Martial Arts anyone?

[Baajikiil]

But if you ask me, tall people get the short end of the stick if you're going long range vs short range hand to hand unarmed combat. Now, that doesn't meant that I wouldn't try my best to win a match, nor would it be an excuse if I lost. It's just my observations on physiology...

You may be right about that, but there are many things that can be done to readdress the situation for the person with longer reach.

I trained with an informal group (nearly solely basics and fighting), which had a few very tall people in the class. I'm about 5'7", and certainly didn't feel like I had any great advantage over the 2 6'5" guys. We have I would say about the same level of skill in the martial arts; we practice about the same amount, are all in good shape, similiar ages, can do mostly the same things.

Because of the disadvantage you mentioned, both of them generally try to keep at a distance, and use their reach to greatest affect. But, they also focus their training on close in fighting with elbo and knee strikes to help when a foe closes the distance. Training in their weaknesses helped to greatly improve their sparring.

Also, speed training is key. In that informal school, we trained to strike our opponent's limbs as well as their body. Mostly joint and nerve strikes. That gets you to really think about retracting your limbs quickly :). If they can keep their opponent at a distance with good footwork, and quick jabs, they easily have an advantage due to the longer reach.

The one major disadvantage that is hard to surmount was simply the higher center of gravity. Both of them have a tough time throwing me, and I have the advantage in grappling. I'm not quite sure about the solution to that one.

Now, they also to weapons training at that school, and the quick guys with the long arms are pretty impressive.