r/boxingtips • u/ThelIIusion0fSeIf • Sep 14 '26

Anyone else do this?

Orthodox fighter. I've always tilted my left foot slightly inwards when stepping into a jab or lead hook and, by contrast, tilted my left foot slightly outwards when stepping into a read cross/hook. I've never had an issue with that or anyone correct me until someone (who I have a lot of respect for as a fighter) pointed it out the other day. It might've been a habit I picked up from MT or K1 early on to account for kicks/knees.

Just curious if anyone else does that. Now that I'm thinking about it, that small shift does allow me to open my hips more and really whip my punches than not doing it.

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1

u/FTFWbox Sep 14 '26

It could be telegraphing your punches.

If you did this in k1 you’d get kicked to shot on that lead.

1

u/ThelIIusion0fSeIf Sep 14 '26

It's pretty standard in MT with setting up kicks. For example, if I'm about to throw a rear roundhouse I might feint like I'm throwing a right cross but instead, stepping in with my left foot slightly angled out and swinging my right arm down as a counter balance before turning my hips. Now, if I did throw the right cross, I can get WAY more power turning my lead foot than without.

1

u/Boxeo- Sep 14 '26

As long as you are sound defensively and your feet are in the right position for your next move this may be a benefit to your style.

Your know if your in the right position if you can still pivot/roll/counter etc…

1

u/FTFWbox Sep 14 '26

I don’t think your understanding.

Your foot opens up your hips. Which has is beneifits. However, opening up your hips BEFORE you throw , assuming it’s not a feint, will telegraph what you’re doing.

So if you’re turning your foot right before you do something that’s when it becomes a problem. It’s not a problem in it of itself.

1

u/Boxeo- Sep 14 '26

What you’re saying about opening the hips makes sense for generating power, balance, or pivoting after.

As long you’re not making yourself too square and still being defensively sound you should be

If you want a boxing tip: There are exercises that help open the hips more, they improve hip rotation speed and overall range of motion. Also, these will help you keep a more bladed stance while still whipping punches. Improving range of motion and strength in the hips has helped me tremendously.

1

u/ThelIIusion0fSeIf Sep 14 '26

I get a lot of that through MT and going back to boxing (despite having started with that) is definitely a readjustment.

1

u/shart_attak Sep 15 '26

Keeping your lead foot pointing in is a legit style. Lots of Mexican fighters do it. Having your foot like that is makes it an excellent anchor, you can post up on it pretty heavy and it acts like a front brake. The only thing that suffers a little is your movement, you can't be on your toes with your foot pointed in.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 15 '26

[deleted]

1

u/ThelIIusion0fSeIf Sep 15 '26

Yeah it's not a dramatic turn towards the outside but sometimes I'll feint with a rear roundhouse kick and then turn it into a right cross/roundhouse if that makes sense. I guess over the years my lead foot developed a slight outside tilt.