Lesson 14 - Smuggler - Form 1 Basic Low Attack
0
Standard Low Base·Rogue Saber Academy
A Rogue Saber Academy Form 1 lesson featuring Lightsaber Training on how to fight, spar, duel, and train with real LED s…
Standard Low Base
Genusスタンダードローベース(Sutandādo Rō Bēsu)
TransliterationTranslation: standard low base
Overview
The Standard Low Base positions the fighter in a wide, low athletic stance with the feet wider than shoulder width, knees bent, hips back, and weight distributed evenly between both legs. [1] The spine is kept relatively straight while the hips sink low, creating a dense, heavy base that is difficult to move or elevate. [1],[2] The standard low base allows the fighter to react quickly in any direction while maintaining the gravitational advantage of a low centre of mass. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
A low base stance makes takedowns significantly more difficult because the defender's centre of gravity is closer to the ground, requiring the attacker to generate more force to lift or off-balance them. [1] The low base is particularly effective against double-leg and body-lock takedowns that rely on lifting. [2]
Lineage
Low base defence is a fundamental wrestling concept taught from the earliest levels, as maintaining a low centre of gravity is one of the first principles of takedown defence. [1]
Competition Record
Low base is a standard takedown defence. [1]
Images
No images yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest an image.
Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Preventing or reducing the effect of an incoming attack through physical interception, evasion, or structural positioning
Joints Involved — Varies by defence type — blocks use arms/shins, evasions use head/body movement, sprawls use hips
Force Vector — Opposing or tangential to the attack — either absorbing, redirecting, or evading the incoming force
Defensive Principle — Economy of motion — the best defence uses minimal movement to neutralise the maximum threat
Position & Entry
From threatened position — Recognise the incoming attack, select the appropriate defensive response, and execute it with proper timing
As reactive defence — When attacked, use the trained defensive technique to neutralise the threat
As preemptive defence — Maintain position and distance to prevent the opponent from initiating the attack
Variants
Standard defence — primary defensive technique from the most common position
Reactive defence — triggered by the opponent's attack, minimal movement for maximum protection
Proactive defence — anticipating the attack and positioning to neutralise it early
Counter defence — using the defensive movement to create an immediate counter-attack opportunity
Videos
How to learn 5 Basic karate Blocks?
0
Standard Low Base·Fitness Karate Academy
Learn 5 basic karate blocks at home step by step with Sensei James golestani. you will learn in this lesson, 5 basic kar…
Basic Taekwondo Blocks
0
Standard Low Base·TaekwondoShawn
Day one on the Taekwondo mats... Here are the three blocks you would learn! High block, Middle block, and Down/Low block…
1 / 2
3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The transcripts provided do not contain cohesive instruction on a 'Standard Low Base' technique as a unified defensive stance. Rogue Saber Academy's Lesson 14 focuses on the 'Smuggler' offensive saber technique—a leg-striking maneuver executed while moving laterally past an opponent—rather than a defensive base position. TaekwondoShawn and Fitness Karate Academy both cover fundamental blocking techniques (high block, middle block, down block) in Taekwondo and Karate respectively, emphasizing proper arm positioning, wrist alignment, elbow placement, and hip-driven power generation. While these blocking videos address defensive postures and protective positioning, they do not specifically address or define a 'Standard Low Base' as a distinct, named defensive stance. The blocking instruction emphasizes maintaining proper body alignment, keeping elbows close to the body line, and generating power through hip rotation and twisting motions, but this appears distinct from the technique topic requested.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Rogue Saber Academy — Lesson 14 - Smuggler - Form 1 Basic Low Attack: Describes lateral footwork and offensive leg striking technique; does not address defensive base positioning.
- TaekwondoShawn — Basic Taekwondo Blocks: Teaches high, middle, and down blocking techniques with emphasis on proper elbow positioning, wrist alignment, and hip-powered defensive motion.
- Fitness Karate Academy — How to learn 5 Basic karate Blocks?: Covers five basic karate hand blocks (upper, lower, outside, inside) with breathing and execution mechanics; does not specifically address a 'Standard Low Base' defensive stance.
Learn This Technique
No instructional courses yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest a course.
Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Sprawls and stuffs involve sudden body weight displacement; knee/hip strain risk
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— Unified MMA — Legal defensive technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— IBJJF — Legal — defensive techniques are fundamental to g...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal defensive action
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— UWW — Legal defensive technique
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Standard low base execution: bend the knees to approximately 90-120 degrees, sit the hips back and down, keep the back straight, and maintain the weight on the balls of the feet (Dan Gable, Coaching Wrestling Successfully, 1999)
✓The standard low base is your defensive wrestling stance — it's the position you assume when the opponent is in takedown range
✓Hands are active in the low base: lead hand threatens the collar tie or wrist control, rear hand guards the lead leg
✓The back stays straight or slightly inclined forward — a rounded back weakens the base and invites snatch attacks
✓Foot position: lead foot slightly forward, rear foot slightly back, shoulder-width apart — narrow enough to move, wide enough for stability
✓The standard low base transitions into sprawl: from low base, if the opponent shoots, simply thrust the hips back
✓Drill the low base as your default stance for wrestling rounds — alternate between low base, sprawl, and re-stance for 3-minute rounds
✓The standard low base is what makes elite wrestlers so difficult to take down — they're already where the opponent needs to go
Common Mistakes
!Knees caving inward in the low base — keep the knees tracking over the toes for structural integrity
!Looking down at the ground — eyes up, watching the opponent's level and hand movement
!Putting the weight on the heels in the low position — heels down = slow sprawl; stay on the balls of the feet
!Holding the breath in the low position — breathe normally; breath-holding causes rapid fatigue
!Not adjusting the base when the opponent changes angle — reposition your feet to face the opponent as they circle
!Staying in the low base when the opponent retreats to striking range — return to your striking stance at distance
!Training the low base without simulating shot defence — the low base must flow seamlessly into other defensive actions
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Anticipate the Attack — read the opponent's intention through body cues
2Execute Defence — apply the specific defensive technique with proper timing
3Recover Stance — return to a balanced fighting position immediately
4Counter or Disengage — capitalize on the opening or create safe distance
Sources & References
Primary Source
Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text (Gichin Funakoshi, 1935)
1BookFreestyle Wrestling (Petrov, 1977)
Alias sources — [1] Wrestling Coaching Manual (USA Wrestling, 2015) [2] MMA Instruction Manual (Ryan & Snowden, 2010) [3] MMA Instruction Manual (Ryan & Snowden, 2010)
2BookWrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Cejudo & Holliday, 2015)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Wrestling Coaching Manual (USA Wrestling, 2015) [2] MMA Instruction Manual (Ryan & Snowden, 2010)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationFreestyle Wrestling (Petrov, 1977)
Alias sources — [1] Wrestling Coaching Manual (USA Wrestling, 2015) [2] MMA Instruction Manual (Ryan & Snowden, 2010) [3] MMA Instruction Manual (Ryan & Snowden, 2010)
5CitationWrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Cejudo & Holliday, 2015)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Wrestling Coaching Manual (USA Wrestling, 2015) [2] MMA Instruction Manual (Ryan & Snowden, 2010)
Community
Athletics
Requires
reaction speed, structural body mechanics, defensive awareness
Favours
quick reflexes and conditioned defensive surfaces
Key muscles
varies — forearms (blocking), legs (movement), core (stability)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the correct arm position for a high block?
Your fist should be one fist length away from your forehead, with your wrist higher than your elbow and kept straight as if punching. Your arm should be above your head covering everything, like holding an umbrella over your body to protect against punches to the face and attacks from above.
How close should my elbow stay to my body during a middle block?
Your elbow should stay the same distance from your body the whole time as it circles around from the front and the side. Keeping your elbow close to your body maintains power; if it wanders away, you lose effectiveness.
Why should I keep my back straight when performing a down block?
You want to make sure your back stays straight and strong because if you reach too low, your opponent can attack your head instead of defending against lower body attacks. You must also keep the block close to your body line—if it wanders away, you lose your power.
What's a common mistake with wrist position in blocks?
A common bad habit is bending your wrist during blocks, particularly in the middle block. You want to make sure your wrist stays straight and points at your belly button when executing the block.
How does the Standard Low Base work?
The Standard Low Base positions the fighter in a wide, low athletic stance with the feet wider than shoulder width, knees bent, hips back, and weight distributed evenly between both legs. The spine is kept relatively straight while the hips sink low, creating a dense, heavy base that is difficult to move or elevate.
Where does the Standard Low Base come from?
The standard low base is the foundational wrestling defensive stance, taught as the first principle of defensive wrestling posture in training programmes worldwide. Every wrestling programme emphasises the importance of keeping the hips low and the base wide.
Is the Standard Low Base legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal — defensive techniques are fundamental to grappling; IJF: legal — Legal defensive action; ADCC: legal — Legal; UWW: legal — Legal defensive technique; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Standard Low Base?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — sprawls and stuffs involve sudden body weight displacement; knee/hip strain risk
How do I set up the Standard Low Base?
The standard setup chain: Anticipate the Attack → Execute Defence → Recover Stance → Counter or Disengage.
How do I defend against the Standard Low Base?
Standard counters include: Timing — attack when the defence is recovering or between movements / Feint — use deception to create openings in the defensive structure / Angle Change — attack from an unexpected angle that the defence does not cover.
What are the variants of the Standard Low Base?
Common variants: Standard defence (primary defensive technique from the most common position); Reactive defence (triggered by the opponent's attack, minimal movement for …); Proactive defence (anticipating the attack and positioning to neutralise it …); Counter defence (using the defensive movement to create an immediate count…).
How effective is the Standard Low Base in competition?
Low base is a standard takedown defence.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Low Base?
Top errors to watch for: Knees caving inward in the low base — keep the knees tracking over the toes for structural integrity / Looking down at the ground — eyes up, watching the opponent's level and hand movement / Putting the weight on the heels in the low position — heels down = slow sprawl; stay on the balls of the feet / Holding the breath in the low position — breathe normally; breath-holding causes rapid fatigue.
What are other names for the Standard Low Base?
The Standard Low Base is also known as Sutandādo Rō Bēsu, Basic Low Base, Standard Wide Base, Squat Base.