A few advantages to keeping your guard low.

[Mendoza]

Many TV boxing analysts tell the audience its not wise to keep your guard low. In many cases they are correct. A high guard with a tucked in chin most certainly makes it harder for your opponent to land head shots.

Having said that, in my opinion there are a few advantages to keeping your guard low.

They are:

1 ) Balance! It is easier for many fighters to move swiftly with their hands closer to their waist level than in front of their face.

2 ) Going to the body.

3 ) Landing the counter hook.

4 ) Protecting against body shots.

5 ) Baiting the other fighter.

6 ) Creating a clinch.

7 ) Conserving energy.

While keeping your guard low is not ideal, it can work well with fast handed and fleet footed boxers who have solid head movement. It can also work well with very tall boxers who understand how to fight tall and use their longer reach.

Agree? Disagree?

[Bodi]

Every style has it's own set of advantages. As a fighter, you have to weigh up those advantages against the disadvantages, and build your style according to your physical and mental attributes.

[Kolya]

I disagree with number 3. I always try to shoot my counter hook from shoulder level so I can bring it over their right hand and use my longer reach.

[paloalto00]

Every style has it's advantage, but you need to weight in the cons of having your guard low. You're face will be ruined....

[colin7878]

I like the low guard myself and use it pretty well being i have the height and reach on 99% of my opponents

[Adaptation]

You need RJJ-like reflex to be able to keep your face clean...

But again you have somewhat more speed to your punches(more acceleration) and you will have more energy...

But i can guarantue you that in amateur boxing, you will get your ass rocked if you keep your hands low.

[scrap]

Its all to do with the persons Psychodynamics governing His Biomechanics interesting stuff. Getting the mix of Nature and Nuture right, understanding The Why. :patsch:lol::D

[RightHooker]

I keep my right hand up and my left hand at shoulder height. Having the one hand low increases my vision which makes it easier for me to see punches coming and slip or counter them. Head movement also feels more natural that way. I don't keep it too low though because I like to be able to bring it back up quick to protect myself when necessary.

[The Predator]

First of all, you have to learn the basic textbook stuff. When you know that, you can start to develop your "own" style, but you have to have the basic to go back to just in case.
To have your guard low depends on a lot of stuff, yes, you do move better if your jabarm are a little bit lower, but your right hand (orthodox) need to stay up with your chin all the time.
in my book this is some of the things you need to use a low guard.
1. hyper reflexes
2. Good widevision
3. a lot of headmovement
4. great footwork
5. SPEED
6. Great defensive skills with one hand.
Also a thing to remember it depends on who you fight. Always come out with a good defense if you see that your oponent are slow you can change after a while and box how ever you want but the closer you get to the oponent the higher your hands should go. Even Ali and Roy Jones and Sugar Ray Leonard has a high guard coming in close.
Otherwise I love fighting with my jabarm a little low.
The Predator

[Haymakers]

i actually feel comfortable fighting with my left hand hand low, with my chin tucked into my shoulder, although, yes it not ideal, but if you have the hand speed, footwork and good hand movement and most importantly, the reflexes, you can get away with it, fighting with your hands low only really suits taller boxers with very good hand speed and agility though!

Carl Froch is very effective at fighting with the hands low.

[The Predator]

Also another thing that can happen sometime is that when boxers that usually don´t have the textbook guard tries to use that they get hit more often than if they had their hands low. Their movability is not as good whit their hands held up.
The Predator

[thekokid]

froch hands are too low in my opinion, and will be exposed agains heavy hitters in the super 6,

i just hold a basic guard but id like to fight with hands down low,

i have a gud reach,fast hands bt my head movement and reflexes arent upto sratch,,


should i go for it??