I always see boxers and mma fighters changing from traditional to south paw in the middle of a fight. Is it okay to change your stance ? should you learn how to fight both ways in training ? What are some things to work on to do this correctly?
Switching stances can be beneficial, but in my experience it's vastly overrated. I coach my fighters to pick a stance and stick with it. IMO, you should devote your training time learning to be a really good fighter from one stance rather than divide your training time to be mediocre from two stances.
What I have found is that people who insist on training from both stances have a tendency to ignore their lead-side techniques in favor of their rear-side techniques. Even though lead-side techniques are typically less powerful than their rear-sided counterparts, they are often MORE IMPORTANT!
Unfortunately, most people I've observed training from two stances develop the subconscious habit of switching stances when they want to switch up their attacks. Essentially, just watch their stance change and you know what's coming. "Oh, he just switched from Orthodox to Southpaw... he's going to start kicking from the left now."
I agree with KK, I insist on "Stance Discipline" as well. If I see a "switch hitter", I say attack their legs immediately when they switch.
And when new people switch up on me when I'm holding pads, they pay. They eventually learn to devote all of their energy to learning one stance, well.
That is if you are fast enough to catch someone when they are switching. As long as you have weapons that work if you switch what is the big deal?
What do you guys think about changing your stance, not righty to lefty per se, but changing around from orthodox muay thai stances to boxing stances and whatnot?
I have a bad habit of switching to a boxing stance when I know I really want to punch and just as KK had said, it's pretty easy to tell what's coming once you see it.
I think this is a very bad thing to do. How many good strikers change stances ? Brandon vera does but I think its very bad for a beginner especially.
Outkaster - That is if you are fast enough to catch someone when they are switching. As long as you have weapons that work if you switch what is the big deal?No you dont have to catch them, neccessarily, when they are switching. Once they have shown you that is their "strategy", then attacking their legs is a good response.
They show they are incompetent in the other stance to acheive their objective, and they are in the middle of changing their attacking and/or defending process. It shows they are unsure of their capabilities on one side vs. the other.
Perfect time to respond.
good point. If you have a swith in mind you have to act immediately because the idea is to catch a guy off guard. If you just switch and dance around, it gives a guy a chance to adjust. Also, people who go to their weaker side telegraph like a mf'r
Exactly.
Ok I see what you guys mean but I think it also depends on the fighter.
99% of people cant do this. The best thing to do for mma is tailor your stances to work into your clinch and wrestling. As Ive trained quite a few wrestlers, I always ask them which is their lead. For alot of wrestlers, its right foot forward. They have learned a whole system based on reaction from a certain side. you always see bad shit happen when a wrestler who stands southpaw for wrestling try and tie the game into a orthodox striker. They cant sprawl, etc. It makes them less fluid. I could go on about this. There is a pretty high profile fighter I used to work with ala ufc contract that still does this.
I still see him now and again and always am frustrated with him that at that level, his striking has never improved, he just hops from side to side and throws bombs. So unless you are truly ambidextrous, I say its foolish to do this withe tons of examples to prove it.
Hughes is a good example. He seems to have tried to fix this as he fought southpaw lately. Go with high percentage and if God made you special go for it lol. !
ttt
well said zealot.
zealot66 - . and if God made you special go for it lol. !My mommy says I'm "Special" too.