fighting larger, stronger opponents

[wingedsoldier]

i've been spending a lot of time thinking on how to take on larger opponents. big muscular guys have more stamina and like human tanks. Larger, chubbier opponents can take strikes easy and are harder to take out with pressure points. my main strategies are bone breaking and wearing them down and waiting to strike when i see an opening. each strategy has its weaknesses and leaves me with few options in combat. can anyone make suggestions on what to do.

[cross]

my main strategies are bone breaking and wearing them down and waiting to strike when i see an opening.

 

Wearing them down may be a valid technique in a competition but hardly useful in self defence.

 

I recommend that you practice hitting hard and fast then running.

[Shane]

yes hard solid strikes to the right areas can help decide an out-come of a fight. These solid strikes to the right areas also help you to be able to apply other techniques more easily than if you just tried the technique it self.

 

If anything hard solid strikes to the right areas can distract your attacker long enough for you to get the heck out of there if necessary.

[STR33T GUY]

Just about everyone that I have fought on the street has been bigger/stronger than me. They way that I beat them was to be more skillful than they were. And well rounded so I could strike, clinch or go to the ground, whatever it took.

[Master Jules]

Just about everyone that I have fought on the street has been bigger/stronger than me. They way that I beat them was to be more skillful than they were. And well rounded so I could strike, clinch or go to the ground, whatever it took.

 

The harder you train, the easier "real life" situations will be......the more you experience in terms of other styles than your own, the more youll be familiar with, and the more techniques you will have in "your bag".....either way.....the keys to defeating an opponent are to train extra hard in terms of learning techniques, learning how to "read your opponent", and getting as much fighting experience as possible, so that when you do fight, you simply enter a "zone" where you are totally comfortable, and emotionless.

[SevenStar]

big muscular guys have more stamina and like human tanks.

 

not necessarily...Actually, the opposite is usually true. We tend to be strong, but not have as much stamina, unless we do plenty of cardio. We do hit like tanks, however.

Larger, chubbier opponents can take strikes easy and are harder to take out with pressure points.

 

that applies to big guys in general, not just chubby guys. And MANY people, regardless of size are affected by pressure points differently. That's why I don't like the idea of focusing on them for self defense training...

my main strategies are bone breaking and wearing them down and waiting to strike when i see an opening. each strategy has its weaknesses and leaves me with few options in combat. can anyone make suggestions on what to do.

 

how are you training bone breaks? As for wearing them down, that's a valid strategy in the ring, but sucks for the street. you want to end it ASAP - before any other factors can come into play.

 

size matters. but, skill matters too. It's hard to give a definitive strategy because all people fight differently, so what works on one big guy may not work on another. If you have a good, hard leg kick, use those to set up an entry. Big guys have a lot of weight, and if the weight is focused on one leg (i.e. while he's punching or getting ready to) a leg kick can be devastating.

[Hudson]

At least you don't have a problem with intimidation!

 

I used to spar a big guy with a big gut, and if you hit him in his stomach, he'd just smile. Of course, his stomach was the exact place he expected you to strike. However one time I accidentally smacked him with a light roundhouse to the head. He didn't like that. Also, most of your "thrust" kicks can also be "push" kicks. Big guys may be able to take hits but they actually will fall hard.

[wingedsoldier]

my main strategies are bone breaking and wearing them down and waiting to strike when i see an opening. each strategy has its weaknesses and leaves me with few options in combat. can anyone make suggestions on what to do.

 

how are you training bone breaks? As for wearing them down, that's a valid strategy in the ring, but sucks for the street. you want to end it ASAP - before any other factors can come into play.

 

not exactly breaking bones. whenever i train at my dojo i like to direct a lot of strikes at the joints. i gotta be fast, accurate, and unpredictable, but it's well within my ability. i'm only and advanced yellow belt so i am still a beginner, but at white belt, he told us where to hit and how hard to hit. never really taught us any techniques specifically, but i know all i need to do it.

[delta1]

Work your angles and get close but outside. If he's bigger, you want to nullify both his reach and his power. Outside, you have position and leverage. Another problem with big guys is that as soon as things start to go bad for them, they try to grab and ground, or just tie up and overwhelm you with their size and power. Getting outside makes this a lot more dificult for them.

 

Forget bone breaks, go for joints- especially knees. Another good thing about being close outside is it opens up that Kenpo looping roundhouse or knee strike to the back of his knee. Another good target for a roundhouse knee are his quads. In fact, any of the large muscle groups of the upper leg. He'll think about you for a good week or more if you work those over!

 

Take the initiative and take it in close where his fists are not a factor. Use elbows and knees in rapid succession, while keeping his base checked.

[STR33T GUY]

I think that there is more than one good way to defeat a particular adversary, just as there is more than one good style to use. The most important thing is to make it your way just as you must make it your style.

 

Delta made some good points about fighting on the outside and I think everyone should be able to fight like this, at least at a basic level. But this way may not be best for you, it’s not for me. Fighting on the outside didn’t serve me well in the ring nor has it on the street. I’ve fought big men successfully on the inside, it’s my zone. My style is aggressive and hi tempo. But that suits me, it’s not for everyone. Just keep learning new stuff and testing it. Make it your way to fight a bigger guy. For me the bigger the guy, the more that I want him on the ground. Some people here will think that I’m nuts. But then I’d only fight their way if the situation called for it, I have successfully fought big men on the outside. One time there was two bigger men and a little guy. As it turned out the little guy just watched.