Distance problems when fighting a tall opponent

[Sforza]

Hello fellow fighters,

I have a fighting problem, and I've reached a point where I can't work out how to solve it on my own: I'm not very tall, and sometimes have serious trouble fighting tall guys. There's one guy in particular who is completely and utterly in control of the distance when I fight him. The fights start off with us outside of each other's reach, and then it usually goes one of those ways:
1) I step forward and try to hit him, he takes a step back with his long legs (sometimes parrying a blow)and is way out of my reach again

2) I wait for him to attack/close the distance, thus leaving him the initiative and ending up skewered before I can turn the fight around again

3) I wait for him to attack/close the distance, somehow get out of the defensive and manage a counterattack, which he parries and steps out of my reach again

4) I wait for him to attack/close the distance, somehow get out of the defensive and manage a counterattack which hits home (which happens too rarely for my tastes, unfortunately)

Situation 2) can probably be fixed by getting better and more secure in my defence, since it usually happens when I misjudge his attack and react in the wrong way.
Situation 3) can theoretically be turned to 4) by being quicker and more precise in my attacks and making the first hit a good one.

So far, so good. What annoys me is that no matter what I do, I cannot put pressure on him, since he can simply take a huge step back and I can't follow him fast enough. I do ok against opponents who tend to hold their ground, since I rely on footwork and distance-play a lot, but I'm completely out of my water when I can't do that.

I'm working on speed, strength and precision, which I think will help me with part of the problem in time, but I'm sort of looking for pointers on how you would approach such a situation tactically.

Many thanks in advance

[Adamo]

If he steps away when you attack him chase him around the field until he is tired. Then hit him!

Adam

[tbeckett]

leg shots, now ur taller

[Glaukos the Athenian]

There is nothing better than free-style sparring in the practice of any combative art. In sparring you should wear suitable protective equipment and go all out. Then you can truly learn the correct timing and distance for the delivery of the kicks, punches, etc. It is a good idea to spar with all types of individuals--tall, short, fast, clumsy. Yes, at times a clumsy fellow will mess up a better man because his awkwardness serves as a sort of broken rhythm. The best sparring partner, though, is a quick, strong man who does not know anything; a madman who goes all out, scratching, grabbing, grappling, punching, kicking, and so on.

Bruce Lee
(from http://www.fightingmaster.com/masters/b ... quotes.htm )

[losthelm]

what form are you fighting and what form is your opponent fighting?
usualy changing the point of attack can help a lot.
instead of a strait on try working the angles.

[Kynwric]

Is he using a long weapon in addition to his freakishly long arms and thus having a much greater reach? If so, this is my general game plan.

First of all, don't be afraid to reset the fight. If you don't like how things look, get out and make him move to come back into range.
Next, when you get a set you like let him begin to attack and use every scrap of defense you have to block him while you close the distance between you. Be aware, he may get two shots off while you try and get right up in close to him. Once inside, stay there. Use your shorter arms and presumably shorter weapon to hit the bejesus out of him while tries to get his long arms and long weapon around to hit you.

Just my 2 cents worth...

[blackbow]

Sforza:

speaking as one of those freakishly tall guys, the dumbest thing I watch shorter people do is stand perfectly at my most effective range. If A is short range and C is "can't hit without taking a step and then a full extension snap", lots of people stand somewhere in what works out to my A- / B. Right where it's fairly easy to hit anything on their onside, and not a lot of work to take a half step and hit the offside.

If you've ever seen Jon the Tall (3" taller than me [I'm 6'5"] and uses a REALLY long sword) you know what tall guys want to do. They WANT to keep you where you can't hit them and they can hit you.

Just guessing but it sounds to me like nobody's taught you how to close distance rapidly without getting whacked. Think about it this way - if you're far enough away that he can only hit you in the front, would you hold your shield in normal stance at your side? No. You'd bring it all the way around to the front so he can't hit your offside. Then you'd bring your sword up, parallel to the ground, right in front of your nose, so you can look over (or under, if you're worried about getting hit on the head) it while you close with the guy. That takes care of the top, now let's take care of the bottom.

DO NOT BRING YOUR SWORD FOOT FORWARD OF YOUR SHIELD FOOT, EVER.

