Learning Distance and Range

[Fran@myboxingcoach]

if it's something that you do, week in week out, I promise it will help. Even the international boxers that I work with do this with raw novices, and both benefit. Stick with it mate, it will bring rewards!

Fran

[iceman]

hope this helps, its a start

[The Student]

I've come across a lot of stuff by Kenny Weldon. A lot of good stuff, but I'm not sure if I necessarily agree with what he's saying in that video.

I'm by no means an expert, but I dont know about stepping forward with your lead leg and leaving yourself so wide open. I would imagine you would lose a lot of mobility by doing that, and be very susceptible to your opponents counter punches.

.. but what do I know, maybe some of the more experienced members can weigh in on that.

Thanks for sharing though, I appreciate it.

[iceman]

well you don't put all your weight on that front foot, and as you see the distance is very easy to hit the guy...shuffle in and chasing him will lead to a lot of frustration.

[God.in.my.corner]

That video also ties in about how important it is to 'box on the back foot'. Your weight should be back here, and you can take a small lead step- and move from the edge of range to long range. The small step is almost like widening you stance, your back foot can almost stay in the same spot for balance and leverage. The important thing is to not have your base stance too wide initially too.

[donnydarkoIRL]

I've come across a lot of stuff by Kenny Weldon. A lot of good stuff, but I'm not sure if I necessarily agree with what he's saying in that video.

I'm by no means an expert, but I dont know about stepping forward with your lead leg and leaving yourself so wide open. I would imagine you would lose a lot of mobility by doing that, and be very susceptible to your opponents counter punches.

.. but what do I know, maybe some of the more experienced members can weigh in on that.

Thanks for sharing though, I appreciate it.

I think he has a lot of good points and the right concept.
I use a very similar technique but I always try to let my feet take me there.

[Fran@myboxingcoach]

Interesting video Ice.

I've never seen any of Kenny Weldon's videos, but have heard of him. I fully agree with the principle of being out of range and moving in with shots to get to long range (shots can also be exchanged with feints, but the key is the combining of the foot movements with the punches.) I just wonder whether that step out is simply too far. It's an awful lot of ground to cover in quick time and the risk is high of walking straight onto incoming. This said, the idea of not ambling in to range before throwing the shot makes absolute sense.

In terms of the widening of the stance, I wonder whether he means this literally. To widen the stance to that extent would restrict the range of shots, meaning that you could probably get one shot off, but could a combination follow? I like to see this stance widening used, but generally by a boxer who's at long range and they step out with the back foot momentarily to take the head out of range, then close the stance up pretty much instantly; it's a variation on the layback. It's very useful against an opponent who has maybe lost the will to fight too hard and throws single shots from a standing position. Bit risky using it against a maniac who attacks at all costs though.

Anyway, thanks for the opportunity of seeing this vid, very interesting.

[Youngblood]

To widen the stance to that extent would restrict the range of shots, meaning that you could probably get one shot off, but could a combination follow? I like to see this stance widening used, but generally by a boxer who's at long range and they step out with the back foot momentarily to take the head out of range, then close the stance up pretty much instantly; it's a variation on the layback. It's very useful against an opponent who has maybe lost the will to fight too hard and throws single shots from a standing position. Bit risky using it against a maniac who attacks at all costs though.

Anyway, thanks for the opportunity of seeing this vid, very interesting.

ya this is something I've recently worked on as a range fighter. I was expending way too much energy in counters, essentially jumping both feet out of range, then back in for the counters...but by only moving the back foot out, and leaning back, slight slip or duck w/e...not only am I finding the counters faster and more powerful when closing, but part of the economy of energy i was also looking for.

[WayneFlint]

That video is ok for what hes saying but i would never leave my back foot behind, and i would never stand that far away from someone when fighting unless i wanted a runway for a big kick of flying head butt or something lol. your back foot is your true range no matter how much leaning or reaching you do to try and lengthen a shot if your back foots not there when the punch is then the punch will never be as hard or as fast as it could be.

he says it himself the back foots his pushing foot so why does he leave it in the car park when he needs it with him to drive off of to move or strike? this video is a good demonstration of this mistake made often when starting out in boxing and quite a nasty habit to get into and get rid of, every leading movement like this will leave you in a position that will have your muscles fighting against all your joints if you should choose to throw a punch from where you are, without a correcting step first bringing the back foot with you your exposing yourself because of where youve put yourself and the mobility and attacking potential isnt looking too good either so that really wasnt a great move was it? this is what happens when a stance gets too wide.

If your fighting against joints your wasteing energy and slowing down a shot, ultimately when mastering a punch your first goal should be to get the joints working in harmony because once you have figured this out it tells you where the base is from were all your work will come from, your stance.

Once youve figured that out (good luck lol its tricker than most believe) its time to find the trigger muscles, any muscle that isnt a trigger muscle or a muscle supporting your stance is like leaving on a weak handbreak in your car, it will cost you energy and fuck you up.

Then youve got to take it to the next level and learn to wind up the shots, which means more foot, body and limb placement issues that must be resolved as to avoid fighting the joints and thus wasting more energy winding up a shot that doesnt even let go all that effectively. not a good idea

Then its the same thing for defensive movements and any overall movement you will use in the ring, find where the joints aren't working as they should/could be, correct that problem and then find the trigger muscles which will enable you to locate the 'handbreaks' and then you can relax or release the handbreaks more effectivley because you know where they are.

Sorry guys kind of went off topic a bit there to say its a video on range but i just thought id save any beginners from falling into that trap, ive been there and done that and it was an annoying habit to get rid of.

[Gray Lion]

That's one of the biggest problems we have with beginners. They tend to close in and smother their own punches, and of course open themselves up. Then the opposite problem is staying out to far and 'reaching off balance' to deliver a punch. One of the early training techniques I use (beyond bag work) is to have an experienced fighter (padded up and instructed to deliver light punches), stand in a square 4ft X 4ft, (box is marked by tape on the floor). The novice is instructed to to move in and out, around, whatever, and try to deliver puches, combinations, --but understanding that the fighter has to stay in the box, but can block and punch back. After awhile, it accomplishes teaching the novice how to recognize his range, how to evaluate the range of the opponent, respect for balance and footwork, and it gives him some confidence. Now, later on, you can expand the box, and make the sparring as versitle as you want. I learned this from a fighter who trained in the early 1900's.

[The Student]

I just wonder whether that step out is simply too far. It's an awful lot of ground to cover in quick time and the risk is high of walking straight onto incoming.

I think that was what had me feeling a bit uncomfortable initially while watching the video. The exaggerated step just seemed to leave him too wide.

Again, I'm no expert.. I'm here just here to learn as much as I can, so appreciate all the input.