skills/elite-trainer-fight-coach/references/style-rules.md

# Style and matchup rules

Use this reference when a request names a sport, stance, ruleset, opponent style, or opponent tendency.

## Universal matchup rules

- No style automatically beats another. Individual skill, timing, conditioning, rules, range, and decision-making matter more than a label.
- Describe style traits as common tendencies, never as facts about every fighter from that style.
- Cross-style advice must use the shared rules of the training session or event. If the rules are unknown and would change the answer, state the assumption or ask one question.
- Do not claim that a fixed combination will land. Present it as an option to drill and adapt to the opponent's reaction.
- Keep exits balanced: guard, stance, angle, or distance should be recoverable after the final strike.

## Style boundaries

### Boxing

- Use punches only: jabs, straights, hooks, and uppercuts to legal boxing targets.
- Slips, rolls, blocks, parries, pivots, steps, and clinch positioning may set up or finish a sequence but are not strikes.
- Do not include kicks, knees, elbows, takedowns, or prolonged grappling in a boxing combination.

### Muay Thai

- Punches, kicks, knees, elbows, teeps, checks, and clinch striking may be relevant.
- Elbows, catches, sweeps, knees to particular targets, and clinch duration vary by gym, experience class, and event. Use supervised pad practice when contact rules are unclear.
- Emphasise posture, balance, kick recovery, checks, and the ability to answer after each strike.

### Kickboxing and K-1

- Rules vary. Punches and kicks are central; low kicks and knees depend on the format. Elbows are generally outside common kickboxing and K-1 rules.
- Clinch time, catches, sweeps, and knee limits differ. Do not silently treat all kickboxing as Muay Thai.
- Favour connected punch-kick sequences, guarded kick recovery, and readiness for the low-kick return.

### Karate

- Karate is a broad family. Point, continuous, knockdown, and full-contact formats reward different stances, targets, rhythms, and combinations.
- Common useful concepts include distance, timing, explosive entry and exit, straight attacks, lead-leg tools, and varied kicks.
- Ask or state the assumed format if legal targets or contact level would materially change the answer.

### Taekwondo

- WT, ITF, and other formats differ in targets, punching use, scoring, and contact.
- Common useful concepts include long kicking range, fast lead-leg attacks, turning kicks, and dynamic exits.
- Do not recommend a punch-heavy or leg-kick plan without first identifying whether that ruleset permits and rewards it.

### MMA striking

- Keep combinations compact enough to recover against level changes, clinches, takedowns, and cage pressure.
- A pure striking stance or long kick can expose the hips. Mention takedown awareness when relevant, but keep this skill focused on the stand-up phase rather than teaching grappling sequences.
- Knees, elbows, kicks, and punches depend on the competition rules and athlete class.

## Stance logic

- **Closed stance:** both fighters share the same stance. Lead and rear lanes are more familiar, but angle and reaction still decide what is available.
- **Open stance:** orthodox faces southpaw. The outside lead-foot position can often help create a rear-hand or rear-kick line, but it is not an absolute rule and should never require crossing the feet.
- If the user is orthodox, lead normally means left and rear means right. Reverse this for a southpaw.
- If stance is unknown, use lead/rear language and state any assumption only when it matters.

## Common style-matchup tendencies

### Facing a boxer

- Respect the hand speed, pocket combinations, head movement, and angle changes.
- When the user's rules allow kicks, teeps or front kicks and low or body kicks can manage distance, but the user should not remain in punching range after the finish.

### Facing a Muay Thai fighter

- Expect teeps, checks, strong kick returns, knees, and clinch threats where permitted.
- Change level and angle without lingering at kicking or clinch range after the attack.

### Facing a kickboxer

- Expect connected punch-kick chains and a low-kick return after hand exchanges.
- Break the normal rhythm, finish balanced, and recover ready to check or move.

### Facing a karate fighter

- Many karate fighters use explosive in-and-out movement and a more bladed stance.
- Use feints, occupy the lead side, close behind straight attacks, and cut off the exit rather than chasing the head.
- Watch for the blitz, side kick, fast retreat, and sudden re-entry. The individual style may differ.

### Facing a taekwondo fighter

- Draw or control the lead leg, close distance safely, and finish before long kicking range is restored.
- Watch for fast lead-leg and spinning attacks. Do not rush straight in with the head upright.

### Facing an MMA striker

- Keep attacks compact and finish balanced enough to react to a level change, clinch, or cage pressure.
- Avoid long, committed chains that leave the hips or back exposed.

## Opponent traits

- **Taller or longer:** enter behind a feint or straight shot, work the body, and angle out. Do not reach from outside.
- **Shorter:** use long weapons and pivots; do not lean over the opponent or remain at hook and overhand range.
- **Pressure fighter:** interrupt the forward step and turn the opponent. Avoid retreating straight back or crossing the feet.
- **Counter fighter:** feint, vary rhythm, and draw the counter before committing. Do not repeat the same entry.
- **Fast fighter:** use timing, level changes, and rhythm rather than trying to win a pure speed race.
- **Heavy hitter:** avoid unnecessary trades; touch, angle, make the heavy attack miss, then return during the reset.
- **Mobile fighter:** cut off the next piece of space with small steps and body attacks instead of following around the outside.