Front Stance used in UFC

[Water Dragon]

I caught traditional Gong Fu stances, the front stance used effectively in the UFC last night. They were using it as a knee counter to the shoot. Back leg was positioned to go into the sprawl. Different use than the traditional ways, but it points to what CMA can do if they are willing to adapt. Thoughts???

[Archangel]

Can you desrcribe to me what this stance looks like. I was watching the UFC last night and saw nothing different. Well I wasn't looking for it anyways. Which fighters were using it? I have it on tape so I can look again.

[Water Dragon]

I'm pretty sure Menna used it against Bustamente a couple times. The fight that caught my eyes though was Ricco against the roided up-looking wrestler. It doesn't look like the "classic" front stance, but than again, they never do look quite as pretty in usage. Check that fight and notice how the front leg sets itself after the knee, look where the back leg is. Think of what a front stance feels like to you, not how it looks to someone else.

[Xebsball]

Dude, do you mean the same as Bow stance?
When you say prepared for sprawl do you mean his back foot wasnt flat on the floor or something?

BTW, you do bjj to right? Have you tried using it to resist takedowns, what are your thoughts on that.

[Water Dragon]

I've used it to "catch" people in my hip. Works good if you pick up on the shoot attempt and are able to step in. If you don't notice the shoot in time, you're going down. Never tried it using a knee, but it looks reallly nice. Definately something to play with now

I'm not currently doing BJJ, but my friend just got back from Brazil, did two weeks with Royler!!! want to start working with him.

No, I don't think the foot was flat. By preparing to sprawl I mean, after the knee, you can post your weifght into your rear leg, and kick your front leg back into a sprawl. I'm also speaking of the front stance with a lean, straight line from head to heel.

[Xebsball]

I think i understand what you mean...
I'll have to wait until i can see this UFC, since for unknown reasons it wasnt transmited live to Brazil this time.

Cool, i heard Royler is the most skilled in Bjj, probably cos hes the smaller so he needs more skill (like Helio) to be able to fight his oponents. BTW, must have been expensive for your friend training with him.

[Jaguar Wong]

Actually the Rico "Suave" fight had two good knees to stop the takedown elements in it. The first time he used the knee, it landed about as square as it could have on what was open on Munson's head, but he still got the double leg takedown. If Ricco didn't have so much grappling expeirence, the fight may have ended there when Jeff attempted to take the mount for a G&P.

The second one was the fight finishing knee where Munson was tired, and slow on the takedown, and Ricco again, landed the knee cleanly which knocked Jeff down, so Ricco could capitalize.

What's my point...I didn't notice the bow stance, but I did notice that if you have the reaction time and speed, you still may be taken down after landing the knee. Just like many a grappler here has stated. I thought that was cool that Ricco used the knee so much, and I was glad to see it stop the (sloppy) takedown attempt at the end, though. So if I can wear the guy down, or make him take a sloppy takedown attempt, I may have a chance with the knee. I'm still more than willing to learn how to "survive" on the ground if and when it fails though.

I noticed that Pulver's sharp striking and somewhat useful ground work was a pretty even match for BJ Penn's amazing ground work, and decent striking. Again, I see some hope in my training