My ‘unpopular opinion’: your technical breakdowns are the best, and it’s a travesty that they don’t reliably get as many-more views as-than the more “Beef”-y vids.
Coach, I just wanted to share a quick thank you. A few months ago I asked for some workout tips. You gave me a schedule that I followed pretty closely. Two weeks ago my gym reopened its sparring class and I was delighted to see how much I had improved. Thank you for your help.
@@Ben-zb5lq easier to fade away from the leg kicks and hop out of range but more difficult to check. If he wanted to check though he should've picked a more thai style stance though.
@@carrotfartgaming Checking calf kicks is harder unless you've specifically practiced it. And even trying to fade away isn't easy because your lead leg is the last thing to get out of range, it's something McGregor clearly didn't prepare for properly so his stance wouldn't have helped much I think.
This is a great video. Everything you discussed and demonstrated applies to Traditional Karate. Unfortunately, some people have not discovered these practical applications of the postures (stances) found within their kata and kihon (basics). Now I’m going to stop typing so I can “...get out there and train”. 🥋
One more thing, a few months after I started hitting the heavybag I was starting to feel pretty nimble. Bouncing around like Ali or Bruce Lee in his movies. That day I was reading Bruce's Tao and it described (using any footwork also of course,) a heel to toe footwork pattern, just like in many historical sword fighting footwork patterns. Anyway I put off practicing this footwork, unfortunately because I was doing this over uneven ground. Barefoot bouncing around as if I was a character from Enter the Dragon, I went to lunge forward with a jab or hook and because my foot had been in a small pothole and I didnt raise my foot high enough, my middle right toe caught the rim of the hole and curled my toe inward. Then stepping all my weight onto it I either sprained or very badly bruised it because it turned black and hurt for weeks. Lol I knew if I had just started practicing that basic heel to toe step, then my toes would have been pointed up and my heel would have contacted the rim of the pothole first. Since then I made my basic footwork heel to toe and I add in other patterns when safe. It works going left right forward back, you can change to any direction quickly and basically in mid-stride and it helps you prevent tripping over obstacles. If it's good enough for a duel with a sword or on battlefields then we might benefit from utilizing it too, it's a stance and step where you're balanced all the way through and is good with a sword, dagger, knife, unarmed, etc. The only MMA fighter I see using this consistently, is my favorite fighter Israel Adesanya (though he is tied with Bruce Lee and thank you for reading if you guys got this far)
Lol breaking toes sucks. I’m actually pretty good at breaking or injuring my toes haha Hopefully your feet are feeling better instagram.com/p/CLKD9jEHFoG/?igshid=hauixcqsrnmc instagram.com/p/CJbQSjKnxBU/?igshid=1kmr6jtgimh84
Ah yes the classic horse stance - that brings back the memories! I think it can be effective for self defence if you're attempting to convince your attacker that you are in fact riding an invisible horse. They will either think they're hallucinating and run home, or call someone to provide you with mental health support.
I think we're all forgetting the pole stance though, you know where the guy grabs a pole and then hangs sideways on it... horse stance is a conditioning stance (a dn good one too), but why in the hell did anyone ever think it was going to be practical unmodified in a real life fight is beyond me. 🤦🏻♂️
Standing in a horse stance for hours is good for making your quads stronger. So is lifting weights, but why spend an hour in the gym when you can spend 6 hours in a horse stance for worse results? Efficiency is just another word for laziness. Work harder, not smarter.
Ramsey this is my question! I for sure feel honored to have had a second question of mine answered! (you before answered my question about training MMA vs single martial arts). You actually said my surname correctly! One of the few! DK is my first name. Last name is pronounced like "Mia" or "Meee-uh" I was sad to find out my horse stance is not useful anymore but I can at least use the kicks! What about Stephen Wonderboy Thompson's stance though? Is that not a variety of horse stance?
It's what he referred to as the bladed stance in the vid. He also said not to commit to one stance or another. Keep in mind that this is just some guy on the internet and he doesn't know what works best for you. His advice is good but not taylored for your mind set personality etc...
Glad to hear I finally got someone’s name right! There are a ton of bunkai applications of the horse stance. But personally, I don’t use any of them. As far as Wonderboy goes, I can’t say I’ve ever seen him use a horse stance in a fight.
Horse stance, as I've practiced it in TMA, is great for learning the forces going on in your body. The sum of forces keep your hips in place, but to use the tense muscles, relaxing the countering and keeping them all in your consciousness trains your body to connect to your mind, and, at minimum, will teach you to keep your balance while striking and getting striked/pushed/pulled. Core muscles are important to strengthen, as well as to control.
@@RamseyDewey I use a horse stance for things like take down and wrestling people because I’m lower into the ground I can combine the grappling and striking grabbing an arm punching but again I never stick to one stance u always got to switch in a fight I use a very karate like stance almost like the old Connor McGregor but I always switch it up depending on what my opponent does
4:13 This was Isael Adesanya verses Costa. He was forward the whole fight, ready to counter and intercept/evade at will and he steps with his punches perfectly AND pulls his hooks back perfectly too for that matter
Biggest takeaway is positions are dynamic rather than static.i completely agree. Horse stance should be viewed in a dynamic perspective as well. Sort of like a freeze frame in time
Exactly. Although that's typically a bit more of a side stance. It's when they sink down that it becomes a horse stance. The horse stance is supposed to be a side facing stance. Even then it's supposed to be a split second sort of thing, you sink down, do your technique or load up for a strike, then transition out of it.
Hi coach Ramsey. I have questions for you A) being a professional dancer, how has it helped you in fighting? B) what type of dance would be most transferable to combat sports, including MMA?
The term 'horse stance' is a broad general term to describe having feet symmetrical in relation to the torso with space between the legs. There are hundreds of variants in various martial arts for both training and practical application. The most historically important application is for wielding a spear or staff where you really need the wide base and lowered center of gravity to have any stability and mobility. The second most important is looking like a badass to impress prospective students, which accounts for the exaggerated version common in modern TMA.
