stance

[danfaggella]

In the ring of a pro MMA fight, stances seem pretty darn similar. It looks like allot of Muai Thai-like stances are used. There are plenty of other stances for fighting, especially in the chinese MA's. All the animals and all the principals and philosophies have come up with stuff that is in fact pretty interesting and practical. I would expect to see SOME of these stances, or some of these more "fluid, loose" movements in an MMA fight.

Is it just not useful?

Are all pro MMA guys just kickboxer brutes?

I'm confused, help a brother out.

thanks

[robertlee]

First Stance is ever changeing. But a set fighting stance is basic needs. Stance was developed in several needs. On a hill or slope a low set stances gives balance. But in the ring with a fighter infront of you you need a good gaurd and useable footwork. Just as some tools we train you find out in the ring they get you in a bad postion. Because they too do not work allways or even most the time. A person just needs good solid basics and a few well trained tools to fight. nothing fancy. Stance the same. And remember stance in action will be ever changing in foot work. Not fixed and motionless

[Hardball]

In the ring of a pro MMA fight, stances seem pretty darn similar. It looks like allot of Muai Thai-like stances are used. There are plenty of other stances for fighting, especially in the chinese MA's. All the animals and all the principals and philosophies have come up with stuff that is in fact pretty interesting and practical. I would expect to see SOME of these stances, or some of these more "fluid, loose" movements in an MMA fight.

Is it just not useful?

Are all pro MMA guys just kickboxer brutes?

I'm confused, help a brother out.

thanks

Stances are telegraphic and pros know it; thus they are trying NOT to telegraph.

[npk9]

Which stances are you talking about that are similair? And when during a bout do you see these stances??

[danfaggella]

i mean the starting stances, they all seem to apear to be almost just like MT/boxing stances, possably because these are the best? maybe these karate stances and KF stances are just traditional bull**** that doesnt function.

[npk9]

To my understanding - the "traditional" stances had a different function - the original function was exercise - not fighting. I agree the "traditional" stances have little use in the ring when it comes to application - it does tone the muscles though

[danfaggella]

im just bored with the same stances, maybe i am just frustrated watching MT/BJJ take over MMA.

[djcaldwell]

To my understanding - the "traditional" stances had a different function - the original function was exercise - not fighting. I agree the "traditional" stances have little use in the ring when it comes to application - it does tone the muscles though

Stances in KF all have purpose and application. As for peforming them in the ring...for the most part you are not going to break out into a Fuk Fu Sik stance in the middle of a fight. As with forms and such they are tools used to teach - their applications are multifold but not set in stone. A good fighter traditional or non will not be bound to shifting from stance to stance unless for a purpose.

HOWEVER, good basics as was pointed out earlier is essential. Without good basics and UNDERSTANDING of the technique it really won't matter much what you do in the ring. The stance you see most fighters in is a common boxers stance - Thai / American Boxing and even Wing Chun utilize a similar stance when fighting because it works.

[danfaggella]

thats what im beggining to think, there is a stance to end all stances (in general), and no others have more practicallity

[djcaldwell]

I didn't say that. Just that there is a more "universal" stance which is more appropriate when fighting. In Choi Lay Fut it's called Da Sik in Wing Chun it was our "Fukien Fighting Stance" - but what you will learn is that stances throughout styles are infact similar if not identical - it's their applications more that vary from one style to the next.

[npk9]

Stances in KF all have purpose and application. As for peforming them in the ring...for the most part you are not going to break out into a Fuk Fu Sik stance in the middle of a fight. As with forms and such they are tools used to teach - their applications are multifold but not set in stone. A good fighter traditional or non will not be bound to shifting from stance to stance unless for a purpose.

HOWEVER, good basics as was pointed out earlier is essential. Without good basics and UNDERSTANDING of the technique it really won't matter much what you do in the ring. The stance you see most fighters in is a common boxers stance - Thai / American Boxing and even Wing Chun utilize a similar stance when fighting because it works.

I agree with you there - it just seems that a number of people are under the impression that because the form dictates a deep stance then that is what it should be. Believing that alone is suicidal.

[danfaggella]

I didn't say that. Just that there is a more "universal" stance which is more appropriate when fighting. In Choi Lay Fut it's called Da Sik in Wing Chun it was our "Fukien Fighting Stance" - but what you will learn is that stances throughout styles are infact similar if not identical - it's their applications more that vary from one style to the next.

well i dont know, at least not in some stances i have seen. I have seen plenty of karate/KF stances (plenty of examples in this Long Fist Kung Fu book I am looking at) where the stances are extreemly strange, with crossed legs, standing on one leg, having arms way up high or at knee level, havinf hips elevated as high as the legs will take them and hips as low as they can go, so varied, so seemingly interesting, and so seemingly pointless in practical fighting>?

[djcaldwell]

Books and videos are great IF you have a good foundation and understanding to work with.

Otherwise, as you said you are going to look at long fist forms which probably utilize stances such as bow and arrow and stealing step (cross stance) which in viewing seem impractical. However, again without understanding the application of each I would expect them to seem almost foolish.

However, for an example utiliing the one leg stance (crane) a simple application for that stance is say you are in whatever your normal fighting stance is and someone goes to sweep the leg...you lifted yours into crane thus avoiding the sweep and positioning yourself for a strike of your own immediately.

That is just a very simple explanation but each stance serves a purpose. What style are you learning now?

[djcaldwell]

I agree with you there - it just seems that a number of people are under the impression that because the form dictates a deep stance then that is what it should be. Believing that alone is suicidal.

You are right about that it is a popular misconception which normally once a person passes a certain level in training they realize that "Hey staying in a stance like this will be the death of me."

Unfortunately, without the proper instruction and/or understanding that belief goes unchecked which also leads to that famous other misconception that Traditional Chinese Martial Artists can't fight because they are too busy working stances.

As for the full contact - you're in PA and I'm in NY I always love a sparring match especially with people from other styles because it allows us to learn more about ourselves, build defense and help each other out to better our skills. If you're ever in NY I would have no problem hooking up.

[danfaggella]

i want to see more Chinese martial art in action. so badly i do, all i ever see is Shao Lin guys beating on bricks or doing backflips off thier heads. there are plenty of demonstrations but i never see chinese striking arts put to the test, even if its just against another KF guy.

i see so much kickboxing and boxing and i always wonder what chinese arts look like out of demonstration.

come to think of it, i want to see karate of any kind put to action in the same sence, i never see it out of demonstrations!

CAN YOU POINT ME IN THE DIRECTION OF SOME FOOTAGE?!

also, right now I'm doing BJJ, but i'm pretty new. Not that im really inexpereinced, me and my boys have been submission grappling for a while now, but im new to the "dojo" environment, though i like it, it has knowledgable people. I plan to work a little MT in the same establishment, i figure since they offer it i should partake, even though i am SICK of the following equation:

MMA = BJJ + MT