Low Guard = Massive Power

[Russell]

It's being discussed in another thread that a low guard can equal massive power for a number of reasons. What fighters who had freakish employed a low guard?

Roy Jones and Hamed both spring to mind. David Haye.

[Russell]

Top.

[TommyV]

Well I suppose it can provide more angles on a punch, but more power?

[Russell]

Well I suppose it can provide more angles on a punch, but more power?

I guess more power might be the wrong way to explain it. A jab from the waist can be harder to anticipate, the odd angles punches can come from a fighter with his hand down add to their efficiency. You know the saying. The ones you don't see coming...

Hamed is a great example of this as well.

[TommyV]

I guess more power might be the wrong way to explain it. A jab from the waist can be harder to anticipate, the odd angles punches can come from a fighter with his hand down add to their efficiency. You know the saying. The ones you don't see coming...

Hamed is a great example of this as well.

Yes, I do believe that it can help provide more angles on a punch making them harder to see and more damaging.

[PowerPuncher]

Yes you can get more of a swing into the punch, big punchers usually bring their hands down to their hip or lower to punch. Foreman to an extent liked to drop his hands and swing away but he sort of carried a mid body guard allowing him to parry/push away but also allowing him to drop his hands low to swing for the rafters

[PowerPuncher]

Well I suppose it can provide more angles on a punch, but more power?

Yes you can really turn your punch over with more force from your legs and lower back and also build more momentum. Watch the biggest punchers and you'll notice how low their hand drops before they land a massive punch. On the down side unless your pretty quick it can be telegraphed and easier for an opponent to anticipate

[Russell]

Yes you can really turn your punch over with more force from your legs and lower back and also build more momentum. Watch the biggest punchers and you'll notice how low their hand drops before they land a massive punch. On the down side unless your pretty quick it can be telegraphed and easier for an opponent to anticipate

Very good point.

[BlueApollo]

Hearns.

[Johnstown]

about the low guard..many fighters do...

I had a traditional boxing training.you know..the kind that yells "keep your hands up!!!!" when your hands drop at all..however I have used a low guard in sparring...you seem to be more flexable..more able to slip punches with a low guard.....maybe its psychological..and you slip better because you know you have too..or maybe the other guy loads up more...or maybe your body actually is loser..or maybe some combo of the three...anyhow..i also found that with a low guard your hands are in a sense "hidden" and you can fire up and your opponent wont see the punches till they are on him.


Of course old school fighters all used a low guard...and relied on slipping and such...of course a guy like Pachillies thinks they where all retards.

[Johnstown]

as for the question of the thread..i dont really know about more power....for one...the opponent is less likely to see the punch coming though..so that may make it have more of a effect.

[RockysSplitNose]

[QUOTE=Johnstown;8556143]about the low guard..many fighters do...

I had a traditional boxing training.you know..the kind that yells "keep your hands up!!!!" when your hands drop at all..however I have used a low guard in sparring...you seem to be more flexable..more able to slip punches with a low guard.....maybe its psychological..and you slip better because you know you have too..or maybe the other guy loads up more...or maybe your body actually is loser..or maybe some combo of the three...anyhow..i also found that with a low guard your hands are in a sense "hidden" and you can fire up and your opponent wont see the punches till they are on him.


Of course old school fighters all used a low guard...and relied on slipping and such...of course a guy like Pachillies thinks they where all retards.[/QUOTE


:lol::lol: that was classic - and also right on the money aswell - props to you

[lefthook31]

Its different for different fighters. The purpose of the high guard is for defense but the best punch is the straightest most compact and the shortest distance to the target. Some guys can generate power from a high guard and some from a low guard. I dont think there is any key factor. Theres probably more guys who throw better shots from a lower guard. Even a tall guy like Lennox Lewis carried his hands fairly low at times.

[Stonehands89]

about the low guard..many fighters do...

I had a traditional boxing training.you know..the kind that yells "keep your hands up!!!!" when your hands drop at all..however I have used a low guard in sparring...you seem to be more flexable..more able to slip punches with a low guard.....maybe its psychological..and you slip better because you know you have too..or maybe the other guy loads up more...or maybe your body actually is loser..or maybe some combo of the three...anyhow..i also found that with a low guard your hands are in a sense "hidden" and you can fire up and your opponent wont see the punches till they are on him.


Of course old school fighters all used a low guard...and relied on slipping and such...of course a guy like Pachillies thinks they where all retards.
I remember those old school trainers yelling the same to me. I liked the low hands for a number of reasons that you state. Boxing is a rhythm sport after all -which begs the question who dances with the hands up high? Squares, that's who.