I feel like people think horse stance is one thing when it is used for something different. You do not fight in "Horse stance" Horse stance has three very important applications in training. 1. Building stamina and strength of the legs. If you can hold Horse stance for a long time you can move more freely while maintaining actual fighting postures. For longer. This is one of the reasons Kung Fu puts so much emphasis on practicing all of your stances. 2. Flexibility and balance When you maintain a horse stance. You are working your hip flexors and legs. You are also training your ballance, lowering your center of gravity and puting your weight on your hips. Again, this is a training use for horse stance, not a combat application. 3. Teaching. If when teaching movements it is easy to tell many people that the next movement is "Horse stance." Than to individually show each student. And if For example a student is memorizing a form knowing that his next movement is Horse stance is good to help hom memorize the form. In Kung Fu (or at least the kung Fu I was taught) stance work is an extremely important aspect to training. Moving between stances, how to get from one stance to any other stance, maintaining stances. You learn all of that first, but never in the context of fighting. Always on the context of physical training. You learn your fighting in the context of sparing and forms and body mechanics in grappling. Use the stances are there but no real combat application from kung Fu or karate would ever tell you to stand in Horse stance and deliver a strait punch in a real fight. More does a martial art actually teach you to marry to a specific stance. Even in the forms kung Fu is never in a stance fore more than an instant unless they performing. Example, changquan has an opening stance where your feet are together, knees bent, lead arm. Down low and your train arm at your hip. In demonstration they hold that stance, but at full speed that maneuver is lighting quick and has several applications. And can only be lightning quick because the person practicing it has spent hours holding stances like horse stance. People confuse training stances with fighting stances all the time and im glad you demonstrated the fallacy in that even if you may not have intended to.
@@tjl4688 again, a misconception. Horse stance is neither a sideways facing stance or a forward facing stance. In combat yoy may very well use horse stance but you will neither fight in or maintain that stance for long. For example, when performing a hip throw you may very well be standing in Horse for a moment, but you are not fighting in the stance. Im not saying Horse stance has no combat applications but there is a huge disparity in the people who understand what the actual difference in horse stance(training) and a sidewards facing fighting stance (combat) is. For one thing in general horse stance is a lower stance than you would use in combat. A fighting version of horse stance would be higher, hips and feet slightly turned either toward or away from your opponent feet (forward or rear guard stance)) and you would not remain in that stance. This is what my master would call a side stance, and can be modified easily into a philly shell or many other postures, but it is not horse stance. Related, yes., but not the same.
@@pyronicdesign actually in karate you use a horse stance for finishing with a strike after a takedown. It is most famously used after either an outer-reaping or the super-old okinawan karate neck crank (grabbing the back of the head and the chin and twisting to take the opponent down). You go down into horse stance and in kata you would finish with a two-handed punch, in real life you can do whatever the hell you want. Stances that are taught do not just reflect the stances you start from or change to for the sake of a different maii, but also movement and optimal positioning for certain types of techniques.
Excellent discussion of the side stance with transition in close range. Very similar to Bruce Lee's philosophy towards the end. Wonderboy is one who does well with the side stance. Thanks for the video.
Literally all striking sports will require you to use different stances depending on the situation. Coming from a boxing background, a fun exercise is to have two drilling partners face each other with their lead feet about 10cm away from each other and have them lightly spar each other without moving their front feet. It will demonstrate how much the position of your back foot affects where your openings are and what targets are available. E.g. blading up lets you pull back on shots easier and counter with lead hook but makes your rear hand further away from your targets
7:41 I've found that you can throw a sidekick from a squared stance. Like the rear leg sidekick, you thrust your hip forward with it. It's also possible this way, to throw a sidekick straight infront of you while just standing normally (not just sideways, it's the same motion but it goes forward like a front kick)
Hey Ramsey i have been watching your videos for a week now and u are one of my favorite people on this platform already! I learned so much already, thank you very much for all your hard work!!!
Who knew there was so much to stances eh! Insightful as ever. Weight distribution & transfer, open hands, little lower, blade and forward - always learning. Have to nominate yourself 'Online-MMA Coach 2021'. I'd vote. Not sure what the best way to submit a question. Here it is: With karate being introduced in Tokyo 2020 for the first time, there's some noise around kumite rules. You spoke so well on KSW sparring, and stated context (and rules of engagement) are the deal. The temptation to compare MMA with touch sparring - which are materially different. To discredit touch/point sparring because they hold back from the TKO. I think you could really help clear up the distinction and differences - in your unique style. What do you think?
Thanks for the video. Horse stance is a traditional Tae Kwon Do training tool. I think it is more about conditioning the legs than any sort of practical application. At least, none that I can discern. (same goes for TKD front stance).
I really like the part about the sidekick and backkick from a muay thai stance. I train kickboxing and we use that stance a lot, but we don't do sidekicks and backkicks. I try to learn them myself. Thank you :)
Horse stance is not useful for combat, but is useful for instruction. It's sorta like the sentence "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." Because it contains every letter of the alphabet, it was favored among typists as a reliable way to assess whether a typewriter worked correctly. Similarly, the horse stance lets an instructor quickly assess a student's control and attention to detail over every part of their body: foot position, leg strength, posture, shoulder tension, arm isolation, fist positioning, overall balance, etc
I know they're related to stances but can you give us your take on the many different guards: high, half, philly-shell, peek-a-boo, whatever-that-pugilism-guard-is-called, long, cross, etc.
thanks for sharing! great info here. I think it kind of depends on the rule set of your particular combat sport. As a fencer, I am quite interested in some of the point fighting and bladed stances used in unarmed combat sports. Thanks again. best regards
2:45 I like the basic stance described in the Tao of jkd. I call it a hybrid stance. You have your rear heel up (front foot flat), but I say it's a hybrid because you're not fully squared or fully bladed. That way I'm in between and can widen or narrow and change stance as needed. I feel it is a good middle ground. I also can throw both sidekicks and round kicks and can check from this stance easier than a fully bladed one
I kinda favor a somewhat modified philly shell from the half-square/-bladed stance... it helps to have reasonable ambidexterity, imo. Like you mentioned, it seems more versatile when kicks and takedowns are factors; and MMA is all about versatility.
I also forgot to mention that the rear hand is back by the chin and the lead is out a little at chin level ready to parry and your elbows protect the body (like Jon Jones's stance actually) and I've been working on the Philly shell too but only recently since Ramsey mentioned some good uses of it in mma
@@stephanwatson7902 one of the reasons I like it is you can use your guard arm elbow to hard block. It’s a great deterrent, I know Coach did a vid on it, and iirc, Dustin Porier often uses something similar (obviously far, far better at it, too lol).
