Advice needed! Straight leading leg

[boxingbantz]

I have been training for about half a year now and have been told that when punching, I should have my front leg straight and be on the ball of my back foot. The ball of the back foot bit is fine, pretty standard, but a straight front leg? Is anyone else taught this? I have questioned this with my coach before and he says with your leg straight, your dont need to 'reach out' to land your punches. It's really starting to bother me as I feel as though I am not being taught correctly but, obviously, he knows best being my coach. Even when I'm on the heavy bag I am repeatedly told "straighten your front leg".

Does anyone else think this is the case? I, personally, find it very awkward and affects my mobility a bit. Surely the front leg should be bent, if only slightly?

[WayneFlint]

The only thing i think he could mean by that is to keep your lead foot pointing straight at your opponent, maybe when you jab and throw a right hand your over dedicating a bit and maybe that is what hes refering to with the straight leading leg and leaning comment you say he made. makes me think maybe this is the problem because over dedication and leaning seem to come hand in hand when technique isnt quite right. maybe your lead foot is pointing past your opponent on jabs and straight rights, etc and thats what hes picked up on?

If he is literally telling you to keep your lead leg straight and locked then i would maybe find another trainer because that doesnt sound right to me either, you probably know more than us if your trainer is any good but either way if your second guessing your trainer already then thats not really a good sign either, ask him to explain why the leg needs to be straight and what he means by it. if he has an explanation then please share if not, new trainer lol. good luck.

[boxingbantz]

No he definitely means keep the leading leg straight. I am not going to name him for obvious reasons but he is known. I questioned it and I have even become frustrated when punching because it feels so awkward. He says all my weight should be on my front leg and, if my lead leg is straight, it will keep me balanced. Just doesn't seem right to me as, watching tonight's action, EVERYONE bends their front leg even if slightly.

[iceman]

tho far from an expert i call b.s. if what you are saying is 100% weight on front foot. that alone makes you off balance and you have to shift just to move, this includes slipping ducking bobbing etc. most times i hear "sit on your punches" that requires a bent leg or two... unless your legs got different joints than mine. wow. i'd politely move along.

[Sharla]

Terrifying what some people will try to teach!

NO WAY!

It would feel like it's pushing you back when you're trying to punch wouldn't it?

The only solution I can think of - giving your coach the benefit of the doubt is if you put a short vid up of you doing some shadow work facing tha camera - wouldn't need to show your head if you don't want to.

Then someone might have another guess at what else he might be trying to correct that could be interpreted that way.

I always found when watching coaches who told me BS that they couldn't actually do what they were saying either - they just thought they did.

Might pay to ask him to demonstrate so you can see it ......

[boxingbantz]

Terrifying what some people will try to teach!

NO WAY!

It would feel like it's pushing you back when you're trying to punch wouldn't it?

The only solution I can think of - giving your coach the benefit of the doubt is if you put a short vid up of you doing some shadow work facing tha camera - wouldn't need to show your head if you don't want to.

Then someone might have another guess at what else he might be trying to correct that could be interpreted that way.

I always found when watching coaches who told me BS that they couldn't actually do what they were saying either - they just thought they did.

Might pay to ask him to demonstrate so you can see it ......

This is my main concern. It just doesn't feel right. There should be no debate really, your front leg SHOULD be bent but, I've even asked twice, and been shown that I should keep my leg straight. It really is awkward but I don't know if I should mention to him that I just don't feel comfortable or just find a different coach?

[WayneFlint]

I always found when watching coaches who told me BS that they couldn't actually do what they were saying either - they just thought they did.

Haha ive had one of those coaches before sharla, theyre the best arent they. not just boxing either kickboxing is full to the brim with the same thing, a so called kickboxing coach who could barely kick above waist height lol.