Feints are one of the most underutilized and misunderstood techniques in combat sports. At first glance, feinting seems simple – fake one way, go the other. But feints can be so much more than that. When utilized properly against high-level opponents, feints become a game-changer. They allow you to out-think and out-maneuver even the trickiest counter strikers. In this in-depth article, we’ll break down the multifaceted power of feints and how to wield them effectively.
Blurring the Line Between Truth and Fiction
The beauty of a properly executed feint lies in blurring the line between what’s real and what’s fake. Human reaction times average around 0.25 seconds. So at close range, an opponent likely can’t discern a feinted strike from an actual strike before reacting. This allows you to make them react – flinch, move, counter – without fully committing yourself.
The more they react to feints, the more predictable they become. You train them to respond reflexively rather than thoughtfully. Against tired or overwhelmed opponents, feints become even more potent. Fatigued fighters rely more on trained reactions and instinct – both of which you can manipulate with feints.
Savvy strikers use feints to probe and expose holes in their opponent’s defense before striking. This allows them to land cleanly without absorbing counters. Master feinters make opponents look foolish by consistently fooling them into swinging at air and tiring themselves out. The threat of the feint provokes a reaction without the risk of full commitment.
Turning the Tables on Counter Strikers
One of the most valuable applications of feinting is against dangerous counter strikers. These opponents want you to over-commit so they can time and punish you. By feinting, you disrupt their rhythm and trigger reactions without fully committing yourself.
If they swing at air after several feints, they may become hesitant, allowing you to sneak in real strikes. You can also counter the counter by drawing out reactions then punishing their missed counters. Instead of being afraid of their counters, feints allow you to put counter strikers on the defensive. You control the action rather than reacting to it.
This mental edge, plus the openings created from their reactions, lead to opportunities for clean strikes. Using feints to unravel counter fighters represents one of the highest expressions of striking craft.
Using Feints To Set Traps
Once you have an opponent reacting to feints, you can start setting traps by feinting reactions and punishing expected responses. For example, if you feint a jab and they habitually slip to the outside, you can meet them with a hook. Or if you feint kicks to draw their hands down, you can greet their reaction with an overhand.
Baiting specific reactions that you intend to punish requires next-level perception and coordination. But with enough pattern recognition, you can essentially direct the fight via feints. The opponent believes they are reacting, but they are ultimately moving where you want them to. This allows you to not only land strikes but also choose which strikes to throw, minimizing risk.
More Than Just Striking
While feinting is most associated with striking, it has great utility for other phases too. On the ground, you can feint transitions or submissions to expose your opponent’s reactions. Once you understand their reactions, you can use it against them by baiting an action and hitting a counter.
In the clinch, fake knees or body locks to set up real ones when they react. Against the cage, feint level changes to reactionary takedown defense to land strikes. The possibilities are endless once you embrace feinting as a core concept rather than just a striking technique. Anytime you interact with an opponent, they eventually adapt to your techniques. Feinting resets these adaptations by keeping them guessing. Without feints, opponents can key in on timing and responses. The element of deception is what allows feints to remain effective even when repeated.
Feinting Against Different Styles
While feints work against any style, their effects can vary. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Counter strikers: disrupt their rhythm and counter their counters
- Aggressive strikers: bait reactions to create openings
- Swarmers: keep them hesitant and slow their assault
- Brawlers: draw them into counters and wear them out
- Clinch fighters: fake clinch entries to land strikes
- Grapplers: feint shots to enter on strikes instead
- Ground specialists: keep them guessing in transitions
Understanding stylistic differences allows you to tailor your feinting strategy. But the basic principles remain the same – provoke reactions, expose patterns, punish responses.
Developing Feinting Skill
Feinting may come naturally to some, but can take practice for others. Here are some tips on developing feinting skill:
- Start slowly: Focus on proper technique before speed/power
- Vary feint intensity: Keep opponents guessing to reactions
- Feint early: Implement feints from the opening bell
- Drills: Repetition ingrains feinting reactions
- Setups: Feint combinations, not just singleton techniques
- Footwork: Good footwork enhances feinting angles
- Fight IQ: Let feints reveal in-fight tendencies
- Creativity: Explore new applications for feinting
Building feinting skill requires drilling, creativity and fight experience. But the payoff is having an unpredictable, reaction-based style.
Implementing Feints in Your Game
Hopefully this breakdown has revealed the layered potency of feinting to you. So how do you incorporate it into your game? Here are some tips:
- Start feinting early in fights/rounds before opponents adapt.
- Vary feint intensity – some subtle, some exaggerated.
- Use feints to draw out reactions, not just to set up strikes.
- Practice feinting drills to ingrain reactions.
- Let feints inform your reads on opponents over time.
- Mix up real attacks after feints – don’t become predictable.
- Apply feints strategically, not just repetitively.
With consistent practice, feinting will evolve from a chore into a game within the game. You’ll discover new ways to leverage feints as puzzles to solve shifting matchups. Just remember – the threat is often mightier than the execution. Wield the power of the punch not thrown.
Refining your Feinting at Apex MMA Brookvale
Here at Apex MMA Brookvale in Sydney, we integrate feinting and deception into all of our striking, grappling and MMA programs. Our classes provide a supportive environment to workshop these concepts under expert coaching. If you want to sharpen your feinting skills and overall game, check out our free 7-day beginner trial. We hope to see you at Apex MMA soon!
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