Originally Posted by
kidswarrior
With a taller person, what I would look for first, and what I try to teach my students, is to try to guage what we're up against (often we can tell in his posture, foot stance, demeanor). Much depends on the opponent. What opening might he be giving/ what opportunity is he presenting: e.g., is he stationary/stiff (so easy to move around or draw a bead on); is he primarily a boxer, so very strong and fast from the waist up, but maybe unprepared for leg attacks; is he a kickboxer and therefore maybe very fast in striking with all four limbs, but used to rules/gloves (and so open to fingers to eyes, nose, throat, strikes to groin); is he a grappler, trying for a takedown (I use longer strikes to keep him at a distance; with a taller person who is also a confident grappler, may have to chip away a bit to wait for the right moment for a finishing blow--much like a boxing jab to set up a left hook or right cross). Anyway, this doesn't completely answer the question, but in my mind, and if one of my students were asking this, it's where I'd begin.