About the Stance
In basic terms, a boxing style consists of about 40 individual skill elements. These skill elements include feet movements (footwork), punches (shots), body movements and hand defenses. The top boxers combine all of these skills in what is often a breathtakingly effective display of how to overcome an opponent. Understanding the stance and on-guard is vital for these top boxers to operate in the way that they do. The need for balance, mobility and a sound body shape cannot be emphasized enough and only an effective stance and on-guard will allow these needs to be met. If you understand the stance and on-guard position, and understand why it is so important, then you will be able to more easily develop the footwork, punches and defensive actions necessary to constitute an effective boxing style.
To save me some typing, I'll refer to the "stance and on-guard" as simply "the stance". There are two types of stance in boxing; orthodox and southpaw. An orthodox fighter is someone who is naturally right-handed and holds the left hand and left leg in front, closer to the opponent. Conversely, a southpaw fighter is someone who is naturally left-handed and leads with the right hand and right leg. If you are a beginner and right-handed, don't get caught up in the feeling that you are more comfortable using the southpaw stance. If you are right-handed you are orthodox, if you're left-handed you're southpaw.
The Mechanics of the Stance
Before you start, place a line of tape on the floor. This tape will provide a point of reference to work with. The basics of the stance are as follows:
1. The feet should be at least shoulder width apart and a little more if you feel you need it. The front foot should be at an angle of 45 degrees to the tape line (toe on the line). The tape line runs from the toe on the front foot to the heel on the back foot. By ensuring that the feet are slightly offset and a comfortable distance apart, you provide the best possible base upon which to develop the full position.
2. Remain slightly on the toes on both feet. Never allow the back foot to go flat, otherwise you'll have the mobility of an anvil! Ensure that the knees are bent slightly and relaxed, again maximizing the ability to be mobile.
3. If you imagine the face of a clock on the floor with the opponent at 12 o'clock, then in an orthodox boxer the left shoulder should be at 11 o'clock and the right shoulder at 5 o'clock. This minimizes the amount of target visible to the opponent and also maximizes the available leverage on right hand shots.
4. The hands should be at cheek level, turning the palms of the hands very slightly toward your face which has the effect of drawing the elbows in to provide protection to the body. The hands should be in a fist, but not 'clenched' as being relaxed is key.
5. The chin should be rested on the chest, again without becoming tense. Effectively, you look 'through' the eyebrows. Punches on the chin often have a very undesirable effect, so you should try to keep it out of the way of shots if at all possible.
6. The body weight should remain central or on the back leg. The body weight should not 'go over' the front leg. A simple way to nail this is to not allow your nose to go past the line of your front knee.
Common Faults with the Stance
The following faults are often observed in boxers, particularly in newcomers to the sport:
1. Turning the shoulders 'square on', thereby offering the opponent a much greater target to hit.
2. Losing the imaginary line from the toe on the front foot to the heel on the back foot allowing the feet to align. This would be like trying to fight whilst on a tightrope and will land you in trouble!
3. Going flat-footed thereby reducing mobility.
4. Allowing the chin to rise above the height of the raised hands, thereby increasing the chances of being smacked in the mouth!
5. Allowing your body weight to transfer onto the front leg, thereby being "front-heavy" and vulnerable to attack. In the case of attack, your body weight is likely to be going forward and will then increase the impact of incoming shots.
So there you have it, my small contribution to an effective description of the boxing stance. I have described this in the orthodox position, but this can be easily transposed to the southpaw stance. To those southpaws out there, statistically about 1 in 9 of you, please don't take offence at my apparent favoritism towards orthodox boxers, this is not the case! I appreciate the wondrous mysteries of all things southpaw and fully intend to address these mysteries in subsequent articles!
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"I'm not known as a hard puncher, I'm known as a consistent puncher. If the first one don't getcha, the next one will!" - Sugar Ray Leonard
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