monitoring opponents rear hand (As a Southpaw)

[greynotsoold]

I was watching this one:

I like how he takes that inside position with his left foot and fires that stiff jab and straight right hand at Mitchell

[Andre]

I was watching this one:

I like how he takes that inside position with his left foot and fires that stiff jab and straight right hand at Mitchell

Yeah wow, I forgot just how solid on his feet he was too, a real hunter of the opponents center line. loved his way of getting to the inside game, the whole time hes so methodical feeling out, measure distance all for the big right hand you just know is lurking. Menace of a fighter really, he wasnt opposed to some rough housing to get in there either.

[hma123]

Interesting. But what does the lead arm "feeler" have to do with avoiding the rear hand?

[greynotsoold]

Interesting. But what does the lead arm "feeler" have to do with avoiding the rear hand?

When you set out to avoid something, it often ends up happening. Draw that punch- so you'll know when it is coming, as opposed to scurrying around wondering when and where it is- and counter off it. Your right hook should beat his straight right to the mark every time, given that his has the longer distance to travel and, by throwing it, he turns into your hook.
In the last Pac/Marquez fight, Manny went through contortions to avoid the right hand. Watch the way he was throwing his left and bailing out...only to get conned at the end and get slammed by the punch he had been avoiding.

[Andre]

Also, for an exercise that will expand the scope: hold out your jab like a feeler and see if you can throw your rear properly while someone steers your lead arm towards the rear one. You'll find even moving it a couple of inches will stop the rear shots power and make you react differently.
Thats monitoring the rear arm and with practice you could do it blindfolded no exaggeration. Everything he tries to do with one arm you can feel the intent and slow it through the other one. Best way to disrupt someones balance is to move one of their legs or shift one of their elbows, it also ruins good punching technique. Its not the be all and end all, the situation may not even arise in some fights, its just something to explore and keep in the bank for the right time.

[hma123]

Also, for an exercise that will expand the scope: hold out your jab like a feeler and see if you can throw your rear properly while someone steers your lead arm towards the rear one. You'll find even moving it a couple of inches will stop the rear shots power and make you react differently.

That's true I like this one but how would one go on applying this to a live sparring session?

[Andre]

You have to set up a sparring partner and mate you trust who tries it out for you. Sometimes you need a close person on your team who is on your side for real and also wants to learn different stuff instead of the usual sparring riff that goes on these days.

You both talk it out and say theres a few things I want to work on, and you start slow move to half pace then amp the volume as you get used to exactly when and where some ideas will work and some dont, until you can you go at it full belt.

I mean its a rare situation someone is going to hold a glove up in your face and follow you around so you have to try and shoot around it.

Same thing for other rare situations: How can you practice power finishes on someone who's sharp and dancing around snappy trying to prove their point,its impossible? When you have ideas for when someone is tired at the end of a fight or doing desperate things, grappling or smothering or leaning,Pushing away with two gloves, over reaching jabs etc, you need someone to imitate those moves for you and its a trade off you both learn from and swap roles.
Same if youre going to fight a dude of a certain style you want your home boys to be able to imitate his moves, so that you can practice making them pay or disrupting their rhythm with your own.