Is There A True Or Proper Karate, Mma Or Street-fighting Stance???

We think NOT!

We think NOT!

There are many forms of fighting and / or types of martial arts, sport or street fighting styles. However when it all comes down to the actual act of fighting or utilizing self-defense motion or techniques, it all really boils down to one thing. The base! Every teacher, trainer or instructor seems to constantly be reviewing this since the bottom line is in a violent or potentially violent encounter, without the base, you have nothing. We talk about all the "sexy-cool stuff" that you like to do, or train daily to use goes out the door when you're on the ground and getting the"boot kiss." Or if you have a group of people doing the pile on beating.

No one today wants to be on the ground and even extremely well-known ground fighters are now trying to teach more standup tactics due to the multiple attacker option. Regardless of how successful a system is, it's kind of tough to tell a group of aggressors, "you wait now and I'll be glad to fight you one-on-one." (Ok, we're here to hurt, mug, rob, or harass you. I'll wait. Do I have to take a number and get in line? LOL!) This is not a viable option, regardless of how great one may be in gentle art of persuasion, just because a person is more comfortable on the ground and knows that two or more vs. one on the ground is a BAD-BAD situation.

So back to the base!

Regardless of style, art, system or no system the base boils down to three possible options when you really look into the details.

The first option is the traditional "boxers" stance. This is a very solid old school base, squared off in the shoulder, split weight (50-50), sometimes (60-40) with the added weight on the front foot. Normally feet/toes pointed forward (12:00) with the guard up covering the chest, fists tightly clenched and chin tucked. The legs are normally spread out shoulder width or so and the comfort level of the fighter will determine how far apart the feet are usually based on the length of one's legs. The spine is generally erect, however this "boxers" stance in also utilized by some wrestling and / or grappling /jiu-jitsu styles with the difference being the spine and shoulders are more rounded or flexed. The reason for this being that the fighter is looking for the grab to take-down as soon as possible.

The second option is the "side" stance. This too is a very solid base however MUCH different from the "boxers" stance. Since here the feet are on the same line with the toes turned to the side (3:00) for example. If you can picture standing on a circus high-wire but with the feet turned totally to one side or another. The length or depth of the legs are normally shoulder and a half or even two shoulders apart. The guard is usually a high and low type and hands positioned to the front or (12:00) position where the opponent would be facing. The weight is normally distributed equally as well (50-50), but can be shifted since this side stance favors the kickers strength- the front leg. The kicks come VERY, VERY fast and the chest is totally sideways and not of a concern, but the hands can still be utilized with some shifting and adjusting.

The third and final stance is more of a "hybrid" stance. And this is being seen more and more recently since it's a split more or less of the two. The feet are at a 45 degree angle (1:30). The weight is split equally (50-50). The legs are spread out in a front foot toe to rear foot heal alignment. And the depth or length of the legs are normally based on dropping the rear knee to the ground and aligning it to the front heel, thus giving a more relaxed base. The guard is a high-low type with either fists or open hands. The reason behind this being that the dynamic scenario may call for a strike to go immediately into a clinch or grappling position, whether up or down. Blocks can still be efficient and effective in the open hand positions with practice and safety being given to the finger jam. This stance gives quick access to both hands and legs.

So if all three stances are certainly viable and solid and used continually, why discuss them in detail? Dissection of the base is important since it tells us a lot about how one trains, their strengths and weaknesses, pros and cons, as well as tradition. THEN if you are training regularly, you can then begin to see how to counter and/or deal with the basic three styles of fighters.

Good stuff?

It"s a start. More to come!

by: Jeff

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