I really prefer to understand why something is right and wrong but also the mechanics of how it works. Some things my coaches explain others they don't and some they probably do explain and i still don't get it anyway (i pity them coaching me sometimes ).

The thing i probably struggle with conceptually the most is how people hold such strong guards and mine is utterly pathetic no matter what i do!

Since you commented on it though Hitmandonny - i am curious about the shoulder hitting your chin thing. I mean i can do that sometimes but i must do it the wrong way because my body right shoulder hitting my chin at the end of my cross just hurts! Maybe i turn the fist over at the wrong time?

Sometimes I'd prefer to be hit with my opponents glove than my shoulder because at least that's semi-padded! Or am I just being a woss!

Overall i do agree with you hitmandonny. In many places the boxing culture is to do what you're told without questioning why.

I think it's meant to be about discipline and being gutzy but there are other ways to demonstrate discipline and determination and respect for your trainer than to not question them or the techniques they were taught.

I think if you can ask someone a Q because you trust them to know the answer and elighten you it's better than just trusting the techniques they were taught.

I often wonder how much i can and can't do has to do with me as an individual because something is not quite right - maybe my hips are out, i have a weak muscle group somewhere etc - things that i may not be able to correct just by persisting with that technique.

Things like a tight psoas for example which can mess up your ability to balance and move fluently are often exacerbated by more exercise - so the more you train some things with the wrong physical tools - the more you exacerbate tightnesses etc and the more difficult it would be to do what you're trying to do.

If you don't know why and how something works how can you tell the difference between what you should be able to do and what you need more preparation to be able to do physically?!?!