Question for Khun Kao, re. Stances

[wutang]

Hey Khun Kao:

I have a question regarding the basic muay thai stance. I understand that in Muay Thai, like in boxing, you use the orthodox stance if you are right-handed and the southpaw stance if you are left-handed. What do you think of JKD's use of the strong side in front (i.e, the opposite of above)? The reason I am asking is that I am right-handed and prefer to fight southpaw because I have always trained that way. My left leg can kick almost (80-90%) as hard as my right leg.

Thanks,
WuTang Mountain

[Khun Kao]

Actually, I truly appreciate people who fight strong-side forward. My instructor, Master K, fought that way. A number of good fighters do that.

My only problem is when people switch stances judiciously. Fighters should choose a stance and stick to it. Learning how to "switch up" is, in THEORY, a good idea. However, in practice it usually leads to sloppy and predictable fighting. Fighters should learn to fight well from one stance before considering training to be able to "switch up", but I've encountered way too many people who practice switching their stances on a regular basis when they can barely fight proficiently from one stance.

Khun Kao

[wutang]

Thanks Kru Khun Kao. I've been trying to force myself to switch to the orthodox stance since I thought it was the "right way". Now I will just work with what I've been doing for years, although I know that I am losing some power by adopting the strong side front philosophy.

--WUTANG

[gregimotis]

I am left handed but practiced orthodox for the first couple years of my training. When I switched to southpaw stance, it was pretty akward for several weeks and I had a hard time keeping track of what stance I was in. Now that I've stuck with it though, I am considerably stronger in my southpaw.

Not sure how useful this info is to you, Wutang as you seem to have an answer to your question, but other people reading this who are considering changing stance might find it useful.

[wutang]

No real problems except that it confuses my training partner esp. if I am the only southpaw in class. Alot of the drills assume an orthodox stance and me/my partner have to think a minute or two about how do it the multi-step drills in a mirror-image.

Also, it really helps that my right foot is upfront. My teeps are 10 times better with my right foot. I have to work on my left roundhouse kicks altho I doubt it will be as good as my right (strong side).