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Originally Posted by RaDeuX  He's left handed, but he's not southpaw. Still, his left hooks are pretty massive even if his lead foot is his left... |
So his advantage in this particular case is that his lead hand is his strong hand. Nothing wrong with that. It's exactly why Bruce Lee preferred a right lead. Regardless, you don't have to make any special modifications for fighting a southpaw. You can just match his footwork.
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Originally Posted by RaDeuX As far as MY experience goes, pretty much none. |
Your "friend" doesn't help you? Rather, he talks about your sparring sessions with other people to make you feel embarrassed? Are you sure this man is your friend? Sounds more like a "frenemy". It's really not a very good idea to spar with zero training. On the plus side, you've got nowhere to go but "up". You're guaranteed to learn a lot from the basics. After that, gains are harder to achieve.
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Originally Posted by RaDeuX I'm not sure exactly what I'm telegraphing to him. Maybe I'm not moving fast enough, or using enough faints or jabs. I guess I should vary the strength behind each strike. |
Sometimes it's hard to know exactly what you're doing wrong without a good coach. Everyone telegraphs in some way, especially in the beginning. It could be a facial expression. It could be a crouch, or bobbing your hands, or cocking your fist. Practice in front of a mirror.
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Originally Posted by RaDeuX I suppose it's because of my sloppy technique that my friend never gets hurt from body shots. I'm not sure what it means to "sink in" the elbows though. |
Not "sink in the elbows" although your elbows should be in tight to guard your ribs while your fists protect your head. Rather, sink into your stance for more power as you turn your body into the hooks.
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Originally Posted by RaDeuX Whenever I try to reach around on his outside, he just steps back. I should rush in while he's backing away so he'll lose all his momentum. |
Since he's not a southpaw, you're referring to his left side here? I'm a little confused in light of this comment from your previous post:
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Originally Posted by RaDeuX If I shift over to his right side, it would take more time for his left hook to travel over to my face. I can block it with my left palm, and then when he's open I can either uppercut him or jab him with my right. |
If he's a tall left hander in a left lead with a strong left hook, why help him out by moving to his right? You'll need a better plan than blocking with your lead left palm. You'll get killed like that. You're better off leading with a left jab to his body, staying compact, getting under his left hook with a bob and weave, and coming over the top with a big overhand right. However, I would caution you against further sparring with this "friend" until you get some basics down.
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Originally Posted by RaDeuX And what is a good way to work on the slip/bob/weave? I know one way is to continuously bob up and down left and right under a string about the same height of where the bottom of your chin would be. |
Your chin while you're crouched or your chin while you're standing? Just make sure it's low enough that you have to "earn" it. I think focus mitts are a great tool for learning the bob and weave, but of course you need a partner for that. Is there a boxing gym in your area?