How to Defend Against a Bigger Opponent With Angled Punches , Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 11:56 PM, in

For many martial artists, the accepted way to defend against a bigger opponent is with their feet. They stop any approach that comes within range with a kick of their own. Still, it is possible to defend against larger opponents with punches -- specifically, angled punches.
The Bigger Opponent Has a Longer Reach
Trying to defend against a long-armed opponent poses a specific problem; his reach is greater than yours.
If you try to reach him with a punch while he's trying to reach you with a punch, then he wins.
Note: We aren't comparing and contrasting styles, angle of the punch, and so on. This is just a basic comparison of reach.






If you block his initial punch, as you reach in for your counter punch, you could still encounter the long reach. Your opponent does have another hand, after all.
Even if you are a Jeet Kune Do practitioner (Bruce Lee's style), you could still encounter problems with your hit-before-check philosophy. The timing will change; you could find yourself too far away to land your punch. Remember those long arms.
Larger Opponent -- If You Can't Reach Him, Then Don't
You could fill an entire book, at least, with advice on distance, angles, and timing for getting past the guard of someone with long arms. We don't have that kind of space in a short article.
Instead, let me offer this advice: If you can't reach your opponent's body, then don't try. This is only logical.
Instead, go for your opponent's limbs, specifically, his weapons. If he tries to kick you, hit his foot ... or ankle. If your enemy tries to punch you, then punch his arm. To paraphrase the Filipino fighters, "Destroy the weapon -- defang the snake!"
Defend Against The Bigger Opponent with Angled Punches
An error that I see in several styles is in teaching their students to punch across the front of their bodies, to try to hit the punch coming in. Their right hands punch across to the left, and the left fists across to the right.

If you want more success at defending the punches of your larger opponents, then try to angle your punches more toward your opponent's torso. You still want to hit the hand, fist, wrist, or forearm; just punch more forward than across.
The forward punch helps protect you from feints and fakes. It's also a better angle for making contact.
Finally, it puts you in a much better follow-up position.

Keith Pascal is the author of Coin Snatching: The Reputation Builder Develop Speed Hands.
Keith is the editor and author of several martial-arts ezines, including:
Punch Enthusiasts. (Free devastating punch ebook when you join.)
Pascal has taught martial arts for over 25 years. He left his job as a high school teacher in 2000, to become a full-time writer.