Your body language often speaks louder than your fists in every martial arts match. Technique, strength, and conditioning aren’t the only pillars of victory in combat sports; your body language can help pave the way to victory if you know how to use it.
From the moment you step on the battleground, your posture, facial expressions, and movements broadcast messages to your opponents. The wrong messages embolden them, while the right ones make it easier for you to implement your game plan.
Influencing The Outcomes Of Fights With Your Body Language
Your body language in any combat sport can help psych you up, throw off your opponent’s confidence, or sway a judge’s scorecard after a close round. It’s one of the most underestimated weapons in martial arts, but there are many real-life examples of how big of an edge it can give you. Just watch Mike Tyson‘s body language during fights in the 90s to see how much body language can tilt the outcome of a fight in your favor.
Let’s take a closer look at why body language matters in combat sports and how you can use it in your favor:
1) Project Confidence
Confidence is the golden rule of survival. Its importance goes beyond combat sports. There’s a reason why safari guides tell tourists to stand their ground if an animal charges the group. Confidence is a universal language that all animal species understand. It screams, “You don’t want to mess with me.”
When it comes to fighting, projecting confidence can intimidate opponents. Standing tall, keeping your chin up, and maintaining steady eye contact signals you’re ready for anything. Your opponent might start to wonder if there’s something you know that they don’t.
Your opponent might smell blood in the water like a shark if you walk into a match, looking unsure of yourself or acting jittery. This signals you might not be prepared for what’s about to occur.
Strut in like you own the building, even if you’re a nervous wreck inside, and you might make your opponents second-guess their game plans.
Research on sports psychology shows athletes who project confidence typically outperform their more hesitant counterparts.
2) Harness The Power Of Pre-Fight Rituals
Have you noticed some of your favorite fighters have specific routines before their contests? It could be Jon Jones crawling inside the cage on all fours or Yoshihiro “Sexyama” Akiyama walking to the cage with “Time to Say Goodbye” playing before performing his trademark bow. These rituals help get you in “fight mode” and can unnerve opponents.
Pre-fight rituals reinforce your mental readiness. They send a clear message to your opponent that you mean business. On the flip side, breaking away from your routine, like tripping on your shoelace as you walk to the ring/cage, sends off the message that you feel overwhelmed, increasing your opponent’s confidence.
Find a pre-fight ritual that works for you and stick to it. Don’t try to copy cool rituals like Alex Pereira’s trademark walk before firing off an imaginary arrow. Instead, come up with something that represents who you are as a fighter.
3) Read Your Opponent’s Body Language
Body language is a two-way street. You should be reading your opponent’s body as you project confidence. For example, an opponent refusing to make eye contact as you enter the fight area might indicate nervousness.
You should also pay attention to your opponent’s body language during a fight. If an opponent starts dropping their hands, that might be a sign of fatigue setting in. The same goes for an opponent who’s slow to get off the stool between rounds. If an opponent reacts to every feint you throw, that might be a sign that they’re mentally frazzled, which means they’re more likely to make mistakes.
Tip: Don’t overcommit to anything based on an opponent’s body language alone. For example, a crafty fighter might feign getting hurt to lure you into a trap.
4) Develop A Strong Poker Face
Some would say having a good poker face benefits you in all aspects of life. Every grimace you make during a fight gives your opponent a mental edge. Keeping your face neutral or maintaining a light smirk makes you seem unshakable. It often leaves opponents wondering what they’re doing wrong as their best strikes fail to get any reaction out of you.
5) Move Like A Champion
How you move during a fight also says a lot about your mindset. Quick, short movements show you’re in control, while hesitant movements signal uncertainty.
The Muhammad Ali shuffle is an excellent example of the importance of fluid, confident movements. The move didn’t necessarily give him any technical advantages, but it frustrated opponents as it signaled they couldn’t keep up with him.
Spend lots of time performing movement drills to ensure every step, back step, and sidestep you make projects confidence.
6) Win The Eye Contact Game
Eye contact during combat sports is a tricky subject. Locking eyes with an opponent mid-fight can intimidate them but also limits your ability to see strikes coming your way. Make assertive eye contact periodically with opponents during fights, but don’t get carried away.
For the most part, keep your eyes on your opponent’s shoulders and hips. This way, your peripheral vision can track their arms and legs.
7) Send The Right Body Language Messages To Referees And judges
Your body language during a fight also affects influences how referees behave. For example, the ref is more likely to step in and stop a fight when your body language signals you don’t want to continue fighting.
Likewise, fighters who send the correct body language signals are less likely to find themselves arguing with referees about premature stoppages, even if they’re getting bombarded with strikes. One good example is Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Ironman” Jitmuangnon, whose body language not only exudes confidence but also instills fear in his opponents.
Your body language also influences how judges perceive the action. Close rounds are often scored in favor of the fighter who looks like they won. Simple things like quickly getting up to go to your corner or raising your hand after a round and staring down your opponent can steal decisions.
Use Your Body Language Like A Weapon
Every little edge counts in combat sports. Body language is an often overlooked aspect of fighting that can intimidate opponents, earn favor with judges, and prevent questionable stoppages during your fights. Own your presence, stay composed, and let your body do the talking.
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