#defenceposition
The stance is the starting point for any combat sport. From here come the hits, from here you start to defend and always here comes style.
Let’s see in detail the classical position of guard:
The left arm is leaning forward with my left shoulder higher to cover the Chin, while the right arm is attached to the body to protect the liver with the hand close to the face, while the feet are the same shoulder width, parallel but not diagonals and on the forefoot, the left leg outstretched and knees slightly bent. The body weight is distributed on both feet.
It will then be our fighting style that will vary the weight distribution, forward for the fighters and back to the out-fighters.
The Centre of gravity (black point in Figure 2) must always be in the center of the circle that represents the base, i.e. the limit within which our body is in equilibrium (balance should be defined as the best balance between the subject and the surrounding environment; as a result, the body, both in static and dynamic balance, depending on the receiving environmental stimuli and the motor program that adopts. Source: wikipedia).
If the point moves to the suburbs, it automatically loses stability and you have an increase of muscular work to maintain the equilibrium position.
A wider support surface made with a greater extension of the legs, on the one hand allows greater stability but against a loss of mobility, strongly negative situation in boxing.
This explains the importance of optimal stance when fighting.
Now we move away from the concept of classical or academic guard, to analyze the evolution of this position typical of modern boxing:
Peek A BOO-PHILLY SHELL-ARMED CROSS
To make everything much clearer we take as example 3 boxers and we analyze the position.
The Peek a Boo was developed by legendary trainer CUS D’Amato and finds its best expression in the famous “IRON” MIKE TYSON
It’s a boxing style where the hands are placed in front of the boxer’s face, provides extra protection for the face and allows any type of attack, especially from close range, although it requires great skill to Dodge with the head and trunk mobility.
From this location it’s easy to get the jab and straight right with little expenditure of energy, but is also easy to start hooks and uppercuts.
PHILLY SHELL-his best performer is definitely Floyd Mayweather, who in his last fight with Manny Pacquiao (#MayPac) gave off his defensive skills
What strikes you immediately is the lower left arm than the classical position, hence the Boxer has the ability 
to protect themselves from hooks or uppercuts to the body.
The left shoulder is raised both in the Chin protection both to divert the straight right of the opponent, while the right arm is ready for the deviation of the jab or hook lock.
It is useful to say that this position may be taken only by very experienced and trained fighters, with excellent defensive skills and reflexes, it can hit opponents meeting mandates previously with the movements of the shoulders (shoulder roller).
Floyd “Money” Mayweather
CROSS-ARMED Joe Frazier, but also Archie Moore, Ken Norton, Paolo Vidoz and George Foreman at the end of their career they used this style.
Forearms are before the face placed on top of each other horizontally, with the glove of one arm to the top of the elbow of the other arm. In this way no hit can affect the face. It is a little technical and not nice to see, but effective way to minimize the damage to the head or in some moments of the match.
The higher the greater the arms portion of body discovery, this is one of the drawbacks of this technique to work around this problem many users of this style tend to lean and close to protect the body from shots of the opponents.
Focus always on the defensive, try to get a functional stance boxing style that lets you practise your tactical and strategic plan in a match or just stepping into the ring and not be a target!
See you soon!
Giancarlo