This man's info is go good you guys don't understand that this is pretty much free lessons high-quality content . Back in the day people would pay for this information.
I have been playing with this idea lately while practicing. I always had a problem adapting bagua into my sparring cuz the "Always moving" idea was hard for me to really understand (I got punched in the face a lot lol). But, since the muay thai stance is back weighted like my baguazhang 'stance', I have committed to being in the stance when I want to set up round kicks and front kicks (my best kicks lol), and using the stepping method for baguazhang when I am cutting angles and changing position for strikes or grapples (or palm strikes in some cases). Thank you for this video. It'll help me analyze it better and make my movements better.
One thing about horse stance is that you can get some use out of it as a side facing stance. It lets you put a lot into strikes to the body from that position, along with a couple other things. it's just not something you stay in. It's transitional, something that you're only really doing for a split second. For some reason it's usually taught in a really weird, impractical way, and is usually used to teach certain body mechanics. In general a lot of the stances in traditional arts fall into this same category to where they're only used for a split second then you transition out of them, like the front stance.
There isn't "some use". It IS a sidewards facing position. It is Karate and Taekwondo that bastardised it; in Chinese styles it has been taught sideways from the beginning.
@@tjl4688 currently learning a chinese style, which is where I learned that it was a side facing stance. The reason I say some use is because, as I said it's a very split second kind of thing. It's not likely to be a defining aspect of how someone fights so much as a useful position.
I've recently started studying European longsword fighting, and going between different guard positions instead of maintaining the same stance most of the time still feels weird to me.
Super interesting. If you pause or run this video at 0.25, when Ramsey is shifting stances, you can see picture perfect traditional karate stances, even the ones that are usually mocked in shotokan for being "too low, unrealistic". And that's what people don't get about "rigid stances" in TMA. They're not rigid, never were. They're shifting points. @Jesse Enkamp has a couple of videos on this as well.
Hey Ramsey any tips for wrestling american, greco roman wrestling I believe it is, but I have a hard time actually doing something I've only been wrestling for about 3 weeks lost 2 matches
1st find what type of attacks work for you. If you are short and strong hip tosses, knee picks, high singles. If you are tall doubles, suplexes, headlocks. 2nd. What is lacking speed to get in or strength to finish?
Hello coach, is it true that you are actually Anthony Smith using different angles? What is your opinion on the circulating conspiracy theory of you called "The Dewey Code"?
@@roguelites5225 It revolves around subliminal backmasked messages in the videos, Ramsey's involvement with the CIA, Moloch being present behind Ramsey in a video, and Coach Dewey's (if that is his actual name) involvement in summoning the ancient Chinese entity referred to as "Chow".
Personally i was never a fan of the side stance since i used the same stance and footwork i adopted from HEMA. Lead leg pointed at your opponent is safer and has way more mobility
I really noticed Ramsay's balance in this video. How do you train your balance like that, is it just doing it over and over of is there exercises for it. Is balance on your kicks like that even that important, should i be able to stick out a side kick and hold it or is it not necessary
This might be helpful to answer your question about side kicks. A short “lock out” at the end of a side kick or a back kick can radically increase power output and balance. th-cam.com/video/iXXCeZHHOu8/w-d-xo.html
As far as how to develop balance: make sure all your movements are deliberate. Do heavy squats, deadlifts, and lunges with good technique. Train consistently. Practice the basics daily. Put in at least 3 rounds on the heavy bag every day. Spar often (use control, don’t damage your training partners), do dynamic stretching. Be consistent with your sleeping schedule. Eat well. Stay healthy. Find balance in every other area of your life also.
A video ive been waiting for. Great stuff as always coach. Very informative. Its funny, sometimes something so obvious needs to be said coz its amazing how many people may not have been aware of the obvious e.g. not being married to one stance etc
It would terrible to use it in a fight but in my wrestling I drop my weight when their behind me and push my hips back or away it's very useful for switching position
The horse stance is a sidewards facing position. EVERYBODY who has stood side on when throwing a lead jab, is doing a horse stance. This is how it is taught in Kung Fu - for whatever reason, Karate and Taekwondo turned it into a front-facing thing, which makes no fucking sense.
Hi Ramsey! First of all, thanks for your extraordinary and clear content. It’s always nice to watch your videos and listen to your voice explain, well, anything. Sorry to bother you, but I have a question regarding kickboxing stances. I hope you might help. I have started kickboxing a few months ago, and I keep being told to stay more squared, with both feet always pointing forward, otherwise I might get a knee injury due to a kick, they say. Do you think this is the only correct stance? It feels strange and too “head-on”, but maybe it’s just me. I have an extensive background in Kung Fu, and practicing different styles I've learned a variety of stances: the ones I use the most while on guard are the lateral horse stance (what you mentioned as "bladed" stance), the orthodox boxing stance, and what you might call an orthodox "fencer" stance. I trust that my coach knows what he’s doing and that he knows more than I do, but I remain a bit perplexed; seeing your video about stances, and how a fighter switches between them continuously during a match, I thought about asking you about it. Thank you for your time. I hope you will reply, but since I can imagine you receive many such questions, no worries even if you don’t.
Hey there Ramsey, I've just recently come across your channel and I'm really enjoying your videos. I am interested in competing in some form of MMA. My question is how would someone like me (no experience, no gym) start to compete? I know I should have started 30 years ago if I planned to actually have a decent career in fighting but I didn't. I honestly think if I would've started as a kid I had the potential to be the GOAT. Now, I would like to have a career in MMA, do you think it's possible at 38 years of age and if so how or where do I start? Thank you in advance Coach! Keep the videos coming sir, your value cannot be over-exaggerated.
Hi Ramsey Dewey, Great Video! I have a question if you don't mind. What are some of your favourite counters you like to use in your sparring or in your fights?
Another superb video. I really enjoyed this one and it gave me a better understanding of stances. I was wondering if Coach Ramsey could share his thoughts on calf kicks and stances. I remember after Dustin Porier vs. Conor McGregor 2 bout where calf kicks were employed heavily by Dustin and impacted the outcome of the fight there was much made about Conor's change in stance. I guess my questions are if your lead leg is compromised due to calf kicks is it possible to switch stances and be still be effective? Could a stance change from Conor have helped him protect better against those calf kicks? Sorry if this question has been answered before.
