The Three Types of Stances in Kickboxing

Before a student of kickboxing starts to get introduced to the punching and kicking side of kickboxing. it is important for him / her to understand how they stand and how they move. Getting this aspect correct will make a huge difference to your ability and will help you build good foundations that will hold you in good stead through many years of training. Think of your kickboxing training like building a house. If the foundation of the house is strong, it will last for a long time and be able to weather any storm or hurricane. If on the other hand, the foundations are weak, then the house which may appear to be sturdy from outside may simply crumble with the first gust of wind. Remember that developing good foundation skills is much more important than any other aspects of your kickboxing training and if you neglect this then you will fail to excel in the future.

The Stances

A good stance is very important to a kick-boxer because it helps with attack and defense abilities but also helps with weight distribution, balance and movement. If your stance is not good, then a good attack from an opponent can finish the fight. If your stance is good then it will help you to defend and absorb an attack and help you to move quickly, counter faster and deliver knock-out power.

There are many ways to stand and over a period of time you can develop your preferred stance. Though in order to stay versatile while you move from kicks to punches to evasions and counters you will need to stay flexible in your position and will have to switch from one stance to another during a fight.

The Basic Stances

If you have just started kickboxing training either at an institute or with a personal kickboxing trainer, get a feel for the stances listed here by doing them in front of a mirror. Do ensure that you are paying good attention to gaps in your defence. See how the particular stance feels like to you. Make a transition between stances and try and incorporate them with the footwork drills that your trainer will show you. The usual rule in kickboxing is that you usually lead with your weaker side and your stronger side is the one that is pushed to the rear. If you are right handed then your left side will go in front and your right side is in the rear.

The Front Stance

This is a popular stance when you are mostly using your hands or front facing kicks. The feet are positioned shoulder width apart with the weight evenly distributed between both your legs. The front and back leg are evenly spaced and the rear foot will be resting on the ball of your feet. The lead hand is in front of the face and the lead shoulder is raised up to protect the chin. The rear hand rests on the other side of the chin and your elbows will be tucked in tightly to your body. Also you must shrug your shoulders in order to add more protection to your neck and to prevent whiplash injuries when receiving head blows. This stance is perfect for close-range fighting when you need to punch. But if it is used against a good kicker in the kicking range, it may not be so effective. Below are pictures of the stance in front and side view.

The Angled Stance

This stance works well for angular kicks like round kicks, spinning kicks and axe kicks. The stance also helps you to access the major punch and hand techniques. This stance also limits the target area that is available to your opponent making it ideal for mid and long range fights. Compared to the front stance, the distance between the feet is shorter. The feet is almost on the same line and the rear leg is positioned directly underneath the body. The weight distribution is 30 % on the front leg and 70 % on the rear leg. The body is turned slightly to one side exposing more of the lead shoulder than the rear shoulder. The lead hand is down and offers a different sort of shield for the body. The chin is also tucked away behind the lead shoulder. This stance can help you for long-range fighting and has the added advantage of hand availability for close range fighting. This stance can also offer better protection against a good kicker provided the chin is kept protected with the lead shoulder. The stance also allows for explosive attacking with the kicks due to the enhanced weight distribution.

The Side Stance

As the name implies this stance involves the body being completely on the side. This stance is a favourite of freestyle fighters because it exposes minimum target area to an adversary and allows for fast explosive movements, particularly the back fist and side kick. Used well, this stance can deflect rear attacking techniques like cross punches or rear leg static kicks. Both the feet are in the same line and the body is turned totally side on. The chin is tucked away behind the lead shoulder and the lead arm is positioned down and across the front of the body in order to add protection to this area of the body. The rear hand can be positioned on the other side of the chin or in front of the chin resting on the lead shoulder while the elbows are tucked in tight to the body.

These three stances do not work in isolation but work in combination with each another. The key is to be able to move seamlessly from one stance to the other as quickly and as smoothly as possible. Regardless of which part of your training you are currently working on such as bag work,  sparring, focus pads and so on, you will need to have the ability to transition between the stances based on your position, your intended technique, the energy you are expending and the energy you are receiving. Also remember to stay relaxed as you move. If you tense up and stay fixed in your position, it will limit your ability to move and also add resistance to your movements. This will have the overall effect of slowing you down. The stances that I have shown above are only an indicator and a reference point for you to stand correctly. The idea is to use stance in a realistic manner when you train so that you can develop the stances in a way that is comfortable for you!

If you are looking for a kickboxing coach either in private or group, I would be happy to coach you. Do give us a call on 98206 07875 for further information.

Bio

Naazil Nadaf is one of Wellintra’s best kickboxing coaches. He is a National Boxing player in addition to being a Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NIS) Boxing Coach. A highly dedicated trainer, Naazil has the ability to to prepare a player so as to gain optimum performance in championships and in tournaments. Naazil  also works with the Thane District Boxing Association as Youth Commission Chairman and writes articles on kickboxing for the Wellintra Fitness Blog.