Keeping guard up is overrated

[cosmic]

Whenever I'm doing sparring I tend to drop my left hand and maybe lean my upper body in a bit and I'm fully aware of it however I do it to lure the opponent in and counterpunch or retreat and then get some shots in as I think I've got good reflexes and i'm quite agile however the coach always grabs my arm and says to keep it up, annoying lol, of course I keep my gaurd up most of the time though.

[Verstyle]

Keeping your guard up isn't overrated. Haha. Reflexes tend to fade(ask Roy Jones)but if you're gifted at doing it than cool. But calling it overrated is ridiculous. That's like saying throwing a jab is overrated because it doesn't do a lot of damage.

[cosmic]

I think I didn't use the work right word for "overrated", can't articulate... lol, I wish the place I go to now would allow us to punch to the head with head guards, they say we have to wait till 18 to do it now, When I was like 12 I use to punch to the head with head guards at another gym

[Barn]

I think it's very useful.

[greynotsoold]

When you keep your left up so high, I wonder how you can punch from there? Also, I think it is easier to get out of the way of punches when you can see them coming.
In many years of boxing participation, I always carried my left hand below shoulder height. Catch the jab and block the hook with the right glove and use the left shoulder for the right hand. Pick up the left glove if you need to; you should be able to see a right hand coming for half a mile, anyway.
The left hand is for countering; you should keep it out of the way so it is free to do so.

[New England]

I think it's very useful.

ye
if you can make it work for you it can work.

it's not something i'd tell my mates who've never put a set of gloves on to try. i know you're a fleet scott with slick moves, though.


in my experience there are two main reasons to keep your hands low (the good ones,)

the obvious one:
trap setting. give him something knowing exactly what you're giving him.
anticipate what he'll do with what you're giving him and know how to take advantage of it.

the other reason:
it's a far more athletic posture. having one's hands high and close to the body is great for protecting the head and throwing punches, but it's horrible for moving about.
natural motion lends itself to a posture with the hands similar to a running stride. in terms of the movement, it's not natural to keep your hands up like that. it's a hit on your center of gravity (brings it up, give you less balance,) it limits your range of motion


i'd say its for these two reasons primarily that you see guys with their hands low
there's also fatigue, bad habits, bravado, body punching, etc.




EDIT: i thought you were referencing keeping your hands low, lol!

having a glove with a hand in it or an arm or shoulder between your head and the guy trying to punch it is always a good thing

[Barn]

ye
if you can make it work for you it can work.

it's not something i'd tell my mates who've never put a set of gloves on to try. i know you're a fleet scott with slick moves, though.


in my experience there are two main reasons to keep your hands low (the good ones,)

the obvious one:
trap setting. give him something knowing exactly what you're giving him.
anticipate what he'll do with what you're giving him and know how to take advantage of it.

the other reason:
it's a far more athletic posture. having one's hands high and close to the body is great for protecting the head and throwing punches, but it's horrible for moving about.
natural motion lends itself to a posture with the hands similar to a running stride. in terms of the movement, it's not natural to keep your hands up like that. it's a hit on your center of gravity (brings it up, give you less balance,) it limits your range of motion


i'd say its for these two reasons primarily that you see guys with their hands low
there's also fatigue, bad habits, bravado, body punching, etc.




EDIT: i thought you were referencing keeping your hands low, lol!

having a glove with a hand in it or an arm or shoulder between your head and the guy trying to punch it is always a good thing

Yeah that's the whole idea I felt, it's the same principal as bannisters on stairs and stuff.

[Ray Corso]

Cosmic; As a conventional (righthanded) boxer the primary use for your left hand is to punch with it. The first sequence is to jab with it and if its thrown from the "down" position it has no power because its an arm punch and actually half of an arm. From the correct position the punch has a step with it (body) a shoulder flex and a pronation (wrist) and that brings power.
To start off with your left down is automaticly going on defense and becoming one handed! Theres been great fighters like Archie Moore who made a career out of that style but it took him years of working at it and also changing it when he fought opponents who had good two handed offensive skills.
I used to teach a drop left inside for turning the right shoulder into the opponent then sitting down on left hooks to the body (side) or turning it up under the rib cage too. The lowered left is in position and as long as your good at turning your shoulders and pivoting off your left toes you can cause some damage and still remain in a good defensive position.
The only guy I can remember whose jab was very effective from that position was Kenny Norton. Kenny actually employed the "crab" style and because of his excellent arm length and overall body strength he was able to throw very effective jabs from underneath but thats really rare. If your comfortable working that way try doing it inside and see if you can use your shoulders for defense and get your left hand working to the kidney then under the heart and rib cage. You need to be aware of short right hands!!! Good luck! Ray.

[Rockin']

you could be the slickest ever with your hands down jukin' and jivin', it's all good until the one that you didn't see coming touches you. you go on and play your hands down game, I bet when you're sitting on your ass you'll think of this post. These fighters get really good really quick, your hands down method will be dismissed once you step into the open class......Rockin'

[jtiger777]

Its useful, but if you are going to have a style where you keep it down you better be one hell of an athlete (ie roy jones, serg martinez etc)

BUT IT WILL CATCH UP TO YOU WITH THE WRONG OPPONENT