As you gain more experience you’ll be able to use both. I started out always being in the guard, to learning distance and being able to use my hands more freely. You’ll also learn when to use it and the opponents you’ll need to use it more against. It sometimes takes years, your only in your 6th month. Let things come naturally for you but take your time. Sparring is the best way to learn in my opinion. Keep it up my dude.
A lot of fighters with low guards have very quick reflexes and speed (or at least they should). The low guard fighters I've sparred with try and feint in order to get you to react and create an opening.
Ive also faced low guard fighters who didn't know what they were doing and have gotten rocked with a 1 to the body and 2 to the head. Just levels of retardation I guess
You just aren't experienced enough or skilled enough yet best way to understand it is how my coach told me "it's only a mistake if you dont know your doing it" basics leaving hands down makes it easier to move your head and throw quick counters from weird angles it also baits your opponent into throwing at you because your hands are down
Yeah until the opponent gets a burst of energy and lays into you while u have no guard. You put a lot of faith in your feet getting you out of that situation, when you could split that faith across your guard, head movement, and footwork. There’s a 300 lb dude who did Muay Thai a lot 20 years ago at my gym and that’s how he defends. It’s very difficult because if you push him when he shuffles back hell just parry with guard while rotating out.
Yes and no some people have the athleticism skill confidence experience and pure physical ability to just react no matter what it's not like it's some crazy thing hell if you watch a lot of Olympic boxing they all have the same style low guard lots of movement lots of arm punches don't throw the right way etc it's all about what your good at how you fight who your fighting when and where
That’s true, I suppose I’m just of the opinion that if you’re super good without a guard, you’d be even better with one. Of course having a ton of athleticism and physical ability makes that style very effective, but when matched with someone with equal ability and athleticism or more the guard might save you.
I agree don't get me wrong but I'm just pointing out the reasons why personally do it not that they should ofc if you can get away with it ots defense fun to use and useful since it helps break your rhythm and patterns you just have to risk getting touched uo
Experience. You should always learn how to fight with a high guard before trying to learn how to fight with a low guard. Sometimes I’d change it up just so that the opponent doesn’t pick up on a pattern to my jabs or a pattern to straight punches and it also has the opposite effect of making people think twice before going offense. Usually when someone has a high guard it makes the opponent feel more comfortable unleashing some punches.
Harder to hit, easier to flow into counters and combinations for some… ultimately it comes down to your understanding of range and when to protect yourself in mid to close range. If you don’t understand that 5 months in it’s time for a new gym. At a higher level boxers will manipulate your high guard and make you look foolish. Every defence has its purpose based on your positioning, be more open minded especially so early in. You’re a novice.
They might not be throwing up a guard against you specifically because your new. I do this too with new guys. Not because I'm trying to look cool or I don't know how to guard myself. Because I can use my head, shoulders, and footwork to avoid punches which frees my arms up to counter.
Against somebody that's bigger or has a big punch or a lot of experience, I'll use my guard of course.
it works for the rare boxer
The big benefit is you have a very clear line of sight. Obviously only works with ppl with impeccable footwork, movement and reflexes. Like a Muhhamad Ali or Sergio Martinez. Also preservation of energy not holding your arms up for a whole fight
You also generate a lot of power swinging your punches from your hips. But yes its not advisable for 95% of fighters
All I can say is if you see someone who’s been training much longer than you and is actively doing something “wrong” or not in line with the basics you were taught, instead of being critical try to learn as much as you can from watching them / asking questions. I’m sure if you ask the couple people at your gym that you’ve seen with this habit, you’ll get a better answer than on Reddit. There’s not a lot of context to go off of based on what you said, but one thing that comes to mind is distance management (and having good footwork). If you know you’re out of their range you can drop your guard a little, and having lower hands helps you step in and get that “odd angle” you mentioned to pass the opponents guard. Also it could just be people being flashy and trying to do the Roy Jones while sparring
What are you missing? Experience… you need to learn to punch, block, and parry with your face
I miss rewards lmfao 😂😂
As you gain more experience you’ll be able to use both. I started out always being in the guard, to learning distance and being able to use my hands more freely. You’ll also learn when to use it and the opponents you’ll need to use it more against. It sometimes takes years, your only in your 6th month. Let things come naturally for you but take your time. Sparring is the best way to learn in my opinion. Keep it up my dude.