[edit: when you're trying to run somebody down. If you do it when you're fighting normally and you have a good reason, that's a different situation. -JB]

If you try to run right at the guy, you're bringing your sword foot in front of your shield foot, which opens up your sword leg and hip for a fairly easy shot. Instead, shuffle your feet rapidly. The concept is "don't take two big steps to cover the distance, take eight little ones." Very rapid, small foot movements also enable you not to be faked out of position by anything he might try. Looks a LOT like a fencing step if you're looking for an example. It also keeps you from squaring up while you're running at him, and thereby exposing more surface area to a possible incoming shot.

So you've run up to him (sorry, shuffled rapidly) and now what do you do? Hopefully your shield has opened up as you come in, with the realization that now he can hit you from the side and rear. So your shield is planted firmly (not literally pushing on, but right next to) his armpit. don't extend your shield to do this; get right next to him. You want to be able to smell his beer breath. Your sword basket should be just outside your swordside ear with the sword cocked slightly over your head. This will enable you to block anything he tries to throw over the top. Yes, you're going to block with the blade of the sword. I know, rank heresy. Let's move past that.

Now that you're standing next to him...well, that's the giveaway. You're STANDING.

Don't.

You want to crouch as comfortably as possible. Hell, lay your helmet on his chestplate if you want. Sideways. Then look down without moving your helmet or eyes. Where's his shield? I don't know exactly either but it's almost certainly blocking HIM from hitting you more than it's blocking YOU from hitting him. in other words, it's doing your work for you.

Now look down and realize that you've squared up. Put your sword leg back where it's supposed to be. See the pretty little gap in the space that you've just created? Throw a wrap through it.

The rest is left as an exercise for the student. ...well OK. I'll hand you this one. Find those 2" gaps and throw at them.

regards

Jonathan Blackbow

[Alex Baird]

In fighting, time and range are interchangable: you trade the one for the other. If your opponent has a natural range advantage, you will have to find ways of gaining time on him.

A few strategies:
Look for him to make a transition from stance to stance, and assault during his transition.

Look at striking at what is closest, such as his sword arm. Generally, if he is in range to strike at you, his entire limb should be reachable. If he blocks the arm shot, use the time to close.

Move toward his off side. If you can cheat over that way, he will lose the depth of his body in reach.

Move into and under his strikes as he throws. Screw up his ranging.

Work the corners instead of the centerline. He can cover more from the center, but if you are to one side, he has only half that coverage.

(assuming sword and board) Think about a sword foot forward stance.

[Syrfinn]

As a short guy, and granted, take this as what works for me, not what works for you.

But I basically take a boxers game plan in. Basically as if I am the boxer type, against an opponent that likes to move a lot.

Basically cover up, and start cutting the ring down to size on them, till you have them pinned. I also try to concentrate on leg shots, to get their shield down, then sneak in a couple of high shots. Honestly, i work all the zones for a couple of passes.

Like I said, its what works for me. My leg shot though, on a tall guy, is like their flat snap. Its the most easily available shot. Kind of like a jab.

Question for you though is this, cause this might change game plan. Are you short and stocky, kind of like a fireplug, or short and wiry. My game plan might not work totally for you, if your the wiry type. I tend to get in and do some grunt work, when i can.

[Pietro di Trento]

As the Shortest fighter in my shire I can understand your problem, I have found the best way to deal with taller opponents is to bring them down to your level by legging them and getting as close as possible.

I use a table top defense and make myself even smaller by crouching down as low as I can and still be comfortable. once my opponent swings i drop almost to my knee lunge forward and wrap shot them in the back or leg them. if done right your opponent Should be swinging just above your head or hitting your shield depending and you should be connecting. keep in mind I am left handed I don't know how that would work for a righty

[Boden]

Fight two sword. Or come get me
and I'll trade you for one of those
chubby cross country runners with
a center grip. I hate those!

- Boden

[Oswyn_de_Wulferton]

Try working on accelerating quickly. As another of those "freakishly tall guys" (6'6" with a 40+" sword), I am almost certainly able to hit you before you can hit me. Ideally, I would like to keep you there. What you need to do is make up the most distance in the shortest time possible. From starting out of range, you only have four options:

1) You move forward and he doesnt. Distance closes by x ft.

2) You don't move and he does. Distance closes by y ft.

3) You move once you realize he is moving. Distance closes by x+y ft.

4) You dont move and he doesn't move. This doesn't last very long.

Which one is the most advantageous to you?

Yes, you are going to have to up your defense to get inside his range. Such is life. Once you are there, even if he can step backwards, there are very few people who can run backwards just as fast as you can go forwards. And if they do, it simply "resets" the fight.