Coach, hi- could you talk about healthy motivation to be a fighter? Chips on shoulders, heartbreak, egoes etc, I know the answer foremost is something like: fighting is not for emotions. I sure don’t have a “have to fight to make it” rough upbringing, but I do feel fully compelled by all of the three factors I put above, which when I actually write it out feels possibly silly. Is “she’ll see me on TV one day” always a pitfall? Can it be the pushing off point of a well-balanced, properly fueled career? Do egos benefit us in any way besides selling ppvs? Thanks!
For many years i trained traditional stances like horse stance (ma bu) or bow stance (gong bu). When you do the stances in a very deep position they can dramatically improve your strength of your hips and legs. They improve your agility and stability. On the other side, doing these stances only in a deep position and only statically, they have no practical meaning. When you combine them in a living way in sparring or fighting, they are nothing else than all other stances in other Martial Arts, Boxing etc.
I actually like training different stances. Though I hadnt thought of it the way you described. I thought of using various martial arts stances as their own and then switch as needed. For example, I'll use a more "thai" stance, but switch to a more taekwondo or even wingchun stance. Also I'll use the capoeira jinga sometimes. And people I've sparred, mostly low leveled and 1 coach, they hesitated more cuz they didn't know how to combat it. And I'll do a couple jingas and then stay on one side so they cant always time my steps. Also, if I want to change between a orthodox to southpaw or vice versa, I'll either do a jinga, or I'll do a more taekwondo forward/backward step. But I practice throwing a job or short combo when making those movements so I dont always get caught in between my steps.
Hey there coach Id like to ask you what you think of the martial art known as Yaw Yan, I find the style interesting with its rather unorthodox strikes and id love to hear you give your thoughts on it
I was wonder why your videos notifications had stopped for me and a feared that your channel had been deleted (with the way YT behaves nowadays, you'll never know) ...only to find out that I was unsubscribed. Sigh... Subscribed again. Great video BTW..
Hey coach, just wondering what your perspective on using kicks to change stances; how that would effect your guard and susceptibility to being taken down. Love from Canada
Thanks. Sounds like the question came from someone with more of a Karate/Kung Fu background. I feel like those ‘stances’ are meant more for conditioning and the ‘stances’ you show here are where the real focus should be.
Exactly! Having trained in both karate and boxing as well as aikido, I can relate to what he said about training the "horse stance" wgeb teaching traditional aryial arts and switching to a more
.......switching to a more varied use of stances while sparring. Even in karate the sparring stance much shorter similar to boxing stance while the long deep stances limited to kata competitions.
"....forward offensive stance..." Zenkutsu Dachi or Seisan Dachi, "....off - side stance...." Shiko Dachi, "....a high guard...." Neko Ashi Dachi. Why beginning Karate can be useful as "basic training" and initial conditioning.
My coach is trying to get me comfy in a semi muai Thai extended hand kind of guard. It really nice for defending kicks and hooks and keeping distance but I also cope a heck of a lot of jabs straight through the center. what am I doing wrong?
I get pieced up regularly in slow tech sparring. However, I do much better if we turn up the heat and I move and throw faster or more explosively. Do you think this is athleticism covering for a lack of skill? Or do you think certain styles are more suited to moving fast and being aggressive?
![ละลาย (LALALYE) - DAOU PITTAYA ต้าห์อู๋ พิทยา [OFFICIAL MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wo6r9TgausI/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for giving your stance on stances.
Me: So which stance should I learn?
Ramsey: Yes!
My ‘unpopular opinion’: your technical breakdowns are the best, and it’s a travesty that they don’t reliably get as many-more views as-than the more “Beef”-y vids.
Coach, I just wanted to share a quick thank you. A few months ago I asked for some workout tips. You gave me a schedule that I followed pretty closely. Two weeks ago my gym reopened its sparring class and I was delighted to see how much I had improved. Thank you for your help.
May i ask which video that?
@@adrianlwy4669 it wasn’t a specific video, I just asked a question in the comments and Ramsey responded with an actual answer.
I think it was Gichin Funakoshi who said "karate has many stances, it also has none".
Came here for motivational phrases like "when my socks are dirty, clean them" and I got it, "stand up"
This made me think about Mcgregor, he used to have a kinda "karate stance" but since he got more into boxing he doesn't use it that much
@Falcon Aige exactly
What about the leg kicks vs Dustin if he kept that stance though?
@@Ben-zb5lq easier to fade away from the leg kicks and hop out of range but more difficult to check. If he wanted to check though he should've picked a more thai style stance though.
@@carrotfartgaming Checking calf kicks is harder unless you've specifically practiced it. And even trying to fade away isn't easy because your lead leg is the last thing to get out of range, it's something McGregor clearly didn't prepare for properly so his stance wouldn't have helped much I think.
@Falcon Aige both boxing and karate stance is weak to low kicks
This is a great video. Everything you discussed and demonstrated applies to Traditional Karate. Unfortunately, some people have not discovered these practical applications of the postures (stances) found within their kata and kihon (basics).
Now I’m going to stop typing so I can “...get out there and train”. 🥋
One more thing, a few months after I started hitting the heavybag I was starting to feel pretty nimble. Bouncing around like Ali or Bruce Lee in his movies. That day I was reading Bruce's Tao and it described (using any footwork also of course,) a heel to toe footwork pattern, just like in many historical sword fighting footwork patterns. Anyway I put off practicing this footwork, unfortunately because I was doing this over uneven ground. Barefoot bouncing around as if I was a character from Enter the Dragon, I went to lunge forward with a jab or hook and because my foot had been in a small pothole and I didnt raise my foot high enough, my middle right toe caught the rim of the hole and curled my toe inward. Then stepping all my weight onto it I either sprained or very badly bruised it because it turned black and hurt for weeks. Lol I knew if I had just started practicing that basic heel to toe step, then my toes would have been pointed up and my heel would have contacted the rim of the pothole first. Since then I made my basic footwork heel to toe and I add in other patterns when safe. It works going left right forward back, you can change to any direction quickly and basically in mid-stride and it helps you prevent tripping over obstacles. If it's good enough for a duel with a sword or on battlefields then we might benefit from utilizing it too, it's a stance and step where you're balanced all the way through and is good with a sword, dagger, knife, unarmed, etc. The only MMA fighter I see using this consistently, is my favorite fighter Israel Adesanya (though he is tied with Bruce Lee and thank you for reading if you guys got this far)
Lol breaking toes sucks. I’m actually pretty good at breaking or injuring my toes haha
Hopefully your feet are feeling better
instagram.com/p/CLKD9jEHFoG/?igshid=hauixcqsrnmc
instagram.com/p/CJbQSjKnxBU/?igshid=1kmr6jtgimh84
Thanks for that. Really helpful
Love watching stance videos even though I’m mostly into sword fighting.
