23.08.18
Tonight saw the third hour of my client’s 10 hour course on Basic Western Boxing for Martial Arts Cross-Training. In addition to going over the jab/cross and introducing the lead hook, we discussed reasoning behind certain stances and guards.
The warm-up began with speed-work with the hands, which progressed onto stationary line-work, which was then combined with footwork. This was then brought onto the focus mitts and we went over a lot revision work with the slip. We covered outside and inside slipping, correct body positioning and combining upper-body movement with footwork.
The hook was then brought into play. Covering this technique brought the importance of properly engaging the body, particularly the core muscles. The hook requires a strong and abrupt torqueing action. We then combined it with a cross both before and after the hook. As I have written numerous times in these diary entries, sometimes combination work is a good tool for better justifying the correct execution of individual techniques. My client definitely improved with his hook once he threw it in conjunction with the cross.
We discussed different preferences fighters take with boxing stances and guards. Many western boxers tend to prefer to fight from an almost side on. This differs to Muay Thai that prefers a much higher stance and is more square-on. I allow my students find what best suits and works for them under pressure, but my guidance is to not go too wide or too side on as this will mean more work will be done when they cross-over into Muay Thai. Nevertheless, I try not to teach those undertaking my boxing course to fight like a nak muay as this robs them of the potential to develop the excellent tools Western Boxing provides, such as footwork. We discussed the classic boxing guard, the high guard (which is identical to a lot of Muay Thai guards), the Philly Shell, the low guard (gerat for counter-punching) and the Peek-a-Boo. The last one uses a slightly squarer stance than most conventional boxing stances and lends itself well to a lot of head movement.
Great resource for this poster: “Top 5 Boxing Guards You Need to Know” Sneak Punch Website.