Take a length of rope and find a buddy. The rope should be just longer than your range. Have him set the pace, and your job is to keep "in range". Have him start, stop, swerve, and otherwise try to either get you completely on top of him, or out of range. Keep trying until you can keep up. Then find a leggier friend (not neccesarily taller, but has a longer stride). Once you can stay in range, then you can practice staying at a certain distance in range.

[Baron Alejandro]

What brother Alex Baird said, with the addition of;

Once you get close to him BLOODY WELL STAY THERE. Don't move, or let him move, back to his range. Even if you have to crawl up inside his grill.

[Kasem]

My knight is 5'6" and pretty squat I'm 6' 2" and fairly wiry. I play the tall guy game all day. In other words I'll keep you out to where about the last three inches of my sword is gonna hit you. And I'm gonna try like hell to keep you there!

These are the things I realized after fighting most short people and what my knight will do to counteract them.

- Most guys will block and then try to move in one me. it could only be a second between their block and their advance. But most people know how much a fight can change in a second. In essence the second I see my shot being blocked I'm already moving back and swinging again, while your just now stepping in. It really isn't a speed issue (I'm not that fast) it's just timing.

-One of the biggest things I learned to close distance is to fight to do everything you normally would...only in a forward motion, and all at once. So be blocking but moving forward! that way you take away my timing. becuase your blocking and still moving in so by stepping back your still on my ass!

-don't stop moving forward. Most short guys tend to do the one two block move. yet again whe you stop to block I'm moving backwards. keep moving in on the defense until you get your range.

- make things awkward for me, scew with my distance. My knight does this all the time. If i take a step forward he takes two back keeping us at the same range. If I step forward he lunges forward causing me to close distance for him.

- hit the closest thing to you. I don't know why but a lot of people only wanna land a kill shot. I notice a lot of people when they back up leave one of their legs "behind" so to speak. They don't scuttle they just take one big step back and let the other foot drag afterwards. (I'm guilty og this still) take that leg! also my sword arm use to get taken all the time by one of my favorite short guy tricks. My knight would lean his head down (he wears a great helm) and goad me into hitting his head. Once I swung he knew where the shot was coming and where my arm would be.

I've only been doing heavy for about two years now so take this with a grain of salt but these are my observations of short fighters.

Good luck!

[Sforza]

Thanks a lot so far, that gives my quite a few ideas to work and experiment with already. Looks like my general approach (or at least the theory of it) wasn't too far off - I just need to get good at it.

@Kwynric: You guessed right with the long arms and such, I'll certainly try to do that

@Blackbow: That sounds good, I'll certainly try this next time. I do the shuffling already... most of the time. I'll keep an eye on it.

@Alex Baird: The time=range comment has just opened a whole new way of thinking for me...very cool.

@SyrFinn: I'm neither really stocky nor wiry, "extremely average" describes it well, I guess.

@Oswyn de Wulferton: That's very good advice. I suspected I'd have to work on the acceleration, and I'll definitely do the rope-exercise.
As to your four options, I'm mainly trying for 3), sometimes 2), since 1) simply doesn't happen, because he always "runs away" from me.

@Kasem: The timing issue you mention looks like it's exactly what I do wrong, the analysis and tips should help a lot, I think.

You are all great, thanks!

[Dagonet]

Are you fighting heavy or rapier?

[Sforza]

Heavy

[blackbow]

Sforza:

"As to your four options, I'm mainly trying for 3), sometimes 2), since 1) simply doesn't happen, because he always "runs away" from me. "

huh-uh. You're letting him run away from you. Unless he literally turns and runs away, as has been previously mentioned, there's no way he can run backwards as fast as you can run forwards.

Q for ya - when you get in stance is your weight on your heels or the ball of your foot? Easy way to tell is to get in stance (out of armor if necessary) and look down. If your weight is on the balls of your feet (front part) your knees will be angled in. If your weight is on the heels the knees will be angled out or at least aiming straight ahead. Another easy way to tell is to pivot one of your feet (rotate it in place) and see what it's pivoting on.

If your weight is on your heels, yeah, he can outrun you. Bend your knees, Get lower, put your weight on the front of your feet, shuffle them rapidly, and stay as close to the guy as possible.

JB

[Sforza]

huh-uh. You're letting him run away from you.

Yes, I guess I'm giving up on the offensive too quickly and letting myself slow down for no real reason at all when fighting that guy (besides timing and defence issues). I really don't think it's the stance - I'm definitely standing on the balls of my foot rather than the heels (I'm used to that thanks to previous martial arts training), and when I checked my footwork in the backyard just now, I noticed that I can push forward far more quickly than I do when fighting him.