Stances are the one thing that crosses over the most
@@meisterprakti6371 and footwork
If your sword fighting doesn’t revert to a brawl at some point, are you really sword fighting?
Ah yes the classic horse stance - that brings back the memories!
I think it can be effective for self defence if you're attempting to convince your attacker that you are in fact riding an invisible horse. They will either think they're hallucinating and run home, or call someone to provide you with mental health support.
Hahahahaha!!!
It’s a very effective trick
If you wanna your ball kicked.lol.
I think we're all forgetting the pole stance though, you know where the guy grabs a pole and then hangs sideways on it... horse stance is a conditioning stance (a dn good one too), but why in the hell did anyone ever think it was going to be practical unmodified in a real life fight is beyond me. 🤦🏻♂️
Standing in a horse stance for hours is good for making your quads stronger. So is lifting weights, but why spend an hour in the gym when you can spend 6 hours in a horse stance for worse results? Efficiency is just another word for laziness. Work harder, not smarter.
Can't wait to just get out there and train, every time I watch your videos, sir! Thank you for your thougts and the technical insights! 🙏💪
Back at it again with the awesome panda rash guard
Nobody:
JoJo Fans: Finally THE STAND
FINALLY PART 6
Ramsey this is my question! I for sure feel honored to have had a second question of mine answered! (you before answered my question about training MMA vs single martial arts).
You actually said my surname correctly! One of the few! DK is my first name. Last name is pronounced like "Mia" or "Meee-uh"
I was sad to find out my horse stance is not useful anymore but I can at least use the kicks!
What about Stephen Wonderboy Thompson's stance though? Is that not a variety of horse stance?
It's what he referred to as the bladed stance in the vid. He also said not to commit to one stance or another. Keep in mind that this is just some guy on the internet and he doesn't know what works best for you. His advice is good but not taylored for your mind set personality etc...
Glad to hear I finally got someone’s name right!
There are a ton of bunkai applications of the horse stance. But personally, I don’t use any of them. As far as Wonderboy goes, I can’t say I’ve ever seen him use a horse stance in a fight.
Horse stance, as I've practiced it in TMA, is great for learning the forces going on in your body.
The sum of forces keep your hips in place, but to use the tense muscles, relaxing the countering and keeping them all in your consciousness trains your body to connect to your mind, and, at minimum, will teach you to keep your balance while striking and getting striked/pushed/pulled.
Core muscles are important to strengthen, as well as to control.
@@RamseyDewey I use a horse stance for things like take down and wrestling people because I’m lower into the ground I can combine the grappling and striking grabbing an arm punching but again I never stick to one stance u always got to switch in a fight I use a very karate like stance almost like the old Connor McGregor but I always switch it up depending on what my opponent does
@@RamseyDewey I've been informed it's a bladed stance, not a modified horse stance.
4:13 This was Isael Adesanya verses Costa. He was forward the whole fight, ready to counter and intercept/evade at will and he steps with his punches perfectly AND pulls his hooks back perfectly too for that matter
Brother Dewey this is good stuff. Horse Stance is the only true stance. Everything else should be called, trying to get on the horse stance.
my friend what do you mean by true stance? thnx
Isnt that for strength and conditioning?
Opens video from Ramsey, instantly likes it
*_That Cool Spinning Hook Kick of yours reminds me of the Capoeira guys! Very Cool!_*
😎
Biggest takeaway is positions are dynamic rather than static.i completely agree. Horse stance should be viewed in a dynamic perspective as well. Sort of like a freeze frame in time
a stance can be very important in what the first exchange is. very strategic. that's why I love martial arts.
if you looked closely the Horse stance is the tkd/karate point fighting stance but standing side ways
Exactly. Although that's typically a bit more of a side stance. It's when they sink down that it becomes a horse stance. The horse stance is supposed to be a side facing stance. Even then it's supposed to be a split second sort of thing, you sink down, do your technique or load up for a strike, then transition out of it.
All stances are beneficial depending on the situation, all stances have their own movement patterns which will open opportunities when available.
Hi coach Ramsey. I have questions for you
A) being a professional dancer, how has it helped you in fighting?
B) what type of dance would be most transferable to combat sports, including MMA?
A non-exaggerated horse stance is pretty useful when you’re backed up against the cage and need to get out of there. It’s used quite frequently.
The term 'horse stance' is a broad general term to describe having feet symmetrical in relation to the torso with space between the legs. There are hundreds of variants in various martial arts for both training and practical application. The most historically important application is for wielding a spear or staff where you really need the wide base and lowered center of gravity to have any stability and mobility. The second most important is looking like a badass to impress prospective students, which accounts for the exaggerated version common in modern TMA.
I feel like people think horse stance is one thing when it is used for something different. You do not fight in "Horse stance" Horse stance has three very important applications in training.
1. Building stamina and strength of the legs. If you can hold Horse stance for a long time you can move more freely while maintaining actual fighting postures. For longer. This is one of the reasons Kung Fu puts so much emphasis on practicing all of your stances.
2. Flexibility and balance When you maintain a horse stance. You are working your hip flexors and legs. You are also training your ballance, lowering your center of gravity and puting your weight on your hips. Again, this is a training use for horse stance, not a combat application.
3. Teaching. If when teaching movements it is easy to tell many people that the next movement is "Horse stance." Than to individually show each student. And if For example a student is memorizing a form knowing that his next movement is Horse stance is good to help hom memorize the form.
In Kung Fu (or at least the kung Fu I was taught) stance work is an extremely important aspect to training. Moving between stances, how to get from one stance to any other stance, maintaining stances. You learn all of that first, but never in the context of fighting. Always on the context of physical training. You learn your fighting in the context of sparing and forms and body mechanics in grappling. Use the stances are there but no real combat application from kung Fu or karate would ever tell you to stand in Horse stance and deliver a strait punch in a real fight. More does a martial art actually teach you to marry to a specific stance. Even in the forms kung Fu is never in a stance fore more than an instant unless they performing.
