Thread: Various Guards.

A poster recently requested a thread on the variations of the boxing guard, in which we could evaluate the value of each.

Thios is my attempt at meeting his request and I'm not an authority on anything to do with our sport, so draw your own conclusions.

The "Cross-Arm" Guard

The cross arm guard is a "hands and arms high" defensive posture. For right handed fighters the left arm protects the body, while the right is responsible for protecting the head. Among its most prominent users were fighters such as Archie Moore, Joe Frazier and in instances Sugar Ray Robinson.

As a defensive posture the cross arm serves well. With educated movement, this guard can provide a shield for both body and head.
It does however prove problematic when attacking.
By nature the "cross" locates the hands on the opposite side of the body, meaning counter punching is difficult and handspeed is handicapped. Speed is limited as the fighter must draw his hands to a punching position before releasing his punch. In close an adequate defence was established, but again hand position needed to be altered in order to exchange.

Fighters such as Frazier and Moore "filled the gaps" during their opponents rest periods with their own punches, while crossing their guards when the opponent attacked, self preservation is not at the heart of this defense, as damage will be accumulated.

This style is now fading, with more modern trainers insisting the hands must be held either loose to the sides or vertical. However this instructional video will demonstrate the technique.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXNzF0OGhrM

The "Philly Shell"

The Philly Shell is perhaps a natural evolution of the cross arm defence. With the left hand low, sometimes covering the body and even held below the right elbow, the right hand is high alternating from the side of the jaw which is under more pressure. The chin is safehoused behind the leading shoulder.

Most importantly the rear leg is retracted, revealing less of a target and resulting in a very "side on stance." This is the key difference from the cross arm stance and when coupled with the mobility employed with the Philly Shell it is an excellent counter puncghing style as the heels are raised from the floor and speed of foot is encouraged.

The idea is to keep your head (and centreline) outside of the opponents left shouklder, meaning the jab is easily alluded and the opponents straight right is a reaching blow. Other more practical defences include the right handed parry and a "rolling slip."

Offensively, the low left hand can serve to generate a snakey jab or lead left uppercut. Inside fighting can be problematic as the body is exposed and balance may be sacrificed. The Philly shell can also be susceptible to counter punching as the hands again take time to set.

This technique takes years to make viable and a lot of damage is absorbed in learning it properly. Fighters such as James Toney and Floyd Mayweather use this defence to excellent effect and in terms of Toney, the problems with bodywork are not applicable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7V97...eature=related
In this Toney video note the withdrawn right foot, the low hands and the flicking jab. Just before the 5 minute mark some defence is shown which demonstrates "rolling."

"Peek-a-Boo"

Developed by Cus D'Amato the peek a boo style, see's the boxer place both hands on front of the face. The fist is placed at the "nose height." This allows th boxer an unobstructed line of vision, just above the protective barrier formed by gloves and forearms. The lead hand is slightlty to the front, guarding the left* side of the jaw, with the right caring for the right side.

Essentially the peek a boo style is a method of applying classic boxing whilst ensuring the fighter is mindful of defence. ***without sacrificing vision***

Cus D'Amato felt this style allowed for excellent head movement and punishing counters. This style caters well for fighters short in their division (Tyson and Patterson.)

The fundamentals of the peek a boo style are easily learned, but in order to fully avail of this style, endless time must be invested in learning to slip, bob, weave and cutting down the ring.

The peek a boo style, unlike the aforementioned two, allows the fighter to unload bursts of punches quickly before instantly returing to a defensive position. The feet must be able to "see" rthe opponent for the power punches (straights, rights) to be landed cleanly.

This video serves to demonstrate the benefits and shortcomings of the style.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHYwA...A0ECDE&index=7

The styles most famous user also elaborates on some of the finer details;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5myL5x-qmd8

Originally Posted by hitmandonny

The "Cross-Arm" Guard

The cross arm guard is a "hands and arms high" defensive posture. For right handed fighters the left arm protects the body, while the right is responsible for protecting the head. Among its most prominent users were fighters such as Archie Moore, Joe Frazier and in instances Sugar Ray Robinson.

As a defensive posture the cross arm serves well. With educated movement, this guard can provide a shield for both body and head.
It does however prove problematic when attacking.
By nature the "cross" locates the hands on the opposite side of the body, meaning counter punching is difficult and handspeed is handicapped. Speed is limited as the fighter must draw his hands to a punching position before releasing his punch. In close an adequate defence was established, but again hand position needed to be altered in order to exchange.

Fighters such as Frazier and Moore "filled the gaps" during their opponents rest periods with their own punches, while crossing their guards when the opponent attacked, self preservation is not at the heart of this defense, as damage will be accumulated.

This style is now fading, with more modern trainers insisting the hands must be held either loose to the sides or vertical. However this instructional video will demonstrate the technique.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXNzF0OGhrM

That style but more squared up; I think can be great nose to nose ,only if he is squared up too and throwing both hands equally at you (so long as he doesnt re distance and start to throw straight shots).But then you just pull a leg back into the stance thats shown)

This cover allows you to use the elbows against his wrists as he tries to come around your gloves,so he pays for a few shots too.

I personally think to use this stance so that you are prepared to move further into a shot from this position (after you've checked him with the same side elbow fold your glove out and push through his arm on that side) so that you move in too and crack them open on that side as his arm returns you follow it bodily, open your stance up and you get into the correct line to get a shot off with the then free inner hand. As you move to that side; your body moves across behind the glove that remains centre so that it is then automaticly freed up from being across you and can fire from its original side as you move through the opposite way .
This makes you beat him to the draw as your hand is on the inside of his other free arm so you win cause your head is hidden behind your attack.
hope that made some sence.