Issue 070

December 2010

We know most fighters love to stand and bang. So we bring you a stand-up masterclass from the legendary John Hackleman.

Keeping fights on the feet is how 'Pit' master John Hackleman made his bones. “People say like 80% of fights end up on the ground, but remember 100% of fights start standing up.” Sage words from Hackleman, the lord of sprawl ‘n’ brawl.

‘The Pit’ fight team and in particular its founder, John Hackleman, has nurtured and adapted a skill set that ten years ago was unheard of, but is now common among MMA’s elite. Sprawl 'n' brawl still relies on a strong wrestling skill set. Not to get your opponents to the mat, but to finish them standing instead.

The Pit style of sprawl ‘n’ brawl is one of the most recognizable in the business; any hardcore fan can spot a Hackleman protégé from the moment they step in the cage. Trademarked by having spectacular takedown defense, great scramble skills from the bottom and heavy-handed kickboxing, John Hackleman’s Pit Fight Team has put together one of the most unique and effective fight styles in MMA. It’s epitomized by the most decorated Pit fighter of all time, Chuck ‘The Iceman’ Liddell, who’s made a career out of stuffing the shot and sending his opponents into unconsciousness. As both Chuck and John know, you need three things to become a great sprawl ‘n’ brawler:

• Stance
• Hand placement
• Footwork/distance

We’ll take you through them all.

Having the proper stance is key to keeping the fight on the feet. Pit fighters utilize a wide, low posture as Hackleman describes it. “Not as low as a wrestler, but not as high as a Muay Thai fighter. We’re something in the middle.” At this level you’re tall enough to still use effective striking and lateral footwork, while simultaneously minimizing vulnerability to a wrestling shot. The low stance decreases the distance you have to lower yourself to exercise an effective sprawl, making your takedown defense twice as fast. The lower your hips are in the first place, the easier it is to shoot them down for the sprawl, and to keep your legs from being snatched up from under you. 

Although Hackleman has trained many great fighters, the greatest counterstriker The Pit ever produced has to be Chuck Liddell. Much of The Iceman’s success can be attributed to his Pit-forged unorthodox hand placement: the front hand wide and away from the face. This may not seem like the most conventional fighting stance, but it’s for a very specific purpose. This position is set up to unleash the signature strike of the Pit: the left hook. Having your hand that far out means that your hook is already cocked back for full power. Theoretically all you need is a swing of those hips and it’s ‘lights out’. Hackleman describes the succession of movement for a Pit left hook like this: “The hip goes first, then the shoulder, then the arm, then the hand.” This motion forces your entire body weight into the strike, which is the reason why a left hook courtesy of The Pit is so dangerous. This left hand is also a good distance indicator. Having the hand that much closer to the opponent makes for a deceptively fast jab, and provides a trustworthy gauge to set up your other strikes. Using a wide stance and a one-of-a-kind hand position, a Pit fighter is powerful and effective. But there is one more key element in bringing the style together.

Finding the correct distance in MMA is different than in other combat sports, and relies on unique footwork. “With the takedowns and the clinching, your whole body has to be away. Unless you’re fighting standing on your hands, your footwork is what moves you,” says Hackleman. “Footwork controls the distance. In boxing you can lean out the way of punches, but you can’t out of a takedown attempt.” In order of importance John cites “number one dictating the distance, and number two dictating the level”. Once in striking range, your distance indicators suggest a lowering of stance. Then feel free to unleash your hands while being wary of the takedown. This awareness of distance also makes your counterstrikes that much more effective. Knowing when your opponent has entered the range where they can hit you and you can hit him allows you to use defensive left hooks and short-circuit crosses to their full potential. 

Hackleman also stresses the importance of lateral movement. Being able to circle opponents (usually to your right, away from their power hand) makes it increasingly difficult for them to secure an effective single/double leg takedown. Driving takedowns rely on pushing the opponent straight back, pulling their legs and hips out from under them and slamming them to the mat. If your motion is circular, a good set up for this kind of takedown is hard to achieve. So get moving.

These theories and techniques have made The Pit a world authority in the fields of takedown defense and counterstriking. Mixed martial arts is a constantly evolving sport, but two things that will never change are the need to control where the fight takes place and that the fight starts standing up. So if you’re a striker and you like to keep your feet from being above your head, or if you’re a wrestler who likes to stay on top and grind out your opponents on the floor, the need for sprawl ‘n’ brawl Pit style will always be in demand.