Example, changquan has an opening stance where your feet are together, knees bent, lead arm. Down low and your train arm at your hip. In demonstration they hold that stance, but at full speed that maneuver is lighting quick and has several applications. And can only be lightning quick because the person practicing it has spent hours holding stances like horse stance.
People confuse training stances with fighting stances all the time and im glad you demonstrated the fallacy in that even if you may not have intended to.
Wrong. You do fight in horse stance. It is a sidewards facing stance.
@@tjl4688 again, a misconception. Horse stance is neither a sideways facing stance or a forward facing stance. In combat yoy may very well use horse stance but you will neither fight in or maintain that stance for long. For example, when performing a hip throw you may very well be standing in Horse for a moment, but you are not fighting in the stance. Im not saying Horse stance has no combat applications but there is a huge disparity in the people who understand what the actual difference in horse stance(training) and a sidewards facing fighting stance (combat) is. For one thing in general horse stance is a lower stance than you would use in combat. A fighting version of horse stance would be higher, hips and feet slightly turned either toward or away from your opponent feet (forward or rear guard stance)) and you would not remain in that stance. This is what my master would call a side stance, and can be modified easily into a philly shell or many other postures, but it is not horse stance. Related, yes., but not the same.
@@pyronicdesign actually in karate you use a horse stance for finishing with a strike after a takedown. It is most famously used after either an outer-reaping or the super-old okinawan karate neck crank (grabbing the back of the head and the chin and twisting to take the opponent down). You go down into horse stance and in kata you would finish with a two-handed punch, in real life you can do whatever the hell you want.
Stances that are taught do not just reflect the stances you start from or change to for the sake of a different maii, but also movement and optimal positioning for certain types of techniques.
@@GokuInfintysaiyan that is sort of my point.
Excellent discussion of the side stance with transition in close range. Very similar to Bruce Lee's philosophy towards the end. Wonderboy is one who does well with the side stance. Thanks for the video.
Literally all striking sports will require you to use different stances depending on the situation.
Coming from a boxing background, a fun exercise is to have two drilling partners face each other with their lead feet about 10cm away from each other and have them lightly spar each other without moving their front feet. It will demonstrate how much the position of your back foot affects where your openings are and what targets are available. E.g. blading up lets you pull back on shots easier and counter with lead hook but makes your rear hand further away from your targets
7:41 I've found that you can throw a sidekick from a squared stance. Like the rear leg sidekick, you thrust your hip forward with it. It's also possible this way, to throw a sidekick straight infront of you while just standing normally (not just sideways, it's the same motion but it goes forward like a front kick)
Hey Ramsey i have been watching your videos for a week now and u are one of my favorite people on this platform already! I learned so much already, thank you very much for all your hard work!!!
Thanks!
Who knew there was so much to stances eh! Insightful as ever. Weight distribution & transfer, open hands, little lower, blade and forward - always learning. Have to nominate yourself 'Online-MMA Coach 2021'. I'd vote. Not sure what the best way to submit a question. Here it is: With karate being introduced in Tokyo 2020 for the first time, there's some noise around kumite rules. You spoke so well on KSW sparring, and stated context (and rules of engagement) are the deal. The temptation to compare MMA with touch sparring - which are materially different. To discredit touch/point sparring because they hold back from the TKO. I think you could really help clear up the distinction and differences - in your unique style. What do you think?
Thanks for the video. Horse stance is a traditional Tae Kwon Do training tool. I think it is more about conditioning the legs than any sort of practical application. At least, none that I can discern. (same goes for TKD front stance).
The legs are only part of it, it's also a killer glute, back, and core workout. 😊👍
Hello Coach, a video about joint health and joint protection would be great.
I second this
Jogging would be great.
Genki Sudo did great work with the back stance.
I really like the part about the sidekick and backkick from a muay thai stance. I train kickboxing and we use that stance a lot, but we don't do sidekicks and backkicks. I try to learn them myself. Thank you :)
excellent demonstration, it matches and enhances my practice
Horse stance is not useful for combat, but is useful for instruction. It's sorta like the sentence "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." Because it contains every letter of the alphabet, it was favored among typists as a reliable way to assess whether a typewriter worked correctly. Similarly, the horse stance lets an instructor quickly assess a student's control and attention to detail over every part of their body: foot position, leg strength, posture, shoulder tension, arm isolation, fist positioning, overall balance, etc
I know they're related to stances but can you give us your take on the many different guards: high, half, philly-shell, peek-a-boo, whatever-that-pugilism-guard-is-called, long, cross, etc.
thanks for sharing! great info here. I think it kind of depends on the rule set of your particular combat sport. As a fencer, I am quite interested in some of the point fighting and bladed stances used in unarmed combat sports. Thanks again. best regards
2:45 I like the basic stance described in the Tao of jkd. I call it a hybrid stance. You have your rear heel up (front foot flat), but I say it's a hybrid because you're not fully squared or fully bladed. That way I'm in between and can widen or narrow and change stance as needed. I feel it is a good middle ground. I also can throw both sidekicks and round kicks and can check from this stance easier than a fully bladed one
I kinda favor a somewhat modified philly shell from the half-square/-bladed stance... it helps to have reasonable ambidexterity, imo.
Like you mentioned, it seems more versatile when kicks and takedowns are factors; and MMA is all about versatility.
I also forgot to mention that the rear hand is back by the chin and the lead is out a little at chin level ready to parry and your elbows protect the body (like Jon Jones's stance actually) and I've been working on the Philly shell too but only recently since Ramsey mentioned some good uses of it in mma
@@stephanwatson7902 one of the reasons I like it is you can use your guard arm elbow to hard block. It’s a great deterrent, I know Coach did a vid on it, and iirc, Dustin Porier often uses something similar (obviously far, far better at it, too lol).
This man's info is go good you guys don't understand that this is pretty much free lessons high-quality content .
Back in the day people would pay for this information.
Incredibly useful video. Thanks
One thing horse stance is great for is building core and leg strength. Mostly, it is a training tool like a squat or pushup.