It's very good to hear that it's just me doing something wrong, and not "tough luck for shorty" .

I'm really looking forward to the next practice now, when I get the chance to try working with your suggestions.

Thanks!

[blackbow]

Then to quote me in numerous melee situations, "STAY ON HIM!!!"



seriously, he'll slow down fairly quickly as long as you stay with him. It's also VERY difficult for a person running backwards to throw a blow of sufficient force to kill you while you're chasing him. In order to throw a killing blow either you've got to open up completely and give him an easy shot, or he's got to stop and plant one foot.

Take a camcorder and post it when you get it done-

JB

huh-uh. You're letting him run away from you.

Yes, I guess I'm giving up on the offensive too quickly and letting myself slow down for no real reason at all when fighting that guy (besides timing and defence issues). I really don't think it's the stance - I'm definitely standing on the balls of my foot rather than the heels (I'm used to that thanks to previous martial arts training), and when I checked my footwork in the backyard just now, I noticed that I can push forward far more quickly than I do when fighting him.

It's very good to hear that it's just me doing something wrong, and not "tough luck for shorty" .

I'm really looking forward to the next practice now, when I get the chance to try working with your suggestions.

Thanks!

[GodricFW]

Something I see better shorter fighters do on occasion is to alternate their speed of advance. AKA a timing reset during the advance. Take a couple of quick short steps to get that tall opponent backpedaling, pause for the time of a single step, then back on the quick steps until you get inside. By doing this you are breaking the tempo of the fight. on other words, as the taller person begins to process the pause, they will stop their retreat, and it will give you the opportunity to close the gap. I have seen Duke Maximillian use this technique on several occasions, to great success. He is a short man, but knows how to get on top of someone before they realize what is going on.

[mordreth]

work on your stance to make certain that remain covered while moving (most peoples biggest weakness), practice stepping straight back, and backwards in either direction at an angle. Once you are nice and solid on that practice staying covered while advancing to either side at an angle
now that you have taken all of your preparitory steps (so to speak)
at the layon take a half step back so you are not in his range, and wait
make him come to you for the fight, when you see him advancing meet him halfway - if he backs off to get himself back to his desired range, and out of yours take a short step back to close the exchange
once you're inside his range glue yourself to his left side (assuming sword and shield both right handed) so that he will need to open his weapon side up, or lower his shield to keep track of where you are. with work you will be able to stay on his shield side working the back of his left leg while forcing him to circle and open his shield - which should present the opportunity for an attack to the head.
it's a good thing
If you get into the right mindset (most people are taller than me - so what?) everything else gets a lot easier, and it becomes a matter of how much taller than you an opponent is, not that he is taller.

[IainMcClennan]

Something to try sometime is a "Zombie" attack. A zombie catches its victim not because it's fast, but because it just keeps coming and coming and coming and won't stop. So do all the things suggested here, but in the in-between times when you would normally be standing there, watching for what comes next, walk.

The tall guy may throw a couple attacks as you come in, which you can turtle up and block, and then he will want to step back to get you at that range again, but you keep coming. Then he will have to attack again or step out, and you keep coming. He won't get a chance to rest, or plan his next brilliant move, he will need to keep thinking all the time or become more reactionary. You aren't wearing yourself out because you are just walking. He will have to decide where to walk because you can't go straight back forever, but you can mindlessly follow him wherever he goes, thinking instead about what openings he is creating by moving.

The distance should be expanding and contracting as you move forward, he attacks then moves back, etc. look for times when he is about to be closer, then dart in to close the range. Be a George Romero zombie most of the time, then occasionally turn "28 Days Later" on him (go ahead and scream, but try not to spit blood).

Ian

[blackbow]

Additionally, groaning "BRAAAAAAAAAAINSS" at your opponent from time to time can be distracting.

JB

Something to try sometime is a "Zombie" attack. A zombie catches its victim not because it's fast, but because it just keeps coming and coming and coming and won't stop. So do all the things suggested here, but in the in-between times when you would normally be standing there, watching for what comes next, walk.

The tall guy may throw a couple attacks as you come in, which you can turtle up and block, and then he will want to step back to get you at that range again, but you keep coming. Then he will have to attack again or step out, and you keep coming. He won't get a chance to rest, or plan his next brilliant move, he will need to keep thinking all the time or become more reactionary. You aren't wearing yourself out because you are just walking. He will have to decide where to walk because you can't go straight back forever, but you can mindlessly follow him wherever he goes, thinking instead about what openings he is creating by moving.

