Long Stance vs Short Stance

 

Modern martial arts are to a large extent what had happened when classical martial arts met Western Boxing.

The foremost reason modern fighters will give you for using a short fighting stance when sparring or fighting is that a short stance is more mobile.

Is a shorter stance more effective, though?

Well... 

Let's have a look at that...

Can you attack more easily from a short stance?

Can you defend more easily from a long stance?

Do this simple test and tell me what you find...

With punching one can indeed spring into the attack and cross a long distance to land a punch on a target. The feet and body are both out of reach in the beginning, but that changes as soon as you shoot that hip forward...

This is of course effective in competitions where fighters start off away from each other. This enables you to go in, score your point, and get out of reach again

In the case of a long stance we see that the body may be out of reach, but the lead foot has already arrived on the scene.

Now a twist of the hip and a shift of the hips forward are all that is necessary to land that punch...

We might not want to do this in competition, but going into a stance like this in a self defense situation allows you some space between you and a determined assailant so that you can get that punch in.

Besides- sliding on the balls of your feet is all good on a clean tournament arena floor, but you don't know what the ground is like where your assailant finds you away from the dojo. You do not want to take too many chances hopping and sliding about...

The same goes for kicking...

From a short stance I can start my attack from further away and shoot forward. As soon as my rear foot catches up with my lead weight is exchanged and that lead hooking kick shoots out...

Can I do it from a low stance? In a way, yes... The only difference is that with the long stance my lead foot is already where it should be.

How about defense?

Well... In competition we often see the short stance used like this...

As the opponent attacks you shoot the rear foot and your hips back (while your head probably started ahead of them both!) and you quickly maintain the gap between you and your opponent (some make it even bigger then...).

As for the long stance my feet start with a good measure of distance between them. 

When the opponent charges in I can create space between us by drawing my lead foot back to my rear foot.

Doing this to get away is a bad idea. Doing it to make room for that side kick, though, is a very good idea!

You might not realise it, but you actually go into a long stance when you move from a short stance.

In the case of long stances we see movements like rotating and shifting weight. Take a step forward or back, though, and you end up using a short stance...

Regardless of your style you may find it rewarding to explore the pros and cons of lengthening or shortening your stance.

Have fun training and send me any questions or comments that you may have.