I have been playing with this idea lately while practicing. I always had a problem adapting bagua into my sparring cuz the "Always moving" idea was hard for me to really understand (I got punched in the face a lot lol). But, since the muay thai stance is back weighted like my baguazhang 'stance', I have committed to being in the stance when I want to set up round kicks and front kicks (my best kicks lol), and using the stepping method for baguazhang when I am cutting angles and changing position for strikes or grapples (or palm strikes in some cases).
Thank you for this video. It'll help me analyze it better and make my movements better.
One thing about horse stance is that you can get some use out of it as a side facing stance. It lets you put a lot into strikes to the body from that position, along with a couple other things. it's just not something you stay in. It's transitional, something that you're only really doing for a split second. For some reason it's usually taught in a really weird, impractical way, and is usually used to teach certain body mechanics. In general a lot of the stances in traditional arts fall into this same category to where they're only used for a split second then you transition out of them, like the front stance.
There isn't "some use". It IS a sidewards facing position. It is Karate and Taekwondo that bastardised it; in Chinese styles it has been taught sideways from the beginning.
@@tjl4688 currently learning a chinese style, which is where I learned that it was a side facing stance. The reason I say some use is because, as I said it's a very split second kind of thing. It's not likely to be a defining aspect of how someone fights so much as a useful position.
What is the purpose of all the rhythm steps you incorperate in your footwork? I noticed that was kept throughout all the stances. Great video.
Thank you so much for this video. Very informative and helped me gain a much wider perspective when it comes to movement.
This also applies to Japanese sword fighting, from high guard to low and mid etc...depending on your OP.
I've recently started studying European longsword fighting, and going between different guard positions instead of maintaining the same stance most of the time still feels weird to me.
@@moreparrotsmoredereks2275 the guards are to confuse the op and give you a position advantage that is why sparring is so important!!
Awesome explanation, super informative 🙌
Super interesting. If you pause or run this video at 0.25, when Ramsey is shifting stances, you can see picture perfect traditional karate stances, even the ones that are usually mocked in shotokan for being "too low, unrealistic".
And that's what people don't get about "rigid stances" in TMA. They're not rigid, never were. They're shifting points. @Jesse Enkamp has a couple of videos on this as well.
Hey Ramsey any tips for wrestling american, greco roman wrestling I believe it is, but I have a hard time actually doing something I've only been wrestling for about 3 weeks lost 2 matches
1st find what type of attacks work for you. If you are short and strong hip tosses, knee picks, high singles. If you are tall doubles, suplexes, headlocks. 2nd. What is lacking speed to get in or strength to finish?
Do some shadow wrestling: th-cam.com/video/Xud_hRLiQr4/w-d-xo.html
Ramsey does really cool spinning hook kicks
Thanks
Hello coach, is it true that you are actually Anthony Smith using different angles? What is your opinion on the circulating conspiracy theory of you called "The Dewey Code"?
what is the Dewey code
@@roguelites5225 It revolves around subliminal backmasked messages in the videos, Ramsey's involvement with the CIA, Moloch being present behind Ramsey in a video, and Coach Dewey's (if that is his actual name) involvement in summoning the ancient Chinese entity referred to as "Chow".
MrMegadipper oh well that’s definitely false
@@roguelites5225 WAKE UP ‼‼
MrMegadipper hey man stupidity’s not a drug I’m willing to take
You forgot sanda stance that is 45 angle 🙏 and work well for stand up and take downs too I thinks it one of the best stances 💪
Thanks Ramsey 🙏
Personally i was never a fan of the side stance since i used the same stance and footwork i adopted from HEMA. Lead leg pointed at your opponent is safer and has way more mobility
I really noticed Ramsay's balance in this video. How do you train your balance like that, is it just doing it over and over of is there exercises for it. Is balance on your kicks like that even that important, should i be able to stick out a side kick and hold it or is it not necessary
This might be helpful to answer your question about side kicks. A short “lock out” at the end of a side kick or a back kick can radically increase power output and balance. th-cam.com/video/iXXCeZHHOu8/w-d-xo.html
As far as how to develop balance: make sure all your movements are deliberate. Do heavy squats, deadlifts, and lunges with good technique. Train consistently. Practice the basics daily. Put in at least 3 rounds on the heavy bag every day. Spar often (use control, don’t damage your training partners), do dynamic stretching. Be consistent with your sleeping schedule. Eat well. Stay healthy. Find balance in every other area of your life also.
Love your videos.
There really helpful cause i usually stick with a muy tai stance
It's funny I've been thinking about this and working on it all month getting used to a forward stance like Bas Rutten used to use
Very very nice and informative video Ramsey!
A video ive been waiting for. Great stuff as always coach. Very informative. Its funny, sometimes something so obvious needs to be said coz its amazing how many people may not have been aware of the obvious e.g. not being married to one stance etc
First video I found on this, pretty helpful
Horse stance is for strength training, never for fighting. I don't know how would anyone with functional brain would believe it is a fighting stance.
Idk man I'd consider what wonderboy does an adaptation of the horse stance.
It would terrible to use it in a fight but in my wrestling I drop my weight when their behind me and push my hips back or away it's very useful for switching position
This is exactly what I said. Lol 🤣
@@princexerakugo7335 Wrestling is fighting.
The horse stance is a sidewards facing position.
EVERYBODY who has stood side on when throwing a lead jab, is doing a horse stance.
This is how it is taught in Kung Fu - for whatever reason, Karate and Taekwondo turned it into a front-facing thing, which makes no fucking sense.
Hey coach!
Have you ever thought of writing a book??
Hi Ramsey! First of all, thanks for your extraordinary and clear content. It’s always nice to watch your videos and listen to your voice explain, well, anything.
Sorry to bother you, but I have a question regarding kickboxing stances. I hope you might help.
I have started kickboxing a few months ago, and I keep being told to stay more squared, with both feet always pointing forward, otherwise I might get a knee injury due to a kick, they say. Do you think this is the only correct stance? It feels strange and too “head-on”, but maybe it’s just me.
I have an extensive background in Kung Fu, and practicing different styles I've learned a variety of stances: the ones I use the most while on guard are the lateral horse stance (what you mentioned as "bladed" stance), the orthodox boxing stance, and what you might call an orthodox "fencer" stance.
I trust that my coach knows what he’s doing and that he knows more than I do, but I remain a bit perplexed; seeing your video about stances, and how a fighter switches between them continuously during a match, I thought about asking you about it.
Thank you for your time.
