[Freestyle/Sporting MA] Foot Position in sparing?

[Van_the_cookie_man]

Which way do you point your foot in sparing? Is it imortant? I have heard several different things. I point my foot in the direction my stomach/chest is facing.

[Disaster Master]

There are no hard and fast rules, but I suggest you point your lead foot at the other person’s center.

[hwarang]

depends on your sparring stance...

i spar almost side on - my feet are pointed about 45degrees from the direction that i am facing.

i'm not sure about pointing my lead foot at the opponent's centre...to me it seems to slow your lead foot's reaction time, because your heel is kinda pushed out a bit from a natural position (correct me if i'm wrong Disaster Master)

[Disaster Master]

Like you said hwarang, "depends on your sparring stance..."

It works for me but my stance is more squared off than yours.

[booj]

Indeed its down to personal preference. I preferred a horseriding style stance, with the feet angled slightly forward. This minimizes target area and is perfect to launch into hand techniques.

[ap Oweyn]

Originally posted by booj
Indeed its down to personal preference. I preferred a horseriding style stance, with the feet angled slightly forward. This minimizes target area and is perfect to launch into hand techniques.

Well, it minimizes target area in something like fencing. My big concern with a side on stance is that it gives an opponent too much access to your back. And the idea of getting suplexed by a wrestler (e.g., Dan Severn dumping that poor muay thai guy not once but twice) or stabbed in the kidneys with a knife just doesn't sit right.

As for the original question, I use a relatively squared stance. So I can sprawl, land a good cross, etc. That opens the groin up. As a counter to that, I try to turn my lead foot inward a bit (rather than have my toes point toward the bad guy). It angles your knee inward a bit as well, shielding your jumblies a bit more. Also, I feel like it protects the knee a bit more from low kicks that way.


Stuart B.

[moondog]

like disaster master said there are no rules... if your lead foot is pointing toward the direction you're facing try to turn it inwards a bit to protect the groin... this works for some people.. it really does depend on your stance and your tendency as a fighter... aggressive fighters tend to put weight on their front leg, counterfighters on both, and defensive fighters on the back leg

[chungmoomonkey]

my feet are every were its not good to be flatfooted in a mach unless ur trying to be a counter fighter but i am always moving at first jumping in and out then after a wilke ( get tired ) just walking around in circles
my friend ryan has no limet to his energy he simply lets u attack and attack and he doges and runs u around the room and as soon as u get sloppy and agrevated and tired he jumps on ya

[Kenpo Kicker]

My front leg is always pointed towards my opponent. My sparring stance will change durring sparring. It is hard for me to describe my stances since I cannot see myself and they are all custom stances when sparring at or dojang. I think my secondary stance resembles karate with both feet pointed towards my opponent and chest facing more than my primary stance (good for take downs and up close fighting). I will fight sometimes with my right side forwards but it feels wierd. It has different techniques and is more offensive and lacks defense.

[Tattooed Bear]

If your front foot is pointed at your opponent, you're open for a groin kick and worse, for your leg to be snapped in half at the knee. I often wonder how much the stances would change in mma if groin strikes were legal.

[Kenpo Kicker]

lol, thats very true about mma.

[Guy Mendiola]

If your front foot is pointed at your opponent, you're open for a groin kick and worse, for your leg to be snapped in half at the knee. I often wonder how much the stances would change in mma if groin strikes were legal.unless you block and take the hit with your shin.

[booj]

Well, it minimizes target area in something like fencing. My big concern with a side on stance is that it gives an opponent too much access to your back. And the idea of getting suplexed by a wrestler (e.g., Dan Severn dumping that poor muay thai guy not once but twice) or stabbed in the kidneys with a knife just doesn't sit right.

As for the original question, I use a relatively squared stance. So I can sprawl, land a good cross, etc. That opens the groin up. As a counter to that, I try to turn my lead foot inward a bit (rather than have my toes point toward the bad guy). It angles your knee inward a bit as well, shielding your jumblies a bit more. Also, I feel like it protects the knee a bit more from low kicks that way.


Stuart B.


Well I was referring to competitive freestyle, and NOT too any form of MMA or streetfighting...This is the Freestyle forum after all!

[ap Oweyn]

Well I was referring to competitive freestyle, and NOT too any form of MMA or streetfighting...This is the Freestyle forum after all!

No need to get cranky, pal.

I wasn't aware that "freestyle" referred to a particular format. Certainly not specifically to pointsparring. I was under the impression that "freestyle" meant just that. Free of style. If it refers specifically to sport karate and that sort of format, then I don't have any advice for you. Never liked the format.

[booj]

Sorry Mr Oweyn,

I aint getting cranky...I guess your right, the forum is Freestyle/Sporting Martial Arts, so any 'style' in which one can compete in what would be considered to be a 'sporting' environment is probably fair game.

Not sure of a sporting situation where one might risk getting stabbed in the Kidneys though! - Bar billiards perhaps?

[ap Oweyn]

No mate, you're probably right. Freestyle probably does refer to something specific now that I think about it. There's an MMA forum already. I should have reasoned that this forum referred to something different. Mea culpa.

:)

[booj]

No worries mate. As you say, the aforementioned horse riding stance aint good for much apart from sport freestyle..except for maybe riding a huge steed bareback!

[erikido]

No mate, you're probably right. Freestyle probably does refer to something specific now that I think about it. There's an MMA forum already. I should have reasoned that this forum referred to something different. Mea culpa.

:)

I feel all warm and fuzzy inside. :D

[ap Oweyn]

I feel all warm and fuzzy inside. :D

Probably time to stop freebasing Nyquil. :)

[pimphand]

When it comes to foot positioning in Freestyle karate, I take my lead from 'Enter the Dragon' and Hann's tournament.

Here we are presented with the various styles of a surfit of the age's true masters.
Personally I favour the slow and methodical approach of Roper, whereby he stands very square on, lulling the opponent in before delivering a deadly sidekick, only a fraction above knee height. With Roper his whole game is based around 'excellence of execution'.

Mr Williams, however, employs a narrower stance, allowing a greater freedom of movement over the fighting area. Although, it must be said that his style favous the more athletically gifted of us, so certainly should only be employed by those confident in their own abilities. It is indeed his unorthodox, but effective, style that sees him progress so well after a shaky start to the tournament.

Ohara's 'win at all costs' attitude is disappointing to me, and I am sure that Bob Wall took stock after his routing by Lee and hopefully adjusted his mindset sufficiently to take defeat in the humle manner that Bushido instills in us all.

[ap Oweyn]

DEFINITELY time for you to stop freebasing the Nyquil. :)

[pimphand]

No nyquil in my neighbourhood friend....... all real bricks and boards, nothing phoney about any of it.

[ap Oweyn]

No nyquil in my neighbourhood friend....... all real bricks and boards, nothing phoney about any of it.

So you really take your inspiration from the fighting styles of the characters in EtD?

Huh.

[Kwajman]

My preferred foot position in sparring is in the chest of my opponent. :D

[booj]

LOL at Kwajman - nice one bro!

[chang_jon]

Fott positioning should be economical and aggresive. MMA fights are very tiresome and rewquire alot of energy and concentration, the last thing you really want to be worrying is your footwork. You must make sure it is simple, no jumping just slide stepping to make sure you have a very good base. It should be always aggresive as an aggresive stance catches people of guard and always provides openings.