How To Adapt Your Striking For A Left Handed Opponent By Youssef Boughanem
Athletes that want to be successful in any combat based sports, must have a high work ethic and have the ability to execute high output at training. This takes time and repetition, a fighter that has a never quit attitude will constantly find themself improving in the execution of the technique, the mental application of the training, and in the conditioning of your body.
Something that can often be overlooked by fighters is adapting their striking to fight a left handed opponent. You need to develop your understanding of this aspect, so you can coordinate yourself into the best possible position, to effectively land your strikes. Traditionally a left handed athlete will have a different perspective on how they see incoming punches.
In this video Dynamic Striking has brought in Youssef Boughanem to give you some great conceptual vision into the perspective of a left handed fighter. He shows you a good punching technique to blindside your left handed opponent.
Who Is Youssef Boughanem?
Youssef Boughanem is a Morrocan-Belgium born Muay Thai Kickboxer, he is a 4 time WBC Muay Thai World Middleweight Champion. He has beaten the best of the best in Muay Thai over the last decade and has an incredible fight record of %89 win ratio out of his 211 career bouts. Youssef Boughanem is highly regarded as one of the best pound for pound Muay Thai kick boxers in the world. That is why Dynamic Striking has sought out this striking phenom to give you one of the best minds behind Muay Thai Kickboxing to learn from!
Check Out The Video Below On How To Handle A Left Handed Opponent!
Fighting a left handed fighter is the same as fighting a southpaw, the only difference being a lefty’s power hand is his back one, as opposed to a southpaw where their power hand is the lead jabbing hand.
When you are exchanging blows with a left handed fighter it will serve you well to keep your right hand close to your face with your elbow tucked into your ribs. Your stance will be fractionally more sideways, so that when you execute your left jab then your left handed opponent won't see your right hand coming.
From a lefty’s perspective, when they are staring down the barrel of your fast straight left jab, it becomes significantly harder for them to see where your right hand punch is coming from. This will open up avenues for you to execute different variations of a right hand attack.
You can utilise many strikes like hooks, uppercuts and kicks, but one of the best attacks straight after your jab is a strong and straight right hand punch. The angle of your shoulders after you land your jab gives you a good rotation to reach in hard and fast with your straight right hand.
Take a lesson from this phenomenal Muay Thai striker Youssef Boughanem and develop your concepts for managing a left handed opponent. Then you will become extremely efficient in your fights whether you are fighting right, southpaw or left handed opponents.
Learn More From Muay Thai Weapon Youssef Boughanem!
If you liked the concept behind adapting your striking to fight left handers and you want to improve your knowledge even further, then check out Youssef Boughanem’s series Thai Boxing Fundamentals by Youssef Boughanem Available exclusively on Dynamic Striking!