striking for combat sports

[Coach Al-mulla]

Hello Tribe.

I just wanted to know what the tribe thinks about the issue of "stance fixation" (trying to maintain a particular stance) and do you train to be more adaptable? And if so how?

As for me, after starting some soft work-training(thanks to coach Murdock) i really started to realize that "stance fixation" is a problem with my striking for the following reasons:
1-You loose relative speed because you have to constantly re-adjust when the stance is not suitable for the situation.

2-You become more predictable.

3-You loose your integration of breathing movement and structure because your trying to force a particular structure rather than letting your structure manifest from the proper alignment of breathing and movement.

4-It becomes harder to go from striking to grappling and the opposite.

5-You get tiered faster because of the moments of disintegration of movement breathing and structure.
6- And it’s harder to recover from the unknown when you have to recover to a particular stance.

I am not saying that I am not going to take a stance I am just saying that I am much more effective when I allow my stance to change as my movement and breathing do and be able to function regardless of the stance not because of it.

Training methods I have used:
-Shock absorption (specially the rocky drill)
-when shadow-boxing I try to throw long combinations and allow my stance(structure) to adjust as needed.
- Shadow boxing and pro-actively changing my stance (structure) allowing my movement and breath to follow.


let me know what you think :idea:

[Scott Sonnon]

The problem with traditional martial art is that the traditions learned and retaught are sometimes misunderstood principles.

A stance is a system, not a technique. Stances were never meant to be maintained like in the developmental drills. People who are beginning a particular art stand for long duration in a "horse stance" and assume that it is the position "held" for fighting. There is nothing held in a fight. Nothing, not your body, not your mind, not your emotions, should be anywhere in particular. No attachments. (Think of holding a stance as GPP.)

A Western (or Eastern European, which is more of my experience) boxing stance is a system of departing from and returning to a delivery system for power: power from gravitational marriage, power from the structural support of the Earth, and power from the rotational explosion of my body, not to mention more subtle powers which require more profound explanation. The stance is never 'fixed' - never held.

The analogy for a stance is a ground position. The 'guard' is not a fixed position. People work hours of shrimping drills (among many other drills), but no one lays on their back, legs spread, with the intent of holding that fixed position. It's a delivery system of power.

Traditional martial arts have accumulated educational barnacles - little add-ons which have nothing to do with the actual purpose of the ship. After awhile, so many little barnacles attach themselves that not only does the it become impossible to know the difference between the ship and the barnacles, but the ship itself becomes un-maneuverable and sinks under the weight.

[Coach Al-mulla]

thanks for your insight coach

[Ryan Murdock]

It's useful to ask why one would adopt a particular stance or structure. Generally one does so in order to more efficiently receive force, or to more powerfully apply force. Problems happen when the stiff crust of traditionalism solidifies something that should be adaptable and makes it into a museum piece.

Breaking up the crust of traditional approaches to "stance" and structure will be the focus of one of my upcoming DVD projects, due in 2006.

[KD Jones]

This is a project I will be looking forward to VERY enthusiastically. The issues surrounding stance drive me crazy... all the while knowing that it cannot possibly be so intricate as it is made to be. This one issue - which becomes a fixation - appears to me to be the defeat of many people who would otherwise do quite well.

So, you have the potential to do a lot of people a LOT of good here, I think. I hope it goes well, I hope it's a fulfilling project for you, and I'm looking forward to your work.

[Scott Sonnon]

Ryan's project will be as monumentally revolutionary as Brandon's IMA. I assure you that the martial art world will be both turned on its head, and finally placed back on its feet. You have no idea.

[Ryan Murdock]

Thanks KD :D This is just one in a related series of projects I'm working on. Expect the first installment by spring :wink:

Big things are happening at RMAX these days. 2006 is set to be a revolutionary year. 8)

[TJohn]

Hello

I think this post has very much hit the nail on the head.

I too have struggled with stance plus with a background in CMA and boxing trying to apply things but ending up in frustation!! Will be interesting to see what things have come up with from their research.

Tyrrel