Have you ever fought someone who's six inches taller than you? How about someone who's twice as strong? Although hypothetical confrontations with bigger adversaries are almost a cliché in the martial arts world, extreme opponents do exist, and they represent the worst nightmare you could ever face- especially if they possess fighting skills of their own.

Muhammad Ali used to remark that he'd much rather face a shorter opponent because "it's a lot easier to punch down for 15 rounds than to punch up. "There is a lot of truth in that statement. Bigger opponents hold all the aces when it comes to height, reach, weight and, yes, even gravity.

It is because of those inequalities that sports have weight classes. Whenever rules apply, superior size, weight and strength can be devastating. Imagine a lightweight boxer being cornered by a heavyweight. If the only thing the smaller man can do is box, he'll be in serious trouble. Herein lies the first and perhaps most important lesson for dealing with extreme opponents: You never play by their rules. An essential axiom of combat is to use your advantages against your opponent's weaknesses, and that is never more important than, when you're facing somebody who is physically superior.

The simplest strategy for fighting an extreme opponent is to avoid direct contact, evade his power and attack his vital targets. To demonstrate, Richard Ryan (right) faces his partner and encourages him to make the first move (1). When the opponent leads, Ryan slides in under his punch (2) and drives a side kick into his knee area (3).

Weapons and the Disparity of Force

Remember the scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark in which the man with the sword confronts Harrison Ford? He slashes the air in a frightening demonstration of martial skill. But instead of fighting him, Ford simply pulls out his pistol and drops him in his tracks.

In any serious fight with an extreme opponent, you should not hesitate to use a weapon. It is almost always justified legally and morally. And it's just plain smart. Weapons are the ultimate equalizer and should be foremost among your force options when you're facing an overwhelming threat. However, this article is not about the use of weaponry; it's about how to confront extreme opponents hand-to-hand.

A taller person, such as pro basketball player Mark West (left), will usually try to make distance his ally. He can stay out of his opponent's range and still connect with hand and foot strikes.

Understanding the Opposition

In the jungle, big lions eat little lions. That's generally true in the animal kingdom, but it's not always the case when the martial artists are part of the picture. In the world of man, little lions can have superior technique and tactics. Just because someone is bigger than you doesn't mean he is more powerful. That's because martial artists recognize that a difference exists between general strength and applied power.

In a fight, power can mean a lot of things. It can be the speed and leverage you use to create explosive strikes or the kind of raw power you use to wrestle or grapple. A martial artist of lesser strength may be more powerful than a larger opponent because he possesses superior technique and focus. Put simply, he applies his strength better.

Of course, bigger opponents have access to easier power. They have a greater mass that can be transferred into their actions. A 6-foot-2-inch fighter who tips the scale at 200 pounds does not have to work hard to generate a given amount of force, while a 5-foot-1-inch person who weighs 150 will have to work significantly harder to do the same. Boxers have a popular saying: A heavyweight's jab feels like a lightweight's knockout punch.

When it comes to throwing their weight around, big lions definitely have it easier than little lions. It follows that if you are smaller and wish to prevail, you must be on top of your game at all times. You must fight with everything you've got and be ready to take advantage of any opportunity that arises.

Superior Strategies

Smaller need not mean ineffective, especially on the street. When you deal with an extreme opponent, you should play it smart and approach him with a decisive strategy in mind. You must clearly understand what his advantages are and how he will try to use them.

If he is bigger and taller, his game will probably involve distance. It's a game you don't want to play. He will try to keep you at extended range and use his long limbs against you. If you trade punches with him at arm's length, he'll probably win.

The simplest strategy is to avoid direct contact with such an opponent, evade his power and attack his vital targets. Use footwork to control the distance as much as possible. Stay close enough to move in quick with a hard, penetrating attack and far enough away to slip out of range when you need to. Try to create the illusion that he can reach you, then draw him out for a sudden counter.

