Tips for a Shorter Striker???

[TheGreenMachine]

Could use some advice on how to be an effective striker with my reach disadvantage. I'm 5'5" and bodybuilder stocky and not as quick as the smaller guys because I carry a lot of muscle for my frame (think Sean Sherk stocky). I've heard I have to bob and weave and slip to get on the inside, but whenever I try to get on the inside, I get either teep'd or kicked going in. Whenever I set up combos with a kick first and follow up with a jab and cross, I can never reach my opponent, even if I try to move into him. Do I just have to take the kick and use it to get inside? Can I utilize my jab against a taller opponent, or should I just rely more on combinations instead of jabs?

Any advice from people who know what they are talking about would be appreciated.

 

[Marvin Covar]

I haven't trained straight up muay thai in a long while. Try going inside from an angle so that you can worry less about kicks. Hope this helps.

 

[TheGreenMachine]

I haven't trained straight up muay thai in a long while. Try going inside from an angle so that you can worry less about kicks. Hope this helps.

Helps a little, thanks.

 

[WheatlessWonder]

i have the same problem as you im 5'8 but im stalky and almost never have a reach advantage. the 2 moves i go to when i cant get range on a much longer opponent is first pump a double jab to block his vision him (it dosnt have to connect) you can follow up with a hook and close the distance when they cant see. you can also fake a high jab then shoot in for a body shot and close te gap from there too. those are two ways of getting inside fairly easily but im a southpaw so hopefully you can adapt these to your style.

 

[legolas4112003]

If you have decent speed and footwork try to throw some combo and move in and out, if you are not fast enough just get inside and try to stay inside.

 

[LoneWolf237]

Could use some advice on how to be an effective striker with my reach disadvantage. I'm 5'5" and bodybuilder stocky and not as quick as the smaller guys because I carry a lot of muscle for my frame (think Sean Sherk stocky). I've heard I have to bob and weave and slip to get on the inside, but whenever I try to get on the inside, I get either teep'd or kicked going in. Whenever I set up combos with a kick first and follow up with a jab and cross, I can never reach my opponent, even if I try to move into him. Do I just have to take the kick and use it to get inside? Can I utilize my jab against a taller opponent, or should I just rely more on combinations instead of jabs?

Any advice from people who know what they are talking about would be appreciated.

angles angles angles
footwork footwork footwork
speed speed speed
technique technique techinque
head movement head movement head movement

as the smaller guy you want to outmanuever when being rushed in, and you want the speed/footwork to get inside, do damage, and escape to safety.

Do yourself a favor and watch Frankie Edgar Vs Sean Sherk

Sean Sherk is the big muscle-y guy, frankie edgar is average build...
he moves in swiftly with footwork,throws combinations, keeps from getting hit using good boxing defense (slip,bob,etc), and moves out at angles back to safety


systematically destroys sean sherk....

as for the height problem....make every block a weapon, when he kicks you catch his kick so that you have a free punch/kick on him.... when he teeps you parry the teep away throwing him off balance, when he punches you take the punch (block/dodge preferred) and rush inside,etc...



also dont ignore power - look at mike zambidis, makes a living out of ko'ing bigger guys.

 

[roundkick]

Do not throw your punches in one's two's or three's. Learn to Flurry, get in the inside and leg kick. Stretch and become flexible. Work your push kicks, and heel kicks. Also if your shorter and muscular the clinch is a great thing to train, on both offense and defense.

 

[IamOFFENSIVE]

Move your head alot and dont stand still

 

[TheGreenMachine]

angles angles angles
footwork footwork footwork
speed speed speed
technique technique techinque
head movement head movement head movement

I know that already, but it doesn't really tell me much. Try to break it down?

as the smaller guy you want to outmanuever when being rushed in, and you want the speed/footwork to get inside, do damage, and escape to safety.

Do yourself a favor and watch Frankie Edgar Vs Sean Sherk

Sean Sherk is the big muscle-y guy, frankie edgar is average build...
he moves in swiftly with footwork,throws combinations, keeps from getting hit using good boxing defense (slip,bob,etc), and moves out at angles back to safety


systematically destroys sean sherk....

as for the height problem....make every block a weapon, when he kicks you catch his kick so that you have a free punch/kick on him.... when he teeps you parry the teep away throwing him off balance, when he punches you take the punch (block/dodge preferred) and rush inside,etc...


also dont ignore power - look at mike zambidis, makes a living out of ko'ing bigger guys.

