Keeping guard up is overrated

[Soju]

If TS is only competing in Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) he won't be facing skilled boxers, so can probably get away with all sorts of sloppy **** with his hands since his opponents are kickers. Obviously boxing is a different story.

[cosmic]

The place I train at also faces alot muay thai fighters, I will show you a video of some of the fighters here against thai fighters... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alj46pt19eY

[Soju]

Cool video. So you're a Sanda guy competing against mostly Muay Thai fighters but at K1 rules, no clinch or elbows - and are you talking about taking a philly shell style guard into this kind of competition?

[cosmic]

I haven't had any fights yet but I've sparred some others who have gone into tournament's therefore know what the competition can be like and I know that I can choose wether to go into tournaments and I'm definitely entering tournaments, I do not know the rules on knees or elbows to be honest, I will definitely be working on philly shell style guard but would it be wise to use this in a k1 rules fight is a good question bro

[frosty-g]

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

can you just clarify- do you NOT punch to the head?
someone who isn't going to get hit to the head obviously doesn't really need to cover their head at all (although it is good practice to still do so).
is that what it is makes you so complacent?

[Soju]

You can't check high kicks properly in a philly shell defense. Need your forearms in a strong position to block a shin if need be, and with your lead arm low or tucked across your body, that will be a problem.