sparring stances... to bounce or to not bounce

[Harkon72]

I agree with Bushidoman, look at the chest - movements here will co-ordinate with your opponents attacks, also try and time your advance with his in-breath. If you can catch him then you can knock the wind out of him. Also if he retreats, just briefly, attack!

[sensei8]

I agree with Bushidoman, look at the chest - movements here will co-ordinate with your opponents attacks, also try and time your advance with his in-breath. If you can catch him then you can knock the wind out of him. Also if he retreats, just briefly, attack!

It works!! I mean, most solid basketball players watch the stomach in order to "know" just what direction one will go...so...if it works for the NBA, then why not in the MA?!

[brickshooter]

For shorter fighters, I do look at the eyes. For taller fighters I don't look at the eyes because I've eaten head kicks. So I tend to look at their shoulder-chest area (if they're taller.) I also try to not stare at a particular point. The reason is that once I stare, I lose my peripheral vision regardless of where I look.

But regardless of the height, I'm not that concern with their hands and feet. I'm more concern with their angle, distance and stance which clues me in on how much leverage they'll have even if they get me. For example, if a fighter already is fully committed to a deep front stance, his leverage is pretty much already committed. If he's coiled, his first step can cover the distance and run me over.

[Comericus]

I am pro bouncing, but bouncing front to back is to be avoided.

If your opponent is bouncing from front foot to back foot, all you have to do is wait until they are on the forwards bounce, and then kick or blitz. Since their momentum is still bringing them forwards, they can't retreat properly.

In essence , you allow them to bounce into the attack.

Ideally, you try to move without patterns to short circuit this.

[Harkon72]

This is interesting Comericus, as I would do just the opposite. I would attack when he's bouncing back. His energy and focus would be on his back foot, he cannot make good contact with the ground in this position. If he's on his in-breath as well, then I would attack with all my might; on the retreat he might as well be sitting in a chair.

[Hawkmoon]

I agree with Bushidoman, look at the chest - movements here will co-ordinate with your opponents attacks, also try and time your advance with his in-breath. If you can catch him then you can knock the wind out of him. Also if he retreats, just briefly, attack!

100% yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes !

Looking at his or her face does little for your fight. Looking at the chest area allows you to see 'tells',what arm or leg is being moved/considered for the next attack!

plan to that moment, act on that moment!

To that to stare lovingly into the eyes of your opponent risks them getting inside your head, that is not the best.

Many say confidence others ego, some both, I'm the latter.

Boxers do it MMA guys do it any combat sport does it for some its there thing, this is true, but to me it serves no purpose and risks so Sooo much more...

You may as well look past the guy or look at the chest area, for all the 'extra' it is said can get you!

This deep long look into the other guys soul screams ego tome more than confidence.

[Comericus]

This is interesting Comericus, as I would do just the opposite. I would attack when he's bouncing back. His energy and focus would be on his back foot, he cannot make good contact with the ground in this position. If he's on his in-breath as well, then I would attack with all my might; on the retreat he might as well be sitting in a chair.

Well, if you're super-fast, you can also hit someone mid-bounce, since they're in the air, they have contact with nothing.

But, if the defender is on the back foot, then then his weight is shifted back. If you attack, he's in the ideal position to jam a front leg sidekick or a reverse punch, and you plow right into it (ow! my ribs).

If your opponent is moving forward, then they have their weight forward, then they have to "put it in reverse" (shift their weight back) first, to retreat.

This is all predicated on the assumption that you're sparring for points, however. In an SD or full-contact situation, you might take a hit in order to close the gap. In a point match, you meet the foot, and lose the point.

[Comericus]

I agree with watching the chest and carriage. Looking in the eyes just sounds great in the movies.

[Harkon72]

From experience, my strategy is to move forward if he attacks, give him no space to launch his technique; if you retreat, you'll get hit and hit again. If he retreats, then I need no invitation to attack, attack and attack again. My way of fighting is to make my opponent block; something will get through eventually. Bruce Lee's theory of Jeet Kun Do was to intercept the attack at all times. meet your opponent, beat him to the contact.

[AdamKralic]

Your feet never really leave the ground. If they do it's only by like a 1/4" and for a millisecond...and it's only one of them at a time. The motion is varied too. Speed is usually consistent though except when angles are part of the movement as well. Wait on the pattern long enough and that person will have come already. You are also more likely to react to a fake that comes with movement. Don't react? They are coming FAST.

I'm surprised to hear that people believe they can time it. Jamming someone? Sure. But you can always jam. That has nothing to do with a person bouncing or standing still.

Now if you are just world's faster than me...can take me in a millisecond opening type speed...than yeah you can catch me in a millisecond of a movement. Bouncing...not bouncing...you'd still be world's quicker than me.

All that being said...all people are human. Human's are not cookie cutter beings. There is probably a good deal of truth any way you slice it.

Try it.