In training a few months back one of the Coaches mentioned keeping one hand in front of the other in your guard to narrow the space which would allow straight punches through and it got me thinking about whats the best way to have your guard, after all its a fundamental part of defense and surely there must be certain ways of maximising the coverage it gives you rather then just aimlessly putting your hands in front of your face? Me personally, I keep the knuckles of my Index fingers at Cheekbone level, my fists in the same postion they would be if I was on the phone, Elbows brought in as much as I can without straining myself, and my left fist and elbow in front of my right (Orthodox stance). How do you keep yours and any thing I'm doing wrong in my guard that I haven't realised?
I Think People Are Too Stiff When They Fight Like That; Your Guard Has To Come Naturally. Its Based On THe Type Of Fighter You Are. If That Guard Suits Your Style Then Your Doing Nothing Wrong.
Up close the palms face inwards and protect the face, in the distance I keep the palms outwards to catch punches. I try to block most things coming from straight ahead with my arms instead of the gloves, and try to catch hooks with the shoulders by rolling with them.
Yeah I was thinking of turning my fists in at a 45 degree angle so my palms would be slightly inwards, at the moment I keep them up straight with the sides of my pinky fingers facing my opponent but this seems defenceless aginst someone who knows how to throw a Hook properly.
Always learn full guard but for versatility half guard, open guard and no guard are important to learn. Hands must be cheek high. Left being on cheek or infront depends on build. Someone like Cotto who is realtively stocky would want his left hand on this cheek. Someone who is perhaps more rangey like JMM feels more comfortable with the left slightly infront. It does depend but both are effective.