Moore used to call it the up-jab -you splice the guard by punching up from the waist or hips with the jab. It's hard to see. Burley did it too.

Boxing is about setting traps. I used to use my head to feign openings and then catch them coming in, though my hands were more at my chest than at my waist. Rolling with shots is a lost art. The guy throws a shot, you open the door by turning your head and then step in with your own -they're gonna land because he's committed to his shot and isn't expecting yours, plus, you catch him coming in. This isn't to say that you should fight inside with your hands low -the closer you get, the higher your hands, but don't let it block your view or ruin your traps.

Anyway, I'm just rambling. Watch this prospect out of Brockton, MA. His name is Turon Andrade and he's undefeated as an amateur.

[Only registered and activated users can see links]/u/2/klHi9LZ5U1s

-Notice his blue and white trunks. That's Robinson's old colors. Notice the length of his trunks... old school.

[GPater11093]

I remember those old school trainers yelling the same to me. I liked the low hands for a number of reasons that you state. Boxing is a rhythm sport after all -which begs the question who dances with the hands up high? Squares, that's who.

Moore used to call it the up-jab -you splice the guard by punching up from the waist or hips with the jab. It's hard to see. Burley did it too.

Boxing is about setting traps. I used to use my head to feign openings and then catch them coming in, though my hands were more at my chest than at my waist. Rolling with shots is a lost art. The guy throws a shot, you open the door by turning your head and then step in with your own -they're gonna land because he's committed to his shot and isn't expecting yours, plus, you catch him coming in. This isn't to say that you should fight inside with your hands low -the closer you get, the higher your hands, but don't let it block your view or ruin your traps.

Anyway, I'm just rambling. Watch this prospect out of Brockton, MA. His name is Turon Andrade and he's undefeated as an amateur.

[Only registered and activated users can see links]/u/2/klHi9LZ5U1s

-Notice his blue and white trunks. That's Robinson's old colors. Notice the length of his trunks... old school.

That one of your boys?

[ripcity]

I think it is more natural/intuitive to keep the hands low and there for a more relaxed poistion. As far as creating massive power or just more power than a high guard goes. I think that if it dose create bore power the amount is not mesurable as the diffrance in distance a punch travles is not that much.
I think there reasons to use both a high and low guard at diffrent times. However I don't think the low guard creates more power.

[Johnstown]

I think it is more natural/intuitive to keep the hands low and there for a more relaxed poistion. As far as creating massive power or just more power than a high guard goes. I think that if it dose create bore power the amount is not mesurable as the diffrance in distance a punch travles is not that much.
I think there reasons to use both a high and low guard at diffrent times. However I don't think the low guard creates more power.
i agree...the only thing i would say is that you can often suprise a fighter with punches from the low guard..and hence hurt a man more....the old "punch you dont see coming" rule. hence while you may not have more power...the effect may be the same as having more power, ie...damage.

[sportofkings]

A Low guard can definetly help a fighters combinations to flow together better. You see some criticism laid on some fighters becuase they keep their hands low but some of them would porbably be more limited with a high guard.

[johnmaff36]

I wouldnt say it necessarily equates to massive power, not at all. It may suit some guys who happen to carry the dope and they feel more comfortable throwing punches that particular way whilst others employ the more 'traditional' method. Each to their own i reckon

[Swarmer]

I feel that in some ways my hands, arms, and upperbody are more relaxed with a slightly lower guard, and i can throw more explosive punches as a result. Just my take though.

[Russell]

How about Jersey Joe Walcott's hands low, sneaky shots?

He landed one of the most devastating knockout shots ever against Ezzard Charles with a punch thrown from a very low position.

Walcott also had Marciano rattled more then once, and is one of only two men to ever knock him down.

Thoughts?

[Seamus]

Holmes had a great upjab. I used to copy that in my own way, got a lot of power on it but you have to be pretty quick defensively.

When someone mentions low guard powerpunching, Bob Fitzsimmons comes to mind first.

[reznick]

I feel that in some ways my hands, arms, and upperbody are more relaxed with a slightly lower guard, and i can throw more explosive punches as a result. Just my take though.


This



I cant throw punches nearly as hard when my guard is high. But I'm always practicing every angle to become as flexible as possible.


As for slipping, it IS easier with your hands low, because its a more natural movement for your body to make.

[Swarmer]

This



I cant throw punches nearly as hard when my guard is high. But I'm always practicing every angle to become as flexible as possible.


