Righthanded Southpaw

[Muaythaifighter]

I would love to know why so many righthanded fighters turn Southpaw. We rarely see this in kickboxing or boxing (correct me if I'm wrong). But in MMA it seems so many are right handed southpaws Diaz brothers, Anderson silva, Lyoto, Frank mir, Holly Holm, RDA, Lawler (?), Luke Rockhold etc

I mean it's obviously working all the guys I listed above are current or former worldchampions (besides the Diaz bro's) I was told they put the strong hand infront because that's how you grapple but that wouldn't make sense with people like Silva, holly holm and Machida because they rather keep it standing.

The only reason I can find that would be valid is that most of these guys are left leg dominant and they want to be able to generate power with the left leg like Rockhold, Rda, Silva etc

I just found it interesting what's your guys take on this?

 

[j123]

I've heard wrestlers shoot in an opposite stance, maybe years of training and competing like that affected their stance. Could be something similar to this.

I'm orthodox, but overall my left side has always felt more stable and somewhat stronger; However, due to training all the time in ortodox, I can't stand in a southpaw stance to save my life. I end up having some attacks I like to use from my left side, and set it up so I can do it. My coach says its probably because my hips on the other side is a bit more flexible... who knows.

eg. from orthodox I can loop an overhand with my lead (left), and its heaps stronger than a regular overhand right of mine. I feel I can get more weight in, the transfer feel natural, speed is great, etc. Thats probably not very common, but I set it up from a switch. There are a couple of other strikes where I feel this way as well.

We have a couple of right handed southpaws at our gym. Though, I've never asked in detail why. They just said it clicks more with them, and that was that.

 

[Muaythaifighter]

That's very interesting, Jon Jones is also a left handed Orthodox fighter. I noticed he switches often to Southpaw.

 

[Gandhi]

Well from a boxing standpoint. Which hand gets used more?

The hand the jabs and lead hooks or the power hand?

Seems logical to switch stances and put your better hand more often. I don't do it but it makes sense.

 

[Brendon Katz]

Miguel Cotto and Oscar de la Hoya were converted orthodox (natural lefties standing left side forward). I believe Andre Ward also. The commentator during the Ward vs Barrera fight (if I remember right) was saying how a lot more boxers are standing strong side forward lately, and it makes sense because about 75% of the punches thrown are with the lead hand.

 

[AndyMaBobs]

I think when you first start training, most guys want their lead hand in front. I know I did, it felt more comfortable, I changed because I realised that it made more sense to have the more accurate hand as the power hand. So I switched from orthodox to southpaw, to make the most use of my left hands accuracy, and trained the right hand to do the job it was meant for.

But I completely get why some guys just train the right hand to get it as good as the left and go for a power jab and lead hook instead!

 

[FadeLess]

They say that southpaws have lower center of gravity...
Im orthodox but i try to train on my southpaw stances as much as possible cause i trully believe it improves my overall technique

 

[TheyAllFloat]

Im a right handed SP and train MT. When I first started the coaches kept trying to make me stand orthodox but after years of skateboarding and surfing goofy footed as a kid it made me feel off balance.

 

[aerius]

Facing a southpaw confuses the hell out of many orthodox fighters, so that right there is an instant advantage for a right handed person who can fight well from the southpaw stance.

Another thing, if you look at Silva, Machida, Holm, and to a lesser extent Rockhold, they are are all out fighters who like to keep the range open strike at opponents from the outside. Fighting in southpaw opens up the range even more compared to being in the same stance, this gives them more time to see strikes, takedown attempts, and other things coming so that they can counter or get out of the way in time.

 

[szJack]

Drilling a lot in a southpaw lately. I often end up in southpaw when chasing guys. Being always in position to strike is an awesome thing.

 

[Brendon Katz]

They say that southpaws have lower center of gravity...
Im orthodox but i try to train on my southpaw stances as much as possible cause i trully believe it improves my overall technique

why would that be?

