Effective fighting stance against an opponent

Learn fighting stances to use against your opponent. A black belt gives detailed instruction on assuming a proper and affective fighting stance.

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Effective fighting stance against an opponent

The fighting stance is just what it sounds to be. It is martial arts stance used for fighting an opponent be it on the street or in a tournament ring.

Assuming you, the reader, are right-handed, the following instructions will explain the proper positions for your body, legs, feet, arms and fists. If you are left handed, simply do the same in mirror image.

Most people prefer having their strongest side forward, so, being right handed, you would turn your right side to your opponent. Your desire is to give the person you are fighting as small a target as possible so keep your side in a straight line with your chest at a ninety-degree angle to your opponent.

For a strong fighting stance, you will need a firm foundation. To accomplish this you will need to have your feet a shoulder width apart and well under you. It is important that while doing this you don't lock your knees. Having them slightly bent will allow you to move more quickly and easily. It will also guard against your opponent throwing a low placed kick that could cause permanent injury to your knee. Keep this in mind if you are in a life-threatening situation though. If an attacker's knee can't support him, he will be unable to fight or chase you.

Your weight should be evenly distributed between the balls of both feet. Being on the balls of the feet will also give you the advantage of speed in your movement. Whenever moving stay on the balls and move in a circular motion. Make sure both feet are on the ground before trying to execute a punch, block, or kick. Keep your steps close to the ground almost sliding your feet. Two fingers placed on the chest of a person in between steps can actually push someone off their feet and onto the floor.

Check your stance to make sure your hips are at a 90-degree angle to your opponent. It is very easy to allow your hips to turn forward which then causes the upper body to follow. An example of this would be on the face of a clock. If your hips and chest were facing twelve o'clock, then your opponent would be at three o'clock.

Shoulders should be square over the hips and the back should be straight. Whenever fighting an opponent, try to keep your shoulders and head back. By leaning into the punch you leave your head wide open for a retaliatory strike as well as shifting your center of gravity. This shift in gravity can cause you to become extremely off balance and give your opponent an unwelcome advantage. You may not feel your center of gravity has become off until your attacker has thrown a good punch or has time to grab your hand after you have executed one of your own. If your center is off, you could easily find yourself on your rear looking up at your opponent. If you are in a tournament ring, the judges will simply call break and allow you to get up. If you are in a life threatening street fight, you may never get up again.

Your head should be turned to face your opponent with your right fist up and just under your eye level. Your elbows are kept close to the body and the arm is in a parallel line with your side. By keeping this arm directly in front of and close to your side, you are effectively blocking hits to your side, rib cage and other areas. It also allows you to block both your front and back. This arm placement will take a great deal of practice so you don't flap your elbows like a chicken every time you attempt a punch. Many instructors will have new students practice all hits and blocks with foam hand pads between their bodies and arms. If a student drops a pad in class, he or she could be looking at fifty or more sit-ups or push-ups. After the second or third round of punishment exercises, most people begin to take arm placement very seriously.

While your right arm is defending your side, your left shouldn't just hang there. Bring it up in front of your body with the fist up around your chin. Your elbow is bent and also kept close to the body to protect your chest and abdomen areas. You are also set up to throw and affective reverse punch off the rear hand.

Whenever you are fighting remember the golden rules, keep only your side facing your opponent, keep your guard up at all times, arms and elbows close to your body and never forget you have two hands to fight and block with.

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