As for slipping, it IS easier with your hands low, because its a more natural movement for your body to make.

I'm not even saying they have to be super low to get the "feeling" I'm talking about. Like even Joe Louis hand levels are fine. It's just a matter of being loose. In that peek-a-boo Tyson/Patterson style I feel like I'm wasting a lot of energy through tension. It's kind of a "zen" eastern martial arts type thing.

[Johnstown]

I mentioned my past trainers..while they did indeed hate me going low guard..they also hated when i would do a arthur abe like super high guard. My trainer use to mention call it "hand cuffing" yourself...and it is true that is very hard to get off any kind of shots....aggressive or counter..from that stance..when you try to counter the man usually sees it....and often steps off and then hits you where you opened (if you throw a left they step to their right and throw either a stright right or side angled left to the that side. Anyhow...the truth is i think the best fighters can mix it up.....but hey...different strokes for different folks.

[Johnstown]

I'm not even saying they have to be super low to get the "feeling" I'm talking about. Like even Joe Louis hand levels are fine. It's just a matter of being loose. In that peek-a-boo Tyson/Patterson style I feel like I'm wasting a lot of energy through tension. It's kind of a "zen" eastern martial arts type thing.
yea....it can be a kind of tense style..but i do think its possible to be relaxed from it...thats the first style i learned (my brother taught me to fight like that....he was a tyson era guy) but i slowely moved away from it...however I still go back to it at times.

[Stonehands89]

That one of your boys?
At times, I'll serve as Ray Arcel for strategy to his trainer's Freddie Brown. His father is the best trainer in the northeast. And that's a conservative statement.

Remember this kid -he's going places. His fundamentals are exceptional and he can deal with any style already. He fought a banger last month and went down in the first round -that shot he took was a left hook flush. He got up, made adjustments, and easily took the next two rounds and the bout. Have you seen "Analyzing Burley" on you tube? You'll see some of the same principles in Turon's style.

[GPater11093]

Is this the man 'Hilario' who you wrote about, I mean his dad?

I have seen that video and when I get to a good computer I will watch Turon.

[the brown bomber]

I wouldnt say it necessarily equates to massive power, not at all. It may suit some guys who happen to carry the dope and they feel more comfortable throwing punches that particular way whilst others employ the more 'traditional' method. Each to their own i reckon


I agree I doubt there is meaningful power difference if your left is up or down. One thing is the SKILLED fighters who keep a low guard uses the forward shoulder as a defense and then tends to twist their body away and come back with the right counterpunch. Extremely high level guys pull this off because they really understand head movement, slipping, ducking and rolling. They probably have the appearance of throwing harder punches because they are just so talented overall.

[Stonehands89]

Is this the man 'Hilario' who you wrote about, I mean his dad?

I have seen that video and when I get to a good computer I will watch Turon.
That's him. I'll be at a gym in Stoughton tomorrow noon to watch his boy spar.

[Russell]

I agree I doubt there is meaningful power difference if your left is up or down. One thing is the SKILLED fighters who keep a low guard uses the forward shoulder as a defense and then tends to twist their body away and come back with the right counterpunch. Extremely high level guys pull this off because they really understand head movement, slipping, ducking and rolling. They probably have the appearance of throwing harder punches because they are just so talented overall.

:think:think:think

[Russell]

At times, I'll serve as Ray Arcel for strategy to his trainer's Freddie Brown. His father is the best trainer in the northeast. And that's a conservative statement.

Remember this kid -he's going places. His fundamentals are exceptional and he can deal with any style already. He fought a banger last month and went down in the first round -that shot he took was a left hook flush. He got up, made adjustments, and easily took the next two rounds and the bout. Have you seen "Analyzing Burley" on you tube? You'll see some of the same principles in Turon's style.

Wait... it says on one of Turon's sparring videos that it's in Pawtucket? As in... RI? I'm 30 minutes from there, maybe a little more. I frequent RI constantly actually, live on the border in CT.

Need an extra head to have him practice/beat on? :lol:

[ecto55]

..........

[good right hand]

bob foster is one guy i remembered that hit very hard and held his hands low.

[Stonehands89]

Wait... it says on one of Turon's sparring videos that it's in Pawtucket? As in... RI? I'm 30 minutes from there, maybe a little more. I frequent RI constantly actually, live on the border in CT.

Need an extra head to have him practice/beat on? :lol:
He's out of Brockton, but is a trouper when it comes to sparring. If you're over ~140, it's a no go. If you aren't, and have sparred and are looking for sparring, it may be alright.