Evolution of the kyokushin fighting stance.

[cross]

Various fighting stances are discussed fairly regularly, one of interest is the evolution of the kyokushin fighting stance, which shares alot of parallels with the evolution of the boxing stance from bare knuckle days to now.

Mas Oyama the found of kyokushin is pictured in what he taught has the kyokushin fighting stance:

http://www.unitedkyokushin.com/images/Masoyama.jpg

In his book "essential karate" he notes that the foot position is in neko-ashi-dachi(cat stance).

Akiyoshi Matsui, the current head of kyokushin is pictured in the modern position taught and you can easily see the resemblance to a modern boxing stance:

http://www.kyokushinresults.freeserve.co.uk/Pages/Profiles/Photos/Matsui.gif

Its interesting to note that one of the main reasons sighted for the evolution of the boxing guard is that due to modern rules, fighters have less techniques to defend against and large gloves which can be held against the face for protection.

But if you look at the styles which deal with full contact strikes on a regular basis(kyokushin, enshin, ashihara, daido juko, muay thai, boxing, mma etc) All these fighters use a similar fighting position regardless of the techniques allow or the use of gloves.

In styles that rarely deal with contact within training you often find more "obscure" hand positions that often dont hold up under pressure, or are outdated(has in the older kyokushin hand position).

Thoughts?

[bushido_man96]

It has been my experience that when there is less contact warranted in the set-up, the hand position becomes "freer" so to speak. You see hands down, as opposed to up to protect the face, like the Boxer's stance does.

Some of it may have to do with personal style as well, and we may see a few fighters who can hold a more unorthodox hand position and still fight well. Muhammed Ali was known to keep his lead hand down, and jab from there, because of his incredible speed. I don't know if the gloves would have anything to do with this choice, or not.