Short guys getting inside???

[00 Buck]

After about 4-6 months of not sparring I finally did it again today. Rusty as hell!

Just boxing no kicks so I couldn't use MT. :/


This guy was about 5'10 or somethings and I'm 5'4". I was covering up okay from the outside where I would normally use my round kicks, but I was mostly countering and jabbing...

Didn't do that bad, but not too good either.


He dropped his hands so I would move in and then he would counter.

Looking back at it now, I should have kept my hands higher, circle to the right more and should have been more aggressive.


Any ideas on how to get inside & unload the good stuff? Jabs?


I'm going on youtube to search for Mike Tyson, Joe Frazier videos...

 

[Tim Chan]

haha, doing wat tyson does. go for it

 

[P-Town BeatDown]

haha, doing wat tyson does. go for it

You jest! But Tyson is actually a perfect example of what to do to get inside on taller guys IMO. Constant head movement was the key for Tyson. Slip, slip, slip, all the while creeping inside and looking for that chance to "shoot" under a cross or create an angle by stepping to the outside.

Of course, once you are inside, good luck imitating Tyson's power.

 

[00 Buck]

You jest! But Tyson is actually a perfect example of what to do to get inside on taller guys IMO. Constant head movement was the key for Tyson. Slip, slip, slip, all the while creeping inside and looking for that chance to "shoot" under a cross or create an angle by stepping to the outside.

Of course, once you are inside, good luck imitating Tyson's power.

I have pretty good power for a munchkin @ 150lbs. I'll just start sparring twice a week alternating MT and boxing between rounds.


I'm not just looking at Mike Tyson but other shorter-4-weight dudes too.


If I didn't work the graveyard shift it would be lots easier to join a boxing gym and better my hands.

My kicks are what I'm known for and saved my ass @ my first smoker, but I think I need to go focus on boxing a bit.

 

[ahheadlock]

I'm in the same position as you man, i'm injured so i can only really use hands at the moment and the last 2 weeks i've sparred (for the first time in almost a year) - I've been getting taken apart. I just cant get in, and when i try i'm wearing it. I have 2 black eyes at the moment (1 last week, 1 tonight) and my girlfriend is hating on me, i have come to the computer to escape her - but i think it will be a temporary reprieve at best - i can hear her TV show about to end. I need to improve my game - if i come home with another one, god help me. I'm just going to keep sparring as much as I can until I inevitably get better or go insane.

 

[00 Buck]

I'm in the same position as you man, i'm injured so i can only really use hands at the moment and the last 2 weeks i've sparred (for the first time in almost a year) - I've been getting taken apart. I just cant get in, and when i try i'm wearing it. I have 2 black eyes at the moment (1 last week, 1 tonight) and my girlfriend is hating on me, i have come to the computer to escape her - but i think it will be a temporary reprieve at best - i can hear her TV show about to end. I need to improve my game - if i come home with another one, god help me. I'm just going to keep sparring as much as I can until I inevitably get better or go insane.

Hehe, we were suppose to be tap sparring today, but that guy gave me a hard shot to the left side of my jaw, I was like "wft....?", then he quit right away so I couldn't get him back!!!


I'm making it my personal goal to improve my hands and totally maul his ass with just mah hands!1


my jaw is still a little sore, at least it still looks strong & masculine... -_-

 

[ahheadlock]

haha yes. I'm trying to convince my other half that there is nothing more manly than having 2 black eyes.

 

[Marvin Covar]

slip, bob, weave, and slowly close the distance. you've been out of action for quite a while, it'll all come back with consistent training.

 

[JoBobLivesAgain]

dodge or eat a shot to get inside, work the body and then go for the head and repeat.

 

[CowboyPete]

Also check out some Vovchanchyn video.

 

[BlackBeltNow]

BTW this advice is for boxing. YOu can figure out the mt version by the reasoning

The most common advice people give is "head movement" or dodge. I'm short, and although this advice true, it alone wont' solve anything. one people forget one thing: setups

For me personally, I throw feints before you close the distance. The reason is, regardless of how good your head movement, you'll eventually have to step in. As you step in, your opponent will instantly knows: short guy is about to attack. Short people must fix this telegraphing by throwing jabs or clever setups or distraction while on the outside. Desensitize your opponent of any telegraphing, then you can close in without your oppnent realizing you are attacking.

Heres my specific strategy I throw powerful real jabs, as if I'm hurting him and with technique behind it, but I won't hurt him b/c I'm on the outside and cannot reach. Once I see he's not taking my jabs (or any movement seroiusly) b/c I threw so many pointless shots, I step in (he doesnt' notice), and I throw a real one , which resembles all my feints, except it'll land due to closing distance. I stay calm, not letting him know how excited I am I found an opening, and throw a combo. If I'm on a roll, I stay in the zone and actively attack and defend (ducking, head mvt). If I see that he's about to successfully attack, I step back, and repeat.

