We have seen already the degree to which positional skills are stressed in the overall strategy of the jujitsu fighter. People normally think of positional skills in the ground-fighting phase of combat and, to a lesser degree, in the clinch phase as well. However, position does play a role in the free-movement phase of combat. The guiding idea in the free-movement phase is to seek a position that gives you some kind of offensive and defensive advantage. In effect, this means you must create some kind of angle between you and your opponent that gives you a better position from which to launch your strikes and takedowns, while at the same time limiting your opponent’s ability to do likewise. This constant effort to create an advantageous angle on your opponent is a key skill in the free-movement phase of combat.
If you stay directly in front of your opponent, you will be directly in front of his main offensive striking weapons and will suffer accordingly. In addition, it is much easier for him to block any takedown attempts you make. Instead, you can use good footwork skills to take you out to an angle that limits your opponent’s offense and makes his defense more difficult (once again, note the importance of footwork and motion). One particularly useful angle is to circle around his lead hand. This takes you away from his power hand and leg (the rear arm and leg) and makes takedowns much safer and easier (figure 4.4).
Punching
There is no doubt that punches are the most effective form of striking weapon in the free-movement phase of combat in current MMA competition. The vast majority of knockout victories are the result of powerful hand strikes. Not only are punches the means to quick victory in the free-movement phase, they also set up the entries into clinches and takedowns that take the fight into other phases of combat. Mastery of basic punching skills, then, is crucial to any jujitsu fighter, regardless of which phase of combat he prefers to fight in.
It is important to note, however, that punching in an MMA setting is quite different from punching in a boxing match. Many people mistakenly assume that because the punching movements of MMA appear similar to those of Western boxing, the two are identical. In fact, the two are different in subtle but
Figure 4.4 Angling away from a strike.
a b
important ways. The biggest differences between punching in a boxing match and in an MMA match is that in the latter, takedowns are legal and clinches will not be broken apart by the referee.
Remember, the rules of boxing limit the fight to the free-movement phase of combat. This is not the case in MMA. A boxer need not be concerned about fighting in the clinch and takedowns, since these are not part of boxing. Ac-cordingly, he can focus on the use of his hands as weapons with no regard for other dangers. He need not worry about kicks, knees, elbows, throws, and takedowns. As a result, he can totally commit to his punching attacks and de-fense. The MMA fighter, on the other hand, must concern himself with all of these other dangers, since they are all legal in MMA. Because of this fact, some important differences emerge between the punching strategy of a jujitsu fighter in an MMA fight and a boxer in a boxing match.
In MMA competition, for example, punching combinations tend to be much shorter than in boxing. A fighter has only a short time to punch before his opponent closes the distance into a takedown or clinch; thus, long combina-tions are out of the question. MMA fighters also show a strong preference for straight punches with longer reach, such as the jab and cross. If you are close enough to use shorter-range punches, such as the hook and uppercut, then you are close enough to clinch, which limits the use of these types of punches in the free-movement phase (although they are used much more in the clinch). Lastly, the head is almost always the target in MMA fights. In a boxing match, there is sufficient time to work the opponent’s body as a prelude to attacking the head.
As a result, punching attacks to the body are much more common in a boxing match. In MMA, body attacks are done mostly in the clinch, rather than the free-movement phase.
Jab
The jab is the workhorse punch in MMA, just as it is in boxing and kickboxing. Try to visual-ize it as we take you through it stage by stage:
From a fighting stance, throw the lead hand out in a straight line, turning the palm down as you extend out. Be sure to bring the fist back in the same straight line that it went out, returning to your fighting stance. Keep your chin tucked to the shoulder of the arm that launches the jab. Do not push the jab out. Let the punch snap out by staying relaxed. See figure 4.5.
Though the jab is not intended to be a power punch, it can hit an opponent with surprising force if a fighter snaps it out with assistance from the lead shoulder and hip, while at the same time taking a small step forward with the lead foot. This takes the fighter into strik-ing range and adds weight to the strike. The rear hand needs to stay high to defend the fighter’s face from counterstrikes. The fighter Figure 4.5 Jab.
