I've been practicing for a good 5 months training from out the Southpaw stance. I don't know I've I should continue training in that stance. In the past I mostly trained as a Left hander in the Orthodox stance whit mixed results. I already started for one year as a southpaw 20 years ago but then switched to the orthodox stance. In the orthodox stance I neglected my right hand and over-used my left jab hand. So basically I became a one handed fighter. That's why I came whit the idea to give the southpaw stance another try and also the mental thing that I am doing the right way and not beeing in the wrong stance and leading whit my powerhand I really studied the ins and outs like, what are the most important points in the Southpaw stance. Keeping youre feet on the outside, controlling the lead hand, etc. Shadow boxed a tons of hours and also sparred a good amount of times in the Southpaw stance. I don't really like the open stance in Southpaw vs Orthodox. It's a total different ball game as Orthodox vs Orthodox. Also the tactics that are important doesn't really appeal to me. I noticed that my movement is not as comfortable in the Southpaw stance and feel like I am more vulnerable. Because I have a short height and reach I don't know ive the Southpaw stance is the most ideal. I often get out jabbed because we are lined up. And pressure fighting is also different. I also heard southpaw fighters are more counter and outside fighters then pressure inside fighting. But I really don't know what the smartest thing is to do and need you're advice. Should I continue training in Southpaw stance because of the advantage often people talk about or the Orthodox were i feel most comfortable in. Keeping you're powerhand in the rear makes a lot of sense and that the jab is mostly to set it up. Do I make a big mistake to lead whit my power hand instead of keeping it in the rear. I know in the past there were other fighters that used the orthodox stance even the were left handed. Like Cotto, Oscar De La Hoya and Mike Tyson?
You should do whatever makes you feel the most comfortable. The idea of a southpaw stance seems like it gives you certain advantages right off the bat, but if you’re completely feeling off or awkward then you’re going to fight off and awkward. Any decent dance partner is gonna easily pick up on this and have a field day with you. I used to think I could fight southpaw, but everything felt way too forced and made my sparring much worse. Just stick to orthodox, you might actually regret wasting so much time in a stance you’re not meant for.
Man, don't complicate things, but consider just those: 1. Are you left-handed or not? 2. Which stance do you feel more comfortable with? 3. In which stance do you perform better? I know that every next kind of negates the previous, but you need to answer those for yourself in order to decide your stance, regardless of how you feel it better now and I am highlighting on now because with more training you will change and possibly improve a lot, thus performing way better than what you feel was better for you. I'm giving you an example: maybe because in my first years as karateka, I was trained in an orthodox stance, but I am left-handed and I started practising as such when I started boxing. I was feeling more confident when I put my left leg and left hand in front of me, i.e. orthodox stance, but in time, my trainer also confirmed me I am doing better in a southpaw position. I got used to it, after all, the advantages of being in a southpaw stance as left-handed are undeniable. There're people, usually right-handed, who turn southpaw just because of the advantage of the position itself - your back hand and back leg if you're into kicking as well, aren't your stronger, but are still stronger as punches, but your front ones are handier, I mean when I am in orthodox, my left hand is my front hand - surely it's better than my opponent's. I hope that's clear enough and helps you.
Thanks for you're reply and effort. I feel more fluid and stable in the orthodox, better headmovement and footwork. I am natural left handed and left footed. I trained as a Southpaw 15 years ago for one year. And between that time period only orthodox. Right now I have joined a boxing only gym and started Orthodox again.
Are you sure you feel that way or you're confusing it with the fact that the southpaw techniques are simply different than the orthodox and do your trainer pays attention to your southpaw's needs, so to say?
Well I train for a few months right now again in the Southpaw stance, I am still not comfortable in the open stance whit sparring. I already ate a few straight rights. What also is confusing keeping you're leadfoot on the outside and circling to the right. I am to busy whit that in my mind while sparring. It's a total different ball game then orthodox vs orthodox. I am also short 5'8 and have a short reach. So beeing in the Southpaw is already more challenging. To have the powerhand in the rear feels good though.
Kind of what I imagined. I am not forcing you fighting in a southpaw stance, but if you do, you'll get used in time and you'll see that it's very good, regardless if you're taller or shorter. Again - it's the southpaw drills that have to be different, not that doing orthodox-ones is wrong in the technical aspect, they're just not what you need. Being a southpaw is always different, even if you face another southpaw it doesn't become easier for you, but weirder for both of you, it's not the same as orthodox vs. orthodox just because of the rare cases of left-handed people.
How long does it takes to fully transfer and getting comfortable in the Southpaw stance? There are so many different things to remember, foot position, different angles, setup punches, jab has a kinda different function now.
What you will find out over time, is that the modern "book" on how to fight as a southpaw (or, how to fight a southpaw) is nonsensical. Being a shorter guy and having to close distance this should already be something that you are noticing.
I wonder who came up with the idea of getting the front foot outside of the other guy's front foot when a conventional fighter and a southpaw fight? It sounds good in theory, "if you get your foot on the outside you can throw your strong hand straight to the opponent's chin." Like most things, it works in theory, in practice it may or may not work. But lots of people teach it like it is a rule that you have to follow. As you pointed out, closing distance presents another problem when trying to keep the front foot on the outside. Some don't realize that the left hander's advantage is not the stance. The right handed and the left handed fighter each have the same advantages and disadvantages when facing each other, it's just that since most people are right handed there are more right handed fighters for the left handed fighter to spar against so the left handed fighter gets accustomed to fighting right handed fighters. The right handed fighter doesn't usually get the chance to spar southpaws much. If there were more southpaws than right handers, the right handers would be the problem to fight.
And that is a gap that is becoming less pronounced as more guys fight southpaw. In my opinion many guys fight southpaw for one of two reasons. First, they are right handed and learning to jab and hook comes easier. Of course you end up with a weaker left hand and anybody with any brains will let you get your lead foot outside his because now he only has to fight your left hand. Second, they believe that if they keep stepping to the right, they will always land their left and boxing will be easy. What that leads to is a fighter that ignores his right hand, especially if some dummy is talking to him about 'lead hand control', which is a term made up by somebody that wanted to look smart. If I am a southpaw and let the orthodox fighter get his lead foot outside mine, it is very likely that he will throw a right hand- it has been ingrained in him. If I know what he is going to throw- if I make him throw it- I ought not get hit with it. And my right hand- whether I hook or jab- will beat his right hand every time. And- if I pivot or step to my right one more time- I can unload with both hands and he can't hit me with anything. And, of course, it works both ways. Most people don't know what they are watching. Most guys that do well with southpaws- or southpaws beating right hand guys- mix up that foot position depending on what they are trying to do. Of course you know that. That was for the op's benefit.
Exactly im southpaw my self, if guy trys to get outside foot on me im prepered to slip his right hand and counter, I had plenty of trainers saying to me to go right even dough they see i got succes in this but the thing is to have ability to fight both ways and be unpredicible
