Guard

[cross]

What type of guard(hand position in sparring/fighting) does everyone use?

 

I practise karate and use a boxing/kickboxing type guard.

 

So what do u use???

Edited April 25, 2005 by cross

[SevenStar]

boxing and muay thai. occasionally, the on guard position I was taught in jun fan.

 

Karate has a guard - lead hand in front of the face, rear chambered at the waist.

[delta1]

So what do u use???

 

Whatever I feel like at the time. My guard changes, depending on who I'm fighting, what I'm trying to do, range to opponent, phase of the moon,... .

 

Generally, I keep my hands loose and open, not too close but not too far out. It changes as I move (and sometimes when I don't), with direct movements (no flourishes or fancy crap), and one hand covers high, the other low. Arms are usually held at compounding 45' angles.

[cross]

and one hand covers high, the other low.

 

I tried this for quiet a while but then found for me at least that its alot easier to defend and you dont get hit as much if you keep both hands up because you can cover both high and low at the same time and you dont need to "reach" to defend.

[SevenStar]

yeah, that's the advantage of the boxing guard. you get to protect your head, and you have the elbows to protect your mid section. Against boxers and thai boxers, having one hand low will get you hit in the face...alot.

[cross]

I was wondering how the boxing guard would fair if you used it on the street.

 

I think at the beginning of a situation it may appear to agressive. But thats when you could use an open-hand version of it which would still offer you most of the same benifits.

 

What do you guys think?

[SevenStar]

Open hand? the hands are held loosely open anyway...

[delta1]

Open hand? the hands are held loosely open anyway...

 

Yes, they are. But since I've seen quite a few ma's that seem to get stuck in that 'fists up' stance, I specified that I keep mine open.

"and one hand covers high, the other low."

 

I tried this for quiet a while but then found for me at least that its alot easier to defend and you dont get hit as much if you keep both hands up because you can cover both high and low at the same time and you dont need to "reach" to defend.

 

That's one of the changes I make as my "range to opponent" decreases to very close. And one of the reasons is that I like to throw elbows in close (not just elbows, but they are a major in close weapon). Elbow strikes are good in close as the double as checks or blocks as well. The both hands up guard supports elbow strikes, and also brings the guard in tight for when things are happening fast. But at medium and long range, I like to keep that middle check in place.

 

At distance, the 'boxers' guard works for boxers because they don't have to worry about kicks or low blows. It works for grapplers and other combative styles that fight from a crouch because their middle targets are back and covered by their body position. But for stand up styles, you need to keep a middle check in place until you can make and maintain contact.

 

Also, because of my primarily 45' stance, I don't have to reach for my blocks. And the lead hand is not always the high hand.

 

Another time I tend to keep my hands up, as well as back out of range, is when weapons are involved (sticks, knives, etc.). Footwork and evasion is the name of the game more than blocking (as in running like a dog if it's for real ).

 

That's just how I do it, but it seems to work for me.

[cross]

because they don't have to worry about kicks or low blows.

 

You can usually block these without using your hands or by moving them into position.

That's just how I do it, but it seems to work for me.

 

Thats really what its about, finding what works for you and practising it.

 

I just prefer to keep my hands close to the thing im protecting and the kickboxing style guard works best.

Open hand? the hands are held loosely open anyway...

 

I mean hands completely open so that you dont look threatening. In self defence would you use the boxing style guard or some other type?

Edited April 16, 2005 by cross

[delta1]

"because they don't have to worry about kicks or low blows."You can usually block these without using your hands or by moving them into position.

 

If you're going to "block" a low hand strike (I prefer the term 'recieve', but...) you need that check in place. For most kicks, move. Leg checks are good for attacks to your base. 'Blocks' to kicks are mostly to move or position him- that's one meaning of 'recieve'.

"Open hand? the hands are held loosely open anyway..."I mean hands completely open so that you dont look threatening. In self defence would you use the boxing style guard or some other type?

 

If you are talking about the non threatening postue you take prior to engagement, then yes, I might keep both high. If you are talking about a real life encounter of the threatening type, whether he or me does it, the fight will probably rapidly go to the close contact (elbow)range.