Which foot forward?

[Nevada_MO_Guy]

Hi All,

Which foot is forward in your normal fighting stance? Are you right handed or left?

In my school, the normal fighting stance is left foot forward, right foot back and weight distributed evenly. Doesn't matter if your a righty or a lefty.
I'm right handed though.

Thanks.

[Scarlet Mist]

In my CLF school we begin with the right foot back. But in sparring I like my right foot forward because I'm a front legged kicker, and no one ever sees the left coming.

[Tika]

I usually start left foot forward. My legs are almost equal in power, but my right arm is much more powerfull then my left... And I have more balance issues kicking with my left leg:)....but I try to switch it up.

[Nrv4evr]

i normally go regular stance, although i am experienced with southpaw, so i can use it to my advantage in sparring.

[Mind Aflame]

according to a study I read in tournaments people suceed in attacking eqaully on either side but defeanding with the right leg forward isonly a third as effective as left forward. Don't ask me why, I only glanced over and that's one of the few bits I remembered.

[Nrv4evr]

according to a study I read in tournaments people suceed in attacking eqaully on either side but defeanding with the right leg forward isonly a third as effective as left forward. Don't ask me why, I only glanced over and that's one of the few bits I remembered.

probably because not many people are southpaws, msot fight regular, so if you attack a southpaw as a regular, ur timing is off a bit.

[NeonxBurst]

I feel dumb asking this, but what's a southpaw?

[Andy Murray]

I feel dumb asking this, but what's a southpaw?

Someone who is left handed, and fights off a right lead usually!

[NeonxBurst]

thanks for clearing that up Andy, now i feel a little smarter

[Nevada_MO_Guy]

I feel dumb asking this, but what's a southpaw?

In my class we start training against a right-handed attacker since 90% of the population is suppose to be Righties....and the other Lefties or Southpaws.
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=33170

[Nevada_MO_Guy]

I usually start left foot forward.

That is the way I start also.

What started my interest in the "starting" stance was just a buddy at work...I'll call him 'Bubba' :)

Well, Bubba was horsing around and said "Let's Get it On" like that announcer guy. So he got into his brawler stance (right foot forward) and I popped into my normal sparring stance (left foot forward) and the thing I noticed was...wow his knee is really close.

[shootodog]

it depends. i'm right handed but...

if we were plain striking, i'd go orthodox because that's what i was taught.

if we had sticks or knives or bolos, right foot forward, this brings the strongest weapon out to the nearest target the fastest.

if we were grappling, i don't matter which foot i lead with.

[dragon_bunny]

umm left foot forward for fighting :D
right foot forward for sword work.. else i tend to hit my left leg with the blade.. and that ain't going to end well :D

[neryo_tkd]

I start with my left foot forward but during a fight I use both stances depending on the situation of course.

[shorin_ru_girl]

For me it depends on if i'm going to punch alot or kick alot. To elaborate, my jabs with my right arm are faster and stronger but my kicks with my right leg are stronger on when i kick with the leg back... it is very odd... :P

[aikiwolfie]

It depends on the attack I'm expecting, but I prefer a more natural stance.

[USGR13]

I like to switch my stances wheres the option for both?

[citizenjhl]

personally i think that one should train in every stance and prepare for every situation. i feel that its all about being dynamic with my training.

[wild_pitch]

Being able to switch back and forth fluidly and attack / defend without having to favour one side or the other is what you should be shooting for.

[Paratus]

Generally I begin with right foot back, but sometimes switch with left foot foreward, usually depending on what kind of attack I want to start with or am expecting.
Handedness when it comes to sparring I'm equal in both. I'm right handed but only in respect to finer movements (eg writing, rolling a coin over my knuckles, etc.) other than that I use my left hand just as much as my right, including sparring.

[Kagebushi]

all depends on the situation. sword with a low stance- left foot fwd. sword with high stance-right foot fwd hand to hand-either. of course these have exceptions too.

[Kenpo Kicker]

I am a left sided right handed fighter :( . I like leads and jabs so I am trying to become right sided. I think it will take me years since I don't feel comfortable at all defensive wise.

[Nevada_MO_Guy]

Being able to switch back and forth fluidly and attack / defend without having to favour one side or the other is what you should be shooting for.

I agree. During class and sparring the left foot forward is necessary at least in the begining.

