Hello all,

I've been sparring for a while, and I've been doing alright. However, I have a few questions that I'm hoping to get some advice on.

I'm about 5'6, Japanese-American, and most of the partners that I spar with are a good three inches taller and have longer reaches than I do. Most of the time I can't get a jab in without getting in dangerous range of my opponent, and when I do jab, it doesn't worry them as much as their jabs worry me.

My advantage is that I'm a smaller target, and it's easier to crunch down and protect my body from lower shots.

But how can I make up for such a fundamental disadvantage? I find that going in close works, and if this is the only thing I can resort to, what are some standard techniques for going in close, throwing punches, and getting out before getting hooked in the head?

Basically I'm looking for some speed drills on how to get up close and get out without putting myself at too much risk.

THanks.

Spar with some smaller guys also. It will help your own speed. No good to spar only with bigger guys. With the big guys, clinch on the inside, get below their center of gravity and push them into the ropes, step around them or turn them around, lift the head into their chin, hit first on the break, use front foot replacement to change the angle, etc. Bigger is usually better in a game like boxing, where the weapons are limited. In the long run, you are in a "no win" situation...

you actually int eh same position as me.. im dropping weight getting down to 156(right now im 168 trying to get down to jr. middleweight) and i spar with taller people, usually depending on your weight class, people are usually the same height, except for heavyw2eight as to where, you can be 5'11 and 200 pounds going up agains a 6'5 230 pound fighter...basically, what im trying to say is.. fight people in yoru weight...

im on the same boat dude, 5'6'' short reach. what i find helps is drawing out their straight punches and moving in around or under them. i sometimes drop my hands a bit and let them try and jab my forehead, then duck, cover up and move forward. when youre on the inside, your lack of reach will help, as you will have the shorter hooks and uppercuts.

im also guilty of a little naseem hamed clowning and awkward movement to draw out punches. if you have good reflexes, those tips should help.

when you are going in, slip and weave punches, body blast and follow up with a head shot.
you can still jab when you come in , but use a uppercut to the body straight after.
remember to slip, weave, body blast and mix your punches!
im a tall fighter, 6ft 5 and if i could pic just one annoying thing about shorter fighters is body shots! they hurt so much
no matter who they are or how well they seem to take the body shots they will still be hurting, trust me!!!