Gym Diary: Oct. 24, 2011

Since I’m going to be taller than almost anyone I fight at this weight we spent today working on using my long arms to keep them outside. Rodriguez has been really emphasizing footwork lately, so today he switched back and forth from orthodox to southpaw so I would be aware of keeping my foot placed correctly depending on whom I’m fighting.

When facing a southpaw the goal is to keep your foot on the outside (your left) of their lead foot so my straight right is lined up to land down the middle. When fighting another orthodox fighter keep your foot to the right so your opponent has a much smaller target. After every combination you had better step off or risk getting countered; if your opponent looks hurt, follow with uppercuts and hooks to the body.

We also worked on moving laterally and stopping, planting my feet and dropping the straight right. If they try to duck low and get inside I block with my left, lean right to create an angle and then explode with the uppercut or right hook, which is still my favorite punch. By swiveling my hips and putting my weight behind it I can generate surprising power. I guess those 20 years of swinging too hard on my forehand have finally paid off.