Figure 4.6 Rear cross.
needs to throw the jab with force and commitment; a lazy jab can be strongly countered by a skilled striker.
The main target of the jab is the opponent’s chin. Also, remember that the main functions of the jab are the following:
1. To gauge the distance between you and your opponent
2. To harass, intimidate, and hurt your opponent throughout the free-movement phase of combat
3. To set up other strikes in short combinations. For example, fighters can follow the jab with the straight-right cross or a rear-leg roundhouse kick.
These are simple but highly effective combinations that work well in MMA.
4. To distract an opponent long enough to set up either a takedown or an entry into the clinch to take the fight out of the free-movement phase
Cross
The rear cross is the power punch of MMA. It is responsible for more knockout victories in the free-movement phase than any other punch. Again, try to visu-alize it as we take you through the movements: From a fighting stance, the rear hand snaps out in a straight line as your rear hip and shoulder rotate in the same direction. Push off your rear foot to add further impetus to the blow. Do not wind up the punch and thus telegraph your intentions to your opponent.
Let it snap straight out from your stance without any unnecessary movement.
See figure 4.6.
Because a large percentage of your body weight is involved in the punch, tremendous power can be generated when a fighter exe-cutes this move. Do not, however, try to use muscular strength to generate power. To do so only serves to tighten you up and slow the punch. Relax and let your moving body weight do the work. Make sure that your lead hand stays high to protect your face. Usually the rear cross is set up by a jab; however, there are times when the rear cross can be the first blow thrown. Often, it is good to follow the rear cross with the left hook, as there is a natural flow between these two strikes.
The rear cross is also an excellent counter-strike. Fighters can use it to counter an opponent’s roundhouse kick or knee strikes.
One of the best times to throw the rear cross is immediately after a change in level. An opponent will often take the change in level as a prelude to a takedown attempt, and he will drop his hands to defend the takedown.
This gives an excellent opening for the rear cross. Remember that the main target of the cross is the chin, jaw, and face.
Hook
The hook is another punch that utilizes body weight in motion to generate tremendous power, and it is best done with the lead hand. The idea is to dip a little and lean slightly out to the lead side. Picture its execution: Without dropping your lead hand, raise your lead elbow, and snap your hips inward, turning in sharply on the ball of your lead foot. Your lead punching arm should be bent sharply, with the palm facing you and with your lead elbow the same height as your fist. The punch should not be a wide, looping motion, but a short, snappy one (figure 4.7).
Immediately return to your fighting stance, un-less you are throwing the punch as part of some combination. Be sure to keep your rear hand high to block any counterstrikes to your face. The pri-mary target of the hook is your opponent’s jaw and chin, though the whole side of his head works just as well.
The hook is a powerful knockout weapon, as it often comes in unseen by the opponent. It is a great counterpunch that works especially well just after you have evaded an opponent’s punch by slipping away or changing levels. It can be used to great effect on your opponent’s body, especially to his liver—a damaging shot, indeed.
Uppercut
The uppercut is a powerful blow when you are close to your opponent. It relies on exploding your body weight upward to generate great knockout power.
From a fighting stance, dip a little and bring your lead shoulder and hip slightly forward. Do not drop your lead hand before the punch. In a short, snappy motion, turn your palm to face you, and rip your uppercut between your opponent’s hands up to the chin (figure 4.8). Return to a fighting stance, unless you are going to the next step of a combination.
The uppercut can also be thrown successfully with the rear hand. Utilize the rear hip and shoulder to add even more power to the blow.
The uppercut is an excellent counter to the op-ponent who changes level into a takedown.
Time his level change, and launch the uppercut with commitment straight to the chin, catching his forward movement and generating great power.
Figure 4.7 Hook.
Figure 4.8 Uppercut.
Kicking
In the early days of MMA competition, kicks were of little value. In fact, they often were detrimental to the users, since they made kickers vulnerable to takedowns that put them on the ground and at the mercy of ground grapplers.
In time, however, kickers learned to defend takedowns, and kicking has be-come an important skill in the free-movement phase of combat.