*VIDEO* sparring advice

[God.in.my.corner]

[youtube]<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/X4XKSpqPJ9A?list=UUTFBviI3YfCXahhfGcqoiXA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>[youtube]

I was doing some situational sparring with a friend. I was hoping you could give me some advice. I was working on using my jab and footwork while my opponent was looking to work on the inside. Inside fighting is a weakness of mine (among many), so hopefully I can get some tips. Sorry the video cuts out a tad early.

Thanks!

*EDIT: Tried to embed the video. Couldn't do it. I'm a rookie at this. Sorry. Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbxoH...fCXahhfGcqoiXA

[greynotsoold]

Which one are you?

[God.in.my.corner]

Haha. See, I'm a true rookie.

I've got the red headgear and grey shirt.

[greynotsoold]

A lot of people would tell you to keep your left up, to keep a higher guard. I don't subscribe to that belief, but you do have a tendency to drop your hands and punch from the waist. You are too square up to do that; turn sideways. Get your left hip and shoulder up front. And keep your right hand home. The huge majority of your defensive work is done by the right hand, ideally. It catches the jab and it blocks the hook, the right elbow protects the body. Also, if you keep the right hand home, you can shoot it when you punch.
You also have a tendency to walk forward after your right hand, to bring your right foot up, like a baseball pitcher, you know? That will get you hit really hard- watch Tyson v Botha.
Finally, you could be much better inside very easily. First, get more sideways, the left shoulder and hip into your opponent. That vastly improves your defensive position. Second, throw your left hook. I can guarantee you that, in the not to distant future, you'll be asking why you can't land a left hook. Watch the video you just posted. You are in position many times to put the hook into the body and you don't throw the punch.
Last, the guy you were working with seems to know a bit about fighting. He gave you good work. That is very valuable.

[God.in.my.corner]

A lot of people would tell you to keep your left up, to keep a higher guard. I don't subscribe to that belief, but you do have a tendency to drop your hands and punch from the waist. You are too square up to do that; turn sideways. Get your left hip and shoulder up front. And keep your right hand home. The huge majority of your defensive work is done by the right hand, ideally. It catches the jab and it blocks the hook, the right elbow protects the body. Also, if you keep the right hand home, you can shoot it when you punch.
You also have a tendency to walk forward after your right hand, to bring your right foot up, like a baseball pitcher, you know? That will get you hit really hard- watch Tyson v Botha.
Finally, you could be much better inside very easily. First, get more sideways, the left shoulder and hip into your opponent. That vastly improves your defensive position. Second, throw your left hook. I can guarantee you that, in the not to distant future, you'll be asking why you can't land a left hook. Watch the video you just posted. You are in position many times to put the hook into the body and you don't throw the punch.
Last, the guy you were working with seems to know a bit about fighting. He gave you good work. That is very valuable.

Thanks for the feedback. I knew that I dropped my right when I jabbed and moved, and I thought my hands were in a decent position... Any higher seems awkward. Hard to punch from.

Too square huh? I'm surprised at that. But I trust what you say. I'm sure that explains a lot of my problems. I get hit with right hands A LOT! Looping ones. Do you think this explains it even more? When correcting the problem, should my back hip and should almost be "hid" by my opponent? Right now, my opponent can see them, they are just "back".

And with the feet. I assume the toe and heel should ideally be on a straight line. Where do you favor the lead toe and rear toe pointing? I usually have the lead toe pointing at 1 o'clock and the rear toe pointing about 2 o'clock if the toes were hands on a clock.

Do you think my head movement was ok, or was much of it "unnecessary" and better left to footwork

Thanks again.

[greynotsoold]

A lot of people would tell you to keep your left up, to keep a higher guard. I don't subscribe to that belief, but you do have a tendency to drop your hands and punch from the waist. You are too square up to do that; turn sideways. Get your left hip and shoulder up front. And keep your right hand home. The huge majority of your defensive work is done by the right hand, ideally. It catches the jab and it blocks the hook, the right elbow protects the body. Also, if you keep the right hand home, you can shoot it when you punch.
You also have a tendency to walk forward after your right hand, to bring your right foot up, like a baseball pitcher, you know? That will get you hit really hard- watch Tyson v Botha.
Finally, you could be much better inside very easily. First, get more sideways, the left shoulder and hip into your opponent. That vastly improves your defensive position. Second, throw your left hook. I can guarantee you that, in the not to distant future, you'll be asking why you can't land a left hook. Watch the video you just posted. You are in position many times to put the hook into the body and you don't throw the punch.
Last, the guy you were working with seems to know a bit about fighting. He gave you good work. That is very valuable.

Thanks for the feedback. I knew that I dropped my right when I jabbed and moved, and I thought my hands were in a decent position... Any higher seems awkward. Hard to punch from.

Too square huh? I'm surprised at that. But I trust what you say. I'm sure that explains a lot of my problems. I get hit with right hands A LOT! Looping ones. Do you think this explains it even more? When correcting the problem, should my back hip and should almost be "hid" by my opponent? Right now, my opponent can see them, they are just "back".

And with the feet. I assume the toe and heel should ideally be on a straight line. Where do you favor the lead toe and rear toe pointing? I usually have the lead toe pointing at 1 o'clock and the rear toe pointing about 2 o'clock if the toes were hands on a clock.

Do you think my head movement was ok, or was much of it "unnecessary" and better left to footwork

Thanks again.

It is much easier to punch with the left hand when it is at the level of you chest. The right hand should come off your chin; you keep it there to defend yourself, and you shoot it from there. If you are going to throw a right uppercut or go to the body with it, turn and dip your body. that way, your shoulders protect you. Do you see?
Yeah, you get hit with right hands because you are too square. This goes to the foot position as well. Pointing your left toe to 1 is one thing but...To get it there, rotate your left side, your leg and hip and shoulder. Not just your foot. Point your right toe as directly towards your opponent as is comfortable for you.
As far as head movement, be purposeful with it. A lot of guys are just bouncing their heads around and thinking they are doing something. There is nothing random in boxing. You put your head in a position where the other guy thinks he can hit it. This makes him punch. Then you make him miss, move into the space created and counter. You don't just move your head with the hopes that it will make you hard to hit.