How Can You Tackle Smaller Aggressive Opponents in Muay Thai

The shorter opponents are usually more difficult to tackle than the taller opponents, if the shorter ones are aggressive. Aggression is the main force they utilize to dominate their taller opponents. But if they are not showing any aggression, they are very easy to handle. So you should know how to deal with all shorter opponents, even if they are showing aggression. There are ways that will make you better in that. This article explores the perfect ways to deal with a shorter and aggressive opponent.

• If you think that smaller or shorter opponents do not have a good height, that is why they cannot execute techniques and movements as effectively as taller opponents, then there is a high chance you are wrong. They have many advantages that enable them to dominate their taller opponents. Their shorter height makes them do things much more easily than their taller opponents.

• One of the most common and most dominant things they show on the big stage against taller opponents is their quick movements. As their height is short, it becomes much easier for them to move against their opponents.

• Another benefit of their short height is that their opponents find it very difficult to hit them harder. This is because short height enables quick reflexes. As they are already low against their opponent, their movement makes the punch even more difficult to land on them cleanly. They become targets difficult to hit just because of their short height.

• The most important benefit they have is the quick and perfect offense. Their short height enables them to move quickly. Moving quickly and staying low can make good strikes on the opponent. Moving from one place to another after landing some strikes also becomes very easy and quick. So their strikes and throws become very efficient.

• Moreover, they are also very efficient in defending themselves. The punch, strike, or kick gets slipped if their opponent throws at them. But obviously, if they keep them moving and stay low, depending on the situation.

Now the question arises, how can you even counter? How can you deal? Let's discuss this.

• The first thing many tall Muay Thai fighters have in mind is that they try to lower themselves. They think that if they match their height with the shorter fighters, then they can easily counter that. This is the biggest mistake they make, and there is no truth in this. This is a complete myth.

• As they are using their short height to get an advantage over their opponent, you should also understand that you can also get an advantage over them just because of your height. Use your height to kick from long distances. Use your long arms to throw strikes at them from a considerable distance. So this is the thing you should consider instead of lowering yourself. Both tall and short height has benefits. It is just how you use them for your advantage and stay dominant over your opponent.

• The next tip is to keep your opponent at a distance. This distance will keep you on defense. Your opponent is short. So they can only strike you if the distance between is so short they can touch you with their short arms. So the tip is to never close the distance between you and your opponent. This will help keep the opponent on their defense and prevent them from making any strikes on you.

• Also, because your height is good, the distance is not a problem for you. Just prevent your opponent from entering the range enough to strike you. You have long legs for kicking your opponent and long arms for striking and punching your opponent. So the distance will not create any problem for you in terms of striking or kicking.

• Moreover, if you are not choosing the distance in your fighting strategy against a shorter opponent, then you will not be able to strike and kick effectively. This is because when you are closer to your opponent, it is beneficial for your opponent to strike and kick because of their shorter height. But as you have long arms and legs, you need distance to spread your arms for striking their face. So always keep your shorter opponent at a distance.

• If you are fighting against an opponent who is shorter than you but not so aggressive, then it's not a complicated situation, and it is very easy for you to deal with it. But if your opponent is very aggressive and also shorter, then that is a very tough situation for you. This is the match that you need a lot of practice and hard work for. This is an important technique you need to learn because if you don't, you will not be able to beat your opponent, who is shorter and more aggressive.

• They remain aggressive throughout the match. They move quickly and use this quick movement to strike their opponent, sometimes from the back, front, or even side. They make their striking heads because they are short and can easily move everywhere. So, striking is very easy for them. They continuously move forward to close the distance between them and their opponent. They make it harder for their opponent to hit them. They always stay low and sometimes go up to keep their opponent confused. Whenever they find the opportunity, they strike their opponent. If they find an even better opportunity, they land as many strikes at their opponent as they can. They utilize full force for these strikes and keep their opponent under pressure.

• So the first thing you need to do to counter their aggressiveness is to keep your opponent at a distance. They will continually try to close the distance between you and your opponent. But you cannot let them do that. Otherwise, they will be very offensive, and you have to be in a defensive mode. So whenever they try to close the range and get them closer to your body, don't let them go without any strike. So when they come closer, punch them with the strike as hard as you can.

• At this stage, obviously, it is always better to land effective punches at your opponent. But it is not necessary, and it does not matter too much for you at this initial stage. So instead of throwing clean strikes at your opponent, focus on just landing your punches at their body, preferably at their face. The reason is that if you punch whenever they get closer, they will realize that you are taking the light from them, and you are very serious about closing the distance. So they will continue doing this only a few times, and then they will believe that this closing-the-distance strategy is of no use to them. In this situation, initially, your only purpose is to make them believe that they cannot come closer; however, if they do, they will meet with the devastating response from your punches, kicks, and strikes.

• You need to outplay them. Use their own strengths against themselves. Don't let them be successful in their strategies. Countering the small and aggressive fighter, you need to be patient. Let them close the range or distance. Let them do it as many times as they want. They will tire themselves out doing it because you are going to punch them as soon as they come, Closer. They will not have anything left for real fighting. So, at that time, you will use your real weapons against them and knock them out.

• At that point, it becomes much easier for them to strike at you. So don't let them do that. Instead, use your good height to push them down to your body. But also keep them in your control, don't let them move away. Kick them as hard as you can. This will shift them into their defensive mode. So during clinch, control them and throw strikes.

• The most important thing in Muay Thai fighting against small opponents is that you have to stay disciplined throughout the match. It is most important to make yourself able to win the match. If you cannot do this, then you will lose the match. Most fighters, when they fight against the shorter ones, lose their discipline and patience, and the result is against them, leading them to defeat.

• The reason why discipline is most important in such a fight is that there are very high chances that tall fighters will miss their strikes, kicks, or punches against the small fighters. Because of their shorter height, it is much easier for them to duck their head against your strikes or move anywhere to escape from the jabs. So this can make you lose your patience. You start behaving aggressively. You get frustrated because of the continuous misses of your strikes against your opponent. So this makes you do even more mistakes and therefore continues the downfall from that point, leading you to face defeat against your opponent.

• So that is the reason you should keep yourself disciplined throughout the match. Implement all your strategies one by one. Even if your strategies are failing, you should still be patient. Never lose your calm. Because your opponent is already waiting for that moment. Keep calm, stay disciplined, and fight through all of your strategies. This will help you dominate your opponent.

• Moreover, you should also keep in mind that if you continue your disciplined and calm behavior, then your opponent won't be able to fight their strategy for too long. If somehow they continue fighting with their strength, then at least they will fade. They will not be doing that with the same power as they were before.

• So wait for your chance and then strike the smaller and aggressive opponent with a rain of strikes.

• The next tip is to closely monitor their actions. See their strikes. See how they are responding. Observe in what pattern they are executing their techniques and moves. Also, observe their fighting strategy.

• So you should keep doing these things, and on the other side, you should also maintain your discipline and calmness. This will make the exact roadmap in your mind on how you should tackle them. So in the next round or after some time in the first round, you will strike back as hard as you can.

Smaller and aggressive opponents create difficulties for everyone. But they are not unbeatable. There is a solution for every problem. Just like they are using their short height to their advantage on you, you can also use your long height to your advantage on your opponent. You just have to do some things during the match, which are very important to make you dominant over your opponent. Make sure to keep yourself disciplined, patient, and calm. And at the same time, keep observing your opponent’s actions and their fighting strategy. Make your own strategy while observing them and then dominate them to win the match.