NYC TD, Feb 1, 2009 Noon @ Fighthouse

**Scott Larson** · Posted On: 2/04/2009 2:57pm

Originally Posted by Jack Rusher

Hey Scott & Squerli!

We talked a little bit about the fight strategies that go with the "both hands high by the face" cover and the "back hand up, lead hand lower and forward" guard. Basically, the former is better for pure striking (boxing, for instance), the latter for catching kicks and throwing (as in san shou). So, if you're going to use the low, extended lead hand, you better have some shuaijiao. This san shou video is one of the best illustrations of that stylistic difference I've been able to find -- red is mainly a striker, black is mainly a thrower:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrDuvMjjYyk

... note that black uses the kick catches I worked with you guys several times in this fight.

The advice about the guard really helped. I'm definitely going to be working leg catches with that.

As a side note, what do you think about boxers using that guard? (Notibly Tommy Hearns) How does the rule set affect the effectiveness?

another side note:
Your new avatar rules.

**Squerlli** · Posted On: 2/04/2009 3:06pm

Originally Posted by M.C.

Hey Squerlli, you looked sooo much better than last time, you are throwing combinations, you look more relaxed, you are moving in and out, you try to follow up. Boy, if you now learn to keep your hands a little higher and cut down a little on the spinning back fist you will smoke me next time :)
Keep it up!

Thanks broski, next time I'll work on head movement and cardio and maybe if I'm lucky you can throw more then a left jab and teep when we spar XD.

**truepwrz** · Posted On: 2/04/2009 3:07pm

i am going to take a year of muay thai and wrestling then i am going to fight amy san shou in china lol

**Squerlli** · Posted On: 2/04/2009 3:14pm

Originally Posted by truepwrz

i am going to take a year of muay thai and wrestling then i am going to fight amy san shou in china lol

Work on not smoking first, fatty.

**Jack Rusher** · Posted On: 2/04/2009 3:59pm

Originally Posted by Scott Larson

As a side note, what do you think about boxers using that guard? (Notibly Tommy Hearns) How does the rule set affect the effectiveness?

Tommy Hearns was awesome by any measure, but his style worked for him in large part because it complemented his natural attributes: a 6'1" welterweight with crazy reach, super fast hands and knockout power can do things that mere mortals cannot.

Likewise, Willie Pep fought with his hands near his waist and managed a 230-11-1 record (230 victories! He won 111 fights before his first draw!), but I wouldn't recommend emulating his style unless you've got magic feet.

I'd suggest trying to work a crazy monkey-style wuji as one often sees in xingyi until you've gotten your shuaijiao into a good state. You'll want to be able to close up into a CM guard when in-fighting anyway -- even Hearns did that.

JP · Posted On: 2/04/2009 4:06pm

Originally Posted by Jack Rusher

I'd suggest trying to work a crazy monkey-style wuji as one often sees in xingyi until you've gotten your shuaijiao into a good state. You'll want to be able to close up into a CM guard when in-fighting anyway -- even Hearns did that.

And to add to this, the high, head-encasing guard that Jack is talking about used but not invented by Rodney King of Crazy Monkey fame, will hardly prevent you from being able to enter into a clinch.

In fact it will make it easier to overcome that natural aversion to heading straight into the bore of your opponent's punches, which is was you'll have to do anyway if you want to get a grip on him. You can use your forearms to feed your way into a collar tie set up or a thai clinch quite well.

As per Tommy Hearns, he also had one of the sickest and quickest, lead double shovel hooks I've ever seen.