Not sure if the Sean Sherk/Frankie Edgar example was a good one because Edgar is much faster and just a better boxer in general with reach on Sherk while Sherk isn't a good striker at all plus his reach disadvantage. I've seen the fight though and see you are talking about to a degree though.

 

[Harsh]

Don't try slipping or bobbing you're going to get kicked in the head.

 

[thelyricalmaste]

When I started boxing, then later muay thai (which is not forgiving to shorter fighters), the most common mistake I made was to make too many movements. The key to closing the distance is to maintain your balance and to have smooth movements, and to commit to closing. You will have to learn to be able to move your feet forward, while dodging strikes, while maintaining balance, while being in position to strike. That just takes practice and a great instructor.

When you are unsuccessful in your closing attempts, do you take a moment to reset like a taller fighter? You should always focus on making the opponent uncomfortable. If he gets away, you should still be in a position where you can deal damage without being overly exposed. Or you should be out of his range so you can close in on your terms.

I also have a combination that works well against taller fighters. Against jabmeisters and teepmeisters, I take a small step into their strike and throw a right lead to the heart, left hook/uppercut to the head, and finishing with a roundhouse or a lead knee to leg/hip. It's actually something like two steps, both with the lead leg and my back leg is more for balance or propulsion if I end with a knee. You have to watch out for a knee or uppercut, but with practice you can find angles where you won't get hit hard.

 

[ElKarlo]

It all depends, im 5`7`` and 185. I　got short legs for being short. My punches are strong but my kicks are near worthless, so I am good at checking kicks, and i close the distance with a teep.

 

[TheGreenMachine]

When you are unsuccessful in your closing attempts, do you take a moment to reset like a taller fighter? You should always focus on making the opponent uncomfortable. If he gets away, you should still be in a position where you can deal damage without being overly exposed. Or you should be out of his range so you can close in on your terms.

One of my problems I have is committing to getting on the inside because I either get kicked going in or teeped, so I fall back. I am actually fighting more like a counter striker now because I wait for them to come to me and than go off of their movements since I am hesitant to move in on my own. So I usually move in and than out very quickly, taking me out of range.

 

[HBbadb0y]

I am still new to the game. I've been training on and off for about two years, and I have shorter arms. I'm 5'7'' and my main attack is the front low kick. When I spar longer taller opponents, I usually let them throw jabs and I would step back just to bait them to throw more jabs. When I have their timing, I would lunge in when I see the jab with my own.

Another thing I do is throw low kicks. When I see a jab coming, I will throw a low inside front kick to counter, then throw combos once inside. When I first started training, I would get inside, throw a 2-3 hit combo and then step out for no reason. Now I just keep throwing combos and then clinch. Hope this helps.

 

[Corey Roberts]

One of my problems I have is committing to getting on the inside because I either get kicked going in or teeped, so I fall back

Reading your first post i sort of guessed that, i'm a shorter pressure guy and i've been teeped a fair bit trying to get inside aswell, though i just try and run through the teeps. When your opponent only has one foot on the ground his balance is always compromised so i use it as a chance to rush him and knock him backwards to get him near the ropes. Another method and probably the smarter one is to brush the teep aside and go in, like how you would parry a punch.

Watch alot of this guy aswell and you will get an idea of how a shorter guy should fight in kick boxing/muay thai

 

[thelyricalmaste]

When you are unsuccessful in your closing attempts, do you take a moment to reset like a taller fighter? You should always focus on making the opponent uncomfortable. If he gets away, you should still be in a position where you can deal damage without being overly exposed. Or you should be out of his range so you can close in on your terms.

One of my problems I have is committing to getting on the inside because I either get kicked going in or teeped, so I fall back. I am actually fighting more like a counter striker now because I wait for them to come to me and than go off of their movements since I am hesitant to move in on my own. So I usually move in and than out very quickly, taking me out of range.

I know what you mean. But a good opponent will be able to control your movements with low energy moves like a jab; unless, that is, you have the stamina to sustain that attack.

Counterpunching is a MUST, and especially for a shorter fighter. Look at old Tua and Frazier fights and you will see that they knew how to counter while closing the distance. Actually, Tommy Morrison was also pretty good with his counter left. You can make things a lot easier on yourself if your opponent is too tense to be creative.