small people vs. big. Krav Maga and sparring. - Page 2

garythenuke · 09-04-2005, 21:27

Although this is a long way from Florida, check out www.demibarbito.com . He has a good selection of instructional videos/DVD's, and his training and facility are quality enough to plan a vacation around in my opinion. He does tactical shotgun, handgun, and every and all things in between. His video clips are entertaining.

good luck

bluemeanie · 09-30-2005, 14:35

Whew. Great questions, great answers. There's hoope for our forum yet. I can only say as a 6'3" 270-pounder, that between my 5'5" 150lb instructor and me, technique ALWAYS wins the day. Keep at it.

Zenhachirou · 09-30-2005, 15:06

I'm a tall guy, 6 feet, and I weigh in at 165 pounds. I have a WAY HARDER TIME fighting small guys than I do fighting big guys. Big guys are easy to fight; they get tired faster, they're a bigger target... Hell, the guy who got me into Vale Tudo fighting is only 5'8" and he beats the **** out of me daily. It's way easier for him to keep his defense tight, and his offense snappy. Shorter guys are tougher to throw, tougher to hit... that is, as long as they know how to defend properly and use explosiveness in their techniques.

I, like some of the other guys here, really take issue with the "well I could do this, but not in sparring" comment. If you can't practice it, how do you know it works? ;f

ForGreatJustice · 09-30-2005, 15:18

It's absolutely dangerous to try and rely on techniques that you can't practice. That's why certain types of "mano a mano" fisticuffs type sparring don't teach me a lot except how to box.

BTW, "defending properly" is part of my problem. Our school doesn't do enough drilling in defense, and I'm generally left with pain as a teacher (and with all due respect to those who use it as an educational tool, its useless if not supplemented by drilling).

Zenhachirou · 09-30-2005, 15:21

So what do you have trouble defending against? Is it countering a taller opponents long reach?

What side do you fight?

mhill · 10-03-2005, 13:30

Whenever I've been faced with the problem of a bigger opponent it's always fun to make them pay for attacking. I use my elbows to strike when they attack. A front kick into an elbow can be pretty painful. If they throw a sidekick a simple step aside is in order to let them wear themselves out. If the throw a roundhouse you can do the old elbow to the shin routine. They will become frusterated and start to use their hands. This is where your boxing skill would take over and you can counterpunch effectively.

Obviously when getting in close you have to be weary of the wrestling moves because at your small size you will get owned by the larger person.

Contrary to what some people think "size matters". You can compensate but you also need to know what is possible.

mhill

Zenhachirou · 10-03-2005, 16:35

Anybody who knows how to grapple knows that size doesn't really matter. I take on guys who are 3 inches taller and 60 pounds heavier than me on a regular basis.

Halojumper · 10-03-2005, 21:05

Quote:

Originally posted by ForGreatJustice
Hi guys. This is a simliar topic to the women thread below, but I'd like to get a bit more technical with my question. I'm 5'4", 140 lbs. I have always had a very difficult time visualizing and implementing proper grappling mentally, and have always had a predilection for striking. I've taken up a year of Krav Maga at our local ATA franchises, and progressed pretty well.

My problem? I get owned when sparring. Consistently, no matter what I've tried. A lot of my favored techniques in KM can't be practiced well against a live opponent for safety reasons (i.e. the front "door" kick), but I constantly find my extremely short reach to be a handicap when sparring. I feel its important to learn the sense of distance, when doing so, but I don't feel like I have any way to threaten my opponent. I receive a lot of conflicting advice from the instructors (get in close, stay far away, move in and out, etc) and all of it comes up lacking. It's impossible for me to get close enough to land a punch to a 6', 240lb. man without giving him an excellent opportunity to bash my skull in. There are a lot of kicks which I practice frequently but at our school, we do not spar with them because of safety concerns. Really, only tae-kwon do style side kicks and round kicks to the common peronial (sp?) are used.

Does anyone have some basic guidelines and actually being able to threaten my opponent? Because I'm getting very minimal value out of sparring practice due to the fact that I am either always dancing, never fighting, or foolishly rushing in once I get frustrated, and getting knocked out. I feel that fighting against a live opponent is one of the best forms of practice, but it seems so easy for everyone else, and so hard for me.

First of all, if you are serious about developing your ability to defend yourself in real situations, get as far away from the ATA as possible. They are arguably the worst organization out there when it comes to teaching crap material. You're having problems because of the glorified tag sparring that they are teaching you. ATA has partnered with Krav Maga and most of the people teaching it in ATA schools did a little bit of training in it, but still think like TKD folks. If you feel Krav Maga is the art for you, go directly to the real school and get away from the dancing school.

ForGreatJustice · 10-04-2005, 19:02

I generally have trouble countering an opponent's reach. It requires me to "trick" the opponent, or have him make a mistake in order for me to enter past his hands. I've had some success with techniques mentioned earlier in this thread, where one can "pass" the extended punch with an inside block and access the kidney/floating ribs on that side, and (with some luck) come underneath with an uppercut.

That said, it's still very difficult. I really don't have trouble with an opponent's kicks. Usually, big heavy folks swing their legs like logs. Sucks if you get hit, but easy to avoid. More often than not, its going on the offensive that is very difficult for me. A larger opponent can viably counter my kicks with punches, and my punches with more punches.

Size doesn't matter much in grappling. Until your opponent drops an elbow on your head that's the size of your leg. It's easy enough to wriggle out from underneath a large opponent who has mounted you, but I'd hate to try that on gravel, or used needles, or any other surface that isn't a rubber mat.

Zenhachirou · 10-04-2005, 19:06

That's why you get the takedown first. And stay on top!

ForGreatJustice · 10-04-2005, 20:54

Roger that!!!

As far as the ATA Krava Maga schools go, its notable that the more serious instructors who assist there never stay long. I am looking into other schools in the area.