The Cross and the Level Change
The two things that look identical for the first tenth of a second.
The Cross and the Level Change
Video · 11:00 · coming soon
In this lesson
- Throw the cross without over-committing the head
- Use the same entry for a punch and for a takedown
- Read the difference in someone else early enough to respond
Coaching cue — Punch and shot start the same. That is what makes both of them work.
The shared entry
A cross and a double leg begin the same way: a small drop in level, weight moving forward, the rear hip loading. For the first fraction of a second, they are indistinguishable.
This is the central mechanic of MMA striking. Because they look alike, each one sells the other. A person defending your punches is not defending your shot, and someone sprawling on your feints is not defending their head.
The cross, adjusted
The mechanics are boxing mechanics: pivot the rear foot, turn the hip, extend last. Two adjustments for MMA:
- Less commitment forward. Your head stays behind your lead knee. A cross that leaves your head past your knee is a free front headlock for anyone who bends their knees.
- Recover to the stance, not to a boxing stance. After the punch you need to be able to sprawl again. That means the rear foot returns to a position it can drive back from.
The level change
Covered properly in the takedowns course, but the entry belongs here:
- Bend the knees, not the waist. Head over hips.
- Drop only as far as you need. A deep change telegraphs and takes longer to recover from.
- Your posture is the difference between a takedown and a guillotine. Bowing forward hands them your neck.
Reading it in someone else
You cannot wait to see which one it is. What you can do is watch two things:
| Tell | Punch | Shot |
|---|---|---|
| Rear foot | Pivots in place | Drives forward |
| Lead hand | Stays up | Drops or reaches low |
| Depth of level change | Slight | Deeper, and it keeps going |
| Head position | Stays back | Travels forward with the hips |
The reliable answer is not to guess. It is to have a response that covers both: a frame with the lead hand and a step back at an angle handles a punch and buys you the beat you need to sprawl.
Drill it
Two rounds where a partner either throws a cross or shoots, called at random, at half speed. Your job is only to frame and step at an angle — no counters. Two rounds where you are the one attacking, alternating cross and shot from the same entry, and they have to react. Then two rounds free.