In sparring I'm loosening up more. I Start left foot forward, of course, then do a quick shift to right foot forward and throw a spinning rear kick.

[Kagebushi]

neccesary? what for? not trolling/flaming, im really curious.

[David]

I'm right-foot, right hand and I mean that in the sense that it's a southpaw stance and right-hander hands. Happy to switch but 2/3 of my training is that way around.

[NIKS]

I started off being a left footy, but when I started in big tourneys I had to be both, so now I'm both. I never really used one side of arms more than the other. Allways did both.

[Right_Hander73]

I always have my right foot forward.

[#1 Stutta]

I'm a righty, but I have my right forward in my stance. In my last TKD school, the instructor made us have our left foot forward.

[Nevada_MO_Guy]

neccesary? what for? not trolling/flaming, im really curious.

That is just how the sparring sessions start....I sometimes try to start with the right forward and I'm corrected. Left foot forward...it is like a rule.

In class we always start left foot forward, if they are not side by side. Do the kicks or punchs, then switch to right foot forward.

[Freeform]

Which ever one's closest at the time ;)

[Reiki]

Our standard kamae is left foot forward, I fight either in this or opposite kamae during sparring.

I like to mix them up to confuse my opponent anyway.

:yeleyes:
You didn't have an option for ambidexterous!!!!

I am ambidexterous!!

[jeff29053]

In my school, our standard Kumite Tachi is Left foot, and left hand forward, and standing in a sort of Hanme Kubi-dachi. It's actually quite effective is used properly. This is a personal favorite of my instructor, Sensei Tommy Hood (Winner of a Gold Medal in the "Titan Games" last february).

[booksie_girl]

I will start left foot foreward, right foot back, and I'm left handed. This is the stance I prefer, but I use both sides a lot, since I do TKD, and after kicking I usually end up swapping sides. That and the fact that girl I spar with most is a leftie and therefore prefers the other way. IT is not a good idea to be in the opposite stance to the person you are sparring with, or so I have found. Not for more than a fraction of a second, anyway.

[Nevada_MO_Guy]

standing in a sort of Hanme Kubi-dachi. It's actually quite effective is used properly.

Could you describe more? Thanks.

[ahkyte]

My School Requires Ambidextrous use of both hands and feet..... I have a preference to left foot forward and left hand attack... But try to shuffle about and vary during sparring.... right now im trying to train myself to launch kicks fast off of any foot be it front or back.. hopefully at the same time I can get rid of that nasty telepgraphing that I do, that always results in a front thrust kick to my chest :(, oh and learn to keep my guard... oh the list goes on :)

[Anonymouse]

Depending on the techniques Im going to use, I use both right and left stances, and even a square stance. Back spin kicks are usually done with my right foot planted, and rear roundhouses are the opposite. As far as punching goes, if I want weak jabs and a powerful cross, Ill go left hand forward, but if I want strong jabs and an ok cross, Ill switch it up. If Im using wing chun techniques, my right hand is always forward. Sort of weird, but its where Im the most comfortable.

[Lanakin]

At our TKD school, we were taught to keep your left leg forward and left hand forward, mainly because most people are right legged, so if your right side is hitting their left side, chances are, you're gonna be able to "Break" through. My opinion. I'm a yellow belt, what do I know. But when I spar, it could go either way.

[acarpe]

Depending on the techniques Im going to use, I use both right and left stances, and even a square stance. Back spin kicks are usually done with my right foot planted, and rear roundhouses are the opposite. As far as punching goes, if I want weak jabs and a powerful cross, Ill go left hand forward, but if I want strong jabs and an ok cross, Ill switch it up. If Im using wing chun techniques, my right hand is always forward. Sort of weird, but its where Im the most comfortable.
yeah, i know what you mean. wing chun techniques seem more comfortable for me in a southpaw or even square stance. however in a kb sparring environment i usually start regular but switch to southpaw halfway through as i prefer to have my strongest side defending me, and my right leg out there for launching fast kicks.

[gumby]

I'm left-handed and I normally spar with both sides forward, I like to mess people up a bit since most prefer left side forward.

[Nrv4evr]

when performing power kicks, i would fight regular, as for some reason, my left leg has more balance than my right. this allows me to generate great force, as my right leg is stronger anyway.

when performing speed kicks, i fight soutpaw, because my right leg is slightly more accurate than my left.