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.

[AtomicKitKat]

To make up for the difference in CoG, they could always use their longer legs for more effective sweeps/trips.

[NuurAbSaal]

yeah...well...not totally wrong, I guess :P :lol:

what I dislike about Karate is that it's so "rigid" (if that makes sense...). My trainer always told me to try to keep a rather upright positio when kicking, while your head stays nearer to a probably incoming counter-kick from your opponent, you have a lot more options of dealing with it if you don't bend all the way backwards like the guys in the pictures. Of course, it makes kicking high that much more difficult. :)

And 1.Kyu is second brown belt in Kickboxing:

white (=no belt :blink: )
yellow / 7.Kyu
orange
green
blue
violet
1.brown
2.brown / 1.Kyu
black / 1.Dan(I'm getting there...)

Greetings

Nuur

[Saxywoo]

As for the CoG (Center of Gravity), there is considerable effort needed sometimes to throw someone smaller than you are. Fortunately, I happen to be somewhat strong, so if needed I can strong-arm and lift the person and literally "throw" them. Now, being one on one, and being able to get a firm grip on my opponent would enable me to do this. However, if I were to be in a situation where I had more than one opponent, this would be a bad idea since the rules of the Matrix don't apply, in all reality (that, and I'm not THAT strong).

I guess this is why I lean towards liking Akido so much. When throwing someone, you're sidestepping more than using brute force. What I learned in Akido was more using your attacker's momentum against them.

It also seems like there were cases where my being tall and limber would allow me to get out of holds easily, unless it was the instructor, who would then jump back on top of me faster than I could blink my eyes. I found it easiest to get out of the ikyo (sp?) pin. Pinned person would be on thier stomach, arm extended straight out, palm up but thumb rotated around the front of the body. Person pinning would have a knee in the ribs and at the wrist of extended arm of the pinned. Hands would be on elbow (to hold joint straight) and the shoulder (to hold it down to keep pinned person from rotating thier body). However, my getting out of this pin was as much strength as it was flexibility, but I also have the advantage of being double-jointed in my knees, hips and shoulders.

-SaxyCorp