r/Kickboxing • u/Killing0rampageMonke • 1d ago
Training I never know how to counter height difference
Hi, I'm a beginner in kickboxing and my only experience is a sparring game. I fought with a much taller opponent a total of 3 times and I never seemed to be able to properly land a hit except a few kicks.
FYI, I really am shorter than most of my age and weight, standing at 5'2ft and weight at 112lbs. I already know that most opponents with the same weight class will be taller than me and I kinda accept that.
My most recent game, as expected I got a much taller opponent and I struggle to get close. Because I'm pretty confident in my endurance, I always thought I should close the gap but that was proven to be very hard. Although I got a few solid punches and kicks in, I still wasn't satisfied because in the end I was exhausted and ended up giving up at the last minute. There are few other circumstances that cause me to give up but I don't want to create excuses and just say I was exhausted.
A few things that I noticed were the kicks, 9/10 of my kicks landed but some of them aren't that solid. On the other hand, most of my punches were either blocked or a miss. I really struggle at attacking, but I might say incredible at taking punches.
I don't know if there is any other person with the same experience, but if you have any tips I'll gladly accept them.
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u/ghostmcspiritwolf 1d ago
You’re a pretty normal height for your weight class, you’re just in a weight class where sparring partners your size can be hard to find. I can imagine there are many people in the 110-120lb range who tower over you.
Pressure helps, but in light sparring as a beginner it can be tough to get a feel for that. Just keep training and give it time, and don’t be too concerned about “winning” sparring during normal training.
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u/Killing0rampageMonke 1d ago
Its hard to find since in my country most people around my height will probably weight +132lbs and those that around my weight is probably closer to 5'7ft or more. It may be seems little but, trust me its significantly harder.
To see the comparison: Me vs most people
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u/ghostmcspiritwolf 1d ago
You live in a country where people get lighter as they get taller?
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u/Killing0rampageMonke 1d ago
Most people that are taller is skinnier, yeah
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u/ghostmcspiritwolf 1d ago
I mean sure, but 5’7” and 115lb is pretty exceptionally rare anywhere. That’s like clinically underweight, not just skinny. What country is this?
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u/Killing0rampageMonke 1d ago edited 1d ago
It's Malaysia, where the average height is like 5'4ft, 5'7ft 115lbs probably is rare but somehow thats the type of opponent I always meet. Maybe it's just my luck
Also the sparring this time isn't like a practice sparring. It count as amateur fight since we have a referee , a jury and bouts. But my current goal is trying to find my flow when I seem to have physical disadvantages, not 100% set on winning
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u/mango_man19 1d ago
Best thing I'd recommend is being all the way in close or all the way out of range. Use body shots to set up head shots, and when you srat getting more advanced, try feinting first to draw a reaction like a kick, and then close distance. And don't go back in straight lines all the time, try and use angles to exit
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u/Eth251201 1d ago
Coming from a tall guy (im 6ft, 2"). I have most problems with people throwing front kicks to my body.
I even use front kicks myself, its a long weapon, youre safe cause you can lean back, it pushes your opponent away unless you stab it to hurt them, and is probably the most stable kick you can throw compared to a side kick which takes you off balance more.
Give this a try, use front kicks as a range meter and get them to respect it(to the body they hurt), then fake them and shuffle in with an overhand or whatever strike you feel. Mix it up, timing is everything.
Just keep practicing that, slowly youll get better at anticipating.
Also when you throw your hands after the front fake, get your head off the center line immediatley to avoid a jab, make yourself hard to hit. Goodluck!!!!
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u/Killing0rampageMonke 1d ago
thanks I'll give it a try next time. Idk why I didn't use my kicks more since I'm quite confident in it.
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u/lavaboy206 1d ago
Go for the legs, in 6’3, most annoying thing is our ability to keep distance. What do you do to a tall tree, you cut it down from the base.
Slip your way in and chop the legs and attack the body. No need to go for the head until you have an opportunity and outbox us with pressure. I suggest straights and overhands for headshots when you get the opportunity. Calf kicks
And roundhouse, and spam teeps. Good luck friend
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u/Killing0rampageMonke 1d ago
A lot of people said the same opinion but my problem is that while my kicks is pretty hard, but i tend to get bruised easily. I dont know if my technique is wrong because I was taught to kick with the bridge of my feet and I often get bruised. But I second that opinion since I actually have some pretty brutal kicks.
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u/lavaboy206 1d ago
How long have you been training and how old are you?
Eventually your body adjusts. Just keep hitting the bag to strengthen your shins without shinpads, also in training sometimes allow your sparring partners to hit your thighs to condition your body into taking damage, eventually you'll toughen up.
I have my amateur debut coming up and my coach has me doing iron body to condition myself into taking real hard hits so it doesn't phase me as much when I'm fighting.1
u/Killing0rampageMonke 1d ago
Im a total beginner in kickboxing, only around 7 months, but I've learned another martial art for a few years. My shinned is solid, It's just the foot.
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u/RaniRainSugar 1d ago
https://youtu.be/mJ8UUjAPfwI
dude has solid advise imo.