 

[FadeLess]

why would that be?

what do you mean ? why they say southpaws have lower center of gravity or why do i train both stances ?
my guess is ur asking about why shoutpaws suposedly have lower center of gravity...right ?
from what ive searched about it there isnt scientific data that proves southtpaws are more balanced and faster but i could be wrong
my take on it is that its only a peoples believe that takes into account particular cases of well known successful sportsmen. but imo one can make a case for either southpaws or orthodox cause i believe that its all in the mind, body mechanics and body type ... but who am i ?!

 

[Brendon Katz]

what do you mean ? why they say southpaws have lower center of gravity or why do i train both stances ?
my guess is ur asking about why shoutpaws suposedly have lower center of gravity...right ?
from what ive searched about it there isnt scientific data that proves southtpaws are more balanced and faster but i could be wrong
my take on it is that its only a peoples believe that takes into account particular cases of well known successful sportsmen. but imo one can make a case for either southpaws or orthodox cause i believe that its all in the mind, body mechanics and body type ... but who am i ?!

Well AFAIK there are physiological and psychosomatic reasons why training on both sides of your body will improve the individual sides faster than training only one side. Basically comes down you having more co-ordination with your stronger side, so by practicing on your weaker side first (so that there is some sort of framework), and then practicing on your stronger side (so there is a co-ordination map) and then your weak side again (so the strong side co-ord map is transplanted to the weaker side), you'll develop your weaker side much faster. You'll also develop a better understanding of the mechanics and/or principles at work since you'll have to dig deeper into them with your weaker side, and you're stronger side will reap the benefits.

There's also the consideration that you can actively use stance changes to disguise distance and angle if you're reasonably comfortable with both sides.

 

[FadeLess]

Well AFAIK there are physiological and psychosomatic reasons why training on both sides of your body will improve the individual sides faster than training only one side. Basically comes down you having more co-ordination with your stronger side, so by practicing on your weaker side first (so that there is some sort of framework), and then practicing on your stronger side (so there is a co-ordination map) and then your weak side again (so the strong side co-ord map is transplanted to the weaker side), you'll develop your weaker side much faster. You'll also develop a better understanding of the mechanics and/or principles at work since you'll have to dig deeper into them with your weaker side, and you're stronger side will reap the benefits.

There's also the consideration that you can actively use stance changes to disguise distance and angle if you're reasonably comfortable with both sides.

Thanks man ... as an orthodox , im struggling with my straight left and overhand , i feel im not doing the correct movement and i lack the confidence to thow it with full power. Im working on it but i think ive should have started with it much sooner.
Anyways , thanks for your advice.
Cheers

 

[Frode Falch]

Bisping is lefty but fight orthodox.

 

[Pope Leo VII]

due to balling out all my life... the triple stance was ingrained in me from a young age.

standing ortho felt wrong on so many levels lol

long live the south paws

 

[BetaMale3104]

I would love to know why so many righthanded fighters turn Southpaw. We rarely see this in kickboxing or boxing (correct me if I'm wrong). But in MMA it seems so many are right handed southpaws Diaz brothers, Anderson silva, Lyoto, Frank mir, Holly Holm, RDA, Lawler (?), Luke Rockhold etc

I mean it's obviously working all the guys I listed above are current or former worldchampions (besides the Diaz bro's) I was told they put the strong hand infront because that's how you grapple but that wouldn't make sense with people like Silva, holly holm and Machida because they rather keep it standing.

The only reason I can find that would be valid is that most of these guys are left leg dominant and they want to be able to generate power with the left leg like Rockhold, Rda, Silva etc

I just found it interesting what's your guys take on this?

I'm right handed and I don't know why but I'm just a natural southpaw. I think it may be because when I was a kid I remember watching the karate club and they were all doing the bouncy footwork thing and the way they taught it was in southpaw, and so I guess it just carried on ‍

 

[SandisLL]

If talented for this, then for point sparring or light contact for some guys it is easy. For full contact not at all easy. Not rarity, that weaker hand might be faster.
More difficulties from my opinion might be with legs... the kicks delivery....
Yes, if guy is orthodox and opponent also and bout is with kicks, to have fast left hand is especially advisable, I think. So there not rarity that quick punch with maybe 80% of right hand's force, delivered faster than with right hand with 100% might be not less effective.