A new challenger approaches

[Vipershark]

I feel like you're way too comfortable with the "relaxed" pose you give your characters in that their torsos lean back even when they're not really trying to.

Take the top right pose, for example. It's a fighting stance, but it looks so... nonchalant. Your character should be leaning forward more and at least look somewhat aggressive.

This is a pretty exaggerated example and I think the guy is leaning way too far forward for what I'm trying to convey but it's the same basic pose.

Lean the torso forward and have the arms come up and forward to look like they're actually ready to defend something.

Your top middle one looks more like a retreating pose or a transition frame for when your character is about to enter its hurt animation because it's so passive looking.