It's not a good idea to mimic tyson; well, just the recent/old tyson. Tyson doesn't throw jabs or setup anymore. He used to when younger (jab high while out of range, occasionally lunge jab to the body to "tag" not to hurt), then step in when there's an opening, and it works.

 

[tstolt]

When they just counter punch and move around I just go to the body until they drop their hands and then I let off a vicious combo. Then again I'm 5' 11".

 

[danny_171]

Leave the jabs to the tall guys and work on slipping their straight punches and coming inside that way. Hit them with some strong uppercuts and hooks, especially to the body. If you hit someone in the liver, you can make any man come down to your level.

 

[aries]

I'd never just step in as a short guy. You must come in off the jab and/or with good head movement. Learn to bob and weave, its the best way to get inside which is where the shorter fighters has the advantage. Slipping off his punches is also very effective but you are having to play the counter punching game and end up waiting for his punches. Of course you will have to time them well which takes a fair bit of skill. With bobbing and weaving you can force the pace of the fight and put your opponent under pressure whilst negating his offence.
BTW when talking of bobbing and weaving it can and should be done whilst stepping forward. If you just bob and weave on the spot you're opponent can just move away and throw shots until he catches you which he will eventually.

 

[00 Buck]

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll work them into my sparring. I was thinking of making one of those slip bags too when I have the time.


I like my left hook. Think I'll do slips and work my way in & throw a left hook to start things.

I don't think I'll do too much bobbing since that is a bad habit for short guys in MT/mma IMO (knees).

I noticed that everytime I jab, he'd counter. Maybe I can jab, time the counter/cover up, and move in with a combo. He seems really susceptible to flurries from the inside.




I have another question:

When you change angles on your opponent, is it better to go to his left or right? Say with a normal right hander. Away from the strong hand right?

I've never seriously considered angles before, now I will.

 

[danny_171]

Yes, generally you want to move away from someone's power hand so as not to get cracked. However, if you get his timing down, you can slip his right cross and wind up on his outside, where he has no offense, because if you're next to his right shoulder and his arm is extended, what does he have? This is the perfect opportunity to let go with a huge left hook to either his head or liver. If you're working towards his left and away from his power, you need to watch out for a right hand if you get careless and start going to the body or simply teeing off. Angles in general are very effective, as there's nothing more frustrating then throwing a flurry of punches only to realize that the other guy isn't there. One of my favorite angles is hard to pull off, but if you can land it, it's a thing of beauty. It basically involves pivoting to your right, as in bringing your back foot forward (which is why I said it's hard to pull off). This is usually accomplished with a bit of jump, I guess you could say. You're basically pivoting in the opposite direction that you normally do. Once there, plant your feet and let go with a left hook to the stomach or sternum. This should allow you to get maximum power behind it, as you're position at a 90 degree angle to your opponent. Hope that answers your question, and keep practicing those angles.

 

[Flexwave2003]

You jest! But Tyson is actually a perfect example of what to do to get inside on taller guys IMO. Constant head movement was the key for Tyson. Slip, slip, slip, all the while creeping inside and looking for that chance to "shoot" under a cross or create an angle by stepping to the outside.

Of course, once you are inside, good luck imitating Tyson's power.

You are correct, Tysons earlier fights were perfect examples of how to get in close on larger opponents. Tysons boxing was a thing of beauty, when he actually trained.

 

[Flexwave2003]

BTW this advice is for boxing. YOu can figure out the mt version by the reasoning

The most common advice people give is "head movement" or dodge. I'm short, and although this advice true, it alone wont' solve anything. one people forget one thing: setups

For me personally, I throw feints before you close the distance. The reason is, regardless of how good your head movement, you'll eventually have to step in. As you step in, your opponent will instantly knows: short guy is about to attack. Short people must fix this telegraphing by throwing jabs or clever setups or distraction while on the outside. Desensitize your opponent of any telegraphing, then you can close in without your oppnent realizing you are attacking.

.

You lost me about right here. Your reasoning for why Taller opponents know a short person is about to attack is weak and unclear. And reguardless of what you say, if you have a reach disadvantge throwing jobs against a skilled opponent wont get you very far. Try jabbing with someone whos reach is longer. Tell me what you notice tends to happen :wink:

Mike Tyson is a perfect example of how to move in on bigger fighters. Alot of head movement, bob and weave.....foot work is essentail. Plus, you have to the natural ability to throw bombs. Not everyone can be the old Tyson, but its a good place to start if you have answers on how its possible to close distance on a bigger opponent with good hands.

 

[Mud3rfac3]

I don't know too much but I can say the cutting off the ring is one of the most important techniques when boxing a taller, longer fighter. Keep the head movement going, while inching your way in.

When the guy steps back to get his distance you have to stay on him, cut him off and fire hard jabs while moving in. Then if you can get through without eating too much leather...Throw the power shots to the body. That's the strategy I've noticed works when boxing a taller guy. You have to make him respect your power, keep him moving back. As a smaller fighter I want nothing more then some phone booth boxing

 

[2-hard-2-handle]

slip those punches, step in and unload those bombs, mix it up body and head, then move out in a circle.