With my stance I've been taught to have my lead glove (left) cheek level with my forearm parallel to my upright upper body. This puts my lead hand a good 6" in front of my rear glove. My coaches say that this enables me to throw a short, quick jab while helping me block and parry right hands. They have said that it's a quicker jab since the distance it travels is shorter and there is less of a telegraph.

I have told the that holding this stance adds tension to the shoulder which makes it more difficult to relax, thus killing a key component to speed: relaxed muscles. I know that when I have my gloves under my chin with elbows resting against my ribs I feel no tension whatsoever.

His reponse is my conditioning needs to improve. Is he right?