Whats the orthodox/southpaw ratio in your gym???Also...

BruceWayne09 · 11-04-2009, 05:44 PM

I am wondering what the ratio is in your boxing/striking gym.

Also I have been boxing 2 years since nov 07 and I am orthodox but sometimes I get the urge to become southpaw since some of my fav are southpaws Zab judah, Anderson Silva and Joe Riggs...

But my coach said stick with one side and learn how to fight southpaws as a orthodox guy since an orthodox that knows a good southpaw is hard to find.

But I feel like sometimes I just wanna go left handed which is annoying cause in my heart I know my coach is right its quality not quantity. Therefore I was wondering do you guys ever get the urge to switch sides???? Is this a bad mental habit that I have??? I feel like sometimes I have an Identity Crisis in regards to boxing and molding my style as a student. Is this normal for martial artist and boxers????

Since before boxing I was like should I do striking or grappling, so it seems that I always have these little arguments with myself which is kind of a mental thing for me that might go off-topic but yeah let me know if you guys ever have identity crisis in regards to your boxing and molding your style along the way.

Fytjunkee81 · 11-04-2009, 06:02 PM

Well in traditional boxing switching from orthodox to unorthodox while in the ring is a less than likely occurence and your coach gives you solid advice. Southpaw fighters are caught off guard by a good orthodox fighter and, it takes a lifetime to master one side as it is. However when I train outside the gym I switch it up a little just to work out the urge but, if you start to faulter on proper technique while orthodox then maybe you are doing more than enough. Hope this helps!

BruceWayne09 · 11-04-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fytjunkee81

Well in traditional boxing switching from orthodox to unorthodox while in the ring is a less than likely occurence and your coach gives you solid advice. Southpaw fighters are caught off guard by a good orthodox fighter and, it takes a lifetime to master one side as it is. However when I train outside the gym I switch it up a little just to work out the urge but, if you start to faulter on proper technique while orthodox then maybe you are doing more than enough. Hope this helps!

I hear exactly what your saying it REALLY does take a lifetime to master one side and its no guarantees either and your right a good orthodox fighter will catch a southpaw.
Its weird the urge comes and goes funny thing is when I am in the gym I don't look at boxing stances that much but outside sometimes I get the urge like if I watch one of my fav like jens pulver Zab or anderson silva then I am like hell yeah I wanna fight southpaw so in a way its a bit childish thing to say and worse to do but it is a bad mental habit its kinda like Im guilty of being a fan boy who gets excited so I need to work on that and not get in to hero worshiping and trying to copy there style there southpaw stance works for them and orthodox works for me

I like what you said about switching occasionally to work the urge and as long as I keep it orthodox I think I will be fine.

I appreciate the response thank you!

Shark Week · 11-04-2009, 07:53 PM

a better fighter in one stance is going to beat a worse fighter in the other stance, so that "good orthodox fighter will catch a southpaw" stuff doesn't really make sense. if he doesn't expect something that any orthodox fighter can hand him then he's likely not faced many orthodox fighters in the first place. EDIT: not saying you can't "catch a southpaw" or whatever, just saying that just as any good orthodox fighter can do it, any good southpaw will know to watch for it, so it's a moot point in my book.

personally, i would learn to do both stances well so you can switch up on your opponent. being predictable is being predictable. i know they're not the same world, but i know that in percussion, if you can't play something just as well off the left hand as you can off the right, then you don't have much of anything.

BruceWayne09 · 11-04-2009, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shark Week

a better fighter in one stance is going to beat a worse fighter in the other stance, so that "good orthodox fighter will catch a southpaw" stuff doesn't really make sense. if he doesn't expect something that any orthodox fighter can hand him then he's likely not faced many orthodox fighters in the first place. EDIT: not saying you can't "catch a southpaw" or whatever, just saying that just as any good orthodox fighter can do it, any good southpaw will know to watch for it, so it's a moot point in my book.

personally, i would learn to do both stances well so you can switch up on your opponent. being predictable is being predictable. i know they're not the same world, but i know that in percussion, if you can't play something just as well off the left hand as you can off the right, then you don't have much of anything.

Your right man I am over-analyzing this whole southpaw orthodox thing which goes back to me having a bad mental habit of over thinking. I feel like I'm making it to complicated.

I will stick with orthodox for now and develop a good standard style then I can specialize ones I get my fundamentals down

Fytjunkee81 · 11-06-2009, 03:48 PM

I have been in the game for 26 years consistently with boxing and, currently Muay Thai trust me, switching stances is exactly what the southpaws bank on. It's the orthodox fighters mystified beliefs that make them think that switching stances will give them an edge. I have been toe to toe with alot of southpaws and, so have many of my pals. I have seen the switch fail more than I have seen the opposition fall. If you are orthodox then that is your game. If the opposition is a southpaw then that is his game. Outside the ring Paralysis by analysis is good that means you are in the game strategically as well, just leave it outside the ring when you are breaking the urge to switch it up.

Fytjunkee81 · 11-06-2009, 03:53 PM

Besides "catching a southpaw" isn't what I said . I said "catching a southpaw off guard". Eliminating obvious expectations from the opponent makes obvious sense.

ShindoNinja · 11-06-2009, 04:11 PM

I go both ways...

Seriously though I am a little ambidextrous in all sports but I write with me left hand... If I had to pick a power side it would be my right side. So I fight left handed and use a strong right jab/lead. Takes people by surprise as my "jab" hand has good speed and power. Sometimes when sparring, I will go orthodox if I feel the the guy is figuring out my timing in my left handed stance. I don't see a problem is switching it up, but I am no pro. I train 3 times a week and don't compete. I would be classified as "recreational"

BruceWayne09 · 11-06-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fytjunkee81

Besides "catching a southpaw" isn't what I said . I said "catching a southpaw off guard". Eliminating obvious expectations from the opponent makes obvious sense.

My bad in the misunderstanding.

Also today there is less urge now that my stomach problem is well and I cant just focus on my usual and your right its not good switching.

I mean look at Joe Riggs his a natural orthodox boxing as a southpaw which means his strong side is forward and that's not good in the long run.

Since most punches are jab and hooks then its good to have the weak side forward so it can develop and become more well-rounded with both hands and not become one handed.

Thanks for the reply every now and then I get the urge, you know what they say the grass is greener in the other side but I have to stay true to my self and side

Enraged Mongol · 11-07-2009, 01:14 AM

Im a lefty who fights orthodox and has been fighting orthodox for 3 years. After watching Vitor beat down Rich Franklin, I started practicing southpaw. But after a month of that, I decided to go back to orthodox. So much easier.