Become Fighter
Balance and head position: MMA guide
How to stay on your feet in a clinch and take your opponent's balance first.
Balance decides a clinch. A fighter on the back of his heels will be taken down. A fighter whose head is out of line will be controlled and kneed.
You do not need to be stronger. You need to be positioned so that your strength works and theirs does not.
Key points
- Keep your weight over the balls of the feet. If you feel on your heels, step.
- Head to the side of the opponent's head, not in front of it. A head in front gets collar-tied.
- Stay shoulder-to-shoulder with the opponent so you can feel their pushes.
- Break their balance with small pulls and pushes in rhythm with their weight shifts.
- When your balance goes, take a step. Do not fight the fall.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Pushing against a heavy opponent. Move around the push. Let them push into the space you left.
- Putting your head in front of theirs. Slide your head to the side and keep your chin tucked.
- Fighting to avoid stepping. Step. A step is not a retreat when it restores balance.
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the The clinch module of MMA foundations.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from The clinch
- Clinch position and posture: MMA guide
- Underhooks, overhooks and pummeling: MMA guide
- Wall and cage awareness: MMA guide
Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.