It's the fighting pose from the original Monkey Island.
The reference was lower resolution, and so it used body proportions very common for games, with comparatively larger head (in order to fit details), and smaller legs. However when you draw it in higher detail, the same proportions quickly look odd.
If you shortened the neck, I think it would already look more natural.
Also the sword arm looks abnormally short in this position. It's because you draw it as fully extended (lunge), however in the original the elbow is actually flexed, more relaxed. It's clearer on the opponent's sprite, who has more regular body proportions.
