southpaw?

[Nappiness]

I just started getting into boxing and i was wondering what is the southpaw and the orthodox style. Could some one please explain those stands.

THNX

[gregimotis]

Well...


At the most basic - Orthodox is right-handed and south paw is left-handed.

So, a right handed person would stand with right hand and foot slightly behind the left. Thus these terms: 'left jab', 'right cross', left-hook'

Whereas a lefty would position his left hand and foot to the rear and would rather describe his punches as 'rigth jab', left cross', right hook'. Hope thats what you needed.

[Nappiness]

Im actually right handed but im more comfortable in the southpaw stance. Is this a benifit in either boxing or street fighting?

[gregimotis]

I don't know about street fighting, except that Guru Inosanto teaches JKD strong side forward - which would be southpaw stance.

As for boxing, check this thread in the Thai-boxing forum for some thoughts on the slight advantages of southpaw stance.

http://www.defend.net/deluxeforums/showthread.php?t=13085

There is one disadvantage that should be mentioned:
Training southpaw messes up some training drills and makes it hard for people to hold focus mitts for you when they aren't used to it. Since you are the exception, you will usually have to be the one to adapt. You will need to hold focus mitts orthodox and you will have to show people how to hold southpaw.

Sometimes you will just have to suck it up and work orthodox for the sake of the drill then work it out for yourself later.

[Toudiyama[NL]]

I don't know about street fighting, except that Guru Inosanto teaches JKD strong side forward - which would be southpaw stance.

As for boxing, check this thread in the Thai-boxing forum for some thoughts on the slight advantages of southpaw stance.

http://www.defend.net/deluxeforums/showthread.php?t=13085

There is one disadvantage that should be mentioned:
Training southpaw messes up some training drills and makes it hard for people to hold focus mitts for you when they aren't used to it. Since you are the exception, you will usually have to be the one to adapt. You will need to hold focus mitts orthodox and you will have to show people how to hold southpaw.

Sometimes you will just have to suck it up and work orthodox for the sake of the drill then work it out for yourself later.

I'm a southpaw but because I was not trained that way in the fullcontact arts, I do not fight like a southpaw when training fullcontact, in Karate I was trained both ways so I am capable of changing between the 2 but southpaw is better

As soon a the oponent comes closer, I become ortodox, when the oponent stands further off, I tend to be southpaw again because my righthand is just a tad too slow to bridge the gap fast enough to be effective

[HtTKar]

If your right-handed you should box orthodox.
If your left-handed box southpaw.

few people are fortunate enough to be able to box both styles.

You are right handed and probably feel more confortable boxing southpaw because it allows you to throw strong, quick jabs. But this leaves your slow, weak left hand to be your power-hand. And forces you to use your right hand to block a lot. It will take more training but my opinion is that you should start training orthodox until you are very proficient. Then if you still feel like it, give southpaw a chance.