SW Portland Martial Arts Blog

Tonight in sparring class we experimented with fighting from a lead versus fighting from a side facing stance.  A lead is definitely the more common stance, the one you will typically see in a boxing or MMA match.  I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a side facing stance in a boxing match (although I’m sure someone has done it) because of how severly it limits your ability to throw a cross.  And in MMA, it isn’t super common either but it does crop up when you see people setting up to throw a spinning strike.

So why drill something so unusual?  Well, if you don’t try it out, you’ll never know if it works for you.  The side stance, on the offensive end, can provide opportunities for a side kick and any number of spinning techniques.  On the defensive end, it limits the targets that your opponent has access to.  One risk of the side stance is that if your opponent blitzes you, it can be tough to muster an effective defense.  Another problem is (at least for me), it is harder to stay fluid with footwork (compared to a lead).

Another good reason to drill the side stance is that there are some good fighters who can and will utilize the side stance as an effective part of their game.  If you don’t drill it at all, it will come as a surprise when someone uses it on you effectively.

You don’t want your sparring partner knowing that you’re going to attack, do you?  Probably not.  In which case, one method you can use to disguise your attacks is to try and make them move weapon first.

Weapon first means: if you are punching, move the fist first.  If you are kicking, move the foot first.  Sounds simple enough.  It is simple.  It isn’t easy but it is simple.  One of the best ways to achieve this weapon first idea is to have a partner watch you strike.  Standing across from you, they simply name the piece of your body that they see move first when you attack.  If they say “hand” when you punch, you got it!  If they say “head” or “hip” or anything except “hand” then something else moved first and that means you are giving your sparring partner information that they can use to spot your attack early.

Another name for weapon first is independent motion.  The ultimate test of any fighting principle is, of course, does it do anything when you work against an actively resisting opponent?