The planes of movement are essential to understanding how you can move in the most efficient way. This video lesson explains the idea and why it applies to everything you do: defence, offence, strikes, locks, chokes, strangles, throws and takedowns.

It is for anyone who trains a combat art and wants to understand why some movements feel easy and powerful while others feel like hard work.

What The Planes Are

Every movement your body makes happens along a plane. Forwards and backwards. Side to side. Rotating around your centre. Most real movements are a mix of these, but you can always break them down.

Planes of movement apply to your whole body. They apply to your feet, your torso and every limb. A jab, a slip, a hip turn, a step off line and an arm lock all happen on planes. Once you can see them, you can start to make them more efficient.

Why It Matters

When you understand which plane you are moving on, a few things happen:

  • You stop fighting against your own body, so movements become smoother and faster
  • You can see where your opponent is strong and where they are weak
  • You can combine movements on different planes, which is much harder to defend
  • You can attack the plane where your opponent's balance is weakest

That last one is important. A person is usually strong in one direction and weak in another. If you push straight back on a well-balanced opponent, they resist. Move them on a different plane and they often go with very little effort.

Think Before You Move

My advice is to take the time to think how these movements are being used in everything you do. Look at your punches. Look at your defence. Look at your locks and throws. Ask which plane each part is on, and whether it could be cleaner.

When you understand that, you can make it more efficient. Efficiency is what lets smaller, older and less athletic people deal with bigger and stronger ones.

How To Practise It

Pick one technique and do it slowly. Notice each plane involved. Then do the same technique with a partner and see where they are easiest to move. Work with control on any locks, chokes or strangles, with a cooperative partner, and build understanding before speed.

Take It Further

Planes of movement are one of the key ideas in Pressure Point Fighting: The Complete Guide. If you want to start learning this way of thinking, the FREE Pressure Point Fighting Mini-Course is the best first step.