Qustion

[THT]

First let me say that while I really haven't posted on here I have read everything in the thaiboxing forum ( I really have, I had a lot of spare time ) and have come to very much respect the opinions of many people on this site. Which brings me to my question.

I have trained muay thai since June '04 at a gym that I liked quite a bit and felt that I got a lot out of. However, since moving in December it is not practical for me to still train there. I found a school in my new area and signed on for a two week trial. At my first ( and so far only ) class I found the training to be somewhat disorganized and lacking in focus. Kind of like the people in a weight room who like to laze around on a stairmaster and chat. I will still make it as often as possible to give them a fair shot though. Now, what I was wondering is this: I am left handed and have trained and fought left handed since the beging but in class the other night the instructer told me I was using the wrong knee for something. When I told him it's that I am left handed and for me this is the back knee he told me "not anymore, not here. If you thaibox left handed you will get beat up on." Being left handed I was of course disappointed to hear this. In all of your opinions, is this accurate? Or does he perhaps not have the capacity to think and train me as a southpaw? Please respond and thank you in advance.

[Khun Kao]

I'm really surprised that your instructor would take such a stand regarding you being/training/fighting as a Southpaw. Personally, I have always found Southpaws to be the most challenging fighters. I have a couple of southpaws in my gym, and even the inexperienced ones are able to give me a run for my money because of how awkward it is to fight one.

Perhaps you should find a polite way to ask your instructor specifically what he means (including examples) of why fighting as a Southpaw is a disadvantage.

When I teach Southpaws, I really try to take the time to teach and demonstrate technique from their perspective. I have very limited ability in switching stances, so it is a hard task to do. But the point is that they are my students and look to me for guidance. I try my best to go the extra mile to give them adequate training.

I also will "research" Southpaw-specific combinations and/or strategies to teach them, so that they will udnerstand how better to take advantage of being a southpaw to begin with.

For instance, I have been teaching a series of combinations to my students of late that I have picked up by watching one of my favorite fighters. Basically, I watched this fighter over and over and over again to pick apart this technique in order to emulate him. I have found that his combinations and strategy are not only very sound, but that they fit into my training almost PERFECTLY! Considering what I have learned from my Muay Thai coaches, this fighters style is honestly the perfect blend of the varying strategic perspectives that I have been taught.

So, as I have been saying, I have been teaching my guys the basics of his combo's, and how he sets them up. The problem is that this fighter whose strategy/approach I am emulating is an orthodox fighter. I have only seen how he fights against other orthodox fighters. What he does in the ring against them does NOT work to anywhere near the success against a Southpaw.

So what did I do about that?

I studied tape of Orthodox vs. Southpaw fighters, and found combinations that employ a very similar strategy as the fighter I am emulating, but work from the Southpaws perspective.

I have always been a firm believer that Muay Thai is a very dynamic fighting sport. I cannot rigidly impose my own views upon those I train, as that will in the end stifle their growth as a fighter. You teach your fighters the techniques and the basics on how to formulate a strategy and to put together combinations, stressing what is sound vs. unsound technique and/or strategy.... but then you let them find their own way.

From what you describe, it sounds like your coach is trying to fit the round peg into the square hole.

[THT]

thanks

How fortunate that one of the people who's opinion I respect most replied first! Thank you sir for your hasty response.

Tony

[Wolverine]

I just started reading this forum...
I'm really surprised to hear that an instructor would say something like that! In my old gym our trainer was a southpaw...he's from thailand and has won over 50 pro fights (all left handed!) Also our best fighter was a lefty....so don't try and change your style for this guy! Your a southpaw you should be be happy.....you guys are hard to figure out!

[Jeremy Lobdell]

Your instructors job is to make you a better fighter. If you're already established and comfortable as a southpaw, then his insistance on you switching stances and basically having you start all over probably says more about him than anything else. All the great instructors I've had over the years share the belief that they should work to expand on the skills you already have, not have you scrap everything you already have and start over. I feel you did the right thing by not going back to that school. Find somewhere that's right for you.
Mahalo, Jeremy

[Khun Kao]

As a counter argument, one of my boxing coaches once had one of his fighters train exclusively as a southpaw for 6 months (the fighter was an orthodox fighter). But he made the reasons very clear. He was trying to help the fighter develop better balance, speed, and power.

The point being that there may be some VERY VALID reasons for a coach asking you to switch stances, but the coach should COMMUNICATE these reasons to you. Simply saying that Southpaws are going to get "beat up on" is not a valid reason. WHY are they going to get beat up on???

[Tom Yum]

Southpaws are allright. They make orthodox fighters have to rethink their game. I remember the first time I sparred a south paw, I got confused and ate some right hooks.

You can't fight a southpaw like you would an orthodox guy, so it has a possible advantage.

[Wolverine]

This seems to be a hot topic lately....

http://message.axkickboxing.com/index.phtml?action=dispthread&topic=14530&junk=1107256785.71222

[milkthecows]

I've been training Muay Thai for about a year and a half. I'm a natural left hand fighter. When I first started training, I made a mistake by not doing proper research and ended up going to a crappy trainer that was interested in the money more than anything else. I fought southpaw for about 2months. When I switched gyms, my current trainer made me switch to orthodox BUT he did so with a valid reason.

I am a natural right footer. My kicks with my right leg are much much more powerful and natural than my left. Since I had only trained southpaw for 2months, it was easier to convert my stance than force me to kick awkward. It took some adjusting to do, but I manged it. Now, I can fight with both styles because we ocasionally train with southpaw.

The advantage of me switching is now I can fight both stances (although I usually fight orthodox), I kick with much more power and I have my master hand in front

So maybe you should ask your trainer if there is any reason for asking you to switch, instead of just "you'll get beat up"

[Khun Kao]

milkthecows brings up a very, very good point. Yes, his trainer made his switch to Orthodox, but he took the time to explain why with valid reasoning.

THT's trainer may have a very valid reason as well, but the problem is that he needs to COMMUNICATE it rather than just give vague answers.