Today, I wanted to try out something different, so I decided to get into boxing. When I got to the gym, the coach asked me if I was right-handed or left-handed. I told him I’m right-handed, and he said, “Okay, you’ll probably be using the orthodox stance then.” Orthodox stance? What’s that? I had no clue, so I just nodded along.
First, he showed me how to stand. He told me to put my left foot forward and my right foot back, with my feet about shoulder-width apart. He said to keep my knees slightly bent and my weight balanced. It felt a bit awkward at first, but I figured it was like learning to ride a bike – you gotta start somewhere.
- Left foot forward
- Right foot back
- Feet shoulder-width apart
- Knees slightly bent
- Weight balanced
Next, he talked about my hands. Since I’m right-handed, my left hand would be my lead hand, and my right hand would be my power hand. He showed me how to make a fist – tuck my thumb, curl my fingers, the whole nine yards. Then, he told me to keep my left hand up near my cheek and my right hand near my chin. “Protect your face,” he said, like I was about to get into a bar fight.
After that, we started moving. He had me practice stepping forward with my left foot, then bringing my right foot up to maintain the stance. Then we did it backward, and side to side. We kept doing this dance, back and forth, until I started to get the hang of it. It felt a bit like a clumsy waltz, but I was starting to feel a little more coordinated.
Once I got the footwork down, we moved on to punches. He showed me how to throw a jab with my left hand – a quick, straight punch. Then, he taught me the cross, which is a power punch with my right hand. We practiced these punches on the heavy bag, and let me tell you, it’s harder than it looks. My arms felt like jelly after a while, but it was a good kind of tired.
We spent the rest of the session practicing these basics – stance, footwork, jab, and cross. The coach kept reminding me to keep my hands up and to pivot my feet when throwing punches. It was a lot to remember, but I could see how it all worked together. By the end of the session, I felt like I had a decent grasp of the orthodox stance. It’s definitely not something you master in a day, but I felt like I had a solid foundation to build on. I’m no pro boxer yet, but hey, everyone’s got to start somewhere, right?
The Key Takeaway:
So, from what I gathered, the orthodox stance is the go-to for most right-handed boxers. It’s all about positioning yourself to use your dominant hand effectively while staying balanced and protected. I realized that boxing isn’t just about throwing punches; it’s about strategy, footwork, and using your body efficiently. It was a real eye-opener, and I’m actually looking forward to my next session. I might even start watching some boxing matches to see how the pros do it. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll be able to hold my own in the ring. For now, I’ll just keep practicing and try not to look like a total newbie.
