The taller you are, the longer reach you’ll have in combat sports. This will give you an advantage to easily strike your opponent while staying at a safe distance. However, this could also be a disadvantage as you are at risk of being a bigger target if your opponent passes your range.
How Much Does Height And Reach Matter In Combat Sports?
Height and reach both play an important role in playing combat sports. Generally speaking, if you’re taller, you’ll have longer reach. Because of this, it’s easier for you to throw punches or kicks at your opponent at a safer distance.
However, you can also be at a disadvantage. Being tall in combat sports makes you an easy target for your opponent if they also have a good height and reach.
That said, if you’re tall, you can’t simply rely on your height and reach. While they do matter, you still have to make sure to have reliable defensive capabilities to prevail over such a disadvantage.
Short vs Tall People Which Size Is Better To Win A Fight?
Height and reach are two of the most debated topics in the world of combat sports. If you were to ask who will likely win a fight in terms of height and reach, we’d say it depends.
To be short, even at first glance, sure does have obvious cons. But, believe it or not, it can also be a blessing.
Being tall has numerous advantages when you’re in the ring as well. However, it comes with a fair share of disadvantages too.
To get a clearer picture, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of being tall and stout in the world of combat sports, shall we?
Pros for Shorter Fighters
As strange as it may seem for others, being a short fighter is also advantageous. This is especially true when talking about agility. Smaller fighters require less energy to move around the ring. This also gives them the upper hand in terms of endurance.
With shorter limbs, fighters who are a bit stouter than others can perform full-power strikes more efficiently. In case your taller opponent is taking a bit longer to recover their stance due to their height, it’s easier to take advantage of the situation and strike.
Being short makes it easier to fit into lower weight class as well.
Cons for Shorter Fighters
At first glance, it’s so easy to tell how disadvantageous it can be for a shorter fighter to fight a taller opponent. Because of shorter limbs, the combatant has to get closer to their opponent. This makes it harder for them to wall them out.
Also, you have to double your efforts to reach your taller opponent. Over time, this could tire you out fast.
Despite having more endurance than taller fighters, the shorter ones, of course, will eventually get exhausted. When this happens, the taller fighter may simply just lean on them and use them to support their weight. This adds more exhaustion to the smaller fighters.
Here’s a quick comparison of the pros and cons if you’re a short combatant.
| Pros | Cons |
| More agile | Taller fighters can easily add exhaustion to them over time |
| Can perform full-power strikes | Needs to work more to reach taller opponent |
| Can easily fit into lower weight class | Has closer range |
Benefits for Taller Fighters
One of the obvious gains of being a taller fighter is that you have an increased range. With this, you can strike your opponent without having to fear reprisal.
Apart from that, if you’re taller, you have better defensive capabilities. This is especially true in boxing. With greater height, your opponent needs to work more to reach you. That said, it’s easier to buy some time and just tire your shorter opponent.
Drawbacks for Taller Fighters
Being tall has some drawbacks too. One of them is having a higher center of gravity. This means that it’s easier for you to lose your balance when fighting.
And with longer limbs, it’s more recovering your stance is more challenging. This becomes more advantageous for your opponent as they may take the chance to strike as you try to get up.
Being blessed with height also gives you a disadvantage in terms of weight class. When you’re tall, it’s harder to fit into a lower weight class.
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
| Has longer range | Easily lose balance |
| Shorter opponent has to double their effort to reach you | Takes longer to recover stance |
| Can wait to tire the shorter opponent | Weight class disadvantage |
What Matters More In A Fight, Height or Weight?
Weight and height play vital roles in calculating your advantage in the ring. However, if you were to ask which matters more, the answers would be varied.
Height is important in combat sports as it gives you more reach. And the longer reach you have, the more you can easily strike your opponent. But, then, it does come with cons, as mentioned earlier.
As for the weight, it matters too. This is because it can influence your power, endurance, and speed. However, you also have to maintain a specific weight to be able to fight in your division.
Or else, you’ll suffer the hard consequences of weight cutting. The worse part is, you’ll be penalized as you meet your opponent in a certain weight class or you won’t qualify for the match.
With these pieces of information, many would say weight matters more. Because, again, it can affect your power, endurance, and speed, which are crucial in combat sports.
But, at the end of the day, your technique and conditioning matter the most above all. If you train well, it’s easier to know which method or moves you can do to down your opponent.
What’s more, you won’t have to rush adjusting as your body is conditioned well. So, no matter what your height is, you can easily win the match.
Height and reach are some of the heavily debated topics in the world of combat sports. They’re worth talking about, though, as they both play a huge role in winning a match.
