i must've missed m.g posting this. thanks to Stratakos for reposting it.
i am putting it on this thread and archive it.
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"You should understand and appreciate "range" before you learn punching from the whirl or from the surge.
When you're in a normal punching position, range is the distance between your right fist and your no. 1 target: your opponent's chin. The right fist determines the range; for if you haven't punching room for the right, you certainly won't have punching room for the more forward left.
There are generally three classifications of "range" (Note: the book illustrates these ranges)
1. LONG RANGE: That's the range for explosive sharp shooting. It's the range at which most leading is done. At that range you're far enough from the opponent so that you can "step in" with a fuul-fledge straight punch. It can be either a lead or counter punch. You've already learned that falling step is used for launching your weight in long-range hitting.
2. MEDIUM RANGE: That's the range for rapid fire straight punching exchanges. You are rarely at medium range when not exchanging. At that range you have room to throw straight punches but lack the room to step. For those straight punches your weight is given principally by the shoulder whirl instead of the falling step. If you're lucky, you may be able to develop a knockout straight punch from the shoulder whirl. BUT YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO DEVELOP FROM THE SHOULDER WHIRL A STRAIGHT PUNCH THAT'S AS EXPLOSIVE AS THE LONG RANGE, STEPPING BLOW.
3. SHORT RANGE: That's the head to head slugging range. You're at close quarters. You haven't room for straight punching. So you use hooks or uppercuts. Hooks are powered by the shoulder whirl or by combination of the whirl and upward surge. Uppercuts are powered chiefly by the upward surge. The hook is a legitimate shoulder whirl blow, and it can be just as explosive as a long-range straight punch. However, hooks usually are more easily evaded than straight punches. Uppercuts also can be extremely explosive if delivered correctly. And a genuine uppercut is difficult to evade. You, or anyone else, should be able to hit harder with a hook or and uppercut than with a medium-range shoulder whirl straight punch.
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--CONT--
"When you investigate the short-range blows, you'll learn why the ideal hook and ideal uppercut would be delivered as such close quarters that stepping would be impossible. However, I'd guess that about one-third of all hooks and uppercuts are delivered with a step, in order to reach a target that can't be nailed by a straight punch. But the step usually is so short that it doesn't enfeeble the blow.
"While we're considering ranges and their blows, let me stress one extremely important fundamental: A STRAIGHT LINE IS THE SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO POINTS. Either fist, in its normal punching position, has less distance to travel "on a straight line" to its target than on the curve of a hook or uppercut. Consequently, a straight punch always should be used when:
(a) it has just as much chance of nailing the target as either of the others,
and
(b) when it will be just as exlposive as either of the others.
In other words, don't be taking long steps with hooks or uppercuts, when you should be sharpshooting with straigh punches.
On the other hand, if you're in so close to an opponent that you're almost in a clinch, it would be silly for you to be rearing back and trying to stab your opponent's face with straight punches - when you could be exploding hooks or uppercuts on his chin, or digging them into his body. Your understanding of range will enable you to PRACTICE landing the correct blow for each distance. And it will help you to "judge distance" - to anticipate exactly where the chin of a moving head will be at a certain split-second. Also, it will help you in your "timing" - landing your punch at the EXACT split-second when your target reaches it designated spot.
"Timing and judgement of distance are extremely important in a fight, where the range is changing constantly and you are using a variety of blows to suit the openingss and the distances."
ok - i will save this thread on thursday.