An average-sized martial artist can frustrate the defenses of a bigger opponent by continuously attacking where he least expects it. To illustrate, Richard Ryan (left) prepares to engage Mark West (1). As West punches, Ryan checks the fist (2) and slips underneath so he can safely slam a left cross into the other man's groin (3).	The martial artist must remain ready to crush a larger opponent in a heartbeat because a second chance to do so may not arise. Once on the offensive, he must go after the opponent until he is neutralized. Here, Richard Ryan (right) faces his adversary (1). Ryan feints to the body, which draws the other man's defenses down low (2). Ryan then surges forward, trapping the arm and finger jabbing the eyes (3).

If you perceive that he has poor technique or that he has power only on extension, go after him. Shield your vitals and drive forward. Crash through his defenses, plant yourself as close as possible and viciously attack anything that's open. Stay inside and don't let him slip away until you have finished him.

If he has good power and technique, closing on him is risky. His range affords him greater reaction time, as well as the safety of height and distance. If you telegraph your intentions or time your attack incorrectly, he'll swat you like a fly. It's better to try to draw him out. Get him to commit to an offensive move. Follow his foot or fist back to his body or head with a vicious counter-strike, or slip his attack and go around it for the same result.

If your opponent is dramatically bigger and taller, you can frustrate his defenses by continuously attacking where he least expects it. Everyone has openings when he attacks; a bigger opponent has bigger openings. If he strikes at your face, slip under his assault and hit his groin, or lean back and slam a powerful kick into his knee or shin. Then follow up. The idea is to hit whatever is open. He has more body surface to protect than you do, making diverse lines of attack more feasible. Once you connect with a solid strike, move in for the kill. Swarm him with power strikes to his vital targets especially to his head provided that you can reach it-or execute a balance attack and drop him to the ground where size doesn't matter for the most part.

Time Is of the Essence

If the fight drags on, it is imperative to gain his respect quickly. Hit him with everything you've got whenever you are in range. Punish him every time he gets close. If you teach him to respect your abilities, you can turn the tables on him. He may begin to fear you and thus make himself vulnerable to fakes, feints and deceptions. If he reacts to one good fake, you can open him up for a sudden knockout.

Whatever you do, be quick and decisive. When he has obvious genetic advantages, you cannot afford a prolonged fight. The disparity of force is too great. Make one mistake, and it will be over for you. From the moment the fight commences, you've got to stay ready to pounce and finish it at your first opportunity. Use your best weapons right away. Execute surgical strikes against his eyes, throat, groin, knees and head. If you can't reach any vitals, pound away at anything you can access with the most powerful strikes you can muster.

Never let yourself get out of position. You can't afford to. Remember that you don't know his technical capabilities; you know only that he's bigger and probably stronger than you are. Don't be surprised if he's faster or more powerful than he looks. Therefore, along with your basic strategy, you must also be ready to change tactics at a moment's notice. For example, you may be a great kicker and have plans to neutralize his height advantage using your legs; but if he can kick too, you're back to playing his game. You will have to adapt in a heartbeat.

The Challenge

The interesting thing about training to defend yourself against extreme opponents is that it pushes your techniques and tactics to the limits. It gives you a goal to work toward.
Fighters with significant natural advantages don't have to work as hard as those of us who lack such gifts. The good news is that this reality tends to make them lazy or sloppy. Their technique may not be razor sharp simply because it doesn't have to be to deal with most people.

That is why you have to understand their advantages and develop a concise strategy against them ahead of time. You've got to be ready to crush them in an instant because you may not get a second chance. Once they realize you are a serious threat, they will up the ante and focus the considerable power of their physical prowess against you.

Mental Component

The final facet of defeating bigger and stronger adversaries is psychological. Extreme opponents can be intimidating. But that's OK because it's natural to feel inferior when you're facing someone with a superior physique.

It is critical to approach them with a ruthless calm and tactical intelligence. Accept the fact that they're just a bigger tree to chop down and that they may take a little more work than your average opponent. Ignore their size and deal with them in a cold and calculated manner. Remember that in combat, it is actions, not appearances, that count.

About the author: Richard Ryan is the founder of Dynamic Combat™ and the designer of the Tactical Defense Training™ system for law enforcement. He has more than 30 years of experience in martial arts, combative firearms and weapons training. For more information, call (800) 945-4387.

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