In many old boxing books, they claim that the first question students ask is "How shall I stand?" but I've never had a student ask such a question. However, it is the first question to ask yourself when you think a fight is about to start -- whether you have just stepped into a competitive arena, or have been accosted on the street.
A good stance is an effective preparation to every movement you'll need to perform next. Let's take a look at the principles behind a good stance.
Principles of Preparation
Jack Slack of "Fightland” examines the most basic but under-appreciated element of the fight game: the offensively and defensively imperative stance.
Jujitsu stance
In slightly less detail than the boxing and MMA instruction above, here’s the traditional jujitsu stance:
It’s readily apparent that these two stances are very similar, and Bartitsu merges them. Generally, open hands are preferred in a self-defence situation to deescalate rather than invite a fight. However, when you’re at boxing range, closed fists will deliver harder punches.
While we’re on the topic, here’s a film reel from 1912 on traditional jujitsu:
A Note About Holiday Hours
For my bartitsu students, this is a reminder that our last Bartitsu class of the year will be taking place on Wednesday, December 23rd. Academie Duello will be closed for the holidays from December 24th to January 3rd. Regular classes will resume on January 4th, and the first Bartitsu class of the year is scheduled for Wednesday, January 6th.
Give the gift of Umbrella Self-Defence!
Do you have someone special in your life that you'd like to spar with... using an umbrella? Or maybe you just want them to be able to defend themselves using an everyday object as a weapon? Umbrella self-defence workshops are currently scheduled for January 31st and March 13th. Visit Academie Duello's front desk during store hours to purchase a gift certificate redeemable for registration in one of our regularly-priced workshops.
Head of Stage Combat at Academie Duello and certified Instructor with Fight Directors Canada. Head of Bartitsu at Academie Duello, the longest continuously running Bartitsu program in the world. Read more from David McCormick.