Damn my Hands.

[Khun Kao]

well the position of your hand doesnt effect your reach, but the position of your shoulders do. if your lead shoulder is more in front than the power shoulder, your going to have more reach on your jab than if your lead shoulder was even with your other one right? you wont have as much reach being squared up than you would if had your lead elbow in line with your lead leg and your lead shoulder was more in front than your other one. but then again you know more than me, i havent competed in any matches, nor am i at that level.

Yes, but the position of your shoulder adjusts as you Jab, or throw ANY punch. When your hands are up in the guard position, your shoulders are flexed. As you punch, you HAVE to relax the shoulder or your punch will not only be limited in its reach/range, but will not be as powerful. So we still come back to the fact that your guard has absolutely no effect on the reach of your Jab, much less any of your punches. When you punch, your ENTIRE BODY adjusts to its new position. So even if you're standing completely square to your opponent, as you punch you are stepping and creating body angles to attain your maximum reach. Once the punch is executed, you step right back into your proper guard. For the sake of this argument, the starting position is irrelevant.... only your body position at the end of your punch matters.



The only possible adverse effect your guard will play in your punching ability is the variety of angles you'll be able to employ as you punch. (but that wasn't what was being argued)