I hope you will reply, but since I can imagine you receive many such questions, no worries even if you don’t.
Which ever stance or guard you use, make sure you have a good reason to do so.
@@RamseyDewey Thank you
🤔🤔🤔The only thing's good about the Horse Stance is 1) its a good isometric exercise, and 2) it strengthens and disciplines the mind
You make alot sense!! RAM 🐏 !
I have heard that you are the greatest krav maga master of youtube.
I want to take some lessons.
Hey there Ramsey, I've just recently come across your channel and I'm really enjoying your videos. I am interested in competing in some form of MMA. My question is how would someone like me (no experience, no gym) start to compete? I know I should have started 30 years ago if I planned to actually have a decent career in fighting but I didn't. I honestly think if I would've started as a kid I had the potential to be the GOAT. Now, I would like to have a career in MMA, do you think it's possible at 38 years of age and if so how or where do I start? Thank you in advance Coach! Keep the videos coming sir, your value cannot be over-exaggerated.
Hi Ramsey Dewey, Great Video! I have a question if you don't mind. What are some of your favourite counters you like to use in your sparring or in your fights?
Another superb video. I really enjoyed this one and it gave me a better understanding of stances. I was wondering if Coach Ramsey could share his thoughts on calf kicks and stances. I remember after Dustin Porier vs. Conor McGregor 2 bout where calf kicks were employed heavily by Dustin and impacted the outcome of the fight there was much made about Conor's change in stance. I guess my questions are if your lead leg is compromised due to calf kicks is it possible to switch stances and be still be effective? Could a stance change from Conor have helped him protect better against those calf kicks? Sorry if this question has been answered before.
Coach, hi- could you talk about healthy motivation to be a fighter? Chips on shoulders, heartbreak, egoes etc, I know the answer foremost is something like: fighting is not for emotions. I sure don’t have a “have to fight to make it” rough upbringing, but I do feel fully compelled by all of the three factors I put above, which when I actually write it out feels possibly silly. Is “she’ll see me on TV one day” always a pitfall? Can it be the pushing off point of a well-balanced, properly fueled career? Do egos benefit us in any way besides selling ppvs? Thanks!
Hey Ramsey could you show some ways to increase flexibility in the legs and abdominals for kicks such as the axe kick. Thanks a lot
th-cam.com/video/By4QOLdVylo/w-d-xo.html
@@RamseyDewey Much obliged
You're the voice of the Mindsmash channel!! Or am I bugging?
th-cam.com/video/OzuUlj-xN50/w-d-xo.html
1:35 Heavy Sagat vibes here :)
You win. Perfect!
For many years i trained traditional stances like horse stance (ma bu) or bow stance (gong bu). When you do the stances in a very deep position they can dramatically improve your strength of your hips and legs. They improve your agility and stability. On the other side, doing these stances only in a deep position and only statically, they have no practical meaning. When you combine them in a living way in sparring or fighting, they are nothing else than all other stances in other Martial Arts, Boxing etc.
I actually like training different stances. Though I hadnt thought of it the way you described. I thought of using various martial arts stances as their own and then switch as needed. For example, I'll use a more "thai" stance, but switch to a more taekwondo or even wingchun stance. Also I'll use the capoeira jinga sometimes. And people I've sparred, mostly low leveled and 1 coach, they hesitated more cuz they didn't know how to combat it. And I'll do a couple jingas and then stay on one side so they cant always time my steps. Also, if I want to change between a orthodox to southpaw or vice versa, I'll either do a jinga, or I'll do a more taekwondo forward/backward step. But I practice throwing a job or short combo when making those movements so I dont always get caught in between my steps.
Thank you for.......teaching
Star Platinum is the best stand
Very educational thank you very much
I appreciate the love osu
Hey there coach Id like to ask you what you think of the martial art known as Yaw Yan, I find the style interesting with its rather unorthodox strikes and id love to hear you give your thoughts on it
Ramsey, when does your book come out? 🤔
I was wonder why your videos notifications had stopped for me and a feared that your channel had been deleted (with the way YT behaves nowadays, you'll never know) ...only to find out that I was unsubscribed. Sigh...
Subscribed again. Great video BTW..
Always good advice and observations. The crazy panda shirt is cool.
Can you do a commentary on the Andre Galvao/ Gordon Ryan beef?
Wouldn't the horse stance be one of the best stances for mma considering it would make wrestling style takedowns harder singles and doubles etc..??
How would it make them harder?
Can you do a commentary on the Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr fight?
Hey coach, just wondering what your perspective on using kicks to change stances; how that would effect your guard and susceptibility to being taken down.
Love from Canada
Great content as per usual 👍
I think what you're mostly alluding to is that stances are transitions used to go into technique?
Basically
Thanks. Sounds like the question came from someone with more of a Karate/Kung Fu background.
I feel like those ‘stances’ are meant more for conditioning and the ‘stances’ you show here are where the real focus should be.
Exactly! Having trained in both karate and boxing as well as aikido, I can relate to what he said about training the "horse stance" wgeb teaching traditional aryial arts and switching to a more
.......switching to a more varied use of stances while sparring. Even in karate the sparring stance much shorter similar to boxing stance while the long deep stances limited to kata competitions.
Can you do a commentary on the Andre Galvao/ Ryan Gordon beef?
Thanks for...shooting...on these stances, bro...(crickets)
Hey do you have a podcast if so is it on Spotify, thank you for your time
Yes
"....forward offensive stance..." Zenkutsu Dachi or Seisan Dachi, "....off - side stance...." Shiko Dachi, "....a high guard...." Neko Ashi Dachi. Why beginning Karate can be useful as "basic training" and initial conditioning.
Nice one! 🥊
Is that a Death Panda shirt? If it is, this is awesome.
My coach is trying to get me comfy in a semi muai Thai extended hand kind of guard.
It really nice for defending kicks and hooks and keeping distance but I also cope a heck of a lot of jabs straight through the center. what am I doing wrong?
I get pieced up regularly in slow tech sparring. However, I do much better if we turn up the heat and I move and throw faster or more explosively. Do you think this is athleticism covering for a lack of skill? Or do you think certain styles are more suited to moving fast and being aggressive?
It’s a lot of different variables, many of which are psychological.
@@RamseyDewey That is a good point. It is difficult to commit to strikes or combinations without any intent.