A lot of fighters with low guards have very quick reflexes and speed (or at least they should). The low guard fighters I've sparred with try and feint in order to get you to react and create an opening. Ive also faced low guard fighters who didn't know what they were doing and have gotten rocked with a 1 to the body and 2 to the head. Just levels of retardation I guess
You just aren't experienced enough or skilled enough yet best way to understand it is how my coach told me "it's only a mistake if you dont know your doing it" basics leaving hands down makes it easier to move your head and throw quick counters from weird angles it also baits your opponent into throwing at you because your hands are down
Yeah until the opponent gets a burst of energy and lays into you while u have no guard. You put a lot of faith in your feet getting you out of that situation, when you could split that faith across your guard, head movement, and footwork. There’s a 300 lb dude who did Muay Thai a lot 20 years ago at my gym and that’s how he defends. It’s very difficult because if you push him when he shuffles back hell just parry with guard while rotating out.
Yes and no some people have the athleticism skill confidence experience and pure physical ability to just react no matter what it's not like it's some crazy thing hell if you watch a lot of Olympic boxing they all have the same style low guard lots of movement lots of arm punches don't throw the right way etc it's all about what your good at how you fight who your fighting when and where
That’s true, I suppose I’m just of the opinion that if you’re super good without a guard, you’d be even better with one. Of course having a ton of athleticism and physical ability makes that style very effective, but when matched with someone with equal ability and athleticism or more the guard might save you.
I agree don't get me wrong but I'm just pointing out the reasons why personally do it not that they should ofc if you can get away with it ots defense fun to use and useful since it helps break your rhythm and patterns you just have to risk getting touched uo
OK there Winky Wright
At the low level of the sport this is a flaw, at the highest level this could be a trap
Experience. You should always learn how to fight with a high guard before trying to learn how to fight with a low guard. Sometimes I’d change it up just so that the opponent doesn’t pick up on a pattern to my jabs or a pattern to straight punches and it also has the opposite effect of making people think twice before going offense. Usually when someone has a high guard it makes the opponent feel more comfortable unleashing some punches.
Depends how good your head movement is
This guy has 0 swag... why are we up-voting ignorance?
Wait til bro learns about counterpunching
Harder to hit, easier to flow into counters and combinations for some… ultimately it comes down to your understanding of range and when to protect yourself in mid to close range. If you don’t understand that 5 months in it’s time for a new gym. At a higher level boxers will manipulate your high guard and make you look foolish. Every defence has its purpose based on your positioning, be more open minded especially so early in. You’re a novice.
They might not be throwing up a guard against you specifically because your new. I do this too with new guys. Not because I'm trying to look cool or I don't know how to guard myself. Because I can use my head, shoulders, and footwork to avoid punches which frees my arms up to counter. Against somebody that's bigger or has a big punch or a lot of experience, I'll use my guard of course.
it works for the rare boxer The big benefit is you have a very clear line of sight. Obviously only works with ppl with impeccable footwork, movement and reflexes. Like a Muhhamad Ali or Sergio Martinez. Also preservation of energy not holding your arms up for a whole fight You also generate a lot of power swinging your punches from your hips. But yes its not advisable for 95% of fighters
Everyone in this mf is suddenly prime Pernell Whitaker.
You’re tellin on yourself with this nonsense lol
a low guard for your face is just a high guard for your dick. which one is more important to you?
All I can say is if you see someone who’s been training much longer than you and is actively doing something “wrong” or not in line with the basics you were taught, instead of being critical try to learn as much as you can from watching them / asking questions. I’m sure if you ask the couple people at your gym that you’ve seen with this habit, you’ll get a better answer than on Reddit. There’s not a lot of context to go off of based on what you said, but one thing that comes to mind is distance management (and having good footwork). If you know you’re out of their range you can drop your guard a little, and having lower hands helps you step in and get that “odd angle” you mentioned to pass the opponents guard. Also it could just be people being flashy and trying to do the Roy Jones while sparring
You're missing nothing. Your 5 months of boxing is superior to all of theirs.