on)
Checking is not an option because 1) Its harder to be good at. 2) Even if you lift your leg up but don't get the perfect check, they are still slamming their leg into your calf muscle. 3) This sport will destroy your knees, I'm not gonna waste my time learning to perfectly check kicks while my knees get more damaged
Being lower to the ground helps you catch these kicks as well. You really see it take people by surprise when you catch a kick and take them down or slam a nice straight into them. When you are kicking you never expect your kick to get caught unless you throw front kicks out like jabs and are ready to shuck them off if they happen to grab it. (See mcgregor/mendes)
The repercussions are less in something like Muay Thai but I can imagine how demoralizing it would be to have your kicks caught and dumped on your ass
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