Which wushu style is best for tall people?

Answer 1

wing chun is a close combat fighting style made by master ip, it based on hand movements and fist attacks long arms would do very well in this , but it is one of the hardest kung fu styles to master.

Wing Chun was created for little people, it was created by a little woman to deal with bigger men... therefore it is more aptly suited to those trying to deal with those long-armed people. It's about leverage- the shorter the lever, the better the wing chun--the shorter the arm the more powerful the lever--the same is true of southern (and to a lesser degree) northern mantis kung fu styles.

Wing chun only has 3 hand forms, all of which involve very little complexity in the lower body--ie it's somewhat easier to grasp when there are fewer things to focus on, such as swivels, advanced kicks, old school kung fu postures, etc.

The best kung fu for a tall person is certainly not wing chun, or any sort of southern kung fu. I would recommend shaolin, right from the temple. It has a huge diversity of movement, including an array of long kicks and long-armed punches, not to mention many practicing monks are of a taller stature. I'd recommend doing some YouTube research, but shaolin is a top-notch contender.

Answer 2

The whole "long arms are perfect for grappling" is a myth. Going to the ground is dangerous for a tall and lanky person. Long legs are easy to shoot into, and getting off your back fast enough with long limbs is a sad sight. Their center of gravity is further from the ground, so not only are they easier thrown off balance, they land harder. Their physiques are better suited for a striker. The sharp elbows and knees are perfect for Muay Thai, and if you have long limbs, why not put them to good use with the long distance strikes of TKD?

The exact opposite goes for a short and stocky person. Grappling comes more naturally as submission maneuvers that are applied with short bulky arms can generate more torque with little effort. A lower center of gravity means less likely to be thrown around, and short arms and legs means easy movement when on all fours (i.e. dogs and cats).

This of course is meant for those who seek to specialize in either grappling or striking and is based on physics and not the skills of individuals; Tyson was shorter than most of his opponents but was a fantastic striker, and almost every Gracie was taller than his opponent yet was good on the ground. It never hurts to learn both sides of the spectrum.