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Khun Kao · 04-07-2003, 11:04 AM

terry...

I think it is just a difference of terminology, because we seem to all be saying the same things. I'll try explaining what I mean with the stances, though. I'll apologize in advance for the differences in terminology.

BOXING STANCE: weight distribution is 50/50. You are in a slight crouch so that you head is ahead of your 'centerline' towards your lead knee. Your guard is held tight to your body, elbows in to protect your ribs, and hands by the side of your jaw. Your feet are parallel and at an angle to your opponent. Your body, too, is at a angle to your opponent. As mentioned by both 'patience' and 'chalambok'. Usually about a 45 degree turn, sometimes deeper.

This stance favors Boxing techniques over kicking. As an example, I like to use this stance against someone who is either mobile, or has a reach advantage over me. It enables me to move around my opponent easily and use my hands to lead into my kicks. The reason why I like to do this is because I do not have fast kicks. So I like to use my Boxing to setup my Kicks and other techniques.

Successful Thai fighters who used this stance were Gan-Sak and Samson Isaan.

KICKING STANCE: weight distribution varies from 50/50 up to 70/30. The body is held upright with your weight on your back foot. Your head is either over your 'centerline' , or just slightly behind in towards your rear foot. The front foot is kept 'light', and often the boxer will 'tap' it up and down. This 'tapping' motion serves the purpose of keeping the foot in motion so that when the foot/leg needs to be moved, it is easier to do so. This tapping can also serve as a distraction to mask your intentions from your opponent.

The front foot is usually pointed straight forward, and the back foot is pointed outwards at an angle. Though this stance is typically less mobile than the Boxing Stance, you can also move/dance around your opponent effectively from this stance. Fighters using this stance typically stand more squared up to their opponents, with their bodies at less than a 45 degree angle to their adversary. This stance favors kicking first, leading into boxing. Especially lead leg push kicks and round kicks as setups for rear leg kicks.

Successful Thai fighters who used this stance were Ananda-Sak and Rambah M-16.

Mostly every other stance falls somewhere between these two extremes. Most fighters seem to favor one variation of the stance over the others, while some change their stance to suit their needs. It really depends on how you are comfortable fighting.

As an example, I have listed Rambah M-16 above as a fighter who used a kicking stance. I have listed him because when he was at kicking range, his stance was textbook perfect. But, when he closed the distance and got inside kicking range, he would switch to a Boxing stance.

Khun Kao

04-07-2003, 11:04 AM	#11 (permalink)
Khun Kao Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 847 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	terry... I think it is just a difference of terminology, because we seem to all be saying the same things. I'll try explaining what I mean with the stances, though. I'll apologize in advance for the differences in terminology. BOXING STANCE: weight distribution is 50/50. You are in a slight crouch so that you head is ahead of your 'centerline' towards your lead knee. Your guard is held tight to your body, elbows in to protect your ribs, and hands by the side of your jaw. Your feet are parallel and at an angle to your opponent. Your body, too, is at a angle to your opponent. As mentioned by both 'patience' and 'chalambok'. Usually about a 45 degree turn, sometimes deeper. This stance favors Boxing techniques over kicking. As an example, I like to use this stance against someone who is either mobile, or has a reach advantage over me. It enables me to move around my opponent easily and use my hands to lead into my kicks. The reason why I like to do this is because I do not have fast kicks. So I like to use my Boxing to setup my Kicks and other techniques. Successful Thai fighters who used this stance were Gan-Sak and Samson Isaan. KICKING STANCE: weight distribution varies from 50/50 up to 70/30. The body is held upright with your weight on your back foot. Your head is either over your 'centerline' , or just slightly behind in towards your rear foot. The front foot is kept 'light', and often the boxer will 'tap' it up and down. This 'tapping' motion serves the purpose of keeping the foot in motion so that when the foot/leg needs to be moved, it is easier to do so. This tapping can also serve as a distraction to mask your intentions from your opponent. The front foot is usually pointed straight forward, and the back foot is pointed outwards at an angle. Though this stance is typically less mobile than the Boxing Stance, you can also move/dance around your opponent effectively from this stance. Fighters using this stance typically stand more squared up to their opponents, with their bodies at less than a 45 degree angle to their adversary. This stance favors kicking first, leading into boxing. Especially lead leg push kicks and round kicks as setups for rear leg kicks. Successful Thai fighters who used this stance were Ananda-Sak and Rambah M-16. Mostly every other stance falls somewhere between these two extremes. Most fighters seem to favor one variation of the stance over the others, while some change their stance to suit their needs. It really depends on how you are comfortable fighting. As an example, I have listed Rambah M-16 above as a fighter who used a kicking stance. I have listed him because when he was at kicking range, his stance was textbook perfect. But, when he closed the distance and got inside kicking range, he would switch to a Boxing stance. Khun Kao __________________ Kru Brooks C. Miller GCA MuayThai Board of Advisors USMTA Director of DC, MD, and VA http://khunkao.com/