The distance should be expanding and contracting as you move forward, he attacks then moves back, etc. look for times when he is about to be closer, then dart in to close the range. Be a George Romero zombie most of the time, then occasionally turn "28 Days Later" on him (go ahead and scream, but try not to spit blood).

Ian

[Kenwrec Wulfe]

I know the pains of being a shorter fighter (at least in my area) as well. To my 5'9", most of the fighters in my area are 6"0"+. There are two at my practice that are 6'5"-ish...and one is a southpaw (my m-a-a)

There are a few tactics that I use against them that seem to work well.

1) Attack as you move in. Though it is more of a distractionary blow (or 3), make sure it counts, because you never know...it might connect.

2) DONT move in on the line. Even if it is just a half step off the line, you force the oppoent to change their stance (or at least their angle), which buys you time. I prefer a half step (less noticeable than a full step) to the shield side of the opponent, as this allows you to use their shield to your benefit. (this is an advantage you can use. I have found that taller guys also tend to have larger shields)

3) Keep pressinig. Get inside...WAY inside their A range, into your A range. Keep there. If you cannot keep there, get out of range altogether.

Remember that it is most likely that you can move faster forward than he can backward (Sir Ix and Master Chen are exeptions ), even with the longer stride.

[FrauHirsch]

Something to try sometime is a "Zombie" attack. A zombie catches its victim not because it's fast, but because it just keeps coming and coming and coming and won't stop. So do all the things suggested here, but in the in-between times when you would normally be standing there, watching for what comes next, walk.
Ian

LOL! A name for it! I vary this with the rush in and stay there tactic.

The key is controling the measure and timing of the fight.

[FrauHirsch]

Everyone had very good advice. I am 5'2".

Tall fighters are used to fighting at their range. They will try to reset it to their advantage. The ones that are not good at passing can end up on the ropes. When a fight is reset, ensure that the Marshals allow you to start the fight from the same position up close and personal. OH THEY HATES THAT THEY DOES!

To add to Kasem's comments. You can often bait an attack by hitting the shield even when you are out of range. Then upon their attack, rush in VERY QUICKLY (expect them to start swinging and running backwards like crazy). When they go to spin out of it, attack toward the side they are spinning toward you, forcing them back again. Leg them if you can.

Make clear decisions whether you are in or out of range. Don't let them decide.

Be defensive when you are in their range and not in yours.

If they stand there and meet you, get inside their shield - literally use your hilt or elbow to pry open their shield and get inside. I like a shorter weapon for this, especially good with a thrusty. Then upper thrusts to the chin or to the face often work well. Mostly people won't take body or armpit shots though. If anything else, this is unsettling for most fighters.

Practice your shoulder drop leg fake until it is smooth as glass and hits like a tank and you can target exactly 1" above the knee.

Make sure your armor lets you move your arm clear over your head - when in close, you will need to be able to block overhead wraps with your blade, possibly dangling down the back of your helm with the hilt above your head. This is a good position to throw quick downward shots or even a quick cross.

Learn to throw a flat snap by pushing your arm straight upwards. Combine it with a quick cross.

Use aggressive shield techniques to move their shield. Shield punches, presses, and hooks will help you improve the crappy hand of shortness you were dealt.

Be a mental fighter. Watch your opponents, learn their tells.

[Hedinn]

Have you fought against a polearm much?
You might try that, it would make the problem worse, but more obvious, and force you to overcome it.

Something I repeat over and over to the new guys is that when charging in, they get one shot. Thats the toll you have to pay. Once in there, stay in there as long as you can. If you back off, you have to pay the toll on the way out again.

I have noticed that some newer peoples version of "in close" is really still in my prime range. They close to where they want to be, but its not inside my kill zone so it doesnt really help them. They need to climb inside my armor with me.

Personally, I hate fighting little guys. (I'm not real big, I am SCA medium-6ft) They hide behind my shield, run around too much and make me run too. They get in so close that I can hit them anywhere but on the ass from over top of their head.

Oh how I wish I could just toss them like the gnomes they are!

[Tor Magnusson]

work on your stance to make certain that remain covered while moving (most peoples biggest weakness), practice stepping straight back, and backwards in either direction at an angle. Once you are nice and solid on that practice staying covered while advancing to either side at an angle
now that you have taken all of your preparitory steps (so to speak)
at the layon take a half step back so you are not in his range, and wait
make him come to you for the fight, when you see him advancing meet him halfway - if he backs off to get himself back to his desired range, and out of yours take a short step back to close the exchange
once you're inside his range glue yourself to his left side (assuming sword and shield both right handed) so that he will need to open his weapon side up, or lower his shield to keep track of where you are. with work you will be able to stay on his shield side working the back of his left leg while forcing him to circle and open his shield - which should present the opportunity for an attack to the head.
it's a good thing
If you get into the right mindset (most people are taller than me - so what?) everything else gets a lot easier, and it becomes a matter of how much taller than you an opponent is, not that he is taller.

I find this thread kind of funny.... I am one of those tall fighters and I never ever back up.... I love it when the little fighter tries to get up in my grill, guess what, they have given me a whole new set of targets that they can't block... Their back is now open to me. I can throw high wraps down their back that you can't block unless you table your shield above your head, and if you table your shield, you can't see my sword and now I just bring it up under the table.... Seriously if you are a tall fighter and you are backing away from the short fighter, you are throwing away your ADVANTAGE......

The reason I quoted Mordreth's threads, is that is what really works the best against me... Control the distance of the fight... Make the tall fighter come after you, learn to stand outside of his range, become a counter pouncher, let him become impatient and make a mistake.....

[mordreth]

One of the first principles I try to teach is to never participate in someone else's tactics - if you allow them to fight their fight you are putting yourself in a weaker position

[asbrand]

As well as what all the others have said...I'll chip in with this.

Most of the very tall, long armed, long sword fighters can't do a whole lot if you are belly to belly with 'em. All that tallness / length becomes somewhat of a hindrance. But, they also tend to be fast...so you'll have to run faster. Get in their face, and stay there.

The knight who trained me many moons ago taught me this (even though I'm rather tall myself). Get in there like a bulldog and don't let go.

[es02]

Interestingly OP hasn't specifically stated SCA combat [Edit: Alright so saying he fights heavy halfway through the thread is a dead giveaway], A number of the techniques mentioned here - particularly getting toe to toe with your opponent in an LH setting is often a direct invitation for your opponent to pommel you in the head

But as has been said you really do need to close the distance between you and your opponent, pay attention to your shield and where your blocking, don't be afraid to use your sword to parry [seems this is akin to heresy within the SCA but hey it is period ] then go for the legs when you can comfortably reach them.

As a tall fighter I'll let you in on a not so closely guarded secret. Many of us have real difficulty with lower body parries and shield-work.

If your still having defence problems on your shield side, invest in a buckler and train with that for a bit. Shields make a fighter lazy a buckler will give you a much smaller margin of error and force you to use your shield properly

[Sforza]

Alright, now I'm feeling stupid.
I don't fight SCA. I thought "rapier" and "heavy" was meant as a... general distinction between earlier and later fighting styles. See what happens when a newbie stumbles into a forum not reading enough to realise it's leaning heavily towards the SCA, and due to my being quite unfamiliar with SCA combat I only just realized your advice was mainly SCA-related. I'm terribly sorry... feel free to virtually hit me.

We fight armoured, with blunt steel, semi-contact, though we spar with wasters or shinai from time to time when we're feeling like whacking harder. It's definitely not historical swordsmanship (although we're constantly trying to sneak in historical techniques that aren't too dangerous for "sport" fighting) and from my quick research into SCA combat, there seem to be a lot of similarities, and the advice I've got here will be definitely useful to me, so I hope you don't feel like you've wasted your time.

I didn't realise that "Hit him in the legs, now you're taller" was not, in fact, a joke - we don't have the rule for kneeling.

@es02: First - thanks for making me realize my stupidity .
I'm very interested to know, of course, if you'd go for a different approach in a setting where pommeling your opponent in the head is very definitely an option; or if it is "get close and avoid him pommeling your head" (which would have been my plan. Since we do have a some grappling/infight-techniques in our system, which I love doing and am quite comfortable with, I thought my problems would get significantly less once I got close to him.)


Huge sorry again to everybody for being an idiot.

[Tor Magnusson]

You can't help it that you are a short idiot Kidding of course.... But seriously, it does not matter if you are fighting SCA or something else, control the fight, don't fight the tall fighters fight.... Like I said, if he starts backing away, let him back away yourself.... frustrate him, make him come to you..... but don't let him back away to the point that it leaves you in him must comfortable range.....

[adamstjohn]

Do you use pole weapons? My tip for a short SCA fighter:

1. Use a pole
2. Stab him between the eyes
3. Enjoy the applause

This might not work in your system - although it can certainly work without stabbing.